Wellington Zoo Wellington Zoo Developments 2011

[zooboy28]

So I visited Wellington Zoo today (and Karori/Zealandia), and was very surprised by the number of changes since I last visited in June 2010.

-The old bird aviaries section, along the lower side of the zoo, including the zebra/ostrich/most recently llama paddock, were all closed off, for the 'Meet the Locals' development.

-The first part of this development, 'The Roost', is open, taking up part of the old pocupine enclosure, and part of the old zebra/ostrich/llama paddock. It looks pretty good, and is a bird breeding/rearing facility with attached aviaries. There are five (relatively small - smaller than those in the old block of aviaries) aviaries on one side, none of them particularly well landscaped. The first has a North Island Kaka, the second a Kereru, the third has a Tawny Frogmouth, and the fourth a Morepork (all single birds as far as I could tell, previously held in the old row of aviaries. The fifth aviary has not yet been landscaped at all, but says that Kotuku, Little Black Shag and Kingfisher will be moving in. The 'Meet the Locals' plans indicate these aviaries will be off-display, which would explain the lack of landscaping, new signage, and mesh you can look through. The current inhabitants are likely to move into other areas of the new development, except the Frogmouth, but I'm not sure how long that will be around. On the other side of the building are aviaries for Red-crowned Parakeet, and Cockateils, separated by some rooms which can be viewed through windows housing a brooding room, incubator, etc, with chicks and eggs. This side was pretty cool, and the aviaries were better landscaped. The very basic cage signage has not changed though.

http://www.zoochat.com/15/roost-wellington-zoo-205613/
http://www.zoochat.com/15/new-roost-aviaries-wellington-zoo-205614/

-The lion enclosure next to the tigers is empty, with the males living in the main lion enclosure now, presumably on rotation with the girls.

-The old elephant house, the elephant ride building, and the old duck pond between them have gone, with the exception of the elephant house facade. A tuck shop has been built behind the facade, with a very out-of-place looking roof, definitely not an architectural masterpiece. On the side of this are four glass-fronted, mesh-topped enclosures for australian lizards: Shingleback & Blue-tongue, Cunningham's Skink, Bearded Dragon, Eastern Water Dragon. These have not been landscaped yet, but look to be a very nice size. There is also a new 'function space', and a small barked eating area containing the big cabbage tree from the old Australian Shelduck exhibit.

http://www.zoochat.com/15/old-elephant-house-wellington-zoo-205615/
http://www.zoochat.com/15/new-reptile-exhibits-wellington-zoo-205616/

-The old meerkat exhibit is now home to a number of Leopard Tortoises.

-The old kiosk is closed, and has a sign saying that it is the site of a future reptile house (or possibly might have said it was the future reptile house, can't remember).

-The bats are now in the Sulfur-crested Cockatoo aviary, with some Rainbow Lorikeets, and a Banded Rail (don't know if the rail will enjoy that - seems to be a bit of a weird mix?).

-The Eastern Grey Kangaroo/Tammar Wallaby exhibit is now also home to three Cape Barren Geese and some Red-eared Sliders, with a pond at the bottom. Incidentally, the exhibit was a hive of activity this morning - full of keepers and vets - as one of the kangaroos had been seen having a seizure.

-The Brolga Crane has been moved into the African Savannah exhibit, not too sure if this is a good mix, other than the obvious biogeographic flaw. Would Ostriches get on with Brolga?

-And finally, the old Tamarin cage, most recently holding Emporer Tamarin/Agouti has been flattened, and appears to be being replaced by a set of three disgustingly coloured 70's style huts. I think these will be viewing areas as part of a new tamarin exhibit, presumably for Emporer Tamarins and Pygmy Marmosets. These huts look like a ghastly hangover from the 70's, rather than being brand new.

http://www.zoochat.com/15/new-tamarin-exhibits-wellington-zoo-205617/

-Overall, the zoo seems to be developing at quite a fast rate, completion of the tamarin and reptile enclosures should be followed by the new sun bear enclosure and the rest of the 'Meet the Locals' development. After that, the zoo is advertising a new reptile house, Australian walk-through exhibit and South-American walk-through aviary. The management is doing very well rejuvinating this zoo.

 

[Shirokuma]

The Brolga Crane has been moved into the African Savannah exhibit, not too sure if this is a good mix, other than the obvious biogeographic flaw. Would Ostriches get on with Brolga?

Don't they also have blackbuck in there?

 

[Chlidonias]

After that, the zoo is advertising a new reptile house, Australian walk-through exhibit and South-American walk-through aviary. The management is doing very well rejuvinating this zoo.

good to hear about a new reptile house, and interesting they are still planning on a South American walk-through aviary - there's not much choice of birds for it, although I suspect they may also include agouti and maybe tamarins.

 

[zooboy28]

Don't they also have blackbuck in there?

Yea, thats true, total African fail

The Blackbuck are, as far as I can tell, just there as the token antelope species, and once an African species is available, e.g. Impala, the Blackbuck will go. Of course, this is likely to take a very long time, and by the time a biogeograohically correct African Savannah is possible, the Blackbuck and Brolga will be long dead.

It could be said that the Nyala are the token antelope species, especially as they are both African and antelope, however as far as I know they are a total display fail (would be happy to be corrected on this). I've seen them once (hiding in shelter), but yesterday they were nowhere to be seen, and I did spend a fair bit of time looking. Why they are the ZAA's highest priority antelope import species (especially as there are other antelope species that desperately need new blood) is completely beyond me.

 

[zooboy28]

good to hear about a new reptile house, and interesting they are still planning on a South American walk-through aviary - there's not much choice of birds for it, although I suspect they may also include agouti and maybe tamarins.

Yes, the sign indicated that it would include 'monkeys', these are almost definitely going to be the Cotton-top Tamarins. For birds I presume they will just have Sun Conures, I doubt macaws or amazons would be suitable, would they?

What species do you think they will have in the Reptile House? The sign also mentioned inverts, so I guess the Tarnatula collection would be kept there. They also have a few natives, but I'd hope these would be incorporated into 'Meet the Locals', as Tuatara are. That leaves Madagascan Day Geckos, and nothing else. Is reptile importation likely? To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the reptile house idea, I know its easier to have them together, but it would be nice to see the reptiles displayed with the other animals from their native range.

 

[Chlidonias]

Yes, the sign indicated that it would include 'monkeys', these are almost definitely going to be the Cotton-top Tamarins. For birds I presume they will just have Sun Conures, I doubt macaws or amazons would be suitable, would they?

there's a few different small conures that could be used in a walk-through, but you're right that amazons and macaws wouldn't be a good idea. The problem with tamarins is that they can be nest-raiders so I'd just leave them out altogether. Personally, with the species available in NZ I'd have a Neotropical walk-through with agoutis on the floor, small conures (maroon-bellies or green-cheeked; quakers would be very interesting as well given their nesting habits and they shouldn't interbreed with the Pyrrhura), red siskin, jacarini and Cuban finches, and talpacoti doves. Not actually neotropical but you could put Carolina wood ducks in there as well (muscovies being a bit large) and perhaps bobwhites. All from the New World if not actually South American, and all quite easy to get hold of.

(Wellington Zoo, if you're reading, feel free to utilise that idea )

 

[Chlidonias]

What species do you think they will have in the Reptile House? The sign also mentioned inverts, so I guess the Tarnatula collection would be kept there. They also have a few natives, but I'd hope these would be incorporated into 'Meet the Locals', as Tuatara are. That leaves Madagascan Day Geckos, and nothing else. Is reptile importation likely? To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the reptile house idea, I know its easier to have them together, but it would be nice to see the reptiles displayed with the other animals from their native range.

Wellington's never actually had a proper reptile house as far back as I can remember, which is a bit poor for the capital city's zoo. In the old days the reptiles were mostly in large individual terrariums at the side of the old kiwi house (the green iguana was my favourite there, but that's going back a bit); I think those terrariums are still there. There was a photo in the gallery if it hasn't been purged. Last time I was there (2008) the reptiles were mostly in the elephant house, but in both cases there were odd exhibits just randomly dotted around in other parts of the zoo.

I totally agree the native species should all be displayed in the Meet The Locals area, and the Australian species could all be housed in one area as well, but with an actual reptile house there could be much more scope, not just the day geckoes and tarantulas, but they could also get in Jackson's chameleons, leopard geckoes, and various chelonians. There's not much in the way of non-Australian reptiles in NZ but I do think Wellington Zoo should put more emphasis on their display.

I have no idea on which species if any zoos can import (Arvicola would probably be the member to ask on that). I don't see there should be any problems provided biosecurity issues are worked through. I remember the days (1980s) when any private person could import turtles and tortoises from the UK and Japan subject to health checks and quarantine.

 

[zooboy28]

there's a few different small conures that could be used in a walk-through, but you're right that amazons and macaws wouldn't be a good idea. The problem with tamarins is that they can be nest-raiders so I'd just leave them out altogether. Personally, with the species available in NZ I'd have a Neotropical walk-through with agoutis on the floor, small conures (maroon-bellies or green-cheeked; quakers would be very interesting as well given their nesting habits and they shouldn't interbreed with the Pyrrhura), red siskin, jacarini and Cuban finches, and talpacoti doves. Not actually neotropical but you could put Carolina wood ducks in there as well (muscovies being a bit large) and perhaps bobwhites. All from the New World if not actually South American, and all quite easy to get hold of.

Well thats a decent aviary
I guess you could always have two connected walk-through aviaries, one with smaller and breeding birds, and the other with the tamarins and some non-breeding conures. Like the wood duck idea, would make a great addition. And I like the dove idea too, having never seen that species.

 

[Chlidonias]

I guess you could always have two connected walk-through aviaries, one with smaller and breeding birds, and the other with the tamarins and some non-breeding conures. Like the wood duck idea, would make a great addition. And I like the dove idea too, having never seen that species.

talpacoti dove - Google Search
They're probably less common in aviculture here than the other species I listed but are still available. They are small but delicately coloured, spending most of their time on the ground. I like the double aviary idea too.

 

[peacock]

Melbourne Zoo experimented with keeping squirrel monkeys, agouti, sun and nandy conures and green winged and blue and yellow macaws together.

It didn't work out so great with all animals eventually removed except the destructive and bossy macaws.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Darling Downs Zoo also experimented with Common Marmosets and Sun Conures. Didn't work.

We then tried Nanday Conures - didn't work either!!

 

[Jabiru96]

Melbourne Zoo experimented with keeping squirrel monkeys, agouti, sun and nandy conures and green winged and blue and yellow macaws together.

It didn't work out so great with all animals eventually removed except the destructive and bossy macaws.

Was this in a walk-through aviary?

 

[zooboy28]

Yeah, I wiki'd them, their soft colours would be quite a contrast with brightly coloured conures.

@peacock, Cotton-top Tamarins are kept together with Agouti, Sun Conures and a Red-fronted Macaw at Wellington Zoo, in a pretty well vegetated enclosure. Has been there for quite a while, so I'm guessing theres no problems there. I could see how a pair of larger macaws could stuff things up though.

 

[Chlidonias]

Is reptile importation likely?

this Biosecurity risk assessment document I came across when working on another project may be of interest to you (from 2008)
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/regs/imports/risk/squamata-aus-ra.pdf
a couple of selected quotes:

Curators of New Zealand zoological collections wish to import species from within the Order Squamata for the purposes of display and as part of a regional co-operative breeding programme for species conservation. Acquisition of some species through the importation of hatching eggs is considered feasible but that is not the case for all species, particularly those that are viviparous or oviviviparous, or some small species.

Individuals to be imported will have been resident in a government-approved zoological collection in Australia for at least twelve months prior to importation or will have been born in captivity in a government-approved zoological collection and remained there for their entire lives prior to importation.
Eggs to be imported will have been derived from individuals who have been resident in a
government-approved zoological collection in Australia for at least twelve months or born in captivity in a government-approved zoological collection and remained there for their entire lives.
NOTE: The prevention or management of any adverse effects associated with a new lizard species entering New Zealand is a requirement of the Hazardous Substances and
New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. Any application to import a new lizard species under
Part V of the HSNO Act would need to be assessed under this Act by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).

Only the following species are considered in this risk analysis:
Frilled Lizard, Chlamydosaurus kingii
Philippine Sail-finned Water Dragon, Hydrosaurus pustulatus
Eastern Water Dragon, Physignathus lesueurii lesueurii
Bearded Dragon, Pogona spp.

Scheltopusik, Pseudopus apodus

Veiled Chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus

Madagascar Day Gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis
Knob-tailed Gecko, Nephrurus spp.

Fijian Crested Iguana, Brachylophus vitiensis
Common Iguana, Iguana iguana

Cunningham’s Skink, Egernia cunninghami
Shingleback, Trachydosaurus rugosus

Komodo Dragon, Varanus komodoensis
Lace monitor Varanus varius

and follow-up from 2010: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/biosec/consult/ros-zoo-lizard-hatching-eggs-aus.pdf

and this one too: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/biosec/consult/draft-ihs-zoo-liz-eggs.pdf (which has an appendix at the bottom for lizard species eligible for importation to NZ zoos from Australia)

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

@Chlidonias,
Sadly, not a huge choice for reptiles.
I hope in part they stick with NZ natives ...

 

[zooboy28]

The new Emperor Tamarin and Pygmy Marmoset exhibits are opening this weekend:

With the school holidays coming up the Zoo team have been working hard on our ne...west enclosure - a home for some of our smallest residents; our emperor tamarin and pygmy marmosets.

Here is a sneak preview of their colourful new home!

Come along on Saturday to join in their house warming - our Monkey Fiesta .

There will be special talks and fun activities all day. We hope you can join us!

There are some extra photos of the almost finished exhibits on Wellington Zoos facebook page Wellington Zoo | Facebook

 

[Chlidonias]

Just a quick note, with some questions for zooboy28.

I noticed an absence of zebras on my visit the other day and a check on ISIS just now showed none listed for Wellington. Any idea when and to where they departed?

And I didn't see any fruit bats on display, which may have just been my fail. Are they still in the cockatoo aviary as you noted earlier in the year? I did see a lot of them in the off display aviaries way off behind the old giraffe paddock so wondered if that was all of them.

 

[zooboy28]

Just a quick note, with some questions for zooboy28.

I noticed an absence of zebras on my visit the other day and a check on ISIS just now showed none listed for Wellington. Any idea when and to where they departed?

And I didn't see any fruit bats on display, which may have just been my fail. Are they still in the cockatoo aviary as you noted earlier in the year? I did see a lot of them in the off display aviaries way off behind the old giraffe paddock so wondered if that was all of them.

When the new Savannah exhibit was built (2007/08), the giraffe and zebra were moved in, but didn’t get on. The zebra tried to 'assert their dominance over the giraffe' which didn't go well. I can’t remember how many zebra there were (at least 2 in 2007), but they were moved back to the old zebra paddock shortly after (where the Roost is now). To the best of my knowledge none were sent away. The last zebra, Molly, was euthanased in 2008/09, and was replaced by llama, which have now left the collection presumably. I think Wellington has kind of given up on zebra, which is a shame. They should split the savannah into two, and give the lower, steeper section to zebra and ostrich, and keep the top part for giraffe and nyala - losing the brolga and blackbuck along the way.

Incidentally, I found out that the blackbuck did come from Hamilton Zoo, in 2007/08, when the Savannah opened.

I saw a few fruit bats at the top right of the cockatoo aviary this week, and the time before that they were in a roost box sort of thing on the left hand wall. I wasn't sure what had happened to the Elephant House group, I just assumed they had been merged with this group (there were bats in both before), so it’s interesting to hear that they are off display. I have never noticed any off-display birds behind the old giraffe paddock before; I guess a telephoto lens would be useful there. As well as the off-display falcon in the old owl aviary (by sun bears), I also caught a glimpse of some Rainbow Lorikeets and an Otter in the off-display cages by the Wild Theatre (by jumping).

 

[Chlidonias]

Very interesting. When I was there in 2008 I was told the zebra had been trialed in the African Savannah but had to be removed; I saw them back in the old paddock at that stage and I think there were just two. I didn't realise they'd died since then (or perhaps I did and just forgot). It's weird having a zoo like Wellington's without zebra! I'm not sure the steep part of the Savannah would suit zebra, but it is perfect for the nyala because they are bushland antelope rather than a pure grassland one and there's a lot of tree cover there for them. I do get the impression that the giraffe don't actually have a lot of space in that enclosure because there's not much flat ground in the upper area.

There are I think five aviaries in a block visible at the far side of the old giraffe paddock (from the giraffe viewing platform). The one on the left end had the fruit bats, and the second from right had a kaka. I couldn't see anything in the others. I tried to have a peek into the off display cages behind the Wild Theatre but couldn't see any of the inhabitants.

 

[zooboy28]

I'm guessing the idea of re-developing the Sun Bear enclosure for Thar, as part of the 'Meet the Locals' development is being rethought, as Snow Leopard importation is pondered (http://www.zoochat.com/17/wellington-zoo-eyes-snow-leopards-213672/).

I would think Snow Leopards would be able to jump across the moat of the Sun Bear enclosure as it is quite narrow, and that a redeveloment of that enclosure would include either a widening of the moat or more likely an infilling of the moat and installation of a glass barrier. Possibly the whole exhibit would require mesh covering too?

To be honest, I can see why the zoo thinks this is a good enclosure for snow leopard (rocky, barren, steep, etc), but I think a brand new exhibit in the Red Panda area would be ideal. This would create a great Himalayan Precinct, which could possibly extend past the back of the lions to also give views over the Thar (if they replaced the Sun Bears). Such an exhibit could be built a) in the back of the Cheetah exhibit, with viewing from where the Himalayan aviary is now (with the front and viewing of the cheetahs retained for another smaller African cat, currently kept in cramped cages), or b) in what appears to be the Sun Bears off-exhibit area. If you know the zoo you can get an idea of the available space here: Wellington Zoo Satellite Map