CNN —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 “unique” situation.
Spencer “Corry” Jones, an American white water river guide, killed and ate the large, flightless weka during filming of “Race to Survive: New Zealand” last fall, CNN affiliate RNZ reported Tuesday.
Swain said the producers of “Race to Survive” had a permit to film on public conservation land and were aware that protected species and plants could not be harvested or eaten.
In a statement, “Race to Survive” production said it alerted authorities as soon as they became aware of the weka incident.
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.
Persons:
Spencer “ Corry ” Jones, Jones, RNZ, Oliver Dev, –, ”, Dylan Swain, ” Spencer, Corry, Brian Finestone, “, Swain, ” Jones, Dev
Organizations:
CNN, Zealand ”, RNZ, International Union for Conservation, USA Network, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, USA
Locations:
New Zealand, American, Zealand