Franklin Zoo (Closed) History Of Franklin Zoo
- Thread starter Tygo
- Start date
I know that they got a lion from me 30 years ago!
Imnot sure if that info is on their web site, but I know it was originally started by some guy quite a few years ago who had it as a retirement place for old circus animals, most of the exotics they had like lions and monkeys were ex circus.
The present owners, a vet and her husband, bought it some years back and have enlarged the bird section, and also built a far larger lion enclosure.
However they only have one very elderly lioness left now, and she wont last much longer.
They also of course have the ex circus African elephant there, which possibly may end up staying there.
She has quite a large enclosure with mud wallow and by now should have a custom made elephant house.
For a small zoo they have quite a good volunteer section and education program.
The present owners, a vet and her husband, bought it some years back and have enlarged the bird section, and also built a far larger lion enclosure.
However they only have one very elderly lioness left now, and she wont last much longer.
They also of course have the ex circus African elephant there, which possibly may end up staying there.
She has quite a large enclosure with mud wallow and by now should have a custom made elephant house.
For a small zoo they have quite a good volunteer section and education program.
I haven't been there for 30 odd years but, from memory, I think that the property started as a poultry farm, then became an avicultural/bird dealing farm which morphed into a zoo.
The daughter of the founder is Mrs Tony Ratcliffe.
The daughter of the founder is Mrs Tony Ratcliffe.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
Does this mean she is the wife of Tony Ratcliffe the ex-circus (and elephant) owner, or did you think Tony Ratcliffe was a woman?
I went to the place a couple of tomes in the late 90s, maybe early 2000s, before it was Franklin Zoo, and even before it was Mark Vette's Rescue Zoo, and it was called the Whangarata, or something like that, Zoo. I've got some brochures of the place from that time, will try and dig them out.
They had 3 lions, 1 zebra, deer, emu, serval, wallabies, otter, and some monkeys when I went, as well as various birds, if I remember correctly.
The lady is the wife of Tony Ratcliffe. A female spelling would be Toni.
I think that the founder's name was Leo Gaskell or Gaskin or something like that. Sorry, it was a long time ago in a different life!
Yes, it was originally called Whangarata [sp?] Zoo.
I think that the founder's name was Leo Gaskell or Gaskin or something like that. Sorry, it was a long time ago in a different life!
Yes, it was originally called Whangarata [sp?] Zoo.
yes, the spelling is Whangarata Zoo. There are still some internet sites that mention it.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
I found the brochure from Whangarata Zoo Park, which I think I probably got in the late 90s/early 00s.
Species-wise it mentions:
-Lions
-Monkeys
-Otters
-Zebra
-Baboons
-Ostriches
-Geese
-Donkey
-Turtles
-Birds
-Parrots
-Emus
-Serval
-Ducks
-Wallabies
Also: Pigs, Sheep, Lambs, Calves, Rabbits, Pony, Peacocks and Deer.
From the photos it appears that the monkeys were Vervets, the geese Cape Barren and domestic, the parrots were King and Princess, and there were at least two zebra.
Further memory searching makes me think there were definately a macaque species as well, and the baboon species would theoretically be Chacma.
Species-wise it mentions:
-Lions
-Monkeys
-Otters
-Zebra
-Baboons
-Ostriches
-Geese
-Donkey
-Turtles
-Birds
-Parrots
-Emus
-Serval
-Ducks
-Wallabies
Also: Pigs, Sheep, Lambs, Calves, Rabbits, Pony, Peacocks and Deer.
From the photos it appears that the monkeys were Vervets, the geese Cape Barren and domestic, the parrots were King and Princess, and there were at least two zebra.
Further memory searching makes me think there were definately a macaque species as well, and the baboon species would theoretically be Chacma.
Sadly, the wife of the founder passed away just before Christmas.
I found this article from 2005 which briefly mentions some of the zoo's history: Bombay - Property - NZ Herald News
hullo steve, are you still going strong?
Started by Laurie Gaskill, when he retired it was taken over by Mark Vette
then taken over by current owners
Still going - not sure about "strong"!!
Last time I was there they had one Chacma Babbon, which had been on loan to Auckland until the last of their baboons died, and now back,
the monkeys were Macaque and vervet, and there is on very elderly nearly blind lioness left.
they have a very big lion enclosure but underutlilised unfortunatley. Be ideal for four lions from Zion, as a suggestion,
Come on NZ Jeremy - what's stopping you? It's just down the road from Auckland!
How about a visit and then a nice long report for us all?
Cheers!
How about a visit and then a nice long report for us all?
Cheers!
ZooGirl101
Well-Known Member
I have been to Franklin Zoo once at the beginning of this year to be a Junior Zoo Keeper there, and what you guys said is right. Most animals are ex circus animals especially Mila the elephant and Ruby the lion. Some are also rescued from owners that no longer want them or treat them badly. Because it is a sanctuary, they don't have many animals and they were all rescued in some way.
ZooGirl101
Well-Known Member
Franklin Zoo has no servals.
ZooGirl101
Well-Known Member
Well at the moment they don't have any.