WELLINGTON - New Zealand environment officials say Wednesday they are investigating reports that an endangered and flightless kiwi bird has made its way 14,000 km around the world to a park in the Russian port city of Sochi.

Russian media reported the brown kiwi was caught by locals after it was seen wandering around an ornamental garden for three days in the town.

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A Russian zoologist has suggested the bird arrived on a cruise ship, but Sochi port authorities have said that was impossible.

New Zealand Department of Conservations spokesperson Ruben Williams told Radio New Zealand the department was waiting for the reports to be confirmed.

Williams said the department had contacted the New Zealand Customs wildlife enforcement group that deals with the illegal trade in animals.

He said it was extremely unlikely the bird would have traveled from the nearest kiwi enclosure, which was in Germany.

About 50,000 kiwi, which are native only to New Zealand, are left in the world and the population is decreasing, threatening the bird with extinction.