Auckland Zoo

Have you entered our competition this February?

Enter a photo from your recent visit to the Zoo (past three months) and you'll go in the draw to win a monthly prize pack including a family day pass and a gift from our Zoo Shop.

At the end of the year, our overall 2023 Zoo Snaps winner will receive a brand new Lumix New Zealand digital camera from our friends and sponsors at Panasonic New Zealand!

Simply tag your photo on Instagram with or upload your photos here - www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/zoosnaps.

Check out this zookeeper notebook from the 1920s! 😮

In the lead up to our 100th birthday (16 December 1922) we combed through a myriad of historical documents and photographs so we could share these treasures with you all. One such artifact was this old keepers notebook which is monogrammed with ‘Auckland Zoological Park’ at the top and remains in great condition for its vintage!

It appears to have been used as a veterinary logbook to note when animals had minor ailments so these could be followed up by curator Louis T Griffin. Mr Griffin had previously held roles at Regent’s Park Zoo (London Zoo), Pretoria’s National Zoological Garden and Auckland Museum, and was the Zoo’s first curator/director. If you look closely, you can see his signature on one of the pages.

Visit our interactive 100 years exhibition (free with zoo entry – and proudly supported by Barfoot & Thompson) to learn more about the Zoo’s evolution and growth from 1922 to today. https://aucklandzoo100.co.nz/100-year-exhibition

We’re pleased to announce a flamingo chick has hatched at the Zoo!

The first to hatch this breeding season, the chick made an exciting entry into the world, hatching out just before our Zoo Lates keeper talk last Thursday (16 February).

Excitingly, this is the third year that parents Richard and Sullivan have successfully had chicks. In previous years, our team had helped with incubating the eggs (swapping the fertile eggs out for dummy eggs for a period of time) when the flock were not reliably sitting on their mud nests. This year they have proven to be amazing parents, incubating very diligently even through a flood and cyclone!

Head to our flamingo keeper talk at 12pm each day (with an extra 6pm session at Zoo Lates) for a chance to see the chick and learn more from our keepers.

Stay tuned for updates as we will be launching a conservation fundraiser to meet the chick soon!

Keen to try some delicious kai at Zoo Lates tonight? 🍴

Our Old Elephant House features a new salad and protein bar, allowing you to choose your combinations on the spot.

Made fresh on the day, we're committed to sourcing wholesome ingredients and designing tasty dishes with mouth-watering flavour combinations; whether you're a carnivore or prefer a plant-based meal, we've got everyone covered. We've made it super easy - choose your portion size, salads, protein, and sauce - or create your combo in addition to this!

If you are a member and show your membership pass, you qualify for a 10% discount off the advertised price.

Our salad bar offering is available at Zoo Lates (4-8pm) or from 10.30-2.30pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Learn more - www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/old-elephant-house.

Great news – Te Wao Nui (our New Zealand track) is open for visiting!

As you know, Te Wao Nui and parts of our South America Rainforest track were the most affected by significant flooding late last month. Due to an amazing team effort, we are now able to welcome visitors into our incredible Te Wao Nui experience once more.

Please be aware there are few areas such as The Forest habitat, our Wild Work centre and the beloved rope bridge that will remain closed while further assessments and mahi is undertaken. Our Te Puna, Wētāpunga and Watering Hole cafes will be open serving coffee and kai.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you this week!

A diversity of species share the African savannah – and so too at the Zoo!

Auckland Zoo’s ostrich live in a mixed species habitat which includes giraffe and zebra. This is an incredibly enriching experience for them.

In the wild, ostrich live in incredibly hot desert conditions (up to 48 degrees!). To offset these temperatures, ostrich use their wings for temperature control by lifting them away from the body and exposing their thighs. By performing these actions, ostriches can stay cool at around 18 degrees celcius.

Stay tuned for our final post of the day which includes a special announcement!

– ungulates keeper Vicky.

In the wild, ostriches live in arid environments – so they must forage and search for patches of green vegetation where they can!

Their wild diet comprises of green grasses, berries, seeds and succulent plants, and young ostriches will even consume small insects.

Ostriches will spend 70-80% of daylight hours continuously feeding which is important for their digestive health, and because of their lack of teeth, they have a nifty adaptation to assist with grinding their food down.

Each ostrich is equipped with a ‘gizzard’ – which is essentially a muscular part of their stomach, and is common in other birds like turkeys, ducks, emus and pigeons. Ostriches will swallow sharp pebbles and grit that are held inside their gizzard to be contracted and ground together with their food before it is passed off for digestion.

– ungulates keeper Vicky

We're celebrating these remarkable ratites with a special takeover today from ungulates keeper Vicky!

Every year on 02/02 (unfortunately this year the Zoo was temporarily closed) zoos around the world celebrate World Ostrich Day in honour of these species’ unique toes as they’re the ONLY bird to possess just two digits on each foot.

Their ‘didactyl’ (two-toed) feet allow these birds to reach amazing speeds when running – they can reach a top speed of 70km an hour and have a maximum stride of five metres! A handy advantage when trying to avoid becoming a lions next meal.

Not only are ostriches the fastest birds on the ground AND the fastest terrestrial animals on two legs, they’re also the largest birds in the world with some males reaching 150kgs+ and towering over 2.7m in height.

Auckland Zoo has a flock of ostrich females that share their Africa Safari habitat with zebra and giraffe – including giraffe calf Jabali. Stay tuned to learn more about them.

Are you heading to the incredible Te Matatini Herenga Waka Herenga Tangata Festival 2023 this week?

From Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 February, our zoo kaimahi will be at the festival to kōrero with you (watch out for our Instagram stories on those dates). Find our team and you can go in the draw to win one of four family passes to the Zoo as well as have the chance to win some amazing spot prizes!

This cultural festival is one of the most highly anticipated events for Kapa Haka performers, their whānau and passionate fans of Māori performing arts. Held every two years across Aotearoa, this year the festival is taking place at Ngā Ana Wai (Eden Park) in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Nau, mai, haere mai!

📷 : Te Matatini Society Incorporated

Meet a kiwi chick AND contribute to the Zoo’s conservation mahi!

In our latest conservation fundraiser, you and up to five friends or whānau will get the exclusive opportunity to visit our kiwi incubation room to learn how we care for this taonga species.

You’ll get to meet this 14-day-old kiwi and learn how our experts track its growth and development right up until it regains its ‘hatch weight’ and is ready for release.

A few days later, this chick will be released on Rotoroa Island – a creche island where kiwi can grow up to adult size and thrive without the threat of introduced predators before being returned to the Coromandel forest where it originated.

Get bidding on Trade Me auction here – https://fal.cn/3vVWP.

Working with our Operation Nest Egg (ONE) colleagues - Save the Kiwi NZ, the Department of Conservation and other regional partners, Auckland Zoo has collected, hatched and released over 400 individual kiwi to ensure this precious species is around for generations to come.

Our vet team recently cared for a slippery New Zealand taonga – the longfin eel!

When our ectotherm keepers detected a few abnormalities in the skin of this longfin eel, our veterinary experts stepped in to investigate.

Examining tuna (te reo for eels) is not a simple process and requires careful planning before any procedure is undertaken. Unlike many species where the anaesthetic is given by injection or gas, for fish the anaesthetic agent is often diluted in the water to be absorbed through their gills.

Once the anaesthetic takes effect, the veterinary team are able to examine the eel outside of the water, and an anaesthetic solution is then dripped over the gills so the patient remains asleep. After the procedure was completed, the eel was able to recover in a second tub filled with fresh chilled water and shaded from the sun.

During this exam, several biopsies were taken from the eels skin for both histopathological examination (to look at the cellular changes in these samples) and for microbiology (to assess for infectious agents). We’re pleased to report that this longfin eel recovered well from the procedure and our vet team are awaiting the results from these biopsies.

This isn’t the first time our amazing team have performed a veterinary exam on a longfin eel. Find out how eels can be x-rayed here - www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/news/how-do-you-x-ray-a-longfin-eel

Are you going to hang with us tonight?

We’re open late this evening from 4-8pm with a special schedule of keeper talks! Head to our red panda talk at 4.30pm to learn more about these clever carnivores.

We have delicious kai on offer at our cafes, including the new salad bar at our Old Elephant House restaurant.*

Get your Lates tickets here - www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/zoo-lates

N/B: The Zoo is partially open with some key areas closed (such as our Te Wao Nui New Zealand track and playground). Check what areas are open for visiting here - www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/visit/zoo-map. *our a la carte menu is not available tonight.

PSA: Auckland Zoo plans to reopen to visitors tomorrow (Wednesday 15) from 11am.

It’s been a wild few weeks in Auckland and other parts of Aotearoa and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the storms.

Thanks to the hard work of our staff in preparation over the weekend, the Zoo has suffered minimal damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. We are busy cleaning up and getting the Zoo ready to welcome people back tomorrow from 11am.

Please note that Te Wao Nui (our New Zealand track) will remain closed as we continue to do structural assessments and clean up following the severe flooding at the end of January. Our Te Puna, Wētāpunga and Watering Hole cafes will be open serving coffee and hot and cold food (locations are on our map - https://fal.cn/3vQxg).

Thank you for your patience and support and we look forward to welcoming you back at the Zoo soon. As the weather is unpredictable, please check the Zoo’s website or social media and travel information before visiting.

Flooding 2023

PSA: Auckland Zoo closed as of 3pm today (12/02).

Like many Aucklanders, we have been busy preparing the Zoo for the arrival of Cyclone Gabrielle. The MetService has issued Red Heavy Rain and Strong Wind warnings for the region, so Auckland Zoo will be closed from 3.00pm today until further notice.

Essential staff will be onsite to mitigate the impacts of severe weather and as always the safety and wellbeing of our staff, visitors and the animals in our care is our top priority.

We will reopen as soon as we are able but please check the Zoo’s website or our social media channels and check the latest travel information before making a visit. For up to date information about Cyclone Gabrielle, you can also visit the Auckland Emergency Management website - https://www.aucklandemergencymanagement.org.nz/major-incident/flooding-2023.

Kia kaha and stay safe everyone!

Flooding 2023 The Auckland region has experienced widespread damage from flooding and torrential rain, with reports of slips and inundation. Infrastructure and emergency services alike have been overwhelmed by the impacts of the storm.

"Don't let people discourage you if you want to try something new or different!” says our senior veterinarian, Dr An Pas.

An always knew she wanted to be a vet since she was ten years old. It was the combination of science, nature, medicine, a love for solving puzzles and being curious about how everything works that led to her career as a wildlife veterinarian.

Born in Belgium, An completed her veterinary studies and desired to see the world and work with wildlife, which led to 18 years of working on projects in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. During her travels, she got to work with highly endangered animals such as the Arabian leopard and help with conservation efforts for this species.

Nine years ago, she joined our incredible team at the Auckland Zoo vet hospital where she cares for animals at the Zoo, as well as injured or sick wildlife from around Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes everything from sea lions to penguins, sea turtles to albatrosses!

An says, "I've had 32 years of experience in my field, and on the way I have been inspired by many people from different walks of life, who aren't afraid to try something new and are passionate about what they do. You will come across many people who tell you something isn't possible or is too difficult – so it requires the right mindset to push through it and continue to make a difference in the career you love.”

"I want to encourage all women at any age to follow their dreams – we often choose our careers when we’re just 18 years old, but that doesn't mean you have to stick to that for the rest of your life. We change and grow throughout our lives; don't let people dissuade you if you want to try something new."

We hoped you enjoyed hearing from some of our incredible wāhine in our takeover today. Why not use this day to encourage the girls and women in your lives, if they have dreams of a career in science.

There’s a real science to how animals are cared for, which includes observing and reading their behaviours. This is something that carnivore keeper Kristin loves about her role!

From a young age, Kristin always wanted to work with animals and straight after high school she enrolled in a Bachelor of Science. Once she discovered the Auckland Zoo TV show (‘The Zoo’, that aired from 1999-2012) – her mind was set on becoming a keeper, and she went on to complete the zoo keeping course at Unitec.

Though you might think zookeeping is about feeding animals and making sure their areas are clean (which of course it is!) it’s also more complex, with all of the day-to-day care rooted in science. “A lot of our day is observing the animals, watching overnight footage from our CCTV cameras and making small changes to our husbandry (the way we care for animals) to make a positive impact on an animal’s welfare and behaviour.”

The behaviours that an animal displays are different depending on the species, Sumatran tigers for instance can growl, face-rub and chuff (a form of greeting) that can all mean different things at different times.

Positive reinforcement training is also an incredibly important exercise between keepers and the animals they care for and is founded on a strong relationship. Our carnivore team engage the larger carnivores – such as lions and tigers – in voluntarily injection training. This training is carried out to ensure any future health checks are as stress free as possible, forgoing the need for more intensive procedures.

Currently, the carnivore team are monitoring tiger Zayana’s oestrus cycles so they can accurately predict when she’s in oestrus. This will be crucially important in deciding the right time for Zayana and Ramah to be introduced as part of our breeding recommendation for this critically endangered big cat.

“Tigers are by nature solitary animals – who come together in the wild primarily for breeding,” explains Kristin. “Zayana and Ramah are yet to fully introduced (with no barrier between them). So far, there’s been really positive signs between the two of them with Ramah chuffing towards Zayana when she’s in season. Introductions are likely to happen first in our back of house areas, but we’ll keep everyone updated with any news.”

Kristin’s advice for those girls and women interested in a career in science? “Take every opportunity that comes to you – such as volunteering at your local zoo or wildlife organisation – and use that time to build up your animal care skills.”

Stay tuned for more incredible stories of wāhine at the Zoo for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

“Find out what your passionate about and not be afraid to pursue it!” – this is Chye-Mei’s advice for women and girls interested in a career in science.

Growing up in a household full of strong women, Chye-Mei’s mother, auntie and three sisters all influenced her positively growing up. Chye-Mei and her siblings were encouraged to work hard, make their own opportunities, and most importantly pick a career that they love and enjoy.

From a young age she had an affinity for animals, and with her parent's sage advice, this led Chye-Mei down the path of studying biological science, and then into a career as a zookeeper. She spent 10 years in her first role as a keeper at Wellington Zoo before moving to Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland to join our Zoo’s incredible ectotherm team.

What does she love about working in wildlife conservation? “It’s the knowledge that I’m making a measurable difference in the world, in terms of connecting with people and animals,” Chye-Mei says. “11 years into zookeeping, I'm still passionate about what I do and am continuously growing and improving my skills. Everything in life requires hard work but doing something you love makes all the mahi worthwhile, so don't be afraid to pursue what you enjoy".

Stay tuned for more incredible stories of wāhine at the Zoo for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Kat’s advice for women interested in a career in science? It’s never too late to learn!

Part of the Zoo’s incredible conservation learning team, Kat is no stranger to wildlife. Growing up on a farm in Australia and with her mother as a volunteer wildlife carer, Kat wanted to be a teacher or to work with animals – or ideally, to do both!

Throughout her life, Kat volunteered at different conservation organisations while training as a primary school teacher with a Bachelor of Arts and Education. But she always thought she lacked the qualifications to work professionally at a zoo and instead focused on teaching.

After moving to New Zealand in 2017, Kat started volunteering at Auckland Zoo a few months later which is when her life-changing moment happened. "I was lucky to have my photo taken with Asian elephant Burma. I loved the photo so much I sent it to my partner and best friend and both of their responses were, “You look the happiest I've ever seen you!”.

Their encouragement was the push Kat needed to look for a permanent role at Auckland Zoo. To her delight, Kat’s past education and experiences with wildlife fit the criteria for a job as conservation learning facilitator. And before she knew it, she started working full-time in her dream job!

Kat says, “What excites me the most about being a conservation learning facilitator is building a connection with the next generation to nature and animals. When you have a group of 30 young children quietly sitting in the forest, awestruck by a kererū up close, it is a beautiful and memorable moment for me.”

“I want to encourage not only young women but older women too. It's never too late to learn or take that leap into a field you thought could be closed off to you. Whether through education, volunteering, or interest, keep learning and following your passion because you never know where it can take you. It might even lead you to your dream job!”

Stay tuned to learn more about more of the incredible wāhine at the Zoo for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science .

“Give it a go!” That’s Zoo intern L’amour’s advice to women interested in a career in animal care.

Like so many young people, L’amour was passionate about animals from an early age and dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. Initially carving out a career in the arts, she bravely decided to change course and pursue her absolute dream job working with animals.

To gain the knowledge and skills needed for her new career, L’amour completed Unitec's New Zealand certificate in animal care with a focus on domestic animals. Initially unsure of which path to take next, her tutor suggested a week-long placement at Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch.

Only five minutes into her placement, she felt her passion for zookeeping ignite and knew it was the right fit for her! She went on to complete another week-long stint at Brooklands Zoo before enrolling in the Zoo Keeping course at Unitec in which students get to learn hands-on skills caring for wildlife, including a placement at Auckland Zoo.

This leads us to today, where L’amour is completing a six-month internship at our Zoo which includes working with our ungulates, ectotherms and primate teams as well as completing a course of theory lectures, drafting a Species Action Plan, maintaining a professional development record, participating in field conservation as well as completing a personal mini-project.

For this mini-project, L’amour chose to undertake a live observation study into giraffe behaviour. Once a week, L’amour spent 20 minutes at three different times of the day, observing the different giraffe and noting down their specific behaviours. She also recorded influencing factors such as the time of day, weather conditions, what food was available to them, and which other animals were nearby. This project is proving helpful in identifying why a specific giraffe might be exhibiting certain behaviours at certain times and circumstances (but not at others), and will help to inform the husbandry (animal care) plan for the giraffe going forward.

Further advice from L’amour - take initiative and ask lots of questions. If you put yourself out there, by volunteering in a career that interests you, you’ll be able to see if it’s the right fit for you.

Stay tuned for more incredible stories of wāhine at the Zoo for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science