A reality show contestant who killed and ate a protected bird has been let off with a warning after New Zealand wildlife officials said cast members were tired, hungry and placed in a \u201cunique\u201d situation. <\/p>\n
The weka, named on the International Union for Conservation of Nature\u2019s red list of threatened species, is protected in mainland New Zealand, where the penalty for killing one is a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine of nearly $60,000. <\/p>\n
\u201cRace to Survive\u201d pits nine teams of two contestants in a 150-mile race across New Zealand\u2019s harsh terrain, in which they must find their own food and water to compete for a $500,000 prize, according to USA Network, which airs the show. <\/p>\n
In a clip from the show, Jones apologizes and says he knew eating the weka was against the law, but he was desperate and hungry, RNZ reported. <\/p>\n
Jones and his teammate Oliver Dev were disqualified after the incident. <\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s Department of Conservation said following an investigation it had issued written warnings to Jones and the show\u2019s producers \u2013 but stopped short of tougher action. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe unique set of circumstances \u2013 cast members were fatigued and suffering from significant hunger, in an unusual group dynamic situation \u2013 meant we felt a warning letter was prudent,\u201d said Dylan Swain, the department\u2019s team lead for investigations. <\/p>\n
\u201cNonetheless, killing and eating a native protected species in this matter is unacceptable and the company is \u2018on notice\u2019 about the need for its program participants to adhere to conservation legislation.\u201d <\/p>\n
The weka has a \u201cfamously feisty and curious\u201d personality, according to the department, and is known for its loud \u201ccoo-et\u201d call, which is presented as a duet, with the male taking on the lower, slower part. <\/p>\n
\u201cWeka are usually heard, not seen,\u201d the department says on its website. <\/p>\n
Once widespread, its populations now fluctuate depending on food conditions, which had led to the bird\u2019s legal protection in mainland New Zealand. The harvest of weka is legal on some of the country\u2019s surrounding islands. <\/p>\n
Swain said the producers of \u201cRace to Survive\u201d had a permit to film on public conservation land and were aware that protected species and plants could not be harvested or eaten. <\/p>\n
In a statement, \u201cRace to Survive\u201d production said it alerted authorities as soon as they became aware of the weka incident. <\/p>\n
\u201cContestants were all thoroughly briefed ahead of time, and reminded throughout the competition, of all of New Zealand\u2019s wildlife rules and guidelines,\u201d its statement said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was determined that a contestant did in fact violate a rule, so appropriate action was taken, and the team was disqualified from the competition.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jones and Dev were favored to win before they were pulled off the course, according to USA Network. <\/p>\n
New Zealand has a plethora of unique flora and fauna due to its long geological isolation from the supercontinent Gondwana, according to independent conservation organization Forest and Bird. <\/p>\n
This long isolation and the absence of mammalian predators means many native species are defenseless against attack \u2013 including flightless birds like the weka. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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