Current Mammals In New Zealand Zoos

[Cassidy Casuar]

It seems like the yaks are no longer at the facility.

Natureland Wildlife Trust

Well that's damn stupid. Why did these animals even need to be named, anyway, if they were going to be shipped back to bovine university after well under a year?

Between this disgraceful act of deception, and this so-called zoo having pretty much no proper zoo animals beyond one or two lesser monkeys, perhaps this hell-hole should have been shut down after all.

 

[joe99]

Well that's damn stupid. Why did these animals even need to be named, anyway, if they were going to be shipped back to bovine university after well under a year?

Between this disgraceful act of deception, and this so-called zoo having pretty much no proper zoo animals beyond one or two lesser monkeys, perhaps this hell-hole should have been shut down after all.

This seams overly harsh for a zoo with people I know though working there
1. lots of zoos will often swap out domestic/pet animals once they get too big/old. zoos in NZ do it all the time so its not too out of place
2. they do have meerkats, cape porcupines, red rumpled agoutis, cotton top tamarins, black and white ruffed lemurs, pygmy marmosets, and Green iguanas as "proper" zoo animals, along with other rare breeds, companion animals and a few natives
3. they do breed and release programs for SI kaka and Yellow crowned kakariki and take part in plenty of conservation projects, which i think even some bigger zoos in NZ need to be doing more off

 

[WhistlingKite24]

*Brazilian Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) – Hamilton; Brooklands; Wellington; Natureland

From Wellington Zoo’s 2023 annual report – four additional Red-rumped Agouti have been imported from the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra: https://wellingtonzoo.com/assets/Resources/Annual-Report-2023-VFINAL-WEB.pdf

 

[Zoofan15]

*”generic” Tigers (Panthera tigris) – Kamo (Zion); Pouakai

Only one orange “Bengal” tiger has been imported to Kamo, a female in 2002 (with the white tigers, to which she is related). The original white tigers at Kamo were three males and one female imported in 2002 from a private breeder in the USA. The white tigers kept at Pouakai (since 2010) were bred at Kamo.

Pouakai Zoo no longer have generic tigers:

Pouakai Zoo no longer have generic tigers, following the passing of their tigress (Kala) on 03/05/2023:

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[WhistlingKite24]

Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator) – Auckland

Six male Emperor Tamarins have arrived at Butterfly Creek from Auckland Zoo: Log in to Facebook | Facebook

 

[Zoofan15]

Hamilton Zoo now have Caracal:

Hamilton Zoo have imported a male Caracal from Darling Downs Zoo. I caught a glimpse of him on my visit today.

A new (albeit returning) species for the region!

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Pouakai Zoo have reported that their two Meerkats have died, leaving them without the species.

Interestingly, they posted a video a few months ago in January showing that their White-handed Gibbon is mixed with a Black-handed Spider Monkey.

 

[Zoofan15]

*Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) – one female at Auckland)

Auckland Zoo no longer holds elephants:

As reported on the Auckland Zoo news thread, Burma has now left Auckland Zoo.

With Burma’s export, this will mark the end of elephants in New Zealand. Wellington Zoo previously held elephants from 1927-1983; and in addition to Mila at Franklin Zoo (exported 2012), there have previously been circus elephants (including Mila).

 

[ElephasMaximus]

Not sure if this is quite the right place for this post, but what's the chance of New Zealand getting in on Australia's upcoming imports of xenarthrans? Has anyone heard anything about one of the Big Four zoos lobbying the government for a Xenarthra IRA? I know that Auckland showed some interest in sloths a few years ago.

 

[Zoofan15]

Not sure if this is quite the right place for this post, but what's the chance of New Zealand getting in on Australia's upcoming imports of xenarthrans? Has anyone heard anything about one of the Big Four zoos lobbying the government for a Xenarthra IRA? I know that Auckland showed some interest in sloths a few years ago.

Although I haven’t heard anything to confirm this specifically, it’s worth nothing that New Zealand has already completed a Bovid IRA and a Giraffe/Okapi IRA within the past decade.

Since we know there’s no interest in a Hippopotamus IHS, Xenarthra seems the logical next step given regional interest in these species (i.e in Australia). Auckland Zoo’s South American precinct is in desperate need of an upgrade with empty exhibits and under-utilised space.

 

[ElephasMaximus]

Although I haven’t heard anything to confirm this specifically, it’s worth nothing that New Zealand has already completed a Bovid IRA and a Giraffe/Okapi IRA within the past decade.

Since we know there’s no interest in a Hippopotamus IHS, Xenarthra seems the logical next step given regional interest in these species (i.e in Australia). Auckland Zoo’s South American precinct is in desperate need of an upgrade with empty exhibits and under-utilised space.

It's probably also worth noting that although there are fair number of species that Australia has an IHS for but not NZ, I don't think there are any whole taxonomic orders or classes that Australia allows in but not NZ. Even if there's no interest right now, once Australia has a couple of xenarthra species well-established I could see NZ zoos starting to think about importing some.

 

[Zoofan15]

*Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaerus) – Brooklands; Wellington; Willowbank

Brooklands Zoo no longer hold Capybara:

1.0 Fernando has transferred to Wellington Zoo and the other male has apparently died/transferred out as the exhibit is now empty (with signage indicating the exhibit will be refurbished).

Confirmed from my visit 10/04/2025:

 

[Zoofan15]

*Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) – Wellington

Wellington's previous stock came from Western Plains Zoo (Australia), but four new ones (3.1) were imported from Symbio Wildlife Park (Australia) in April 2016 to join the remaining Wellington-bred animals (then down to 1.1). Previously also kept at Orana [four pairs were imported from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 1980, although they were definitely kept at Orana before that as well] and at Auckland.

Auckland Zoo now has Forester kangaroo (subspecies of Eastern grey kangaroo):

From Auckland Zoo’s socials:

We’ve welcomed kangaroos from across the Tasman!

A mob of forester kangaroos (a sub-species of the eastern grey kangaroo) have been settling in into our Australia Bush Track, under the care of our animal experiences keepers. While the mob are being introduced to their habitat, we have temporarily closed part of the Track (which includes emu, brolga and Cunningham’s skinks), and this may be closed when you visit.

 

[ElephasMaximus]

Out of curiosity, would it be possible to import Barbary sheep back into the country using existing permits for domestic sheep? I remember seeing Barbary sheep at Wellington Zoo when I was a kid, and I kinda miss them.

 

[Chlidonias]

Out of curiosity, would it be possible to import Barbary sheep back into the country using existing permits for domestic sheep? I remember seeing Barbary sheep at Wellington Zoo when I was a kid, and I kinda miss them.

No, Barbary Sheep are not domestic sheep.

 

[Zoofan15]

Kamo Wildlife Park updates:

*”generic” Tigers (Panthera tigris) – Kamo (Zion)

On 21/03/2025, Kamo Wildlife Park announced the death of their last tiger (Indira) via their Facebook page. Indira was also the last generic tiger in New Zealand.

*African Lion (Panthera leo) [also including "Barbary" and white lions] – Kamo (Zion); Auckland; Paradise Valley Springs; Pouakai; Wellington; Orana

It was announced today on Kamo Wildlife Park’s social media and in the article linked below that their seven remaining lions are to be euthanised this week.

Last big cats to be euthanised at Whangārei's lion park as 'no real options left'