Orana Wildlife Park Orana Wildlife Park News 2024

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Osedax said:
How many porcupines does Orana have now?
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They should have six porcupines.

In addition to the newly arrived 1.1 Cape porcupine from Auckland Zoo (Bruce and Kali), they have:

1.1 Cape porcupine:

1.0 Lawrence (2013) Imported 2015
0.1 Snickers (2017) Imported 2018

0.2 Crested Porcupine:

0.1 Hapana (2010) Imported 2013
0.1 Tuli (2011) Imported 2013

While Bruce bred twice with Alika at Auckland, he’s never bred with Kali; and Lawrence and Snickers have never bred. All four animals are founders. I assume the idea here is to re-pair them (Lawrence with Kali; Bruce with Snickers) to see if that yields results.
 
Orana intending to receive bull rhinoceros from Hamilton:

The Waikato Times

This week there was an unsuccessful attempt to transfer Samburu (2016) from Hamilton Zoo to Orana Wildlife Park.

News of this transfer surprised me as last I heard, Orana was intending to import the first shipment of rhinos under the Australian Rhino Project (with the intention of keeping a bull). There’s been a series of articles of late regarding Orana’s financial situation so interested to know if Samburu is a stop gap solution (Orana’s only viable cow hasn’t bred in seven years) until the import can go ahead; or a replacement solution if the import has been diverted to Australian zoos.
 
Is this shipment of rhinos ever going to arrive? Zoo's in the region are counting on this.
 
Luke899 said:
Is this shipment of rhinos ever going to arrive? Zoo's in the region are counting on this.
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They were at the paperwork stage when I enquired last year. I’m a little confused by their intent to receive a bull from Hamilton Zoo, so am now wondering whether this import is still being undertaken by Orana.

I know there’s been numerous articles regarding uncertainty over future funding, so with submissions currently in progress, this may influence decision over whether to proceed.
 
Orana Wildlife Park facing 'financial demise' if funding not secured from Christchurch City Council

“Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park faces an "inevitable financial demise" without $1.5 million in annual long-term funding from the city council.

The country's only open range zoo houses 1000 animals from 90 species, including exotic threatened species like the Sumatran tiger and white rhinoceros.

Orana Wildlife Trust chief executive Lynn Anderson said while the park's closure was not an option, it would be terrible for breeding programmes.

"A closure would be a disaster for on a national and regional basis," she said.”

"We work very closely with other major zoos in New Zealand and Australia on collaborative breeding programmes for endangered species.

"As New Zealand's only open range zoo, we fulfil a really valuable role in terms of holding additional animals that can't be held in smaller zoos so that they're available for breeding."


https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national...ng-not-secured-from-christchurch-city-council

Doesn’t sound good for rhino imports this year :(
 
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Luke899 said:
Orana Wildlife Park facing 'financial demise' if funding not secured from Christchurch City Council

“Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park faces an "inevitable financial demise" without $1.5 million in annual long-term funding from the city council.

The country's only open range zoo houses 1000 animals from 90 species, including exotic threatened species like the Sumatran tiger and white rhinoceros.

Orana Wildlife Trust chief executive Lynn Anderson said while the park's closure was not an option, it would be terrible for breeding programmes.

"A closure would be a disaster for on a national and regional basis," she said.”

"We work very closely with other major zoos in New Zealand and Australia on collaborative breeding programmes for endangered species.

"As New Zealand's only open range zoo, we fulfil a really valuable role in terms of holding additional animals that can't be held in smaller zoos so that they're available for breeding."


https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national...ng-not-secured-from-christchurch-city-council

Doesn’t sound good for rhino imports this year :(
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To say Orana Wildlife Park would benefit from increased council funding is an understatement. There’s an interesting graph here which compares the funding New Zealand’s four main zoos receive from their local councils; alongside their respective operating costs: The Press

Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand’s only open range zoo and has been running for 48 years. It’s an asset to multiple regional breeding programmes, with Cheetah being one of their flagship species.

As for the rhinoceros, I too fear financial setbacks could postpone the anticipated imports, which would be unfortunate for both Orana and the receivers of these imports.
 
Male kiwi arrives for breeding:

From socials:

Meet Waru! This wee guy recently arrived from National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa. He has been given a recommendation to be paired for breeding with one of our kiwi from last season Paddle. When Waru arrived the team gave him a check over to ensure he was doing well after his flight. His is a healthy young bird so we are excited what the future will bring for Waru and Paddle "
 
Orana Wildlife Park Update

Update from my visit (29/06/2024):

One of the African lion prides (Priscilla’s pride) has been subdivided into two. Leah (2004) is now housed separately from Meeka (2004) and Mambila (2011).

The park still has Springbok. I saw three on my visit and understand a fourth is held off display with an elderly zebra.

The gorillas (Fataki and Fuzu) have been reintegrated following reports they were being housed separately.

Five of Orana’s Cheetah have died due to age related reasons: Gemma (2006); Mazza (2009); Kanzi (2014); Nia (2014); and Quake (2015). I asked if it’s possible Auckland’s female Cheetah would be transferred to Orana (since Auckland’s masterplan indicates they’re phasing out Cheetah) and was told it’s a possibility, but no decisions have been made yet.

No updates on the Southern white rhinoceros import other than confirmation it is still going ahead at this stage. Imports take time.

Overall, I had a very enjoyable visit to Orana. I will post a review of my visit later this month.

Photos from my visit:

Orana Wildlife Park - ZooChat
Aaa
 
Zoofan15 said:
The park still has Springbok. I saw three on my visit and understand a fourth is held off display with an elderly zebra.
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I'd assume this would be Zelda? If so, it would be good news if she was still alive at the age of 37.
Zoofan15 said:
The gorillas (Fataki and Fuzu) have been reintegrated following reports they were being housed separately.
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Also good to hear. It gives them the opportunity to still receive Taronga's bachelor males if that is the plan.
 
Jambo said:
I'd assume this would be Zelda? If so, it would be good news if she was still alive at the age of 37.

Also good to hear. It gives them the opportunity to still receive Taronga's bachelor males if that is the plan.
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Yes, as of earlier this year (I didn’t ask on this visit), Zelda the elderly Plains zebra mare is still alive and living with a male Springbok. Congrats to Orana on her incredible longevity!

A trio of three Plains zebra were on display, which would have been the stallion, Malawi (2012) and the mares, Asale (2009) and Eve (2018). The younger males (Okavango and Zambia) live separately. Fingers crossed Orana welcome a zebra foal in the next year or so. Due her age and having never bred before, Asale is a long shot; but hopefully Eve can produce their first foal in close to 30 years.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes, as of earlier this year (I didn’t ask on this visit), Zelda the elderly Plains zebra mare is still alive and living with a male Springbok. Congrats to Orana on her incredible longevity!

A trio of three Plains zebra were on display, which would have been the stallion, Malawi (2012) and the mares, Asale (2009) and Eve (2018). The younger males (Okavango and Zambia) live separately. Fingers crossed Orana welcome a zebra foal in the next year or so. Due her age and having never bred before, Asale is a long shot; but hopefully Eve can produce their first foal in close to 30 years.
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It does seem like Eve's transfer from Auckland was on breeding recommendation. It makes sense as Malawi's transfer from Hamilton followed not long after. Considering Orana seems to be the only breeding facility for this species within NZ at the moment, it would be important to have a foal on the ground asap.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Have they managed to transfer the white rhino bull Samburu from Hamilton Zoo to Orana now?
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He hasn't. It was a logistical issue they were working out; his crate couldn't fit into the plane. It was mentioned it was their preference he was transferred via air rather than via road and boat but unless they can achieve a solution, this might be the only feasible option left.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Have they managed to transfer the white rhino bull Samburu from Hamilton Zoo to Orana now?
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He’s still at Hamilton Zoo as far as I know. I didn’t see him on my visit on 28/06/2024, but large animal transfers are typically announced and there’s no reason to believe he wasn’t off display. Orana’s three cows were on display on 29/06/2024; though introductions would take several weeks, so I’d expect to see them rotating initially.
Jambo said:
It does seem like Eve's transfer from Auckland was on breeding recommendation. It makes sense as Malawi's transfer from Hamilton followed not long after. Considering Orana seems to be the only breeding facility for this species within NZ at the moment, it would be important to have a foal on the ground asap.
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Yes, Malawi and Eve have a breeding recommendation and I was told Malawi and Asale do too, though it’s a wait and see due to her age.

I’ll be interested to see if Hamilton’s remaining colts follow their brothers and father to Orana as they seem to be building up a bachelor herd alongside their breeding herd. It’ll be nice to see Orana breeding zebra again. After researching the history of their zebra, I discovered births up to at least 1989 (likely going into the early 90’s).
 
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