Reality show contestant killed and ate protected bird in New Zealand

A contestant on a US reality survival show killed and ate a protected bird while filming the series in New Zealand, local media reports.

In the show, titled “Race to Survive,” the contestants have to hunt for most of their own food. The second season was filmed in New Zealand.

The bird, a weka, is extinct in large parts of New Zealand and is fully protected.

The participant and his teammate were both disqualified from the race.

Contestant Spencer “Corry” Jones was aware he was breaking the rule when he killed and ate the bird, news site Radio New Zealand reported, citing a clip from the broadcast.

In the clip, he can be seen apologizing and saying he made a “stupid” mistake and that they “didn’t prepare for hunger.”

“I have disrespected New Zealand and I am sorry for that,” he said.

Mr Jones and his teammate Oliver Dev were disqualified in the eighth episode of the series.

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation said it was alerted shortly after the incident by a representative of the production company, US-based Original Productions.

Officials launched an investigation and issued written warnings to the company and participants, citing “unusual group dynamic situations” such as fatigue and significant hunger among the performers.

“However, killing and eating a native, protected species in this case is unacceptable and the company understands that participants in its program must comply with conservation laws,” Dylan Swain, head of the department’s investigative team, said in a statement to 1News.

BBC News has contacted Mr Jones and Original Productions for comment.

The weka is an iconic large flightless bird and is famous for its lively and curious personality.

Due to changing climatic conditions and increasing predator populations, the species has become extinct on large parts of the mainland. However, hunting them is legal on some of the country’s islands.

Because it is a protected species under the Wildlife Act 1953, the maximum penalty for harming the bird can be either two years in prison or a fine of NZD100,000 ($59,545; £47,467).