Auckland Zoo 2004 Asset Management Plan - Highlights

[driftaguy]

Yes, I know it's almost 10 years old, but some of the information I found to be very interesting!

I have recently borrowed a copy of the 2004 Asset Management Plan for Auckland Zoo. Much of the information I found interesting and I'm sure other members would too, so I've decided to do several posts highlighting some of the more interesting stuff.

 

[driftaguy]

Cancelled/Postponed Projects

Explorium
This was going to replace the old Kiwi/Tuatara house (which now holds Porcupine) as well as the three aviaries (currently containing Australian birds). The Explorium was planned to be completed by the end of 2005. This project, which had a budget of $1.2 million, is most likely cancelled.

Orangutan Extension
This project would have been an excellent addition to the zoo. The Orangutan Extension involved the disposal of the aquarium and old sea lion pool to create additional space for the (then) breeding population of Orangutan. The budget was $1.2 million and was to be done in 2006-7. The project would of made the exhibit the world's largest captive area for breeding Orangutan, and is presumed cancelled (or, with some adjustments, postponed until final plans are made for the aquisition of the Sumatran Orangutan).

Tiger Gorge
I was most excited about this development. Tiger Gorge was to be a new themed area of the zoo that would display Tigers, Golden Cats, Red Panda, Crocodiles and Reptiles. The budget was $3 million and the project was due to start in 2008 and finished in 2009. This project is most definitely cancelled.


Also mentioned was a Tropical House, but harldy any information about it was given.

 

[zooboy28]

Sounds interesting, where did you borrow it from? What was the explorium going to hold?

To be honest, I have been pretty happy with the new exhibits at the zoo, especially Te Wao Nui, and don't think that the fact that the other projects you listed didn't happen is a bad thing. A large South-East Asian precinct incorporating the orangs and tigers in that central part of the zoo would still be a great thing IMHO, but that would probably be best left until they got down to one group of orangs (and had sorted out a few other bits, especially the elephants).

 

[driftaguy]

I borrowed it from the Auckland Library which got it from Auckland Council's corporate library. I haven't read the entire plan yet, but so far there hasn't been any information about species that were going to be in the explorium.