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zooboy28

Auckland Zoo View - 1928

Auckland Zoo View - 1928 Photo taken near the old entrance on the hill now at the back of the zoo. A number of the exhibits and other structures are still present today, will add details later, including what was in the enclosures at the time.

Auckland Zoo View - 1928
zooboy28, 6 Jul 2011
    • zooboy28
      Auckland Zoo View - 1928

      Photo taken near the old entrance on the hill now at the back of the zoo. A number of the exhibits and other structures are still present today, will add details later, including what was in the enclosures at the time.
    • zooboy28
      Ok, so here is an overly detailed description of the photo, with species based on the 1926 guide book map.

      The path leading down the hill to the bridge is still there, and the aviary this side of the bridge held native birds, with a crane paddock in front. Out of shot to the left was the hippo exhibit. Across the bridge on the left are hoofstock pens, with a great diversity of species (15 species of deer/antelope on map, plus llama, zebra, kangaroo and giant anteater). The large enclosure on the right of the path is not on the 1926 map, and it housed monkeys in the 1960s, but Im not sure what it was built for. Behind this is the flagpole, and pits for brown, black and polar bears, which are all still present, although completely/mostly filled in now, and not housing bears. Behind these is the kiosk, which is still in operation today. Along the rear perimeter of the zoo are cages for canines and small cats, with a pen to the left of these holding secretary birds. In front of these cages are the big cat exhibits, backed with tall rocky concrete walls. These had (from left to right) leopards, puma and tigers. The lion pit (still present but holding tigers) is slightly further to the right. Between the tigers and lions, but further forward are a series of small mammal cages, and in front of that the present lake, with ducks and swans.

      To the right of this is the Band Rotunda (still standing), with bird of prey aviaries at extreme right (gone now). Behind this aviary is a paddock for water buffalo and banteng (now Asutralian walkthrough), with emu and ostrich yards in front of the aviary. Further forward still, but out of shot, was the Great Flight Aviary (listing the species in here will make me cry I think) which is the current macaw aviary, and the elephant house. Along the stream (crossed by the bridge and running to the right) on the far bank were a series of monkey exhibits (including the building mostly obscured by trees), including orang-utans; wombat and tasmanian devil enclosures and a number of reptile exhibits. On this side of the stream, hidden by the hill, were alligator, penguin & beaver!, sea lion, flamingo & ibis, and empty giraffe paddock.

      To the immediate right of the photographer (out of shot) was the bison paddock, with sambar deer, thar and goats further right.

      Hope you found this interesting, and not too wordy and tedious :D
    • ZooGirl101
      Wow! Auckland Zoo has changed heaps!!
    • zooboy28
      It has changed heaps, but it is interesting just how many structures are still in use at the zoo after 85 years (e.g. cafe, band rotunda, lion pit, great flight aviary, etc), and just how recognisable this photo is.

      If you want more information on the zoo's history, get the book "A Tiger by the Tail" by Derek Wood, which pops up on trademe quite regularly. (sorry if you already have this book).
    • ZooGirl101
      I have that book it is awesome. And yes super interesting!!
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  • Category:
    Auckland Zoo
    Uploaded By:
    zooboy28
    Date:
    6 Jul 2011
    View Count:
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    Comment Count:
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