Hamilton Zoo Hamilton Zoo News 2013

How disapointing and upsetting. My condolances to the keepers at Hamilton and hopefully Kito will recover and breed again soon.
 
A new pair of (Scarlet) Macaws have arrived at Hamilton Zoo, from the zoo's original owner, and have moved into Parrot Court. I presume they have moved into the large South American aviary that holds Blue & Yellow Macaws and Sun Conures, but I'm not sure, and don't know whether either of those species have moved out of that aviary.

Story here: Macaws move in to Hamilton Zoo | Stuff.co.nz

30 March 2013

The Waikato's second favourite type of macaw - after the rugby playing type - have made themselves at home in Hamilton Zoo.

The male and female macaws arrived last week and are extra special as they are a completely genetically unrelated pair.

Although their exact ages are unknown, they are of breeding age and Hamilton Zoo hopes they will breed in the near future.

The pair came from former Hilldale Game Farm owner Murray Powell who, with his wife Gloria, opened the Hilldale Zoo and Wildlife Park in 1969.

Since his retirement and Hamilton City Council taking over management of Hamilton Zoo in 1976, Mr Powell has still had a close connection with the zoo.

"Murray has extensive knowledge of exotic birds and has provided invaluable support to Hamilton Zoo over many years" said the zoo's Ken Millwood.

"He has helped out on numerous occasions with the hand-raising and rearing of some of our birds, and it is fantastic that we have been able to add these two beautiful birds to our collection so that we can all enjoy them."

The keepers will now spend the coming months getting to know the personalities of the birds - with the female macaw already showing to be a 'pretty feisty lady'!

The birds can be found in the zoo's Parrot Court.
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Keeping the Tapirs Warm

These animals seem to get quite a lot of media attention, perhaps a reporter has a soft spot for these awesome animals? Note "B" is short for Branco. And hopefully they have a few more years left, 22 is not particularly ancient for tapirs.

Story and photo here:Tapirs ward off the cold at Hamilton Zoo | Stuff.co.nz

Spare a thought for Mr and Mrs B when winter pounds its icy fist down this week.

The pair of tapirs hail from the Brazilian rainforest and they could handle Hamilton Zoo's coldest days in their younger years, but they're not long of this world now.

Like us, the cold creeps further into their bones the older they get.

At 22 years old, their innings are almost up.

While the meerkats and primates have special heated pads to warm up on, the tapirs must make do with an insulated shack.

So when those particularly bitter Waikato days and nights roll around and their jaws chatter and their hind legs start to shiver, they get special treatment.

Mammal keeper Delwyn Crombie will pull out the oil heater and a custom-made cover for Mr B - he's a touch more sensitive than the Mrs.

It'll crackle to life in their enclosure and they'll to snuggle up to it alongside their ubiquitous friend George the goose.
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Updates from Visit

I visited Hamilton Zoo on 1/9/13, and here are some thoughts and minor news:

-Parrot Court's row of small aviaries is currently empty and undergoing renovations. Some of the species have been added to the other big aviaries, but the rest are off-display. The South American aviary had the new pair of Scarlet Macaws, with no sign of the Blue-and-Golds.
-Last remaining Bobcat in Australasia was lazing on a platform and looked very relaxed, will be sad when he dies.
-Saw the Red Panda triplets, they looked adorable, all hanging together in the morning sun.
-One of the Brolgas is in a small enclosure adjacent to the Bison.
-A couple of Brown Teal ducklings were on display, they looked very fluffy.
-The native reptile exhibits were also under renovation, and some enclosures were empty, awaiting the arrival of Otago Skinks. There were only three gecko species on display.
-We saw the rhinos feed, this was very good. They were shut in the main part of the enclosure while the hay was put into the smaller part, and then the gates were opened and the seven rhinos came charging through! Brilliant. There was a bit of argy-bargy between the younger males and the adults, which was exciting. The two young males are due to go to Australia shortly, and I think the keeper said one of the females was pregnant too.

Some photos attached, including of some rather unusual graffiti.
 

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Tygo said:
Hamilton Zoo has joined the kiwi recovery programme.

Hamilton Zoo joins the kiwi recovery programme - Hamilton Zoo, the Zoo with Personality
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this link no longer works but it is about a 14 month old male North Island brown kiwi which has been released into the zoo's native walk-through aviary. There are plans to obtain a female for him (not sure if this has been implemented yet). The zoo intends to only hold one pair, and only as breeders (i.e. not in a nocturnal display situation, although they are in the visitor area).
 
I was there in November last year, and they were finishing the new exhibit for him then (basically just a low fence). Its located under the boardwalk and up into a patch of forest on the slope above the lower exit (by the waterfall).
Didn't get to see him, though he was moved in by then.
 
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