Auckland Zoo
Encyclopedia
Auckland Zoo is a 16.35 hectares (40 acre) zoological garden
in Auckland
, New Zealand
, situated next to Western Springs
park not far from Auckland
's central business district. It is run by the Auckland City Council
with the Auckland Zoological Society as a supporting organisation.
Auckland Zoo opened in 1922 experiencing early difficulties mainly due to animal health issues. By 1930 a sizeable collection of animal
s had been assembled and a zoological society formed. The zoo consolidated during the Second World War and was at that time under the leadership of Lt. Col. Sawer. After the war the collection was expanded, and in the 1950s chimpanzee
s were acquired to provide tea parties for the public's entertainment, but this practice ceased in 1964. In 1973 the zoo expanded into the adjacent Western Springs park. From the late 1980s to the present day, many old exhibits were phased out and replaced by modern enclosures.
The zoo is separated loosely into areas divided by either the region of origin of the species exhibited, taxonically
, or by biome
. The zoo plays a part in conservation (mainly of New Zealand species), research and education. It has many modern features such as the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine (NZCCM), and by the end of 2011 plans to open its largest development, Te Wao Nui, which will exhibit native New Zealand
flora
and fauna
.
Auckland Zoo is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), and received ISO 14001 accreditation for its Environmental Management System in 2007.
Early history
The history of the Auckland Zoo began when an eccentric businessman J.J. Boyd submitted a proposal to the Onehunga Borough Council to purchase a block of land in Symonds Street, Onehunga for the purpose of displaying his private menagerie
of six lions, a tiger
, a panther
, one hyena
and what records list only as "several monkeys" in February 1912. The menagerie had been kept at Boyd's zoo at Upper Aramoho near Wanganui
(in the southern part of New Zealand's North Island
).
Boyd's Onehunga Zoo was a constant source of aggravation for the local council, local residents would complain regularly about the sounds and smells, with regular attempts to close it in the following years by the Council, which prompted a successful run for mayor of Onehunga by Boyd, before old age and pressure caused Boyd to close the zoo before his death. The newly formed Auckland City Council
purchased the animals as the basis for a group that would form the nucleus of the permanent zoo at Auckland's Western Springs. There is still a Boyd Street in Onehunga today.
1920s
On 17 December 1922 the zoo was opened by the Mayor of the time, James Gunson to a sizeable crowd. At this time Western Springs was four miles (6 km) from the town hall in what was then a semi rural area. The story of Boyd's zoo was well publicised and the public warmed to the zoo immediately.
Th early zoo was a bleak and uninspiring place and had been founded with an initial fund of ₤10,000. However the staff quickly set about planting 5,000 trees and developing the grounds to a pleasant setting.
The council had a meeting in July 1923 with the purpose of arranging the location of a flying aviary, a monkey house and accommodation for the polar bears, bison
and birds of prey. Money was also spent developing a bandstand
; hippopotamus pools, elephant house and walk, refreshment kiosk and a tiger arena.
L.T. Griffin was the zoo's first supervisor and in effect its first director. He went to Africa in 1923 to acquire species for the newly formed zoo. What followed was an aggressive policy of expansion over the next few years, including the zoo's first animal star, the female Indian elephant
, Jamuna, whose influence is still seen today by Jamuna plaza in the rear of the modern zoo. The zoo originally had two keepers who worked seven-day weeks. The early mortality rate of animals in the zoo was terrible especially considering modern standards. However this was normal for the time.
In 1927 the zoo was still expanding rapidly. By December there were 250 mammals of 80 species
, more than 1000 birds of 130 species and 24 reptiles of 6 species. Total expenditure on the zoo amounted to ₤53,818. Mortality rates were still high and staff were struggling with a plague of rats but there was positive news as well. Some of the zoo's most popular enclosures were completed and people were still keen to donate animals. Perhaps most encouraging was that 25 mammals and 62 birds were born at the zoo in 1928. By the end of the 1920s the zoo was well established had assembled a large collection in a relatively short period of time.
On 17 July 1929 the formation of the Auckland Zoological Society was announced whose main purpose was to encourage scientific study.
1930s
The zoo's first male elephant arrived at the zoo in November 1930. Rajah stood eight feet three inches at the shoulder and was 13 years old coming from Hobart, Australia. Rajah spent six years in Auckland before his keeper began to lose control of him and he was put down, ironically by the future director of the Zoo Lt. Col. Sawer, (this was considered more humane than being chained up for the rest of his life). It transpired that Rajah's unpredictable nature was due to a lit cigarette being put up his trunk by a patron while still in Hobart
. Rajah amazing bulk is on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
.
In 1931, due to improvements in accommodation and handling the mortality rate dropped significantly. L.T. Griffin, the original director, died in 1935 and his last report was an optimistic one. On the top of the list for a new director was Lt. Col. E. R. Sawer, one-time Director of Agriculture in Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe
). Already in his mid-fifties, Col. Sawer was an advocate for the newish notion that zoological parks were fundamentally about education
, science
and conservation
. Initially approached to report on the zoo, the council was suitably impressed with his submission of six pages of closely typed analysis on where the zoo should be headed. This report not only showed his general approach but gave the fullest report on the zoo at the time.
Stock numbers were heavily reduced in 1935 and some such as the apes, sea lions and camels had disappeared completely and the polar bears and South African animals were senile and aged. Sawer's report called for animals to be paired or the sharing of enclosures of animals in "mournful solitude". Sawer made sweeping changes with the overwhelming feeling being that of order and co-ordination. Sawer was appointed curator on 1 April 1936. The mortality rate was now 10 percent compared with 29.5 percent for mammals and 40 percent for birds at London Zoo in 1934. This is further demonstrated by the figures in 1937, when only 9% of animals died, compared to a full 35 percent of the animals in 1930. For the first time in 1939 natural increase had overtaken mortality in mammals. Sometimes the Colonel's remedies were miraculously effective. A Tiger suffering from a cancerous intestinal sarcoma was successfully treated with massive doses of rhubarb and laxative. Much of the improvement came from attention to diet and supplements by providing food with vitamins for deficiencies, improved fertility and reduced disease resulted and previously barren animals began to breed, Sawer was also a gifted marketer and pushed for greater attendance and an aquarium
similar to that which had greatly increased visitors at the New York Zoo
.
In February 1938 the first keeper to suffer an injury was W.A. (Bill) Hawke who was attacked by a bear
and suffered a serious leg injury. After 5 weeks in the hospital he could not continue his keeping duties but stayed at the zoo for a further 30 years as a gatekeeper.
This point is where Sawer is first seen to be at odds with the Council. He called for a clear objective for the zoo, attention to education, relaxation of importing animals restrictions and the increased ability to exhibit native New Zealand birds. The end of the depression
and the subsequent economic recovery helped Sawer in the transformation from a group of emptying cages to a "full house of exhibits".
1939–1945
However war was on the horizon and the period of 1939 - 1945 saw the zoo trying to survive. Attendance was down, animal importation and supplying zoo animals with food was low on the New Zealand Government's list of priorities. Due to these pressures exhibits changed to more localised and rural representatives. The arrival of United States
military personnel in June 1942 helped the zoo, especially because the personnel were quartered close to Western Springs. It was not infrequent for the majority of weekend visitor's to be in uniform. The end of the war found the zoo in a state of slight dis-repair and depletion of stocks but in good condition considering the conflict of the last six years. Furthermore this time saw the retirement and movement of many of the early or original members of the zoo staff.
1945–1949
With the war ending, Auckland Zoo's problems did not evaporate. Zoos all over the world were looking to improve collections and New Zealand's isolation was a deterrent to animal exporters. Additionally Wellington Zoo
was getting favoritism from politicians and Auckland was still not allowed to exhibit native fauna.
1948 saw was a turnaround point for the zoo with new capital works being approved in Sawer's March 1949 report the details of the animals were given as 165 mammals in 51 species, 329 birds in 98 species and 19 reptiles in 8 species. An aquarium was built, on a smaller scale than Sawer had anticipated but successful nevertheless. Also the zoo finally won the right to exhibit Kiwis, partly due to New Zealand soldiers becoming known as Kiwis during the War. A curator's house, offices and laboratory were constructed in 1949.
In late 1948 the council called for the first animal entertainments which Sawer strongly opposed, however Sawer was now approaching 70 years of age and his career was drawing to an end. Sawer recommended a full time on site curator and veterinarian and started to look for a successor.
"Sawer's retirement marked the end of a remarkable era. Despite considerable adversity, the Colonel had managed to keep the zoo operational and in better condition than anyone could reasonably have expected. But if Sawer had seemed ahead of his time in wanting the zoo to be seen primarily as an educational institution, the council had other priorities". The change of curators plunged the zoo into a pursuit of the animal entertainments Sawer had so strenuously resisted.
1950s
Robert W. Roach, 36, an English veterinarian
took over as curator of the zoo in November 1949 with Sawer staying on as assistant curator until July 1950. Sawer died only nine months later aged 71, having lived in or around the zoo for the last 15 years of his life. Roach introduced a process of regularly opening new exhibits and postcards to the zoo. The next five years saw a commitment to increased expenditure by the Council with improvements to existing, or new enclosures for sun bears, wombats, echidnas, monkeys, tigers and birds.
Tragedy stuck the zoo twice in 1954 first with the death of Albert Barnett the zoo foreman. Barnett died after a finger became infected in what was initially thought to be a minor injury sustained at work. In August another staff member, 65 year old Frank Lane, who had also worked at the zoo since its opening like Barnett, was killed in a much publicised accident. Lane had just fed a young elephant, Kassala, and was climbing back through the rails between the stalls when Jamuna swung her trunk knocking him into the wall and killing him instantly. Barnett had been Jamuna's regular keeper and it was reported she had been upset since his death. It is believed Lane's death was the result of a tragic accident rather than a deliberate attack. Jamuna spent the rest of her life without incident.
Aucklanders were now enjoying increased disposable income and free time; however, pubs, the cinema, and other attractions were still closed on Sundays and public holidays. Also a huge number of Aucklanders were in their 30's and 40's and had strong fond childhood memories of the zoo.
1955 saw the council call for the zoo to obtain chimpanzees for performing shows. The zoo was adding new attractions, a miniature train and in September two popular orangutans, Topsy and Turvey arrived. Four young performing chimpanzees arrived from Regent's Park Zoo in October and work was speedily completed on the construction of a chimpanzee performing area.
In June 1957, the zoo found itself on the verge of a special event with the birth of twin polar bear cubs. Although one of the cubs died shortly after birth, the surviving cub, Piwi, was in good health. However the cub was drowned when its mother was giving it swimming lessons, it was eleven weeks old. It is believed she held her cub too low on her chest. A stunned crowd watched as Piwi passed.
Roach resigned in 1958 taking up a position in Kenya
. During his time as Director the enclosures in the zoo had been advanced and basic hospital facilities, a quarantine
area, better equipment, and service areas had been created. Roach made many recommendations for the zoo most notably the expansion into Western Springs park. The next two years saw the turn over of staff and the opening of a Children's Zoo.
1960s
In August 1960, Derek Wood from Chester Zoo
was appointed as Zoo supervisor. Wood brought with him a male giraffe
named John from England's Regent's Park Zoo to establish a new herd. Wood's first report in 1961 was positive and called for pairing of animals, improvements to accommodations, and a nocturnal house for New Zealand's national icon the kiwi
. 310,500 people visited the zoo in this year. Also in 1961 a female Elephant, Malini, arrived from Singapore, she was a long awaited companion for Jamuna. Public feeding continued at the zoo and the perennial problems with rats, eels and flooding was still ongoing, there was pressure on the facilities and abultions, many were still the originals from opening and the first serious calls for expansion began.
A second group of four tea party chimpanzees had arrived in 1959 and by February 1963 the council conceded that the tea parties had become unsafe to continue. However they had become established, popular, and profitable, and Wood was instructed by the council to investigate importing additional chimpanzees. Change in British legislation and the New Zealand Customs Department blocking of an import permit finally ending the parties with the final one taking place in May 1964. These chimpanzee
displayed abnormal, anti social behaviour for the rest of their lives. One, Janie, now in her fifties remains at the zoo.
During 1962 and 1963 a mysterious skin ailment afflicted the polar bears and would not respond to treatment. Two adult males, Natuk and Brunus and an adult female Natasha had to be euthanized. Natasha was the mother of the only cub to survive to adulthood in the seventy years Auckland Zoo exhibited polar Bears. His name was Chimo and he was born in the early sixties. This period also saw the arrival of many new animals, including a pregnant zebra
, a female giraffe Anita, a pair of Bengal tiger
s, two young polar bears, a giant anteater
, two capuchin monkeys, and four spider monkeys. The giraffe herd and spider monkey troop at the zoo today are descended from these imports.
Improvement of the buildings, exhibits and processes of the zoo were showing results with old cages and aviaries demolished and new gardens planted. However the most important undertaking was the formulation of a 25 year plan by the Council including an expansion into Western Springs park and a move to natural, moated, barless enclosures.
In September 1965 the zoo's star elephant Jamuna died. She was believed to be approximately 50 years old and had carried over 750,000 guests. Less than a year later in May 1966 a visitor to the zoo decided to climb a safety barrier and the orangutan, Turvey grabbed him through a bar, biting him. The man received only minor wounds thanks to the intervention of a keeper who happen to be passing by.
The following year included a great number of new animal arrivals again. Including Indian antelope
, white tailed deer
and barbary sheep from Taronga Zoo
, 23 kea
s from the South Island (two of which went to Dallas Zoo
for three armadillos), 20 Australian lizards and two black leopard
cubs. In April 1968, Ma Schwe, a female elephant came as a replacement for Jamuna.
The end of the 1960s saw a long term plan for where the zoo's administration, collection and grounds were headed. The zoo's original entrance on Old Mill Road (which had been in use since 1922) was closed with a side entrance opening on Motions Road.
1970s
The early 1970s brought an improvement to the grounds, exhibits and animal husbandry. Improvement in veterinarian practices and equipment, stopping of public feeding (1979) and more naturalistic enclosures lead to healthier, happier animals and subsequently breeding success increased.
Animals deemed unsuitable for Auckland were transferred or phased out (not actively bred) of the zoo's collection. Behavioural enrichments were first provided during this time.
The NZI Kiwi Nocturnal House was opened in May 1971 and was the first of its kind in New Zealand. It still exists today as BNZ Kiwi and Tuatara House. Expansion finally was approved in August with an extra 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) into Western Springs to be developed, work began in 1973. Kashin
, a female Indian elephant arrived from Como Zoo in the US the same year (was still at the Zoo in the Animal Planet Elephant Clearing until her death in 2009). Two years later the first full time teacher at the zoo was employed.
A proposal for a rural or open range zoo was put forward for the housing and breeding of larger mammal
s. The proposal has been brought up periodically but never realised. Also in 1976 the first comprehensive course for keepers started at the Auckland Technical Institute.
The late 1970s included more developments at the zoo than any previous time. A new souvenir shop, cafeteria and enclosures for the giraffe, zebra and antelope were completed. Animal diets were being refined to today's standard when quality and varied ingredients are purchased and meals detailed to individual species. White Rhinoceros
and tamarins arrived for the first time.
1980s
A new Hippo enclosure, the availability of animal "adoption" and transfer of zoo marketing to a professional organisation marked 1980.
The following year the zoo's entrance was moved to its current location (since renovated) in a carpark off Motions Road and the construction began on an improved animal hospital (completed in 1986 and since replaced by NZCCM). Fireworks in nearby Western Springs park were banned due to a giraffe, Lo Cecil's death. A year later the elephant, Ma Schwe died suddenly due to acute heart failure.
A larger Aquarium opened in 1982. However visitor numbers started to show a decline partly due to the opening of the Rainbow's End theme park and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in the Auckland area. the aquarium was closed in December 2007.
In January 1987 the new orangutan exhibit opened (currently part of the zoo's Just Juice Primate Trail), which now holds one of the zoo's two present Orangutan groups and zoo visitors began to rise again. At the time it was the zoo's most impressive and costly ever exhibit designed to be moated and barless. However a much more spectacular short term exhibit was being investigated.
In 1986 the Chinese Government offered Australian Prime Minister Hawke a pair of giant panda
s on loan for Australia's bi-centenary celebrations. They organised a three month stay in Melbourne Zoo
and a three month stay in Taronga Zoo
, Sydney. Auckland Zoo quickly investigated the feasibility of a third stop in Auckland. The Council agreed the two pandas should have every facility for their well being and an enclosure was quickly built (which currently holds the second group of orangutan). The giant pandas arrived at the zoo in October 1988, a four year old male, Xiao Xiao and a three year old female Fei Fei for a popular three months. Over 300,000 saw the giant pandas during their stay.
Recent history
The current female Asian elephant at the zoo, Burma arrived in 1990, with the Elephant Clearing exhibit beginning construction soon after. It is large moated enclosure with a modern elephant house and pool in which the animals can completely submerge.
The following 15 years has seen the transformation of the zoo into its present state predominately filled with moated, barless, naturalistic enclosures. The Newstalk ZB Rainforest opened in 1996 adjacent to the original Elephant house, exhibiting primarily Primate
species. One year later the Pridelands area of the zoo opened including a small refreshments stand, (Lion's Larder), the Lion Hill water moated exhibit, (with no bars between visitor and the zoo's pride of lions) and enclosures for the large African mammals namely giraffe, rhino and zebra.
In the early 2000s the zoo completed Sealion and Penguin
Shores. The sealion pool is a filtered salt water tank with a circulating supply. The exhibit includes a New Zealand shore birds aviary. Also finished in this period was Hippo River an area of the zoo which showcases animals in a simulated African wetland
.
The zoo also saw three young tigers born in their own exhibit.
On 24 August 2009, Kashin
, the older of the two elephants, was euthanised
after her health problems became too much for her.
Orangutans Three Orangutans, Horst, Indra and their daughter Intan departed for Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida in 2009. Horst and Indra were two of the zoo's original group of Bornean Orangutans which arrived during the early 1980s along with Dara and Charlie. There have been five births of Orangutans at the zoo, the most recent to Charlie and Melur in November 2005. The male baby was named Madju.
, or biome
, which are listed alphabetically below.
The NZCCM was opened on 10 August 2007. This NZD $4.6 million, 980 square metres (10,548.6 sq ft) facility is the first national centre for conservation medicine in the world. The operating theatre
is visible to the public and surgery
is sent via cameras above the operating table to screens in the gallery. Researchers can also be watched while at work.
The viewing gallery features exhibits with a range of specimens including preserved remains of animals that required amputation, and small animals that have been mounted in the past, information about the transmission of diseases between humans and animals, microscopic images projected on a large screen (controlled by the visitor), and the different anatomies of various species. The zoo describes conservation medicine as, "A practice that addresses the connections between our (human) health, with the health of animals and the environment
".
. The currently supported overseas projects are a turtle and tortoise programme in Cuc Phuong National Park
, Vietnam
, the Sumatran orangutan
Project and the Sumatran tiger
. Other past projects include the sun bear
.
Local conservation projects include the "Ark In The Park" project in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges
and the Waipoua Forest Trust in New Zealand's Northland Region. There are also captive breeding programs to support the kiwi
recovery program and the tuatara
. Other programmes involve the weta
, the kākā
(one of New Zealand's native parrot
s), the kererū
(wood pigeon), the brown teal
, the blue duck
and Archey's frog
.
) will include six ecological environments; The Coast, The Islands, The Wetlands, The Night, The Forest and The High Country, and will be home to more than 60 native animal species and 110 native plant species.
Te Wao Nui will provide visitors a chance to "explore, connect and protect" and is intended to be a living record of New Zealand's history, integrating key facets of early European settlement, such as the North Island's kauri log dams, New Zealand's whitebait
ing culture, and pioneering work in predator control.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, situated next to Western Springs
Western Springs
Western Springs is a residential suburb and park in the west of the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres to the west of the city centre, situated to the north of State Highway 16....
park not far from Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
's central business district. It is run by the Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
with the Auckland Zoological Society as a supporting organisation.
Auckland Zoo opened in 1922 experiencing early difficulties mainly due to animal health issues. By 1930 a sizeable collection of animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s had been assembled and a zoological society formed. The zoo consolidated during the Second World War and was at that time under the leadership of Lt. Col. Sawer. After the war the collection was expanded, and in the 1950s chimpanzee
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s were acquired to provide tea parties for the public's entertainment, but this practice ceased in 1964. In 1973 the zoo expanded into the adjacent Western Springs park. From the late 1980s to the present day, many old exhibits were phased out and replaced by modern enclosures.
The zoo is separated loosely into areas divided by either the region of origin of the species exhibited, taxonically
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, or by biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
. The zoo plays a part in conservation (mainly of New Zealand species), research and education. It has many modern features such as the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine (NZCCM), and by the end of 2011 plans to open its largest development, Te Wao Nui, which will exhibit native New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
.
Auckland Zoo is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), and received ISO 14001 accreditation for its Environmental Management System in 2007.
History
The history of the Auckland Zoo began when an eccentric businessman J.J. Boyd submitted a proposal to the Onehunga Borough Council to purchase a block of land in Symonds Street, Onehunga for the purpose of displaying his private menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
of six lions, a tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, a panther
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
, one hyena
Hyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
and what records list only as "several monkeys" in February 1912. The menagerie had been kept at Boyd's zoo at Upper Aramoho near Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
(in the southern part of New Zealand's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
).
Boyd's Onehunga Zoo was a constant source of aggravation for the local council, local residents would complain regularly about the sounds and smells, with regular attempts to close it in the following years by the Council, which prompted a successful run for mayor of Onehunga by Boyd, before old age and pressure caused Boyd to close the zoo before his death. The newly formed Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
purchased the animals as the basis for a group that would form the nucleus of the permanent zoo at Auckland's Western Springs. There is still a Boyd Street in Onehunga today.
1920s
On 17 December 1922 the zoo was opened by the Mayor of the time, James Gunson to a sizeable crowd. At this time Western Springs was four miles (6 km) from the town hall in what was then a semi rural area. The story of Boyd's zoo was well publicised and the public warmed to the zoo immediately.
The council had a meeting in July 1923 with the purpose of arranging the location of a flying aviary, a monkey house and accommodation for the polar bears, bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
and birds of prey. Money was also spent developing a bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
; hippopotamus pools, elephant house and walk, refreshment kiosk and a tiger arena.
L.T. Griffin was the zoo's first supervisor and in effect its first director. He went to Africa in 1923 to acquire species for the newly formed zoo. What followed was an aggressive policy of expansion over the next few years, including the zoo's first animal star, the female Indian elephant
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
, Jamuna, whose influence is still seen today by Jamuna plaza in the rear of the modern zoo. The zoo originally had two keepers who worked seven-day weeks. The early mortality rate of animals in the zoo was terrible especially considering modern standards. However this was normal for the time.
In 1927 the zoo was still expanding rapidly. By December there were 250 mammals of 80 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, more than 1000 birds of 130 species and 24 reptiles of 6 species. Total expenditure on the zoo amounted to ₤53,818. Mortality rates were still high and staff were struggling with a plague of rats but there was positive news as well. Some of the zoo's most popular enclosures were completed and people were still keen to donate animals. Perhaps most encouraging was that 25 mammals and 62 birds were born at the zoo in 1928. By the end of the 1920s the zoo was well established had assembled a large collection in a relatively short period of time.
On 17 July 1929 the formation of the Auckland Zoological Society was announced whose main purpose was to encourage scientific study.
1930s
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. Rajah amazing bulk is on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history , natural history, as well as military history.The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist...
.
In 1931, due to improvements in accommodation and handling the mortality rate dropped significantly. L.T. Griffin, the original director, died in 1935 and his last report was an optimistic one. On the top of the list for a new director was Lt. Col. E. R. Sawer, one-time Director of Agriculture in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
). Already in his mid-fifties, Col. Sawer was an advocate for the newish notion that zoological parks were fundamentally about education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
. Initially approached to report on the zoo, the council was suitably impressed with his submission of six pages of closely typed analysis on where the zoo should be headed. This report not only showed his general approach but gave the fullest report on the zoo at the time.
Stock numbers were heavily reduced in 1935 and some such as the apes, sea lions and camels had disappeared completely and the polar bears and South African animals were senile and aged. Sawer's report called for animals to be paired or the sharing of enclosures of animals in "mournful solitude". Sawer made sweeping changes with the overwhelming feeling being that of order and co-ordination. Sawer was appointed curator on 1 April 1936. The mortality rate was now 10 percent compared with 29.5 percent for mammals and 40 percent for birds at London Zoo in 1934. This is further demonstrated by the figures in 1937, when only 9% of animals died, compared to a full 35 percent of the animals in 1930. For the first time in 1939 natural increase had overtaken mortality in mammals. Sometimes the Colonel's remedies were miraculously effective. A Tiger suffering from a cancerous intestinal sarcoma was successfully treated with massive doses of rhubarb and laxative. Much of the improvement came from attention to diet and supplements by providing food with vitamins for deficiencies, improved fertility and reduced disease resulted and previously barren animals began to breed, Sawer was also a gifted marketer and pushed for greater attendance and an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
similar to that which had greatly increased visitors at the New York Zoo
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....
.
In February 1938 the first keeper to suffer an injury was W.A. (Bill) Hawke who was attacked by a bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
and suffered a serious leg injury. After 5 weeks in the hospital he could not continue his keeping duties but stayed at the zoo for a further 30 years as a gatekeeper.
This point is where Sawer is first seen to be at odds with the Council. He called for a clear objective for the zoo, attention to education, relaxation of importing animals restrictions and the increased ability to exhibit native New Zealand birds. The end of the depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the subsequent economic recovery helped Sawer in the transformation from a group of emptying cages to a "full house of exhibits".
1939–1945
However war was on the horizon and the period of 1939 - 1945 saw the zoo trying to survive. Attendance was down, animal importation and supplying zoo animals with food was low on the New Zealand Government's list of priorities. Due to these pressures exhibits changed to more localised and rural representatives. The arrival of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military personnel in June 1942 helped the zoo, especially because the personnel were quartered close to Western Springs. It was not infrequent for the majority of weekend visitor's to be in uniform. The end of the war found the zoo in a state of slight dis-repair and depletion of stocks but in good condition considering the conflict of the last six years. Furthermore this time saw the retirement and movement of many of the early or original members of the zoo staff.
1945–1949
With the war ending, Auckland Zoo's problems did not evaporate. Zoos all over the world were looking to improve collections and New Zealand's isolation was a deterrent to animal exporters. Additionally Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo is nestled in the green belt of Wellington, New Zealand. Now over 100 years old, it was the country’s first Zoo and has dedicated to over 100 different species of fauna from across the globe...
was getting favoritism from politicians and Auckland was still not allowed to exhibit native fauna.
1948 saw was a turnaround point for the zoo with new capital works being approved in Sawer's March 1949 report the details of the animals were given as 165 mammals in 51 species, 329 birds in 98 species and 19 reptiles in 8 species. An aquarium was built, on a smaller scale than Sawer had anticipated but successful nevertheless. Also the zoo finally won the right to exhibit Kiwis, partly due to New Zealand soldiers becoming known as Kiwis during the War. A curator's house, offices and laboratory were constructed in 1949.
In late 1948 the council called for the first animal entertainments which Sawer strongly opposed, however Sawer was now approaching 70 years of age and his career was drawing to an end. Sawer recommended a full time on site curator and veterinarian and started to look for a successor.
"Sawer's retirement marked the end of a remarkable era. Despite considerable adversity, the Colonel had managed to keep the zoo operational and in better condition than anyone could reasonably have expected. But if Sawer had seemed ahead of his time in wanting the zoo to be seen primarily as an educational institution, the council had other priorities". The change of curators plunged the zoo into a pursuit of the animal entertainments Sawer had so strenuously resisted.
1950s
Robert W. Roach, 36, an English veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
took over as curator of the zoo in November 1949 with Sawer staying on as assistant curator until July 1950. Sawer died only nine months later aged 71, having lived in or around the zoo for the last 15 years of his life. Roach introduced a process of regularly opening new exhibits and postcards to the zoo. The next five years saw a commitment to increased expenditure by the Council with improvements to existing, or new enclosures for sun bears, wombats, echidnas, monkeys, tigers and birds.
Tragedy stuck the zoo twice in 1954 first with the death of Albert Barnett the zoo foreman. Barnett died after a finger became infected in what was initially thought to be a minor injury sustained at work. In August another staff member, 65 year old Frank Lane, who had also worked at the zoo since its opening like Barnett, was killed in a much publicised accident. Lane had just fed a young elephant, Kassala, and was climbing back through the rails between the stalls when Jamuna swung her trunk knocking him into the wall and killing him instantly. Barnett had been Jamuna's regular keeper and it was reported she had been upset since his death. It is believed Lane's death was the result of a tragic accident rather than a deliberate attack. Jamuna spent the rest of her life without incident.
1955 saw the council call for the zoo to obtain chimpanzees for performing shows. The zoo was adding new attractions, a miniature train and in September two popular orangutans, Topsy and Turvey arrived. Four young performing chimpanzees arrived from Regent's Park Zoo in October and work was speedily completed on the construction of a chimpanzee performing area.
In June 1957, the zoo found itself on the verge of a special event with the birth of twin polar bear cubs. Although one of the cubs died shortly after birth, the surviving cub, Piwi, was in good health. However the cub was drowned when its mother was giving it swimming lessons, it was eleven weeks old. It is believed she held her cub too low on her chest. A stunned crowd watched as Piwi passed.
Roach resigned in 1958 taking up a position in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. During his time as Director the enclosures in the zoo had been advanced and basic hospital facilities, a quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
area, better equipment, and service areas had been created. Roach made many recommendations for the zoo most notably the expansion into Western Springs park. The next two years saw the turn over of staff and the opening of a Children's Zoo.
1960s
In August 1960, Derek Wood from Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a zoological garden at Upton-by-Chester, in Cheshire, England. It was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family, who used as a basis some animals reported to have come from an earlier zoo in Shavington. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at...
was appointed as Zoo supervisor. Wood brought with him a male giraffe
Giraffe
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant...
named John from England's Regent's Park Zoo to establish a new herd. Wood's first report in 1961 was positive and called for pairing of animals, improvements to accommodations, and a nocturnal house for New Zealand's national icon the kiwi
Kiwi
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world...
. 310,500 people visited the zoo in this year. Also in 1961 a female Elephant, Malini, arrived from Singapore, she was a long awaited companion for Jamuna. Public feeding continued at the zoo and the perennial problems with rats, eels and flooding was still ongoing, there was pressure on the facilities and abultions, many were still the originals from opening and the first serious calls for expansion began.
Chimpanzee
Chimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
displayed abnormal, anti social behaviour for the rest of their lives. One, Janie, now in her fifties remains at the zoo.
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
, a female giraffe Anita, a pair of Bengal tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s, two young polar bears, a giant anteater
Anteater
Anteaters, also known as antbear, are the four mammal species of the suborder Vermilingua commonly known for eating ants and termites. Together with the sloths, they compose the order Pilosa...
, two capuchin monkeys, and four spider monkeys. The giraffe herd and spider monkey troop at the zoo today are descended from these imports.
Improvement of the buildings, exhibits and processes of the zoo were showing results with old cages and aviaries demolished and new gardens planted. However the most important undertaking was the formulation of a 25 year plan by the Council including an expansion into Western Springs park and a move to natural, moated, barless enclosures.
In September 1965 the zoo's star elephant Jamuna died. She was believed to be approximately 50 years old and had carried over 750,000 guests. Less than a year later in May 1966 a visitor to the zoo decided to climb a safety barrier and the orangutan, Turvey grabbed him through a bar, biting him. The man received only minor wounds thanks to the intervention of a keeper who happen to be passing by.
The following year included a great number of new animal arrivals again. Including Indian antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
, white tailed deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
and barbary sheep from Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Officially opened on 7 October 1916, it is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman...
, 23 kea
Kea
The Kea is a large species of parrot found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot...
s from the South Island (two of which went to Dallas Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Dallas Zoo is a zoo located south of downtown Dallas, Texas in Marsalis Park. Established in 1888, it is the oldest and largest zoological park in Texas and is managed by the non-profit Dallas Zoological Society. The zoo is home to 1,800 animals representing 406 species...
for three armadillos), 20 Australian lizards and two black leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
cubs. In April 1968, Ma Schwe, a female elephant came as a replacement for Jamuna.
The end of the 1960s saw a long term plan for where the zoo's administration, collection and grounds were headed. The zoo's original entrance on Old Mill Road (which had been in use since 1922) was closed with a side entrance opening on Motions Road.
1970s
The early 1970s brought an improvement to the grounds, exhibits and animal husbandry. Improvement in veterinarian practices and equipment, stopping of public feeding (1979) and more naturalistic enclosures lead to healthier, happier animals and subsequently breeding success increased.
The NZI Kiwi Nocturnal House was opened in May 1971 and was the first of its kind in New Zealand. It still exists today as BNZ Kiwi and Tuatara House. Expansion finally was approved in August with an extra 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) into Western Springs to be developed, work began in 1973. Kashin
Kashin (elephant)
Kashin was an Asian Elephant who spent most of her life at Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand. She arrived from Como Zoo in the United States in 1973 and remained at Auckland zoo until her death....
, a female Indian elephant arrived from Como Zoo in the US the same year (was still at the Zoo in the Animal Planet Elephant Clearing until her death in 2009). Two years later the first full time teacher at the zoo was employed.
A proposal for a rural or open range zoo was put forward for the housing and breeding of larger mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. The proposal has been brought up periodically but never realised. Also in 1976 the first comprehensive course for keepers started at the Auckland Technical Institute.
The late 1970s included more developments at the zoo than any previous time. A new souvenir shop, cafeteria and enclosures for the giraffe, zebra and antelope were completed. Animal diets were being refined to today's standard when quality and varied ingredients are purchased and meals detailed to individual species. White Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
and tamarins arrived for the first time.
1980s
A new Hippo enclosure, the availability of animal "adoption" and transfer of zoo marketing to a professional organisation marked 1980.
A larger Aquarium opened in 1982. However visitor numbers started to show a decline partly due to the opening of the Rainbow's End theme park and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in the Auckland area. the aquarium was closed in December 2007.
In January 1987 the new orangutan exhibit opened (currently part of the zoo's Just Juice Primate Trail), which now holds one of the zoo's two present Orangutan groups and zoo visitors began to rise again. At the time it was the zoo's most impressive and costly ever exhibit designed to be moated and barless. However a much more spectacular short term exhibit was being investigated.
In 1986 the Chinese Government offered Australian Prime Minister Hawke a pair of giant panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
s on loan for Australia's bi-centenary celebrations. They organised a three month stay in Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo
The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens, commonly known as the Melbourne Zoo, contains more than 320 animal species from Australia and around the world. The zoo is north of the centre of Melbourne. It is accessible via Royal Park station on the Upfield railway line, and is also accessible via tram...
and a three month stay in Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Officially opened on 7 October 1916, it is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman...
, Sydney. Auckland Zoo quickly investigated the feasibility of a third stop in Auckland. The Council agreed the two pandas should have every facility for their well being and an enclosure was quickly built (which currently holds the second group of orangutan). The giant pandas arrived at the zoo in October 1988, a four year old male, Xiao Xiao and a three year old female Fei Fei for a popular three months. Over 300,000 saw the giant pandas during their stay.
Recent history
The current female Asian elephant at the zoo, Burma arrived in 1990, with the Elephant Clearing exhibit beginning construction soon after. It is large moated enclosure with a modern elephant house and pool in which the animals can completely submerge.
The following 15 years has seen the transformation of the zoo into its present state predominately filled with moated, barless, naturalistic enclosures. The Newstalk ZB Rainforest opened in 1996 adjacent to the original Elephant house, exhibiting primarily Primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
species. One year later the Pridelands area of the zoo opened including a small refreshments stand, (Lion's Larder), the Lion Hill water moated exhibit, (with no bars between visitor and the zoo's pride of lions) and enclosures for the large African mammals namely giraffe, rhino and zebra.
In the early 2000s the zoo completed Sealion and Penguin
Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers...
Shores. The sealion pool is a filtered salt water tank with a circulating supply. The exhibit includes a New Zealand shore birds aviary. Also finished in this period was Hippo River an area of the zoo which showcases animals in a simulated African wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
.
The zoo also saw three young tigers born in their own exhibit.
On 24 August 2009, Kashin
Kashin (elephant)
Kashin was an Asian Elephant who spent most of her life at Auckland Zoo, Auckland, New Zealand. She arrived from Como Zoo in the United States in 1973 and remained at Auckland zoo until her death....
, the older of the two elephants, was euthanised
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
after her health problems became too much for her.
Orangutans Three Orangutans, Horst, Indra and their daughter Intan departed for Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida in 2009. Horst and Indra were two of the zoo's original group of Bornean Orangutans which arrived during the early 1980s along with Dara and Charlie. There have been five births of Orangutans at the zoo, the most recent to Charlie and Melur in November 2005. The male baby was named Madju.
Exhibits
Auckland Zoo is currently home to over 700 individuals representing 117 species, and covers 16.35 hectares (40 acre). The zoo is organised into exhibition areas grouped by region of origin, taxonomyTaxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, or biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
, which are listed alphabetically below.
- ASB Elephant Clearing - This is the home of the zoo's elephants. As of 2010, the zoo has a single female Asian elephantAsian ElephantThe Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
, Burma.
- Aussie Walkabout - WallabiesWallabyA wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
, kangaroosKangaROOSKangaROOS are an American brand of sneaker originally produced from 1979 through the 1980s, with a later revival that continues in present. They were notable for having a small zippered pocket on the side of the shoe, large enough for a small amount of loose change, keys, or more recently,...
, and emuEmuThe Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
s share a mixed walk through exhibit which leads to an Australian bird aviaryAviaryAn aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
featuring rainbow lorikeetsLorikeetLories and lorikeets are small to medium-sized arboreal parrots characterized by their specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar of various blossoms and soft fruits, preferably berries. The species form a monophyletic group within the parrot family Psittacidae...
.
- BNZ Kiwi and Tuatara house - This nocturnal house features native New Zealand species. Kiwis, tuataras and an endemic owl species, the morepork, can be seen here.
- Hippo River - This area of the zoo has been made to imitate an African wetland environment. It features hippopotamusHippopotamusThe hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
, servalServalThe serval , Leptailurus serval or Caracal serval, known in Afrikaans as Tierboskat, "tiger-forest-cat", is a medium-sized African wild cat. DNA studies have shown that the serval is closely related to the African golden cat and the caracal...
, Chacma baboonChacma BaboonThe Chacma baboon , also known as the Cape baboon, is, like all other baboons, from the Old World monkey family. With a body length of up to 115 cm and a weight from 15 to 31 kg, it is among the largest and heaviest baboon species. The Chacma is generally dark brown to gray in color,...
s, Hamadryas baboonHamadryas BaboonThe Hamadryas baboon is a species of baboon from the Old World monkey family. It is the northernmost of all the baboons; being native to the Horn of Africa and the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. These regions provide habitats with the advantage for this species of fewer natural...
s, cheetahs and flamingoFlamingoFlamingos or flamingoes are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus , the only genus in the family Phoenicopteridae...
s.
- Primate Trail - Auckland's two families of Bornean orangutanBornean OrangutanThe Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia....
s can be found in this part of the zoo along with the ring-tailed lemurRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
s.
- The Rainforest - Full of naturalistic exhibits this area boasts tarantulaTarantulaTarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
's, agoutiCommon agoutiThe popular term Agouti designates several rodent species of the genus Dasyprocta that inhabit areas of Middle America, the West Indies, and northern South America. They are related to guinea pigs and look quite similar but have longer legs. The species vary in color from tawny to dark brown with...
, and primate species namely; golden lion tamarinGolden Lion TamarinThe golden lion tamarin also known as the golden marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae...
s, cottontop tamarinCottontop TamarinThe cotton-top tamarin , also known as the Pinché tamarin, is a small New World monkey weighing less than 1 lb...
s, spider monkeys, siamangSiamangThe siamang is a tailless, arboreal, black-furred gibbon native to the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The largest of the lesser apes, the siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons, reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg...
gibbons and bonnet macaqueBonnet MacaqueThe bonnet macaque is a macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers along with a related competing species of rhesus macaque in the north....
s. A pair of Asian small-clawed otters Jana and Juno live here also and in early 9 June 2009 Jana gave birth to two male pups, who will leave the zoo around 18 months of age.
- KidZone - This is the children's zoo and has a play area, plus small and farm animals.
- Pridelands - The large African mammals and OstrichOstrichThe Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es are kept here. Giraffes, zebras, springboks, white rhino and Auckland's pride of five lions are the features. The exhibit includes an elevated boardwalk for viewing the animals.
- Sealion and Penguin Shores - Home to California sea lionCalifornia Sea LionThe California sea lion is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant , and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments...
s, New Zealand fur seals, a subantarctic fur sealSubantarctic Fur SealThe subantarctic fur seal is a fur seal found in the southern parts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It was first described by Gray in 1872 from a specimen recovered in northern Australia—hence the inappropriate tropicalis specific name.- Description :The subantarctic fur seal is...
, little penguinLittle PenguinThe Little Penguin is the smallest species of penguin. The penguin, which usually grows to an average of in height and in length , is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.Apart from Little Penguins, they have several common names...
s and several shore birds. Soon to be re-named 'The Coast' - coinciding with the opening of Te Wao Nui, Auckland Zoo's new New Zealand development.
- Tiger Territory - Auckland Zoo features three rare Sumatran tigersTigerThe tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
, a male called Oz, a female called Molek and one of the offspring, a male called Berani. Oz is kept in a private enclosure completed in 2006. Molek and Berani are in a large enclosure which dates back to 1922 and originally housed up to two prides of lions. It has been extensively renovated. On 12 June 2008 Molek gave birth to three tiger cubs. Initially, it was believed only one tiger cub had been born but two more were seen several days later. The male cubs were named Jalur (meaning stripes), and Berani (meaning spirited, brave or courageous) and their sister was named Cinta (meaning love). Jalur and Cinta have since been transferred to Symbio Wildlife Park in NSW, Australia.
- Other animals- Other animals include Red PandaRed PandaThe red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...
s, African Porcupines, QuokkaQuokkaThe Quokka , the only member of the genus Setonix, is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. Like other marsupials in the macropod family , the Quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal...
s, ChimpanzeeChimpanzeeChimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:...
s, Galapagos tortoiseGalápagos tortoiseThe Galápagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise is the largest living species of tortoise, reaching weights of over and lengths of over . With life spans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates...
s, Oriental small-clawed otterOriental Small-clawed OtterThe oriental small-clawed otter , also known as Asian small-clawed otter, is the smallest otter species in the world, weighing less than 5 kg. It lives in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, Burma, India, southern China, Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines,...
s, American AlligatorAmerican AlligatorThe American alligator , sometimes referred to colloquially as a gator, is a reptile endemic only to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two living species of alligator, in the genus Alligator, within the family Alligatoridae...
s, Freshwater eel's, Ring-tailed lemurRing-tailed LemurThe ring-tailed lemur is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families. It is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar...
s, Sumatran OrangutanSumatran OrangutanThe Sumatran orangutan is one of the two species of orangutans. Found only on the island of Sumatra, in Indonesia, it is rarer and smaller than the Bornean orangutan. The Sumatran orangutan grows to about tall and in males...
s and MeerkatMeerkatThe meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan"...
s.
New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine (NZCCM)
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
is visible to the public and surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
is sent via cameras above the operating table to screens in the gallery. Researchers can also be watched while at work.
The viewing gallery features exhibits with a range of specimens including preserved remains of animals that required amputation, and small animals that have been mounted in the past, information about the transmission of diseases between humans and animals, microscopic images projected on a large screen (controlled by the visitor), and the different anatomies of various species. The zoo describes conservation medicine as, "A practice that addresses the connections between our (human) health, with the health of animals and the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
".
Conservation
The Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund supports a number of conservation programs, both overseas and in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The currently supported overseas projects are a turtle and tortoise programme in Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh Province, in Vietnam's Red River Delta. Cuc Phuong was Vietnam's first national park and is the country's largest nature reserve...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, the Sumatran orangutan
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
Project and the Sumatran tiger
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger is a tiger subspecies that inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has been classified as critically endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population is projected at 176 to 271 mature individuals, with no subpopulation having an effective population size larger than 50...
. Other past projects include the sun bear
Sun Bear
The sun bear , sometimes known as the honey bear, is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia; North-East India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Southern China, Peninsular Malaysia, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.-Description:The sun bear...
.
Local conservation projects include the "Ark In The Park" project in Auckland's Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges
The Waitakere Ranges are a chain of hills in the Auckland metropolitan area, generally running approximately 25 km from north to south, 25 km west of central Auckland, New Zealand. The maximum elevation within the ranges is 474 m...
and the Waipoua Forest Trust in New Zealand's Northland Region. There are also captive breeding programs to support the kiwi
Kiwi
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world...
recovery program and the tuatara
Tuatara
The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Their most recent common...
. Other programmes involve the weta
Weta
Weta is the name given to about 70 insect species endemic to New Zealand. There are many similar species around the world, though most are in the southern hemisphere. The name comes from the Māori word 'wētā' and is the same in the plural...
, the kākā
Kaka
The New Zealand Kaka, also known as Kākā, is a New Zealand parrot endemic to the native forests of New Zealand.-Description:...
(one of New Zealand's native parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s), the kererū
Kereru
The New Zealand Pigeon or kererū is a bird endemic to New Zealand. Māori call it Kererū in most of the country but kūkupa and kūkū in some parts of the North Island, particularly in Northland...
(wood pigeon), the brown teal
Brown Teal
The Brown Teal or New Zealand Teal, is a species of dabbling duck of the genus Anas. The Māori name for it is Pāteke. It was considered to be conspecific with the flightless Auckland and Campbell Teals in Anas aucklandica; the name "Brown Teal" was applied to that entire taxon...
, the blue duck
Blue Duck
The Blue Duck is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae endemic to New Zealand. It is the only member of the genus Hymenolaimus, placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae after previously being considered part of the paraphyletic "perching duck" assemblage...
and Archey's frog
Archey's Frog
Archey's frog, Leiopelma archeyi, is a primitive frog native to New Zealand, one of only four extant species belonging to the taxonomic family Leiopelmatidae. It is named after Sir Gilbert Archey , the former Director of the Auckland Institute...
.
Education
The zoo helps educate school children about their own environment and the animal kingdom in general at the Discovery and Learning Centre. Another feature offered by the zoo are function facilities including an overnight stay option and twilight tours (Safari Nights) as well as Zoom (behind the scenes) tours.Future projects
Te Wao Nui is a planned NZD $16 million development due to open in September 2011. Te Wao Nui (meaning "the living realm" in the Māori languageMaori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
) will include six ecological environments; The Coast, The Islands, The Wetlands, The Night, The Forest and The High Country, and will be home to more than 60 native animal species and 110 native plant species.
Te Wao Nui will provide visitors a chance to "explore, connect and protect" and is intended to be a living record of New Zealand's history, integrating key facets of early European settlement, such as the North Island's kauri log dams, New Zealand's whitebait
Whitebait
Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically between 25 and 50 millimetres long. Such young fish often travel together in schools along the coast, and move into estuaries and sometimes up rivers where they can be easily caught with fine meshed fishing nets...
ing culture, and pioneering work in predator control.