Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo news

The zoo have been very upfront about the fact that they are trying to get company for Burma, but that if they can't arrange it, she will be rehomed out of NZ. My concern is what's best for her, and ideally sooner rather than later. The value of elephants as an ambassador species for themselves and for conservation in general is not to be underestimated, however, so if the zoo can swing getting her some company rather than sending her afield, that's a wonderful resource for Auckland to generate awareness of the issues facing wild elephants.
 
driftaguy said:
Yes, I took photos of the new signs so I could post the names on here.
They are the Mallee Ringneck Parakeet, Australian King Parrot, Musk Lorikeet and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. As well as these, there are also Little-red Flying Foxes. The enclosures are next to the exit of the old kiwi house.

The glass enclosure seemed empty, and there were no signs attached to it.

Yes, the enclosure is nocturnal. The path is more lit up now than it used to be. The old kiwi house is located between the toilets and the Information Centre.
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I've just been to the zoo last week. The nocturnal porcupine house is great. They are so much better when they are active and plodding around than when they are sleeping in a ball! I do think the enclosure is on the small side but of course I prefer animals to have more room than less; the Auckland porcupines have less room than the Wellington ones but more than the Orana ones so I guess it evens out. I'd have put some terrariums along the back wall as well (i.e. the wall behind you when you are facing the porcupines).

The aviaries outside were mostly empty. The glass one just said "off-display" (no identification of species); the red-tailed cockatoo aviary was also sign-posted "off-display"; the fruit bats were in the middle aviary; the final aviary just had a sign for snake-necked turtles.

The old macaw/cockatoo aviary which was empty now displays......a spur-winged plover!

The otters apparently did not get along with the squirrel monkeys: there is a sign there saying they (the otters) have been moved to new enclsoures by Darwin's Cafe. Viewed from the end by the tarantulas the squirrel monkey enclosure is actually much bigger than I thought. It would make a very nice home for a big group of coatis....

I counted 16 flamingoes (on my last visit I definitely could only count 15 and so thought they must have lost another one, but no).
 
Chlidonias said:
I've just been to the zoo last week. The nocturnal porcupine house is great. They are so much better when they are active and plodding around than when they are sleeping in a ball! I do think the enclosure is on the small side but of course I prefer animals to have more room than less; the Auckland porcupines have less room than the Wellington ones but more than the Orana ones so I guess it evens out. I'd have put some terrariums along the back wall as well (i.e. the wall behind you when you are facing the porcupines).

The aviaries outside were mostly empty. The glass one just said "off-display" (no identification of species); the red-tailed cockatoo aviary was also sign-posted "off-display"; the fruit bats were in the middle aviary; the final aviary just had a sign for snake-necked turtles.

The old macaw/cockatoo aviary which was empty now displays......a spur-winged plover!

The otters apparently did not get along with the squirrel monkeys: there is a sign there saying they (the otters) have been moved to new enclsoures by Darwin's Cafe. Viewed from the end by the tarantulas the squirrel monkey enclosure is actually much bigger than I thought. It would make a very nice home for a big group of coatis....

I counted 16 flamingoes (on my last visit I definitely could only count 15 and so thought they must have lost another one, but no).
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Maybe the aviaries up by the entrance aren't working out very well for the Aussie birds then? Maybe they will put them back where they belong now?

Kind of glad they moved the otters out of the rainforest, just one non-South American there now. That exhibit is quite large, it would be nice to have a Brazilian Tapir in there. And one next door in the Siamang enclosure if they get replaced with something more suited to that theme, maybe capuchins or even coatis. Can coatis co-exist with squirrel monkeys?
 
zooboy28 said:
Kind of glad they moved the otters out of the rainforest, just one non-South American there now. That exhibit is quite large, it would be nice to have a Brazilian Tapir in there. And one next door in the Siamang enclosure if they get replaced with something more suited to that theme, maybe capuchins or even coatis. Can coatis co-exist with squirrel monkeys?
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too small for a tapir in my opinion (but as I said above, I prefer animals to have more room than zoos normally give them!). I'm not sure about squirrel monkeys with coatis: I'd be wary of the monkeys being injured, but it's probably a mix done somewhere in the world already.

Was a photo of the siamang cage ever posted? Snowleopard was asking about it in my review thread last year, and I took one on this visit from probably the only angle possible.
 
Giraffe Pregnancy

Update from the facebook page:

We're excited to tell you that Rukiya is pregnant! Due around August, Campbell Live will be following Rukiya's pregnancy in the lead up to the birth! If you missed the first installment last night, you can watch it here: Auckland Zoo's pregnant giraffe - Campbell Live - Video - 3 News
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I know they don't have a lot of room for giraffes at Auckland, but could they not try and build up the herd a little? They always seem to sit around 3-4 animals, and ship out all young, but a slightly bigger herd would be nice. Wouldn't it?
 
zooboy28 said:
I know they don't have a lot of room for giraffes at Auckland, but could they not try and build up the herd a little? They always seem to sit around 3-4 animals, and ship out all young, but a slightly bigger herd would be nice. Wouldn't it?
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that's the case with a lot of zoos, simply sitting on three giraffes, four zebra, etc. To me a herd animal should be kept in a herd, but even with lots of space (e.g. Orana) they don't really.

For Auckland specifically, the giraffe enclosure isn't all that large though so 3 or 4 is probably about right.
 
Chlidonias said:
that's the case with a lot of zoos, simply sitting on three giraffes, four zebra, etc. To me a herd animal should be kept in a herd, but even with lots of space (e.g. Orana) they don't really.

For Auckland specifically, the giraffe enclosure isn't all that large though so 3 or 4 is probably about right.
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For years Auckland only had 2-3 zebra, and quite a bit of trouble breeding them I think, but they've got a slightly larger herd now which I hope they can keep at least that size. I guess with their space they are limited to a small number of giraffe, which do breed regularly.

To me it always seems like a barren, empty enclosure, especially compared with Hamilton's African savannah exhibit, but thats not really a fair comparison.
 
zooboy28 said:
For years Auckland only had 2-3 zebra, and quite a bit of trouble breeding them I think, but they've got a slightly larger herd now which I hope they can keep at least that size. I guess with their space they are limited to a small number of giraffe, which do breed regularly.

To me it always seems like a barren, empty enclosure, especially compared with Hamilton's African savannah exhibit, but thats not really a fair comparison.
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I think they're basically stuck with the site. To me that enclosure is the least attractive part of the zoo by a long shot, just empty and barren as you say. Partly it is due to the contrast with the rest of the zoo (very leafy), but the number one reason of course is just that it is too small to have grassed. Not much they can really do about it.
 
Chlidonias said:
I think they're basically stuck with the site. To me that enclosure is the least attractive part of the zoo by a long shot, just empty and barren as you say. Partly it is due to the contrast with the rest of the zoo (very leafy), but the number one reason of course is just that it is too small to have grassed. Not much they can really do about it.
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Yes, that's true. I guess if they themed it as a desert exhibit it might look better, but obviously that won't change much for the animals. Then they could relocate the meerkats over this side too. It probably doesn't help that you're always looking down on the exhibit too.
 
Are we talking giraffe giraffe giraffe, or one of the (sub-)species here?
I agree though a herd animal needs to be in a herd.
Recommendation here is at least 1.3 breeding herds ..
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Are we talking giraffe giraffe giraffe, or one of the (sub-)species here?
I agree though a herd animal needs to be in a herd.
Recommendation here is at least 1.3 breeding herds ..
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they are generic giraffes like most in Australasia. I think one of Auckland's is a "pure" Rothschild, the other hybrids. Giraffes, zebras, etc generally aren't managed subspecifically in Australasia.
 
Pounamu the kakapo has been at the zoo for the last nine weeks in their hospital (no public viewings), and was transferred back to Codfish Island this week.

(From the zoo's Facebook page).
 
Baby Giraffe Born

Rukiya delivered a healthy female giraffe calf on Saturday (3/8/2013).

Story here: Auckland Zoo - Zoo's tall order delivered in record time

Auckland Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its 31st giraffe calf - a 1.7m female, delivered in record time to 12-year-old giraffe mum, Rukiya.

The fifth offspring for Rukiya and 13-year-old dad Zabulu was born at 11.10am on Saturday morning following a labour of less than three hours - Rukiya's fastest delivery to date.

The yet-to-named calf was standing within half an hour, with experienced mum Rukiya taking it all in her stride as she demonstrated her exceptional mothering skills. This included having her newborn successfully suckle from her the minute it could stand - something keeping staff have not seen at any other giraffe birth.

"Rukiya really took us by surprise this time. She was incredibly relaxed the day before the birth and right up until she started going into labour, and gave us none of the usual and obvious signs she was ready for action. She also stayed amazingly calm throughout the labour - which was significantly shorter than her others and by far the easiest and most relaxed," says Pridelands keeper, Kathryn McKee, who has been present for all five of Rukiya's births.

"It's fantastic to see Rukiya doing so well, and we're delighted she has had a female. Dad Zabulu is a Rothschild's giraffe and mum Rukiya is part-Rothschild, so genetically this newcomer is a valuable addition to the Australasian breeding programme," says Kathryn.

A health check was carried out by Zoo vets yesterday (Sunday), confirming the female calf is strong and healthy.

Rukiya and her calf will be gradually integrated with the rest of the giraffe herd, zebra and ostrich in the giraffe paddock in Pridelands over the next month. In the next two weeks, visitors may spot mum and her calf out in the paddock in the morning for brief periods. Like us on facebook for updates.
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