Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2017

zooboy28 said:
Interesting that the cheetah are staying there (presumably temporarily)... Does this refer to the covered tiger exhibit next to the otters?
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Yes, I assume that it refers to the covered tiger exhibit with the glass viewing.
 
ZooBoyNZ said:
Yes, I assume that it refers to the covered tiger exhibit with the glass viewing.
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That would make more sense as the new tiger enclosure (2006) is similar to the cheetah enclosure, which the cubs will eventually occupy on the passing of Osiris. The glass viewing window at visitor level in the new tiger enclosure will allow them to acclimitise to high density visitor numbers. As handraised, ambassor cats, this will be an important part of their socialisation, especially if they intend for them to be walked around the zoo, participate in encounters etc. which I assume they do.

It's interesting that they have imported two female cubs this time. Female cheetah are solitary as adults, as oppose to males, who form coalitions with their male siblings and remain together for life. I'm not sure how this will pan out for Auckland Zoo in the long term, but surely a big factor in adult big cats tolerating each other is competition for resources (including space). Housing the cubs in the old tiger enclosure (1922) and then moving them to the smaller cheetah enclosure when Osiris passes, wouldn't be advisable one would think.
 
This morning the zoo's veterinary team made the tough but kindest call to euthanise elderly male cheetah Osiris.
From an article on Auckland Zoo's website:
Osiris was 12.5 years old (above the upper life expectancy for cheetahs in zoos, and years beyond cheetah survival in the wild).
Like his twin brother Anubis, who we farewelled in September, Osiris had age-related degenerative health issues including arthritis and loss of body condition. He had slowed down progressively in recent weeks, and since the weekend his mobility had declined further.
“As with any very old animal, we’ve been monitoring Osiris very closely for some time, and given his age, this inevitable decline was not unexpected. While we have been able to manage his pain with anti-inflammatory pain relief, it is not able to cure his irreversible degenerative diseases, so this has absolutely been the right call", says Dr James Chatterton, Veterinary Services Manager.
Carnivore team leader Lauren Booth, who has cared for and worked closely with both Anubis and Osiris for nearly 11 years, says “while it’s been really heart-breaking to have to say goodbye to these two incredible big cats, there is much to celebrate about them”.
Like Anubis, Osiris has had a remarkably long run – the result of the great care and quality of life we’ve been able to give him here. Osiris came to Auckland Zoo with his twin brother Anubis in 2006 as part of an international ambassador programme to grow awareness and support for cheetah – Africa’s most endangered cat. Since 2004, Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund has helped cheetah in the wild, though its support of Cheetah Outreach – a Cape Town-based trust working to prevent the extinction of cheetah.
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Very sad, but expected news. I assume this means that the zoo's two new female cheetah will move from the glass-fronted tiger enclosure into the current cheetah exhibit now.
I will miss seeing the cheetah brothers at the zoo, but it's good that Qia and Quartz will be able to continue their legacy. :)
 
Auckland Zoo has received two female zebra from Hamilton Zoo. They have been introduced to mare Itika, and are now on display in Pridelands. Auckland’s zebra stallion Carlo, will be joining them at a later stage once they have settled in.
 
Over 400 Giant Weta bred at Auckland Zoo are being released today.

From their Facebook page this morning:

Today we're releasing over 400 individual wētāpunga onto The Noises’ Motuhorapapa Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.

After these wētāpunga have settled in to their new home and reach breeding age, our hope is that they will increase the genetic diversity of their species. As well as releasing wētāpunga, our team are also looking for evidence of ‘wild-born’ juvenile wētāpunga on the island – an exciting sign that we are close to our goal of establishing a self-sustaining population on the island.

Since the Auckland Zoo wētāpunga programme started in 2012, we have bred and released more than 3,000 wētāpunga onto pest-free islands - Motuora, Tiritiri Matangi and privately owned Motuhorapapa and Otata islands.
 
The three orangutans from Auckland were supposed to arrive at Orana Park this morning but it seems they have been delayed by fog:
Christchurch-bound Orangutans delayed by fog

Borneo-like mist has delayed the South Island's first orangutan visitors.

The orangutans were due to leave Auckland in the early hours of Thursday to take up temporary residence at Christchurch's Orana Park, but fog meant the flight would be unable to land.

Because there was one daily cargo flight on which the orangutans could fly, it is unlikely they will arrive on Thursday.

Male Charlie, 37, and females Melur, 27, and Wanita, 39, will stay in Christchurch for two years while their Auckland Zoo home gets an upgrade.

Orana Park and Auckland Zoo staff were discussing alternative arrangements.

The move involves specially-designed transport crates, two road trips and a two-and-a-half hour flight on a cargo plane where they would have an in-flight meal of fruit and vegetables.
 
Chlidonias said:
The three orangutans from Auckland were supposed to arrive at Orana Park this morning but it seems they have been delayed by fog:
Christchurch-bound Orangutans delayed by fog
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According to the Auckland Zoo's facebook and website, the orangutans should be at Orana now. (Their morning flight yesterday was cancelled but they were re-scheduled for an evening flight, which would have them arriving at Orana last night or early this morning).
Holiday travel plans back on for our orangutans!
 
I visited the zoo on Saturday and have a couple very minor updates.

- The signage in the "Hippo River" area of the zoo has finally been changed to fit the exhibit trail which doesn't have hippos anymore. A new sign just reads "Welcome to Africa" but I do like how the animals are all listed around it.

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- Qia and Quartz (the zoo's two new female cheetah) are still on display in the covered tiger enclosure, but a sign in the currently vacant cheetah exhibit says they will be moving there very soon.
Nothing has really changed with the hippo enclosure as of yet (it is due to become an extension of the rhino exhibit) at least from what I could see.

I thought that I would mention I also filmed a tour/walk-through of the Pridelands exhibit and have uploaded it to my YouTube channel. If you are interested, please check it out here.
I hope you enjoy! :D
 
ZooBoyNZ said:
3 female agouti have arrived at the zoo and they are now on display in the Cotton top tamarin enclosure. Great to have the species back on display in Auckland!
Read more on their website here.
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That's great. It seems like a long time since there were any at Auckland!
 
Awesome to have them back, and hopefully a male arrives soon too. Any idea where they have arrived from? Hamilton or Wellington I'd guess?

The article mentions that they are in with the cotton top tamarins, does this mean the new pair from Europe has arrived and is on show?
 
Possibly noted elsewhere:
1.0 black handed spider monkey to arrive (arrived) ex Canada (Metro Toronto Zoo).
Link: see LA Zoo news 2017 postings #147 (official documents - and thanks courtesy of esteemed @African Grey) and #150 - my LA Zoo response posting.
 
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