end of the year, so time for the annual round-up of news. Once again it is mostly gleaned from the Zoochat collection. As you can probably gather from the following post, Wellington Zoo does an excellent job of relaying information to the public while all the other zoos' efforts at this range from not-very-good to downright pathetic!
As usual, feel free to post any additions
ZION WILDLIFE PARK
*the court case about the death of Dalu Mncube in May 2009 was an extremely drawn-out process (having originally been set for January 2010, then adjourned till February, then April, then July, then November......) but finally took place on 27 June 2011 (Guilty plea by Zion Wildlife Park - national | Stuff.co.nz).
*the park was placed into receivership in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/zion-wildlife-gardens-recievership-225503/).
*Zion's chacma baboon Foxy died in September. He was the last one in NZ after the death earlier in the year of Auckland/Franklin's chacma Tony.
AUCKLAND ZOO:
*two pigmy marmosets (from Mogo Zoo, NSW, and Twycross Zoo, UK, respectively) went on show in January, the first of the species at the zoo (http://www.zoochat.com/17/pigmy-marmosets-arrive-199561/)
*Tony the chacma baboon, on long-term loan to Auckland from Franklin but due to return to the latter collection, died at Auckland Zoo in January (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
*a baby Hamadryas baboon named Sekani was born around April and another in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
*the last golden cats in NZ (at Auckland and Hamilton) were exported this year to Europe (buried in the dross in this thread: http://www.zoochat.com/17/asian-golden-cats-49687/)
*in May a horse was given as a friend to Burma the solitary elephant. Neither party was impressed. Later in May the Auckland City Council approved the provision of funding to import two young elephants from Sri Lanka as companions for Burma (http://www.zoochat.com/17/elephant-herd-now-works-67120/index4.html).
*Jelani the giraffe left the zoo for Australia in September (http://www.zoochat.com/17/jelani-move-233861/).
*Auckland Zoo's brilliant new native section Te Wao Nui opened in September (http://www.zoochat.com/17/te-wao-nui-development-progress-211831/ and http://www.zoochat.com/17/te-wao-nui-review-236615/).
*a new giraffe Karaka arrived from Dubbo Zoo in October (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
HAMILTON ZOO:
*the last golden cats in NZ (at Auckland and Hamilton) were exported this year to Europe (buried in the dross in this thread: http://www.zoochat.com/17/asian-golden-cats-49687/)
*artificial insemination was unsuccessfully trialled on the zoo's fishing cats this year (but I can't find any links)
*Mike the zoo's 37 year old chimpanzee died in March following surgery (Hamilton Zoo chimpanzee passes away following surgery | Scoop News).
*a white rhino pregnancy was announced in August, with the due date expected to be next year (Hamilton Zoo Rhino Moesha Expecting Calf | Stuff.co.nz).
*a female zebra named Layla was born in September (Zebra Baby At Hamilton Zoo | Stuff.co.nz) and another zebra was announced pregnant (Layla steps out for a taste of spring - Hamilton - NZ Herald News).
*two waterbuck, the first at the zoo since 2003 arrived in October from Orana Park, replacing the nilgai which died of old age this year (the news item says last year, apparently an error) (New girls on the block settle into Sahara paddock | Stuff.co.nz).
*ring-tailed lemur twins were born in October (Yahoo! New Zealand News).
POUAKAI ZOO
*in their first overseas importation Pouakai obtained two female meerkats from South Africa in May (http://www.zoochat.com/17/new-meerkats-215992/).
WELLINGTON ZOO:
*three pigmy marmosets were imported from Newquay Zoo, UK, in January; the zoo already had three pigmy marmosets at this time (http://www.zoochat.com/17/new-pygmy-marmosets-201319/). A baby pigmy marmoset was also born to the original pair in October this year (Wellington Zoo Pygmy Marmoset Born | Stuff.co.nz).
*two meerkat pups were born in February (Meerkat pups venture outside | Stuff.co.nz) and four more in October (Wellington Zoo's meerkat pup ventures outside | Stuff.co.nz).
*early in the year the new “tuck shop” opened on the site of the old elephant house, incorporating new reptile tanks (http://www.zoochat.com/17/wellington-zoo-developments-2011-a-205550/)
*the new "themed" exhibit for emperor tamarins and pigmy marmosets opened to the public in April (Latest mini monkey house unveiled | Stuff.co.nz).
*a new male nyala was imported from Singapore Zoo in April. Once through quarantine he went on public display in June (http://www.zoochat.com/17/wellington-zoo-developments-2011-a-205550/index2.html). A nyala calf was also born at the zoo in October this year to the original male, bringing the zoo's nyala population to five (Shy and secretive lamb born in Wellington | Stuff.co.nz). These are currently still the only nyala in Australasia.
*in April/May a baby kakapo nicknamed "Solstice One" spent several weeks at the zoo's hospital The Nest recovering from illness before being returned to Codfish Island (Kakapo's future may lie with ailing chick | Stuff.co.nz and Kakapo out of intensive care | Stuff.co.nz). Also in May a critically-endangered Chatham Island taiko took up temporary residence at The Nest for treatment (Rare Chatham Is bird treated - environment | Stuff.co.nz and Wellington Zoo - Critically endangered Taiko returns to Chatham Island).
*a vague announcement was made in May that snow leopards are/may be on the cards for the zoo at some point in the future, to probably be housed in the current sun bear enclosure (Wellington Zoo eyes snow leopards | Stuff.co.nz).
*the zoo's three elderly collared peccaries, the only ones left in NZ, were put down in May (Wellington Zoo - Wellington Zoo saddened by passing of last Peccaries in New Zealand).
*a profoundly lost emperor penguin that came ashore just north of Wellington ended up at the Zoo's hospital for treatment in June (http://www.zoochat.com/680/emperor-penguin-aptenodytes-forsteri-219826/).
*Sir Ed the red panda left the zoo in June bound for Bristol Zoo, UK (Sir Ed to cross globe for hot date | Stuff.co.nz).
*a new female emperor tamarin from Paignton Zoo, UK, arrived in July (BBC News - Paignton monkey, Didius, flown to New Zealand to breed)
*four green iguanas arrived from Melbourne Zoo in August, the only legal ones in the country (http://www.zoochat.com/17/small-news-2011-a-205543/index3.html).
*two baby agouti were born in November (http://www.zoochat.com/17/small-news-2011-a-205543/index3.html)
ORANA PARK:
*the baby giraffe Savannah born on the first of May unfortunately died just two months later, in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/giraffe-calf-212781/).
*a zebra came to Orana from Hamilton Zoo in October in exchange for two waterbuck (New girls on the block settle into Sahara paddock | Stuff.co.nz).
OTHER:
*continuing earthquakes in Christchurch resulted in the closure of the 13-year-old Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House on February 22 after a particularly destructive quake caused major damage to the central city. The International Antarctic Centre next to the airport was closed for a month due to minor structural concerns. Orana Park and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, both on the outskirts of the city, were undamaged.
*Natureland in Nelson was also affected by the earthquake. As you may recall it was in danger of closing until taken over by Orana Park in 2008, but the loss of revenue Orana suffered after the quakes meant Natureland once again was in trouble. In July it was granted $50,000 by the local council to keep running (http://www.zoochat.com/17/natureland-zoo-closing-14439/index2.html).
*the Otorohanga Kiwi House turned 40 in February this year (http://www.zoochat.com/17/bird-park-forty-years-old-year-224431/).
*a major $10-million project got underway at Rainbow Springs, to be completed by 2012, featuring amongst other things a free-flight bird show (http://www.zoochat.com/17/rainbow-springs-development-212028/).
*Marineland in Napier was supposed to be entirely closed down this year and the site bulldozed, but it is still there (albeit not open to the public) and is now the subject of a court case by local people to save it (http://www.zoochat.com/17/last-dolphin-marineland-dies-25024/index2.html)
*the sale of Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World to Merlin Entertainment was approved in April. The aquarium also took care of an unusual number of beach-wrecked turtles this year (http://www.zoochat.com/17/kelly-tarltons-underwater-world-13505/index3.html).
*a white North Island kiwi was hatched out at Pukaha Mt. Bruce in May, and remarkably a second was hatched in December (http://www.zoochat.com/17/rare-white-kiwi-born-216441/).
*six saltwater crocodiles hatched out at Butterfly Creek in June, from eggs imported from northern Australia (http://www.zoochat.com/17/saltwater-crocs-hatch-216549/).
*the National Aquarium in Napier imported 40 young red-bellied piranha from Germany in June (Hawkes Bay News & Events at the National Aquarium)
*at Brooklands Zoo a capuchin turned 45 years old in June, which is an extraordinary age (http://www.zoochat.com/17/worlds-oldest-capuchin-219707/).
*male lion Ben from Paradise Valley Springs in Rotorua was sent to the Bali Safari and Marine Park in July (Ben set to be park's mane man | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua). Several cubs were also born at the park this year.
*the Touch The Sea Aquarium in Mapua near Nelson was destroyed in an arson attack in September with the loss of almost all animal life (http://www.zoochat.com/17/nelson-aquarium-destroyed-fire-236355/).
*the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch was sold to the Christchurch Airport in November (International Antarctic Centre Bought by Christchurch... | Stuff.co.nz)
As usual, feel free to post any additions
ZION WILDLIFE PARK
*the court case about the death of Dalu Mncube in May 2009 was an extremely drawn-out process (having originally been set for January 2010, then adjourned till February, then April, then July, then November......) but finally took place on 27 June 2011 (Guilty plea by Zion Wildlife Park - national | Stuff.co.nz).
*the park was placed into receivership in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/zion-wildlife-gardens-recievership-225503/).
*Zion's chacma baboon Foxy died in September. He was the last one in NZ after the death earlier in the year of Auckland/Franklin's chacma Tony.
AUCKLAND ZOO:
*two pigmy marmosets (from Mogo Zoo, NSW, and Twycross Zoo, UK, respectively) went on show in January, the first of the species at the zoo (http://www.zoochat.com/17/pigmy-marmosets-arrive-199561/)
*Tony the chacma baboon, on long-term loan to Auckland from Franklin but due to return to the latter collection, died at Auckland Zoo in January (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
*a baby Hamadryas baboon named Sekani was born around April and another in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
*the last golden cats in NZ (at Auckland and Hamilton) were exported this year to Europe (buried in the dross in this thread: http://www.zoochat.com/17/asian-golden-cats-49687/)
*in May a horse was given as a friend to Burma the solitary elephant. Neither party was impressed. Later in May the Auckland City Council approved the provision of funding to import two young elephants from Sri Lanka as companions for Burma (http://www.zoochat.com/17/elephant-herd-now-works-67120/index4.html).
*Jelani the giraffe left the zoo for Australia in September (http://www.zoochat.com/17/jelani-move-233861/).
*Auckland Zoo's brilliant new native section Te Wao Nui opened in September (http://www.zoochat.com/17/te-wao-nui-development-progress-211831/ and http://www.zoochat.com/17/te-wao-nui-review-236615/).
*a new giraffe Karaka arrived from Dubbo Zoo in October (http://www.zoochat.com/17/auckland-zoo-news-2011-a-211839/).
HAMILTON ZOO:
*the last golden cats in NZ (at Auckland and Hamilton) were exported this year to Europe (buried in the dross in this thread: http://www.zoochat.com/17/asian-golden-cats-49687/)
*artificial insemination was unsuccessfully trialled on the zoo's fishing cats this year (but I can't find any links)
*Mike the zoo's 37 year old chimpanzee died in March following surgery (Hamilton Zoo chimpanzee passes away following surgery | Scoop News).
*a white rhino pregnancy was announced in August, with the due date expected to be next year (Hamilton Zoo Rhino Moesha Expecting Calf | Stuff.co.nz).
*a female zebra named Layla was born in September (Zebra Baby At Hamilton Zoo | Stuff.co.nz) and another zebra was announced pregnant (Layla steps out for a taste of spring - Hamilton - NZ Herald News).
*two waterbuck, the first at the zoo since 2003 arrived in October from Orana Park, replacing the nilgai which died of old age this year (the news item says last year, apparently an error) (New girls on the block settle into Sahara paddock | Stuff.co.nz).
*ring-tailed lemur twins were born in October (Yahoo! New Zealand News).
POUAKAI ZOO
*in their first overseas importation Pouakai obtained two female meerkats from South Africa in May (http://www.zoochat.com/17/new-meerkats-215992/).
WELLINGTON ZOO:
*three pigmy marmosets were imported from Newquay Zoo, UK, in January; the zoo already had three pigmy marmosets at this time (http://www.zoochat.com/17/new-pygmy-marmosets-201319/). A baby pigmy marmoset was also born to the original pair in October this year (Wellington Zoo Pygmy Marmoset Born | Stuff.co.nz).
*two meerkat pups were born in February (Meerkat pups venture outside | Stuff.co.nz) and four more in October (Wellington Zoo's meerkat pup ventures outside | Stuff.co.nz).
*early in the year the new “tuck shop” opened on the site of the old elephant house, incorporating new reptile tanks (http://www.zoochat.com/17/wellington-zoo-developments-2011-a-205550/)
*the new "themed" exhibit for emperor tamarins and pigmy marmosets opened to the public in April (Latest mini monkey house unveiled | Stuff.co.nz).
*a new male nyala was imported from Singapore Zoo in April. Once through quarantine he went on public display in June (http://www.zoochat.com/17/wellington-zoo-developments-2011-a-205550/index2.html). A nyala calf was also born at the zoo in October this year to the original male, bringing the zoo's nyala population to five (Shy and secretive lamb born in Wellington | Stuff.co.nz). These are currently still the only nyala in Australasia.
*in April/May a baby kakapo nicknamed "Solstice One" spent several weeks at the zoo's hospital The Nest recovering from illness before being returned to Codfish Island (Kakapo's future may lie with ailing chick | Stuff.co.nz and Kakapo out of intensive care | Stuff.co.nz). Also in May a critically-endangered Chatham Island taiko took up temporary residence at The Nest for treatment (Rare Chatham Is bird treated - environment | Stuff.co.nz and Wellington Zoo - Critically endangered Taiko returns to Chatham Island).
*a vague announcement was made in May that snow leopards are/may be on the cards for the zoo at some point in the future, to probably be housed in the current sun bear enclosure (Wellington Zoo eyes snow leopards | Stuff.co.nz).
*the zoo's three elderly collared peccaries, the only ones left in NZ, were put down in May (Wellington Zoo - Wellington Zoo saddened by passing of last Peccaries in New Zealand).
*a profoundly lost emperor penguin that came ashore just north of Wellington ended up at the Zoo's hospital for treatment in June (http://www.zoochat.com/680/emperor-penguin-aptenodytes-forsteri-219826/).
*Sir Ed the red panda left the zoo in June bound for Bristol Zoo, UK (Sir Ed to cross globe for hot date | Stuff.co.nz).
*a new female emperor tamarin from Paignton Zoo, UK, arrived in July (BBC News - Paignton monkey, Didius, flown to New Zealand to breed)
*four green iguanas arrived from Melbourne Zoo in August, the only legal ones in the country (http://www.zoochat.com/17/small-news-2011-a-205543/index3.html).
*two baby agouti were born in November (http://www.zoochat.com/17/small-news-2011-a-205543/index3.html)
ORANA PARK:
*the baby giraffe Savannah born on the first of May unfortunately died just two months later, in July (http://www.zoochat.com/17/giraffe-calf-212781/).
*a zebra came to Orana from Hamilton Zoo in October in exchange for two waterbuck (New girls on the block settle into Sahara paddock | Stuff.co.nz).
OTHER:
*continuing earthquakes in Christchurch resulted in the closure of the 13-year-old Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House on February 22 after a particularly destructive quake caused major damage to the central city. The International Antarctic Centre next to the airport was closed for a month due to minor structural concerns. Orana Park and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, both on the outskirts of the city, were undamaged.
*Natureland in Nelson was also affected by the earthquake. As you may recall it was in danger of closing until taken over by Orana Park in 2008, but the loss of revenue Orana suffered after the quakes meant Natureland once again was in trouble. In July it was granted $50,000 by the local council to keep running (http://www.zoochat.com/17/natureland-zoo-closing-14439/index2.html).
*the Otorohanga Kiwi House turned 40 in February this year (http://www.zoochat.com/17/bird-park-forty-years-old-year-224431/).
*a major $10-million project got underway at Rainbow Springs, to be completed by 2012, featuring amongst other things a free-flight bird show (http://www.zoochat.com/17/rainbow-springs-development-212028/).
*Marineland in Napier was supposed to be entirely closed down this year and the site bulldozed, but it is still there (albeit not open to the public) and is now the subject of a court case by local people to save it (http://www.zoochat.com/17/last-dolphin-marineland-dies-25024/index2.html)
*the sale of Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World to Merlin Entertainment was approved in April. The aquarium also took care of an unusual number of beach-wrecked turtles this year (http://www.zoochat.com/17/kelly-tarltons-underwater-world-13505/index3.html).
*a white North Island kiwi was hatched out at Pukaha Mt. Bruce in May, and remarkably a second was hatched in December (http://www.zoochat.com/17/rare-white-kiwi-born-216441/).
*six saltwater crocodiles hatched out at Butterfly Creek in June, from eggs imported from northern Australia (http://www.zoochat.com/17/saltwater-crocs-hatch-216549/).
*the National Aquarium in Napier imported 40 young red-bellied piranha from Germany in June (Hawkes Bay News & Events at the National Aquarium)
*at Brooklands Zoo a capuchin turned 45 years old in June, which is an extraordinary age (http://www.zoochat.com/17/worlds-oldest-capuchin-219707/).
*male lion Ben from Paradise Valley Springs in Rotorua was sent to the Bali Safari and Marine Park in July (Ben set to be park's mane man | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua). Several cubs were also born at the park this year.
*the Touch The Sea Aquarium in Mapua near Nelson was destroyed in an arson attack in September with the loss of almost all animal life (http://www.zoochat.com/17/nelson-aquarium-destroyed-fire-236355/).
*the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch was sold to the Christchurch Airport in November (International Antarctic Centre Bought by Christchurch... | Stuff.co.nz)
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