Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2022

Zorro said:
it would be nice to have a second import to boost the flock size and perhaps enhance breeding and bloodlines
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That’s a great idea. The zoo were looking at importing flamingo eggs a while back, not sure where they’re currently at with that. Edit: that was a document from 1999 (before the 2001 live import).

Some bloodlines are going to become quite dominant in the flock. Richard, Richard’s dad, sons of Richard etc. Cheviot has sired a few as well, with his offspring also breeding. As mentioned, the zoo bred chicks have been quite productive!
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s a great idea. The zoo were looking at importing flamingo eggs a while back, not sure where they’re currently at with that. Some bloodlines are going to become quite dominant in the flock. Richard, Richard’s dad, sons of Richard etc. Cheviot has sired a few as well, with his offspring also breeding. As mentioned, the zoo bred chicks have been quite productive!
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Since the zoo has phased out elephants,sea lions and hippos they might as well focus on this species which no one else in the region has.
 
Zorro said:
Since the zoo has phased out elephants,sea lions and hippos they might as well focus on this species which no one else in the region has.
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Exactly. If they can build this flamingo aviary then they can easily accomodate the 40 plus flamingos needed for optimum breeding.

It’s a miracle they’ve achieved what they have to date with a starting base of 16 surviving founders.

They’re the first zoo in the world to breed from an entirely hand raised flock - and the flamingos are even rearing their own chicks.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Exactly. If they can build this flamingo aviary then they can easily accomodate the 40 plus flamingos needed for optimum breeding.

It’s a miracle they’ve achieved what they have to date with a starting base of 16 surviving founders.

They’re the first zoo in the world to breed from an entirely hand raised flock - and the flamingos are even rearing their own chicks.
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They have done an awesome job if they make a bigger breeding flock perhaps they can start a few other flock’s within the region
 
Zorro said:
They have done an awesome job if they make a bigger breeding flock perhaps they can start a few other flock’s within the region
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That could be a good way to streamline the gene pool with over represented individuals split off into smaller flocks to send to other zoos, with Auckland remaining the central breeding hub.

It’ll be interesting to see once they hit 40, if it prompts previously unproven or poorly performing founders to enter the game. It might be just the encouragement they need.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That could be a good way to streamline the gene pool with over represented individuals split off into smaller flocks to send to other zoos, with Auckland remaining the central breeding hub.

It’ll be interesting to see once they hit 40, if it prompts previously unproven or poorly performing founders to enter the game. It might be just the encouragement they need.
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It would be even better if another zoo within the region started a second unrelated flock
 
Jambo said:
Auckland held a successful breeding group of Californian Sea Lions for quite some time. Their group was descended from 1.2 individuals imported in the early 80’s. Their last individual died in 2016, and it’s a shame as they were quite an active and exciting species to watch.

Unfortunately, once the remaining Sub Antarctic fur seal at Auckland dies, there will be no captive pinnipeds in New Zealand.

I too hope Auckland makes use of the enclosure. The only real option is putting their Little penguins in it. And while they would make decent use of it, they wouldn’t be half as active as the seals in the water.
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Would be nice if they would focus just on the sub Antarctic fur seals and rare penguins that occur locally in the (sub-) Antarctic. It would allow them to pay attention to looking after native wildlife species (and species other zoos would never have). Allthough, I would like to make the case for some other Kiwi and Aussie collections on southern sea front to do the same.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Would be nice if they would focus just on the sub Antarctic fur seals and rare penguins that occur locally in the (sub-) Antarctic. It would allow them to pay attention to looking after native wildlife species (and species other zoos would never have). Allthough, I would like to make the case for some other Kiwi and Aussie collections on southern sea front to do the same.
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It would have been good if Auckland Zoo established a breeding colony of either Sub Antarctic or New Zealand fur seals as both are held in small numbers in Australian facilities and they would have benefited from the pups Auckland could have bred. The zoo stated when they had six pinnipeds that they were at capacity and wouldn’t breed, so it’s disappointing they’ve allowed their numbers to dwindle and are now phasing them out.

The Fiordland crested penguin is one of New Zealand’s rarest penguins. It’d be nice to see a colony established at Auckland Zoo from unreleasable birds. Taronga and Melbourne have small colonies, with the birds being an infrequent acquisition.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Second Greater Flamingo Chick Hatches

Auckland Zoo have announced the hatching of the Greater flamingo chick I saw on my visit earlier this month.

This is the second chick hatched this season. It hatched late December and was being fed by Cole (male) upon my visit.

Newly Hatched Greater Flamingo Chick

Newly Hatched Greater Flamingo Chick

  • Media owner Zoofan15
  • Date added
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Photo taken 04/01/2022.
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Awesome news
 
Zorro said:
Awesome news
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The staff mentioned on my visit that a third fertile egg was being incubated. This would have hatched by now, so hopefully there’s a third announcement in the coming weeks. The zoo prefers to announce hatchings once the chicks have made it through the first month (when the mortality rate is at its highest).
 
Galapagos giant tortoise update:

The four eldest hatchlings turned one years old today. A significant milestone for the zoo, given the previous hatchling (Pinta) died at four months of age.

The zoo shared this update today via social media:

Since they hatched, they’ve increased in length by around 1-3cms and in weight by between 135-150 grams per tortoise.

Ectotherm keeper Sonja says, “they are very self-sufficient as most ectotherms are and like to use their pool for cooling off (thermoregulation) and drinking. We also bathe the hatchlings twice a week to make sure they stay hydrated. They are very good at eating their hay as well as special treats like this watermelon.”

As you know, these tortoises have a sibling that hatched in November, and is currently being cared for in a special back of house facility.
 
American alligator update:

Auckland Zoo currently has two female American alligator (and has done for some time). I thought people might appreciate confirmation as to the fates of the others from my visit this month.

0.1 Dixie is still at Auckland Zoo (large exhibit)
0.1 Tallulah is still at Auckland Zoo (small exhibit)

0.1 Doris was sent away for breeding. I believe the keeper said “up north” which would refer to Ti Point; however last I heard, only Butterfly Creek had males - I will follow up.

0.1 Dakota was sent to Ti Point Reptile Park.

0.1 Georgia died a few years ago. Her skeleton now lies in this box on the tropics boardwalk:

American Alligator Skeleton (Georgia)

American Alligator Skeleton (Georgia)

  • Media owner Zoofan15
  • Date added
  • Comments 1
Photo taken 04/01/2022.
 
When we visited Butterfly creek earlier in the year there was one alligator in an enclosure within the butterfly House, and two alligators near the dinosaur animatronics in a nice big pool.
 
Zoofan15 said:
American alligator update:

Auckland Zoo currently has two female American alligator (and has done for some time). I thought people might appreciate confirmation as to the fates of the others from my visit this month.

0.1 Dixie is still at Auckland Zoo (large exhibit)
0.1 Tallulah is still at Auckland Zoo (small exhibit)

0.1 Doris was sent away for breeding. I believe the keeper said “up north” which would refer to Ti Point; however last I heard, only Butterfly Creek had males - I will follow up.

0.1 Dakota was sent to Ti Point Reptile Park.

0.1 Georgia died a few years ago. Her skeleton now lies in this box on the tropics boardwalk:

American Alligator Skeleton (Georgia)

American Alligator Skeleton (Georgia)

  • Media owner Zoofan15
  • Date added
  • Comments 1
Photo taken 04/01/2022.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the update! I named Dakota in the naming competition when these alligators first arrived, so interesting to hear where they've all ended up.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Galapagos giant tortoise update:

The four eldest hatchlings turned one years old today. A significant milestone for the zoo, given the previous hatchling (Pinta) died at four months of age.

The zoo shared this update today via social media:

Since they hatched, they’ve increased in length by around 1-3cms and in weight by between 135-150 grams per tortoise.

Ectotherm keeper Sonja says, “they are very self-sufficient as most ectotherms are and like to use their pool for cooling off (thermoregulation) and drinking. We also bathe the hatchlings twice a week to make sure they stay hydrated. They are very good at eating their hay as well as special treats like this watermelon.”

As you know, these tortoises have a sibling that hatched in November, and is currently being cared for in a special back of house facility.
Click to expand...

The tortoise hatchlings have finally been named.

The four eldest hatchlings (now a year old) have been named; Apple, Isabela, Guava and Darwin.

A fifth hatchling (currently three months old) has been named Fernandina.
 
Jambo said:
The tortoise hatchlings have finally been named.

The four eldest hatchlings (now a year old) have been named; Apple, Isabela, Guava and Darwin.

A fifth hatchling (currently three months old) has been named Fernandina.
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I’m glad they finally have names, but is this the best they could come up with? Apple sounds like a name borrowed from Australia Zoo’s naming catalogue and Guava is considered an invasive weed in the Galapagos:

In the Galapagos islands, this is exemplified by the introduced guava (Psidium guajava), considered one of the greatest threats to the local biodiversity due to its effective spread in the archipelago and its ability to outcompete endemic species.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/articleid=10.1371/journal.pone.0203737

 
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