Last Tuesday, zookeepers at the Miami Zoo discovered that one of their kiwis had gone missing overnight. Kiwis are flightless birds native to New Zealand that are about the size of a chicken. They are unusual looking birds with hair-like feathers, a long beak, and stubby wings. This particular missing kiwi, named Kiwi, was one of three kiwis living in the zoo’s aviary habitat. When zookeepers arrived in the morning to feed and check on the birds, they found only two kiwis wandering about instead of the expected three. A search of the habitat failed to locate Kiwi. At first, the zookeepers feared that a wild predator like a raccoon may have found its way into the aviary and snatched the kiwi. However, there was no damage to the aviary enclosure that would indicate a break-in. So what exactly happened to the missing kiwi? Let’s explore some possibilities.
Did the kiwi fly away?
One theory is that Kiwi managed to fly out of the aviary. However, this seems very unlikely given that kiwis cannot actually fly. They have only small stubby wings that are more like vestigial arms than proper wings. Kiwis lost the ability to fly over time since there were no natural ground predators in New Zealand. Without needing to fly away from danger, kiwis adapted over millions of years to become flightless. So while an emu or ostrich might be able to flap their wings enough to hop a fence, a kiwi does not have that ability. The aviary enclosure at the Miami Zoo has fences over 15 feet tall all around, so there’s no way Kiwi could have flown up and over. We can safely rule out an avian jailbreak.
Did the kiwi dig its way out?
Could Kiwi have dug under the fence and burrowed to freedom? Kiwis do have strong legs and claws for scratching the dirt looking for worms and bugs to eat. Their beaks are also designed for probing into the ground. However, kiwis are not designed for burrowing underground like moles or groundhogs. Their legs are useful for kicking away leaf litter, but not powerful enough to tunnel through dirt. Inspecting the perimeter of the aviary confirmed there were no holes dug under the fence. The habitat floor is also concrete, which Kiwi would not have been able to dig through. Digging out seems implausible.
Did the kiwi wander out through an unlocked door?
The aviary has a door that zookeepers use every day to enter and exit when caring for the kiwis. Could Kiwi have somehow opened the door and walked out when no one was watching? Zoo officials insisted this was impossible, as the doors automatically lock behind zookeepers when they close. There are strict protocols in place to prevent any animal escapes. Video surveillance around the aviary confirmed that no unauthorized humans entered or exited the habitat enclosure recently either. All zoo workers confirmed that Kiwi could not have strolled to freedom through an unlocked door.
Was the kiwi stolen?
The most probable explanation proposed by zoo officials was that Kiwi was stolen by unidentified thieves. The aviary is enclosed with tall fences, but these are designed to keep kiwis safely inside, not to ward off humans. A person with a ladder could probably scale the fence if they were determined. Once inside, they could have easily captured Kiwi and carried him out undetected. But why would someone steal a kiwi? These little brown birds are not particularly rare or valuable compared to some other zoo species. Police speculated that it may have been a prank theft by some foolish teens rather than an organized criminal operation targeting rare animals. An anonymous thief probably would not be skilled enough to transport and care for a kiwi. Hopefully Kiwi was released somewhere nearby where zookeepers could locate him. But some feared he would not survive long out of his natural enclosed habitat.
When did the kiwi disappear?
Examining the surveillance footage gave investigators a clue about the time of the theft. The video showed two unidentified individuals climbing the fence and entering the aviary habitat around 1:00 am early Tuesday morning. They are seen chasing the kiwis around for a few minutes before exiting with a small bundle at 1:13 am that could have been little Kiwi wrapped in a jacket. With that proof, the theft was narrowed down to that short early morning window when the thieves were recorded entering and leaving.
How did the thieves capture the kiwi?
The surveillance video gave some insight into how the criminals captured Kiwi. Since kiwis cannot fly or run particularly fast, the thieves likely just chased Kiwi around until they cornered him. His stubby wings and short legs meant he had little means of escape once tracked down. Kiwis are also not aggressive, so it would not take much effort to simply pick him up once caught. The video showed the thieves lunging and making grabbing motions until one bent down and lifted up Kiwi-sized bundle before hurrying out. The other two kiwis in the aviary appeared unharmed, indicating the thieves targeted Kiwi specifically.
Where could Kiwi be now?
The whereabouts of Kiwi remain unknown. He could literally be anywhere at this point if stolen by humans as a prank or exotic pet theft. The zoo and police searched the surrounding area just in case he had been released nearby or escaped from the thieves somehow. But the longer Kiwi remains missing, the wider the search perimeter has gotten. He might even have been smuggled out of the state at this point. With no ransom demands or communications from thieves, the investigators have little to go on. Any tips from the public about someone keeping an illegal kiwi are being sought in hopes Kiwi can be located alive and well. For now, his fate remains a mystery. The zoo is offering a reward for information leading to his safe return.
How are the other kiwis doing?
The two remaining kiwis, Kevin and Kyle, are thankfully doing fine. They appear healthy and normal, according to zookeepers. The thieves left them unharmed during the quick nighttime theft targeting Kiwi. Kevin and Kyle are going about their usual kiwi routines during the day of poking through the habitat looking for food. Zookeepers report Kevin and Kyle show no signs of missing Kiwi or being distressed about his disappearance. Since kiwis are somewhat solitary, they may not even notice Kiwi is gone. The pair have the normal big aviary habitat all to themselves now. As long as Kevin and Kyle remain safe and content, the zoo will continue exhibiting them on display. Higher security measures are being implemented to prevent any future thefts, however.
Conclusion
In summary, the facts point to Kiwi the kiwi being stolen from the Miami Zoo by unidentified thieves who broke in overnight and took just that one bird. How and why still remain a mystery, but surveillance footage confirms humans took Kiwi about a week ago. It is highly unlikely he escaped on his own due to an inability to fly or dig out. The other kiwis were left unbothered, so this was an isolated theft targeting only Kiwi. Where he is now and whether he is still alive are active questions the zoo hopes to still answer. But the case of the missing kiwi has proven to be a baffling bird burglary for Miami police and zookeepers so far without many good leads to go on. The zoo meanwhile is implementing enhanced security measures to take whatever precautions they can to protect their remaining flightless birds.
Kiwi Facts | Description |
---|---|
Scientific Name | Apteryx |
Habitat | Forests of New Zealand |
Size | 12-20 inches tall |
Weight | 2-7 lbs |
Color | Brown, gray, black |
Diet | Insects, worms, fruit |
Lifespan | 15-20 years |
Key Features | Flightless, long beak, stubby wings |
In conclusion, the case of the missing kiwi at the Miami Zoo continues to baffle investigators. The fate of poor Kiwi remains unknown, but hopefully new evidence will emerge and help zoo officials track him down, whether he is still in Miami or smuggled farther away. For now, the zoo is focused on protecting their remaining kiwis Kevin and Kyle while remembering their missing bird. Zoo patrons are encouraged to report any tips that could closure to this avian abduction case.