Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo news

The kiosk in Te Wao Nui looks nice. With the serval enclosure, I'd suggest they fill it up and put glass viewing windows in.
 
The water dragons are in there for the forseeable future - I helped rebuild that one, hauling logs around and wheelbarrowing soil up from Te Wao.

The building behind the gators is off display housing for them - basically it's going to be a warm room with a small pond in case any of them need to be isolated as there's limited suitable space up at the CCM.
 
Bailey13 said:
The water dragons are in there for the forseeable future - I helped rebuild that one, hauling logs around and wheelbarrowing soil up from Te Wao.

The building behind the gators is off display housing for them - basically it's going to be a warm room with a small pond in case any of them need to be isolated as there's limited suitable space up at the CCM.
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Thanks for the info Bailey13. It looked like the alligator building was still being worked on, the roof and sides didn't look complete.
 
Yeah, it's still underway. I haven't been in to volley for a little while due to having messed up my elbow, but we visited on the weekend and it's looking better. Not sure of time frame for completion.
 
The Servals are currently being relocated. Auckland Zoo is replacing the four they had with a reproductive pair.
 
Exciting New Arrival!

According to the Auckland Zoo maintenance works page:

A pair of takahē have just moved in to the High Country whio aviary. While they settle in, this aviary is closed to visitors.
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This is a large, walk-in aviary within Te Wao Nui that currently houses Blue Duck and Kakariki. I think the Takahe have been planned for here since day dot, but its great to see them arrive (Te Wao Nui is two years old already!).

Takahe are an endangered endemic rail, closely related to the Pukeko/Purple Swamphen which has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Takahe are rarely displayed in captivity, although they are/have been kept at other wildlife parks (notably Mount Bruce, Te Anau Wildlife Park (both DOC facilities), Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Zealandia), as well as offshore islands.
 
And here is a press release with some more info:

Takahē pair to make Auckland Zoo home
Thursday, 26 September 2013, 3:19 pm
Press Release: Mitre 10 Takahe Recovery

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Takahē pair to make Auckland Zoo home

Zoo visitors will soon be able to see and learn more about one of the worlds rarest birds.

The Department of Conservation (DOC), Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue and Auckland Zoo have combined forces to relocate two older takahē from Tiritiri Matangi Island to their new home in the Zoos New Zealand precinct, Te Wao Nui.

Takahē are critically endangered, with 260 takahē known to exist and only 45 breeding pairs.

The pair of takahē coming to Auckland have been an integral part of the DOCs Takahē Recovery Programme, having produced seven chicks in nine years. Now beyond breeding age, the pair - named Ahikaea (14) and Montague (16) - will have an important advocacy role at the Zoo.

“This is the first time that Aucklanders will be able to see a bird that, from 1900 until 1948, was thought to be extinct,” says Department of Conservation Takahē Recovery Programme spokesperson, Phil Marsh. “There are other birds in mainland sanctuaries, but we believe that enabling Auckland Zoos visitors to see these unusual and endangered birds will help raise awareness of their plight and help DOCs Mitre 10 Takahē Rescue programme to ensure the species survives.”

“The takahē is so rare they often slip under the radar,” says Mitre 10 General Manager Marketing Dave Elliott. “Thats why their introduction to Auckland Zoo is a great step in ensuring this unique bird remains an iconic part of New Zealand for years to come. Having them right on the doorstep of the countrys largest population is really special and we feel incredibly privileged to be involved.”

Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken says the pairs arrival is yet another example of what can be achieved when organisations come together to help build a future for wildlife. “Takahē are a unique part of New Zealands history and a very valuable addition to Auckland Zoo. Once they settle in, we cant wait for our visitors to come and see these critically endangered birds and encourage the ongoing protection of our unique species.” Ahikaea (14) and Montague (16) are being moved by helicopter from pest free Tiritiri Matangi Island, in Aucklands Hauraki Gulf, to Auckland Zoo on Thursday 26 September.

Takahē trivia

- There were only four recorded sightings of takahē between 1800 and 1900, then none were seen until 1948 when they were rediscovered by Dr Geoffrey Orbell in the Murchison Mountains in the Fiordland National Park. 2

- Saving takahē has involved gathering „excess eggs from the Murchison Mountains and hatching them at the Burwood Bush Takahē Rearing Unit near Te Anau. Chicks reared at the unit have been released onto pest free islands - Kapiti, Mana Maud, Motutapu and Tiritiri Matangi - safe from predators, particularly stoats. This has led to an increase in takahē numbers.

- Ahikaea was born on Tititiri Matangi and is the daughter of Greg and Pounamu who were among the first takahē released on the island. Greg was removed as an egg from the Murchison Mountains and reared at the Burwood Bush unit before moving to Tiritiri. He became famous while living on Tiritiri for numerous antics including regularly stealing visitors lunches.

- Montague was transferred to Tiritiri Matangi from Kapiti. His parents, Squeak and Taku were among the founding takahē population on Kapiti.

- Pest free islands have been a life raft for takahē. Theyve provided safe havens to increase takahē numbers. Moving the birds to different islands for breeding means the offspring are more genetically robust.
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zooboy28 said:
This is a large, walk-in aviary within Te Wao Nui that currently houses Blue Duck and Kakariki. I think the Takahe have been planned for here since day dot, but its great to see them arrive (Te Wao Nui is two years old already!).

Takahe are an endangered endemic rail, closely related to the Pukeko/Purple Swamphen which has an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Takahe are rarely displayed in captivity, although they are/have been kept at other wildlife parks (notably Mount Bruce, Te Anau Wildlife Park (both DOC facilities), Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Zealandia), as well as offshore islands.
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this is good news. You are right that Auckland Zoo was one of the holders in line for a takahe pair when Te Wao Nui was still being built. Willowbank in Chch was the first non-DoC facility to get retired takahe for display (in 2010), followed by Zealandia (2011) and then Orokonui in Dunedin (2012). Now Auckland Zoo (2013). Hamilton, Orana and Otorohanga were also in line but I don't know how those are progressing.
 
Chlidonias said:
this is good news. You are right that Auckland Zoo was one of the holders in line for a takahe pair when Te Wao Nui was still being built. Willowbank in Chch was the first non-DoC facility to get retired takahe for display (in 2010), followed by Zealandia (2011) and then Orokonui in Dunedin (2012). Now Auckland Zoo (2013). Hamilton, Orana and Otorohanga were also in line but I don't know how those are progressing.
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I guess they will be a common zoo species in no time then! :D
 
zooboy28 said:
I guess they will be a common zoo species in no time then! :D
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they're already in more display situations than lots of the "common" zoo animals! Even taking out Zealandia and Orokonui as not "real" zoos, they are still in four places (Auckland, Willowbank, Mt Bruce and Te Anau) which in NZ is more than, say, chimpanzees, rhinos, any of the antelopes, red pandas......
 
Facebook Update from 8 October 2013:

Maggie, our grey-headed flying fox, turned 21 today...
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Which is excellent news, as it means she is still alive! She is also the last of her species in NZ. I'm not sure if she is on-display or not, but if so would be with the Little Red Flying-foxes near the entrance.

In other news, the Zoo Map has been updated to show the area off-display while the Tasmanian Devil enclosure is built, and also now shows Eastern Water Dragons. Sadly the Red Kangaroo has also disappeared from the map, and as I didn't see it last time I suspect it may have died - anyone know anything about this?

The zoo was also closed today due to high winds, which is pretty unusual.
 
zooboy28 said:
Which is excellent news, as it means she is still alive! She is also the last of her species in NZ. I'm not sure if she is on-display or not, but if so would be with the Little Red Flying-foxes near the entrance.
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she has been off-display for a long time. I don't think that has (or ever will be) changed.
 
zooboy28 said:
Facebook Update from 8 October 2013:

In other news, the Zoo Map has been updated to show the area off-display while the Tasmanian Devil enclosure is built, and also now shows Eastern Water Dragons. Sadly the Red Kangaroo has also disappeared from the map, and as I didn't see it last time I suspect it may have died - anyone know anything about this?
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REd wasn't there last time I went either. Going in to volunteer again next week (first time in a while due to an injury) so will ask.

The dragons are in the old tuatara enclosure on the back end of the porcupine (ex-kiwi) house. I helped rebuild it :) There are two (three?) females and a male which recently moved back down after a stay up at Ti Point.
 
Sumatran Tiger Oz, who arrived at Auckland Zoo in ~2006 from Israel is moving to Hamilton Zoo according to this facebook post:

Next month, our male Sumatran tiger, Oz will be moving to Hamilton Zoo. This Labour Weekend, make sure you head to the Zoo to say bon voyage!
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Although it doesn't say when, presumably the move is imminent. And presumably he is moving there to breed with the new female there (Sali from Dreamworld).
 
They are actually doing a "tiger-swap" with Hamilton. Auckland Zoo will hold non-breeding tigers, while Hamilton will finally get a chance to breed cats. From the facebook:

We're doing a tiger swap with Hamilton Zoo. Oz is heading to Hamilton to be part of their breeding programme and one of their tigers (Jaka, Molek's brother) will be moving to Auckland.
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