Thanks guys. Im glad that my old site can still be useful and interesting to someone. As a librarian I had access to a resource that provided a complete access to all Australian newspapers at the time.
Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2017
- Thread starter BennettL
- Start date
A few updates from my visit last week:
An area is fenced off in the entry plaza area of the zoo beside the information centre. I am assuming that this is construction for the Bug Lab exhibition which is due to open at the zoo this summer. (You can also see some off display animal exhibits in these photos, not sure what species they are for).
The main climbing structure in the old chimpanzee exhibit, which recently has housed the bonnet macaques (and takahe during winter) has been disassembled. The remaining three orang-utans are due to leave for Orana in around two weeks time, and shortly after demolition will begin on the exhibits to make way for Wild Indonesia.
No noticeable construction progress on the new brolga exhibit, and the hippo exhibit appears unchanged. However a life-sized alligator skeleton display has appeared in the Tropics beside the alligator exhibits.
Also - I saw on the zoo's Instagram story the other day that some leopard tortoises have hatched; and apparently two emu chicks have hatched as well.
An area is fenced off in the entry plaza area of the zoo beside the information centre. I am assuming that this is construction for the Bug Lab exhibition which is due to open at the zoo this summer. (You can also see some off display animal exhibits in these photos, not sure what species they are for).
The main climbing structure in the old chimpanzee exhibit, which recently has housed the bonnet macaques (and takahe during winter) has been disassembled. The remaining three orang-utans are due to leave for Orana in around two weeks time, and shortly after demolition will begin on the exhibits to make way for Wild Indonesia.
No noticeable construction progress on the new brolga exhibit, and the hippo exhibit appears unchanged. However a life-sized alligator skeleton display has appeared in the Tropics beside the alligator exhibits.
Also - I saw on the zoo's Instagram story the other day that some leopard tortoises have hatched; and apparently two emu chicks have hatched as well.
Are Bo's three daughters, Kesari (born Jan 2014), Priya (born Jan 2016) and Mohini (born Jan 2016) still at Auckland Zoo?
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Update on Flamingo Chicks:
In the pink
It's clear Auckland Zoo's young flamingos Otis (left) and Willoughby (right) are tickled pink with our Pridelands team leader Nat and think that she's one cool chick, and that the feeling is mutual!
Under Nat and her team's care, Otis, Willoughby, and our third chick Cole, which hatched earlier this year, are thriving, and really starting to 'pink up' – a result of their diet.
Successfully breeding these three greater Africa flamingo from a hand-reared flock in one breeding season is a record, and follows the Zoo's 2014 milestone of being the first zoo in the world to breed from an entirely hand-reared flock.
Nat says the chicks (that are still to be sexed) are now fully integrated with and accepted by the rest of the 20-strong flock.
"Otis, Willoughby and Cole are getting to learn all about the courtship behaviour of the adults from a really young age, which is great, and they'll sometimes get caught up in adults' breeding marches. But they also love to hang out with each other, as well as with our male 'Chick' that hatched in 2014, and they're all very vocal," says Nat.
Nat explains the courtship behaviours of the adults, from pairing up, breeding marches and wing salutes, are all because these birds are coming into breeding season, and Zoo visitors can expect to see them nest building very soon.
Both parent flamingos build the nest – an impressive creation that looks a bit like a mini crater, and is made up of mounds of mud, small stones, straw and feathers.
Keep an eye on our social media for updates!
In the pink
It's clear Auckland Zoo's young flamingos Otis (left) and Willoughby (right) are tickled pink with our Pridelands team leader Nat and think that she's one cool chick, and that the feeling is mutual!
Under Nat and her team's care, Otis, Willoughby, and our third chick Cole, which hatched earlier this year, are thriving, and really starting to 'pink up' – a result of their diet.
Successfully breeding these three greater Africa flamingo from a hand-reared flock in one breeding season is a record, and follows the Zoo's 2014 milestone of being the first zoo in the world to breed from an entirely hand-reared flock.
Nat says the chicks (that are still to be sexed) are now fully integrated with and accepted by the rest of the 20-strong flock.
"Otis, Willoughby and Cole are getting to learn all about the courtship behaviour of the adults from a really young age, which is great, and they'll sometimes get caught up in adults' breeding marches. But they also love to hang out with each other, as well as with our male 'Chick' that hatched in 2014, and they're all very vocal," says Nat.
Nat explains the courtship behaviours of the adults, from pairing up, breeding marches and wing salutes, are all because these birds are coming into breeding season, and Zoo visitors can expect to see them nest building very soon.
Both parent flamingos build the nest – an impressive creation that looks a bit like a mini crater, and is made up of mounds of mud, small stones, straw and feathers.
Keep an eye on our social media for updates!
Will these Orangs stay at Orana Park longterm or return to Auckland, or will Auckland get Sumatrans in their place?
It is my opinion (with opinion being the operative word) that they will not return to Auckland Zoo, since Auckland Zoo wish to acquire Sumatrans. I believe the purebred Borneans, Charlie and Melur, will be exported outside of the region to the USA or a region breeding Borneans, while the hybrid, Wanita, will join the other two hybrids in the region at Mogo Zoo. Wanita is a sister to one of them (Willow) and lived with her and Jantan previously at Taronga Zoo. This will leave Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park free to acquire Sumatrans.
all that is known is that Auckland has said that the orangutans will be at Orana for a two-year stay while the redevelopments are done at Auckland. However both Auckland and Orana are listing to acquire Sumatran orangutans in the future (which doesn't necessarily mean that will happen).
Anything else is speculation, and years away from happening anyway.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
One of Auckland Zoo's two male Cheetah, Anubis, has been euthanised, leaving just his brother Osiris, in the collection:
For more information, see: Auckland Zoo farewells cheetah Anubis
For more information, see: Auckland Zoo farewells cheetah Anubis
What Happens to Auckland Zoo Animals...
Auckland Zoo buries dead animals at undisclosed location
Even in death Auckland Zoo's high profile animals continue to help animal conservation.
In August the Zoo put down Sumatran tiger Jaka after vets found a large inoperable tumour in his intestine. In April elderly giraffe Zabulu, father to 15 giraffe calves, died after falling ill and last year mother and son hippos Faith and Fudge passed away.
While the lives of zoo animals are open to the public, what happens after death isn't common knowledge. Stuff.co.nz requested behind the scenes information.
Auckland Zoo spends just under $2000 a year on burying or cremating its animals once they've passed away, a fraction of its $17.9 million annual operating expenditure.
Auckland Zoo spokeswoman Jane Healy said deaths were emotional and staff always had the ability to talk about and share their grief in a supportive environment.
"The death of animals, as anyone who has pets knows, is part of the life cycle," Healy said.
"At Auckland Zoo where we have a very large number of animals, with a diverse range of life expectancies, it is naturally very much a part of daily life here."
Zoo keeping and veterinary staff were trained to deal with everyday life and death situations, she said.
Auckland Zoo does not offer bereavement leave to its staff when an animal dies.
The first thing the zoo does after the death is to carry out a post-mortem.
"This is a really important way for us to thoroughly investigate and record our findings, which we also then share through a zoos' international database, so that others can also learn and benefit from these findings," Healy said.
Depending on their size, some animals were cremated and some were buried, she said.
Most buried animals were buried off-site at an undisclosed location, she said.
There were a few animals buried on-site, in private areas of the zoo, including the elderly elephant Kashin who died in 2009, and hippos Faith and Fudge.
In addition to its post-mortem findings, Auckland Zoo also kept tissue samples of animals, stored in a minus 150 degree freezer to ensure their preservation.
This was part of an international conservation and research project called Frozen Ark, which compiled and catalogued endangered animal DNA and cells before they went extinct to help with future conservation efforts.
As for Jaka he'll be cremated off-site at a pet crematorium in the coming weeks.
Auckland Zoo buries dead animals at undisclosed location
Even in death Auckland Zoo's high profile animals continue to help animal conservation.
In August the Zoo put down Sumatran tiger Jaka after vets found a large inoperable tumour in his intestine. In April elderly giraffe Zabulu, father to 15 giraffe calves, died after falling ill and last year mother and son hippos Faith and Fudge passed away.
While the lives of zoo animals are open to the public, what happens after death isn't common knowledge. Stuff.co.nz requested behind the scenes information.
Auckland Zoo spends just under $2000 a year on burying or cremating its animals once they've passed away, a fraction of its $17.9 million annual operating expenditure.
Auckland Zoo spokeswoman Jane Healy said deaths were emotional and staff always had the ability to talk about and share their grief in a supportive environment.
"The death of animals, as anyone who has pets knows, is part of the life cycle," Healy said.
"At Auckland Zoo where we have a very large number of animals, with a diverse range of life expectancies, it is naturally very much a part of daily life here."
Zoo keeping and veterinary staff were trained to deal with everyday life and death situations, she said.
Auckland Zoo does not offer bereavement leave to its staff when an animal dies.
The first thing the zoo does after the death is to carry out a post-mortem.
"This is a really important way for us to thoroughly investigate and record our findings, which we also then share through a zoos' international database, so that others can also learn and benefit from these findings," Healy said.
Depending on their size, some animals were cremated and some were buried, she said.
Most buried animals were buried off-site at an undisclosed location, she said.
There were a few animals buried on-site, in private areas of the zoo, including the elderly elephant Kashin who died in 2009, and hippos Faith and Fudge.
In addition to its post-mortem findings, Auckland Zoo also kept tissue samples of animals, stored in a minus 150 degree freezer to ensure their preservation.
This was part of an international conservation and research project called Frozen Ark, which compiled and catalogued endangered animal DNA and cells before they went extinct to help with future conservation efforts.
As for Jaka he'll be cremated off-site at a pet crematorium in the coming weeks.
Will be interested to see if there is further successful breeding this season. Hope so.
A small update:
I asked the zoo on Facebook when the Nyala from Wellington would be going on display, as well as if they still have any springbok left. They replied with "our new Nyala are intermittently on display - as they are not fully integrated with our rhino yet."
Also, apparently the zoo no longer holds springbok. I was aware that Auckland was phasing the species out, but I thought there was still at least a pair left at the zoo.
I asked the zoo on Facebook when the Nyala from Wellington would be going on display, as well as if they still have any springbok left. They replied with "our new Nyala are intermittently on display - as they are not fully integrated with our rhino yet."
Also, apparently the zoo no longer holds springbok. I was aware that Auckland was phasing the species out, but I thought there was still at least a pair left at the zoo.
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The group of male nyala which Auckland had previously are now in Australia. They were exported last year in November, along with some females from the recent import.A small update:
I asked the zoo on Facebook when the 3.0 Nyala from Wellington would be going on display, as well as if they still have any springbok left. They replied with "our new Nyala are intermittently on display - as they are not fully integrated with our rhino yet."
Also, apparently the zoo no longer holds springbok. I was aware that Auckland was phasing the species out, but I thought there was still at least a pair left at the zoo.
The nyala currently at Auckland are from Wellington (I think) and arrived there in June this year. There is one male and five females.
The Springbok were 17 and 18 years old respectively - they probably died of old age.
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Here's some more news! (I just looked on their Facebook page). Three capybara were born recently.
Auckland Zoo
"We’re excited to announce that last Friday capybara Rosita gave birth to three capybara pups!
The largest rodents in the world, these social animals love to eat together. Lucky Zoo visitors may catch a glimpse of the pups sharing a meal with the herd in the Zoo Rainforest."
Auckland Zoo
"We’re excited to announce that last Friday capybara Rosita gave birth to three capybara pups!
The largest rodents in the world, these social animals love to eat together. Lucky Zoo visitors may catch a glimpse of the pups sharing a meal with the herd in the Zoo Rainforest."
Thanks for that info @Chlidonias; much appreciated. Hopefully the nyala will be out on display soon.
not sure. I only know of two breedings but there could have been others. So 1.2 adults, plus 2.0 from the first litter last year, plus 0.0.3 for this litter. Which is 3.2.3 - but that may not be the correct total.Also - fantastic news about the capybara!What does this bring Auckland's population to?
If it helps, gestation is 4-5 months, and weaning age is around 4 months.
Also, just checking names - the two litters are to different females.
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zooboy28
Well-Known Member
Hopefully this will allow dispersal of some of the offspring to another NZ zoo - will be good to have more holders of this species in the country.