Franklin Zoo (Closed) Closure and Animal Transfers

All 430 of Franklin Zoo's animals have found new homes - apart from Mila the elephant, as keepers agonise over which of three facilities in the US to send the elephant to
The zoo's keepers have been reluctant to announce which facilities they are choosing between for Mila but said they would start fundraising soon to pay for the cost of rehoming Mila.

In the meantime the Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust has hired a world-class elephant programme manager to help look after Mila."

Talk about dela ying things, at this rate the elephant will die of old age before anything is done.
 
kiwipo said:
All 430 of Franklin Zoo's animals have found new homes - apart from Mila the elephant, as keepers agonise over which of three facilities in the US to send the elephant to
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So Carol has found a home? That's good. Does anyone know where she went?
 
A mention on their FB page saying all of the birds have now been transferred to their new home in Ngatea.
 
The above article ("all animals have found a home bar Mila") may have been misleading, as it appears that only now has a home for Carol the pigtail macaque, three remaining capuchins and a hawk been found, at a small (not-open to public?) animal sanctuary near Wellington. They will hopefully move south in a month or so.

Story here: Homeless monkeys find shelter at Upper Hutt's HUHA... | Stuff.co.nz

8/5/2013

Four monkeys and a one-eyed hawk left homeless following the closure of their zoo in tragic circumstances will take up residence at an Upper Hutt animal sanctuary.

The animals were part of a band of wildlife facing an uncertain future after a keeper at Franklin Zoo in Auckland was killed by an elephant last year.

The decision to close the zoo was made in April 2012 and volunteers set about the task of rehoming animals and birds.

HUHA founder Carolyn Press McKenzie has confirmed the sanctuary would take in three capuchin monkeys and an elderly pig- tailed macaque from the zoo. A one-eyed hawk would also be welcomed to the Kaitoke animal sanctuary.

Mrs Press McKenzie said the former zoo animals would be transported to their new home after the HUHA monkey enclosure had been expanded. She hoped this would happen within the next month.

The sanctuary is home to a lone monkey named Laurie, who is also a capuchin.

Mrs Press McKenzie said Laurie had formed close ties with a cat called Jungle and Jelly Bean the rabbit, but the new arrivals would be a welcome addition.

"We're really excited that he'll have some monkey friends."
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zooboy28 said:
The above article ("all animals have found a home bar Mila") may have been misleading, as it appears that only now has a home for Carol the pigtail macaque, three remaining capuchins and a hawk been found, at a small (not-open to public?) animal sanctuary near Wellington. They will hopefully move south in a month or so.
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Franklin Zoo posted a link to HUHA on their Facebook page several weeks ago, so maybe they just waited a while to announce it.
 
driftaguy said:
Franklin Zoo posted a link to HUHA on their Facebook page several weeks ago, so maybe they just waited a while to announce it.
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I had missed that. They have just posted this update:

HUHA needs your help to finish the enclosures for our lovely remaining primates and hawk. Many many thanks for the donations to HUHA so far. They have received $16,000 towards the new enclosures for the remaining primates and hawk from Franklin Zoo. Nearly there, just another $14,000 to go!!
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$30,000 seems like a lot, so they must be pretty decent enclosures.
 
Tygo said:
Carol the pigtailed macaque and the three capuchins and Harry the Hawk have now arrived at HUHA.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153332060325593.1073741828.348396615592&type=1
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*Jack the Harrier Hawk :)

That's quite a positive article on the Franklin Zoo facebook page, and a great series of photos showing some very nice enclosures. The article also says that the three capuchins have been introduced to HUHA's existing capuchin, which is a good thing for all involved:

The trio of capuchins were released alongside Laurie, HUHAs own Capuchin from the circus that hasn’t been around another Capuchin for 20yrs. It was amazing to see Laurie and Bernie start talking away to each other. After four days of positive interactions, it was decided to allow them to have access to one another. It was a tough decision to make considering all four have their own unique personality’s including a rough and tumble Bernie, a flighty worried Jungle and a small, shy Laurie. But, it all went beautifully. Sophie and Jungle were the first to figure out how to get into Laurie’s enclosure and they did their own thing, not fussed that there was another boy in the room. Bernie eventually figured out how to come over too and he was more interested in the enclosure than Laurie. So the first few days have passed and there have been no negative interactions between any of the Capuchins. Such a great outcome and we hope that they carry on getting to know one another peacefully.
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Franklin Zoo For Sale

Now that all of the zoo's animals have been rehomed, the former Franklin Zoo property is now for sale. I doubt very much that new buyers would create another zoo here, it would be far too difficult to source all but a few exotic species and require major upgrades to, if not replacement of, most of the existing infrastructure (which has probably had minimal, if any, maintenance since it closed).

Story here: Franklin Zoo looking for new buyer | Stuff.co.nz

A new wildlife centre could spring up in the place of the former Franklin Zoo.

The zoo is up for sale now African elephant Mila has been relocated to the United States.

The 41-year-old pachyderm was flown to San Diego Zoo last month on a specially chartered jumbo jet.

Staff in San Diego aim to introduce her to their other female elephants and eventually put her on public display.

Franklin Zoo has been closed to the public since Mila accidentally killed her trainer, Dr Helen Schofield, in April last year.

Staff have since been working to relocate the animal occupants - the former circus elephant Mila was the last to go.

Her move was the fulfilment of Dr Schofield's dream for her to live with other elephants, a post on the Franklin Zoo Facebook page says.

"It was a massive undertaking that was only made possible by the co-operation of a large number of people. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of them."

The facility is now being marketed by Barfoot & Thompson Papakura and real estate agent Suzy Causebrook says staff are doing "all we can" to get a new animal centre to move in.

"Franklin Zoo was hugely popular. My children have fond memories of it and if you talk to any of the local kids in the district they'd have memories of it," she says.

"It would be a shame for it not to be a zoo."

Many people, including two overseas buyers, have already expressed interest in owning the 3.5 hectare facility.

Those include a potential zoo owner and a woman looking to run an animal therapy centre for children, Ms Causebrook says. She's looking to sell it for about $1.5 million to $2.5m - a bargain for the facilities that are there, she says.

"The infrastructure there is worth many millions. The elephant enclosure alone cost over a million dollars because it's built to certain standards."

Advice on the requirements needed to run the facility as a zoo will be offered to potential buyers.
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Franklin Zoo Sold & No Longer in Existence

The Franklin Zoo property has now been sold so is officially no longer in existence. All of the animals are doing well in their new loving homes including Mila the elephant who is thriving with 5 other female elephants at San Diego Zoo.

Just more than 3 years after Helen Schofield's tragic passing, her sister has finally finished the job of rehoming all the animals and selling the zoo property. Helen can now fully rest in peace and closure has been brought to all of us involved with the Franklin Zoo. It is time for us to now move on.

Quote from Franklin Zoo Facebook page:

Thank you too all our faithful and dedicated supporters and friends who have all worked so hard for such great outcomes for the Franklin Zoo animals and who have worked tirelessly also to help me. The property is now sold and I move on, first travelling to say thanks and goodbye to many people. The last animals (domestic) have all been relocated with their lovely new owners, the last being Stumpy cat who is very happy in her new home and Minnie and Cassie (cows) and the pheasants, will continue to be cared for with the love they are used to. I will be forever grateful to you all.
I will keep this page open for a while as I will be seeing some of our animals on my farewell tour so will post updates for you of as many of them as I can.
Thanks and love to you all, Jenny
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