Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2024

Zoofan15 said:
New Male Zebra

Auckland Zoo have added a male zebra to their herd.

Muroki came from Gibbs Farm and takes their herd to 1.4:

1.0 Muroki (06/02/2010)
0.1 Layla (20/09/2011)
0.1 Imka (25/12/2018)
0.1 Eve (24/12/2018)
0.1 Nyota (26/01/2021)

Reported on socials.
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This is good news! From what I understand he is a non-breeding individual, but he will be welcome in terms of herd dynamics and will be a drawcard to visitors because of his novelty.
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
This is good news! From what I understand he is a non-breeding individual, but he will be welcome in terms of herd dynamics and will be a drawcard to visitors because of his novelty.
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I believe all of Gibbs Farm’s zebra are gelded, so yes it would be a non-breeding herd. He’s also a close relation of Auckland’s mares as Bwana sired Muroki, Zalika and Layla (among others) and then Zalika is the mother of Imka; Layla is the mother of Eve and Nyota.

Auckland’s success in breeding zebra has been sporadic to say the least in recent decades, with only six surviving foals produced over the past 25 years.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I believe all of Gibbs Farm’s zebra are gelded, so yes it would be a non-breeding herd. He’s also a close relation of Auckland’s mares as Bwana sired Muroki, Zalika and Layla (among others) and then Zalika is the mother of Imka; Layla is the mother of Eve and Nyota.

Auckland’s success in breeding zebra has been sporadic to say the least in recent decades, with only six surviving foals produced over the past 25 years.
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I recall that a male was sent elsewhere a few years ago to prevent inbreeding - would Muroki be the first male in the herd since then?

And are any other NZ zoos besides Hamilton breeding zebra at the moment? I know there is a new foal there, gender yet to be determined and so far unnamed.
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
I recall that a male was sent elsewhere a few years ago to prevent inbreeding - would Muroki be the first male in the herd since then?

And are any other NZ zoos besides Hamilton breeding zebra at the moment? I know there is a new foal there, gender yet to be determined and so far unnamed.
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That would be Carlo (2007). He was the zoo’s last breeding stallion and was sent to Gibb’s Farm after siring 1.2 offspring at Auckland Zoo between 2018 and 2021. His daughters (Eve and Nyota) remain in the herd.

There are currently no zoos in New Zealand breeding zebra. Hamilton Zoo transferred their breeding stallion and two of his adult sons to Orana last year.

I’ve posted some news regarding New Zealand’s zebra holdings in this thread over the past couple of days:

Australasian Zebra Population
 
Zoofan15 said:
That would be Carlo (2007). He was the zoo’s last breeding stallion and was sent to Gibb’s Farm after siring 1.2 offspring at Auckland Zoo between 2018 and 2021. His daughters (Eve and Nyota) remain in the herd.

There are currently no zoos in New Zealand breeding zebra. Hamilton Zoo transferred their breeding stallion and two of his adult sons to Orana last year.

I’ve posted some news regarding New Zealand’s zebra holdings in this thread over the past couple of days:

Australasian Zebra Population
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Thanks for the update! If no New Zealand zoos are part of a zebra breeding programme, would you know the story behind Zalika's foal at Hamilton Zoo, @Zoofan15 ? Was that pregnancy unofficial?
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
Thanks for the update! If no New Zealand zoos are part of a zebra breeding programme, would you know the story behind Zalika's foal at Hamilton Zoo, @Zoofan15 ? Was that pregnancy unofficial?
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Zalika’s foal was the last sired by Malawi before his transfer to Orana. He sired several foals during his decade long tenure as Hamilton’s breeding stallion. He was transferred out shortly before Marbles gave birth last September and when Zalika was pregnant.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Zalika’s foal was the last sired by Malawi before his transfer to Orana. He sired several foals during his decade long tenure as Hamilton’s breeding stallion. He was transferred out shortly before Marbles gave birth last September and when Zalika was pregnant.
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Thanks for the update - I understand now! Do you know if there are any plans to breed zebra in the future or will they be phased out in New Zealand in favour of other species?
 
Brown teal breeding success:

Auckland Zoo noted on socials today they have two pairs of Brown teal. One pair has produced two clutches of eggs, totalling 10 surviving ducklings. They will be released into the wild in the coming weeks. Since 2013, the zoo has released 170 juvenile Brown teal.
 
A Greater flamingo chick has hatched:

From socials:

Our first flamingo chick of the season just hatched last week!

This successful hatch on 27 January is awesome news for our bird team who have been trialing a new approach to flamingo egg management this breeding season.

Historically, four flamingo pairs have produced fertile eggs. Knowing this, our team has been checking eggs via candling (using a light source to examine the internal contents of the egg) to assess egg fertility. When fertility is confirmed, these eggs are strategically placed with other flamingo pairs that have not produced fertile eggs or successfully incubating in the past.

This chick hatched under flamingo pair Neil and Cheviot but from an egg produced by parents Richard and Sullivan! This ‘clutch management’ also allowed Richard and Sullivan to go on and lay another egg – meaning that more of the flock will have the chance to parent a chick this season and overall flock productivity can be increased - ultimately leading to the growth of the flamingo flock!
 
Zoofan15 said:
A Greater flamingo chick has hatched:

From socials:

Our first flamingo chick of the season just hatched last week!

This successful hatch on 27 January is awesome news for our bird team who have been trialing a new approach to flamingo egg management this breeding season.

Historically, four flamingo pairs have produced fertile eggs. Knowing this, our team has been checking eggs via candling (using a light source to examine the internal contents of the egg) to assess egg fertility. When fertility is confirmed, these eggs are strategically placed with other flamingo pairs that have not produced fertile eggs or successfully incubating in the past.

This chick hatched under flamingo pair Neil and Cheviot but from an egg produced by parents Richard and Sullivan! This ‘clutch management’ also allowed Richard and Sullivan to go on and lay another egg – meaning that more of the flock will have the chance to parent a chick this season and overall flock productivity can be increased - ultimately leading to the growth of the flamingo flock!
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This is great news! Auckland's flamingo flamboyance are one of their success stories and it is good to see them flourishing!
 
Wild Heroes (TV Series) - New Season

A second series (10 episodes) of Wild Heroes will begin screening from February 17.

Wild Heroes returns to your screens! | Auckland Zoo News

In the first two episodes, staff join conservation partners on fieldwork in the Southern Alp’s Matukituki Valley (habitat of the world’s only alpine parrot, the kea), release rare hand-reared tara iti (NZ fairy tern) to the wild, and travel to the jungles of Sumatra, a biodiversity hotspot that’s home to endangered tigers, orangutans, and elephants.

Back at the Zoo, the veterinary team pulls out all stops to save an endangered native species that comes in critically ill from the wild, two young Sumatran tigers arrive, and baby orangutan Bahmi bravely ventures onto the high canopy habitat’s aerial pathways!

 
Zoofan15 said:
Wild Heroes (TV Series) - New Season

A second series (10 episodes) of Wild Heroes will begin screening from February 17.

Wild Heroes returns to your screens! | Auckland Zoo News

In the first two episodes, staff join conservation partners on fieldwork in the Southern Alp’s Matukituki Valley (habitat of the world’s only alpine parrot, the kea), release rare hand-reared tara iti (NZ fairy tern) to the wild, and travel to the jungles of Sumatra, a biodiversity hotspot that’s home to endangered tigers, orangutans, and elephants.

Back at the Zoo, the veterinary team pulls out all stops to save an endangered native species that comes in critically ill from the wild, two young Sumatran tigers arrive, and baby orangutan Bahmi bravely ventures onto the high canopy habitat’s aerial pathways!

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This is great news! I am looking forward to watching this, having enjoyed the first series. I especially want to see more of the orangutan family! Wonder if they will cover the arrival of Daya?
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
This is great news! I am looking forward to watching this, having enjoyed the first series. I especially want to see more of the orangutan family! Wonder if they will cover the arrival of Daya?
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It’s not a bad series, but I would prefer a greater focus on Auckland Zoo and it’s residents rather than conversation work (especially when the conservation work doesn’t even involve Auckland Zoo animals).

I’m expecting the arrival of Daya to be covered. She was imported in July 2023 and the series is noted to cover events as recent as the birth of the two tiger cubs last month.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Giraffe calf naming competition:

Auckland Zoo have announced a naming competition for their giraffe calf and the best news of all, it’s a free-form/open entry naming competition.

Just like her whānau from around the Zoo, we’re looking to give this newborn a name that relates to where her counterparts are from in the wild. To give you an idea, her older brother is named Jabali which means ‘strong’ in Swahili.

The competition closes January 31.
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Giraffe calf named:

The female calf has been named ‘Enzi’:

“Enzi means ‘powerful’ in Swahili and we think it’s the perfect name for this strong female calf,” explains our ungulates team leader Tommy.

Our ungulates keepers say that Enzi is a very easy-going calf and is showing a lot of character already. She has bonded well with the whole giraffe herd and is already very confident around the other species – ostriches and zebras – that she shares her habitat with.

Her weight is increasing at a healthy and steady 2kg a day and she has already started to supplement mum Kiraka’s milk with a nibble on some fresh leaves and lucerne hay.

Auckland Zoo’s giraffe herd:

1.0 Billy (26/09/2018) Australia Zoo
0.1 Rukiya (23/09/2001) Wellington Zoo
0.1 Kiraka (20/11/2009) Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Kabili (31/12/2016) Zabulu x Kiraka
1.0 Jabali (19/08/2022) Billy x Kiraka
0.1 Enzi (13/01/2024) Billy x Kiraka
 
Zoofan15 said:
Giraffe calf named:

The female calf has been named ‘Enzi’:

“Enzi means ‘powerful’ in Swahili and we think it’s the perfect name for this strong female calf,” explains our ungulates team leader Tommy.

Our ungulates keepers say that Enzi is a very easy-going calf and is showing a lot of character already. She has bonded well with the whole giraffe herd and is already very confident around the other species – ostriches and zebras – that she shares her habitat with.

Her weight is increasing at a healthy and steady 2kg a day and she has already started to supplement mum Kiraka’s milk with a nibble on some fresh leaves and lucerne hay.

Auckland Zoo’s giraffe herd:

1.0 Billy (26/09/2018) Australia Zoo
0.1 Rukiya (23/09/2001) Wellington Zoo
0.1 Kiraka (20/11/2009) Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Kabili (31/12/2016) Zabulu x Kiraka
1.0 Jabali (19/08/2022) Billy x Kiraka
0.1 Enzi (13/01/2024) Billy x Kiraka
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That is a nice name and easy for the young ones to pronounce! I was lucky enough to see her yesterday on a brief visit to the zoo (left early because of the heat). Although the name reminds me of Monarto's beloved young chimpanzee! :p
 
Two Kotare (Kingfisher) chicks have hatched.

Auckland Zoo on Instagram: "Check out these kōtare (kingfisher) that have set up a nest at the Zoo! As our regular visitors know only too well, sulphur-crested cockatoo Captain is well known for carving out the inside of his beloved tree stump within his Australian Bush Track habitat. Recently, Emma from our animal experience team was drawn to the stump by a faint chirping noise. This led her to find a hidden treasure within one of Captain's carefully crafted holes—a nest cradling two precious kōtare chicks! Native to New Zealand, kōtare can be found in diverse habitats such as forests, riverbanks, farmlands, lakes, estuaries, and rocky coastlines. Kōtare select nesting sites in tree cavities, cliffs, and banks. A camera trap (a camera that is triggered by a motion sensor) captured this beautiful footage of the kōtare parents feeding their chick. The parents will take turns foraging and feeding the chick food for 7–10 days until the young birds begin to catch food independently. This is an important reminder of the crucial role that old or rotting trees play, serving as sanctuaries for wildlife like birds and invertebrates! Learn more at our Strangely Beautiful Australia keeper talks, at 11am each day."
 
Jambo said:
Two Kotare (Kingfisher) chicks have hatched.

Auckland Zoo on Instagram: "Check out these kōtare (kingfisher) that have set up a nest at the Zoo! As our regular visitors know only too well, sulphur-crested cockatoo Captain is well known for carving out the inside of his beloved tree stump within his Australian Bush Track habitat. Recently, Emma from our animal experience team was drawn to the stump by a faint chirping noise. This led her to find a hidden treasure within one of Captain's carefully crafted holes—a nest cradling two precious kōtare chicks! Native to New Zealand, kōtare can be found in diverse habitats such as forests, riverbanks, farmlands, lakes, estuaries, and rocky coastlines. Kōtare select nesting sites in tree cavities, cliffs, and banks. A camera trap (a camera that is triggered by a motion sensor) captured this beautiful footage of the kōtare parents feeding their chick. The parents will take turns foraging and feeding the chick food for 7–10 days until the young birds begin to catch food independently. This is an important reminder of the crucial role that old or rotting trees play, serving as sanctuaries for wildlife like birds and invertebrates! Learn more at our Strangely Beautiful Australia keeper talks, at 11am each day."
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This is adorable! By the looks of things, it's completely wild kingfishers who have made their nest in this tree!
 
Jambo said:
Two Kotare (Kingfisher) chicks have hatched.

Auckland Zoo on Instagram: "Check out these kōtare (kingfisher) that have set up a nest at the Zoo! As our regular visitors know only too well, sulphur-crested cockatoo Captain is well known for carving out the inside of his beloved tree stump within his Australian Bush Track habitat. Recently, Emma from our animal experience team was drawn to the stump by a faint chirping noise. This led her to find a hidden treasure within one of Captain's carefully crafted holes—a nest cradling two precious kōtare chicks! Native to New Zealand, kōtare can be found in diverse habitats such as forests, riverbanks, farmlands, lakes, estuaries, and rocky coastlines. Kōtare select nesting sites in tree cavities, cliffs, and banks. A camera trap (a camera that is triggered by a motion sensor) captured this beautiful footage of the kōtare parents feeding their chick. The parents will take turns foraging and feeding the chick food for 7–10 days until the young birds begin to catch food independently. This is an important reminder of the crucial role that old or rotting trees play, serving as sanctuaries for wildlife like birds and invertebrates! Learn more at our Strangely Beautiful Australia keeper talks, at 11am each day."
Click to expand...
ApeLadyNZ said:
This is adorable! By the looks of things, it's completely wild kingfishers who have made their nest in this tree!
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Yes, they are wild. The nest site (Captain’s logs) are situated in the open air plaza of the Australian precinct. It’s great to see wild birds consider Auckland Zoo’s grounds a suitable nesting site! :)
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes, they are wild. The nest site (Captain’s logs) are situated in the open air plaza of the Australian precinct. It’s great to see wild birds consider Auckland Zoo’s grounds a suitable nesting site! :)
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This is amazing. A little while ago, there were birds nesting in the tree outside the siamang habitat, but I was unable to determine which species of bird they were.
 
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