Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Responses of Brown Kiwi (<i>Apteryx mantelli</i>) to Ambassador Program Participation and Translocation: Implications for Captive Management and Welfare

The brown kiwi (<i>Apteryx mantelli</i>) is a flightless, nocturnal bird native to New Zealand and is classified as “At Risk” due to predation from domestic dogs and ferrets. In the U.S., brown kiwi have been managed under the AZA Animal Population Management and Studbook Program since 2006, with the Smithsonian National Zoological Park (NZP) and Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) maintaining the species since 1968. However, because they are nocturnal, kiwi are not good exhibit animals and often are difficult for zoo visitors to observe during the day. To address this, the NZP launched a “Meet-A-Kiwi” ambassador program in 1989 to engage the public and raise awareness. The program ran successfully for 28 years until 2017, when renovations closed the Bird House at the zoo in Washington, DC, and the birds were moved to the Front Royal, VA campus. Over time, concerns about the suitability of kiwi as ambassador birds arose as they are nocturnal and do not imprint on people. This study assessed the effects of outreach events, housing, and relocation on adrenal activity in five kiwi (four males, one female) by measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations, a physiological stress indicator, from March to October 2016. Two males participated in outreach (ambassadors), while two males and one female did not (controls). The results showed no significant differences in fGCM concentrations between ambassador and control birds, suggesting that outreach did not cause undue stress. However, individual factors (age, sex, hatching type, and display status) were associated with differences in fGCM concentrations, highlighting the need for personalized management. Further longitudinal studies are needed to explore the physiological responses of kiwi to captive conditions.