Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2022

Matt_C said:
Do you know how many Auckland hold in total of this species now? There seems to be a few males but very few females in the country currently.
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Following the arrival of this female, Auckland Zoo now hold 2.2 Green iguana.

The zoo posted this note re. how they obtained the off display pair:

Both iguanas have an interesting back story. This female iguana was confiscated off a cargo boat from Panama before joining Wellington Zoo.

While Iggy arrived at Auckland Zoo in 2016 after a person tried to smuggle him through the mail – which was thankfully intercepted by New Zealand Customs - and for years has helped to spread awareness about wildlife crime with our visitors.
 
False gharial update:

From socials (includes photos of inside the dome):

We’re thrilled to be welcoming two False gharial to the Zoo later this year – and we wanted to share with you the progress we’ve been making on their incredible new tropical dome habitat!

This ‘swamp forest’ habitat will be the final phase of our South East Asia Jungle Track to be completed in late 2022. Maintained at a temperature of 28C and 70-90% humidity year-round, our visitors will be immersed in a lush tropical environment rich in exotic plants, freshwater fishes and with stunning under-water views of the magnificent tomistoma.

We’ll keep you updated when the crocodiles have safely arrived and when you can come and see them for yourself!
 
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Zoofan15 said:
False gharial update:

From socials (includes photos of inside the dome):

We’re thrilled to be welcoming two False gharial to the Zoo later this year – and we wanted to share with you the progress we’ve been making on their incredible new tropical dome habitat!

This ‘swamp forest’ habitat will be the final phase of our South East Asia Jungle Track to be completed in late 2022. Maintained at a temperature of 28C and 70-90% humidity year-round, our visitors will be immersed in a lush tropical environment rich in exotic plants, freshwater fishes and with stunning under-water views of the magnificent tomistoma.

We’ll keep you updated when the crocodiles have safely arrived and when you can come and see them for yourself!
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That's wonderful news I wonder if that will open the doors for other zoos in the region to import them?
 
Zorro said:
That's wonderful news I wonder if that will open the doors for other zoos in the region to import them?
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I’m very excited. On my visit in June, I was told they were coming from Denmark (Krokodille Zoo).

Auckland applied in 2013 to allow the importation of several South East Asian reptile species: https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/File...PP203434-APP203434-Application-form-FINAL.pdf

This was the original list:

False gharial
Southern river terrapin
Northern river terrapin
Painted terrapin
Amboina box turtle
Giant Asian pond turtle
Spiny turtle
Sulawesi forest turtle
Malaysian giant turtle
Asian forest turtle

I’ll be interested to see how many have been imported when the tropical dome opens.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m very excited. On my visit in June, I was told they were coming from Denmark (Krokodille Zoo).

Auckland applied in 2013 to allow the importation of several South East Asian reptile species: https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/File...PP203434-APP203434-Application-form-FINAL.pdf

This was the original list:

False gharial
Southern river terrapin
Northern river terrapin
Painted terrapin
Amboina box turtle
Giant Asian pond turtle
Spiny turtle
Sulawesi forest turtle
Malaysian giant turtle
Asian forest turtle

I’ll be interested to see how many have been imported when the tropical dome opens.
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Hopefully they can acquire a pair of a nice size for the new display. That's a lot of turtles. :D
 
Zorro said:
Hopefully they can acquire a pair of a nice size for the new display. That's a lot of turtles. :D
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The staff member I spoke to believed they would be juveniles. Maturity is reached at around 20 years for this species, so hopefully they’ll be at least 5-10 years old and a decent sized. Either way, I suspect breeding will be some way off - but something to look forward to down the track. For perspective, the Galapagos giant tortoise first bred around four decades after their arrival.

I’m hoping at least four to six of those turtle species have been imported, but have no information to confirm.
 
Update on Bornean orangutan infant:

From socials:

At five months old and around 4kg, Bahmi is now becoming a lot more active and increasing in strength as he starts to develop his climbing skills, under the watchful eye of his mum.

Primate keeper Sarah says Bahmi is extremely interested in his surroundings, “a real wriggler” and attempting to move everywhere. “He’s climbing up on Melur’s arm and onto her head, which means she’s constantly having to reposition herself! Melur is very patient, and it’s amazing to see.”

Bahmi is now also showing a keen interest in what Melur is eating and started to sample little bits of mashed pumpkin and greens like lettuce and kale, but his mother’s milk is his main sustenance.
 
Kiraka the giraffe has given birth to a healthy male calf:

From socials:

We’re delighted to share a healthy (and very tall!) calf has been born to giraffe Kiraka and first-time dad Billy!

The male calf, estimated to top 6ft 5 inches (over 1.95m) – the tallest new-born the Zoo’s ungulates keepers can recall, was born early Friday morning and was standing and suckling from Kiraka within the hour.

“It looks like Kiraka’s new son has inherited the tall genes of his grandfather Forrest (born at Auckland Zoo in 2007 and relocated to Australia Zoo in 2009). At 18ft 8 inches, Forrest is named in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s tallest giraffe within a zoo,” says ungulates keeper Vicky Smith.
 
Hamadryas baboon birth:

A Hamadryas baboon infant has been born at Auckland Zoo.

Visitor photos tagged to the zoo’s social media from mid August show an infant that looks around four weeks old (born approx mid July 2022) on exhibit with its mother.

The mother would be Naeemah (2011), Zala (2013) or Mali (2015). Mali has a 23 month old daughter, who is the next youngest member of the troop.

This birth takes the zoos Hamadryas baboon population to 4.6.1 baboons.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Hamadryas baboon birth:

A Hamadryas baboon infant has been born at Auckland Zoo.

Visitor photos tagged to the zoo’s social media from mid August show an infant that looks around four weeks old (born approx mid July 2022) on exhibit with its mother.

The mother would be Naeemah (2011), Zala (2013) or Mali (2015). Mali has a 23 month old daughter, who is the next youngest member of the troop.

This birth takes the zoos Hamadryas baboon population to 4.6.1 baboons.
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Great news. Assuming the father is Yafeu? It's not impossible for Mali to have given birth again, but I would say, probably unlikely. Both Naeemah and Zala have never given birth too (so far) correct?
 
Jambo said:
Great news. Assuming the father is Yafeu? It's not impossible for Mali to have given birth again, but I would say, probably unlikely. Both Naeemah and Zala have never given birth too (so far) correct?
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I’m so excited! This birth and the one in 2020 represent the zoo’s intention to continue long term with this species and as the only holder in New Zealand, I’m very glad of this.

There would be approximately 21 months between this infant and Iniko, which is a typical birth interval for this species following the birth of a surviving infant, so Mali could well be the mother again. It’s easier to keep one female off contraception and there’s no justification for breeding Zala (full sibling) over Mali.

Zala and Naeemah have never bred. Since Naeemah is from a different mother to Zala and Mali, they may wish to breed from her. However if she’s in Badi’s harem, they may be holding off as he’s a full brother to Naeemah (versus Yafeu, who’s a half sibling of Mali).

Paternity would be assigned to the harem leader of the mother. Mali is in Yafeu’s harem, so he’d be the sire if she is the mother again.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Kiraka the giraffe has given birth to a healthy male calf:

From socials:

We’re delighted to share a healthy (and very tall!) calf has been born to giraffe Kiraka and first-time dad Billy!

The male calf, estimated to top 6ft 5 inches (over 1.95m) – the tallest new-born the Zoo’s ungulates keepers can recall, was born early Friday morning and was standing and suckling from Kiraka within the hour.

“It looks like Kiraka’s new son has inherited the tall genes of his grandfather Forrest (born at Auckland Zoo in 2007 and relocated to Australia Zoo in 2009). At 18ft 8 inches, Forrest is named in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s tallest giraffe within a zoo,” says ungulates keeper Vicky Smith.
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Auckland Zoo are holding a naming competition for the male giraffe calf:

I’m impressed the zoo are giving visitors free-choice in suggesting names (rather than voting on options, which is limiting).

To eliminate the onslaught of stupid names you sometimes see in these competitions, visitors have been giving the following guidance via socials:

Just like his family from around the Zoo, we’re looking to give this newborn a name that relates to where his counterparts are from in the wild. To give you an idea, his great grandmother is called Rukiya which means ‘she who rises high’ in Swahili. Kiraka and Billy’s calf is exceptionally tall, already over 6ft 6” and was born in our 100th year – so it’s a double celebration!

Whatever the outcome, I’m sure we can expect something better than the name of Australia Zoo’s latest giraffe.
 
First successful Little blue penguin chick hatches:

An exciting event to celebrate their centenary!

The zoo are handrearing a Little blue penguin chick that hatched August 29.

This is the first time the zoo have successfully reared a chick of this species as their flock consists of rescued founders, that to date have proven unsuccessfully in raising chicks. The decision was made to hand raise to ensure survival and contribute towards establishing a sustainable flock.

More details on socials.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Auckland Zoo are holding a naming competition for the male giraffe calf:

I’m impressed the zoo are giving visitors free-choice in suggesting names (rather than voting on options, which is limiting).

To eliminate the onslaught of stupid names you sometimes see in these competitions, visitors have been giving the following guidance via socials:

Just like his family from around the Zoo, we’re looking to give this newborn a name that relates to where his counterparts are from in the wild. To give you an idea, his great grandmother is called Rukiya which means ‘she who rises high’ in Swahili. Kiraka and Billy’s calf is exceptionally tall, already over 6ft 6” and was born in our 100th year – so it’s a double celebration!

Whatever the outcome, I’m sure we can expect something better than the name of Australia Zoo’s latest giraffe.
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The giraffe calf has been named Jabali:

The giraffe calf has been named Jabali, which means brave in Swahili. Source: zoo’s social media.

Initially social media reported it had been named Jabari; however within 20 minutes of posting, Auckland Zoo corrected this to Jabali.

Jabari was the name of a giraffe calf born at Auckland Zoo in December 2002. Jabari and Masamba (born five days prior) were much celebrated as the first giraffe calves born at Auckland Zoo in eight years. They were transferred to Hamilton Zoo were Jabari died in 2020.

This calf is a distant relative of Jabari (2002), who was a half brother of Forrest (paternal grandfather of this calf) - though considering how inbred the regional population is, everyone is a relative of someone.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
The giraffe calf has been named Jabali:

The giraffe calf has been named Jabali, which means brave in Swahili. Source: zoo’s social media.

Initially social media reported it had been named Jabari; however within 20 minutes of posting, Auckland Zoo corrected this to Jabali.

Jabari was the name of a giraffe calf born at Auckland Zoo in December 2002. Jabari and Masamba (born five days prior) were much celebrated as the first giraffe calves born at Auckland Zoo in eight years. They were transferred to Hamilton Zoo were Jabari died in 2020.

This calf is a distant relative of Jabari (2002), who was a half brother of Forrest (paternal grandfather of this calf) - though considering how inbred the regional population is, everyone is a relative of someone.
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There is a real overdue need for new importations!
 
Zorro said:
There is a real overdue need for new importations!
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The giraffe IRA was completed this year, so there’s now an opportunity for the zoos to do so.

Auckland Zoo won’t be importing a new breeding bull given Billy is only four years old, but the fact they haven’t bred from Kabili (2016) makes me wonder if she’s on contraception with the plan being to import an unrelated female. Especially now Auckland’s Savannah expansion may be scrapped, the zoo only has so much space to breed giraffe and it’d otherwise make sense to delay Kabili breeding when there’s an opportunity for an imported female to assume that role.
 
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