Current Mammals In New Zealand Zoos

This is a list of all wild mammal species currently found in New Zealand zoos. In addition I have attempted to include origin data for all species in New Zealand. This is obviously a bit patchy: some species are well-recorded, others are not, so there are still some gaps in the list. For very common species I've mostly given the origin of the founder base (as opposed to every single import) but for many species I have given all imports. The origin data concerns only the current zoo stock (only sometimes do I mention origins of former stock).

See also this thread for more specific listings of certain mammal groups in New Zealand and Australia: Australasian Population List Index

There is also a companion thread on formerly-held mammals, using a cut-off date of 1980 (hence the references within this thread to former holders of current species within the last few decades): Former Mammals in New Zealand Zoos (1980 to present)




ELEPHANTIDAE

*Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) – one female at Auckland

Twelve Asian Elephants have been kept in total in New Zealand zoos, at Auckland Zoo (8 animals between 1923 and present) and Wellington Zoo (4 animals between 1927 and 1983). The one remaining animal is Burma, imported to New Zealand in 1990 from animal dealer Frans van den Brink (originally wild-caught as a calf in Burma in 1982); she is due to be exported to Australia soon. A younger female named Anjalee, captive-bred in 2006 and imported to Auckland in 2015 from the Pinnawala Elephant Orphange in Sri Lanka, was exported to Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Australia) in early 2022.


EQUIDAE

*Common Zebra (Equus quagga) (originally mostly Chapman's and Grant's; now mostly "generic" hybrids) – Auckland; Keystone; Kitenui Lodge (Taupo); Hamilton; Orana

The zebras in New Zealand come from a variety of sources and importations, however all zebras in the country are now treated as non-subspecific and interbred accordingly.
Auckland's current group is derived from a female imported in 2006 from Monarto Zoo (Australia), plus New Zealand-bred males and females. (Auckland's original founder was a female Grant's Zebra from Chester Zoo (UK) in 1963).
Hamilton's herd is derived from a male imported in 2005 from Adelaide Zoo (Australia), plus New Zealand-bred females.
Orana's original zebras were two pure-bred female Chapman's imported from Marwell Zoo (UK) in 1980, plus a male (presumably also a Chapman's) from Wellington; later additions were a male Chapman's from Werribee (Australia) and female generics from Auckland and Hamilton.
Kitenui and Keystone hold surplus male animals.
Wellington has not held zebras since 2009.


RHINOCEROTIDAE

*Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) – Auckland; Hamilton; Orana

The individuals which have been imported to New Zealand are as follows. Auckland: a captive-bred sibling pair from San Diego Wild Animal Park (USA) in 1980, and three wild-caught animals from South Africa in 1999 (a pair and calf). Hamilton: three wild-caught animals (one male, two females) from South Africa in 1999. Orana: two captive-bred female siblings from San Diego Wild Animal Park (USA) in 1986 (via Wellington), one captive-bred male from Western Plains Zoo (Australia) in 1988, one captive-bred male from Jacksonville Zoo (USA) in 1990, and two females – one wild-caught, one captive-bred – from Perth Zoo (Australia) in 2007. [Some additional individuals have also been transferred through Orana en route to Australia from the USA].
White Rhinos were first bred in New Zealand at Orana in 1999 (only two other surviving calves have been produced at Orana, in 2010 and 2015). In 2000 Auckland had the second calf in New Zealand (the female arrived into New Zealand pregnant), and this is still the only calf to be born at Auckland. Hamilton has been most successful at breeding with nine calves as of 2016 [two were stillborn], the first being born in 2002.
The New Zealand and Australian populations are considered as one, and animals are moved around between zoos and the two countries quite often.


CAMELIDAE

*Alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

*Llama (Lama glama)

Llamas and Alpacas have been kept in New Zealand since the mid-1800s. In the early 1980s there was a revival of their farming and until 1993 hundreds were brought into New Zealand from Chile. Later imports have come from Australia and the USA. Both species are still held in large numbers on commercial and hobby farms, and they are commonly kept in zoo collections.

*Guanaco (Lama guanicoe)

Held in low numbers on commercial Llama farms (currently none in zoos). The farm stock of Guanaco derives from a combination of two sources. Firstly from Auckland Zoo animals (descended from pure Australian zoo stock from the 1950s but later heavily hybridised with Llamas; they were last held at Auckland in 1994). Secondly from a large private import of pure Guanaco and Guanaco x Llama hybrids from European zoos in 1989 (for farming purposes).


CERVIDAE

Most of the “proper” zoos do not display deer any more (only Hamilton Zoo and Willowbank still do so amongst the larger zoos, both with European Fallow Deer), so this is just a list of the species in New Zealand. Most species are probably found here and there in the smaller collections (farm parks and petting zoos) around the country. Red Deer and European Fallow Deer are the commonest deer in New Zealand. All except the Pere David's Deer and Mesopotamian Fallow Deer are wild in New Zealand and were originally introduced for hunting purposes.

*Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Introduced to the wild throughout New Zealand between 1861 to 1926, with hundreds of animals being imported from Australia and the UK for the purpose. After the start of deer farming in 1969 there were also many imports of stock (most farm stock however was derived from wild-caught New Zealand deer).

*Wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

The wild population in New Zealand descends from 18 animals imported from the USA and released into Fiordland in 1905. After the start of deer farming several herds were also imported from Canada (from 1991 onwards). Both the wild and farm populations are heavily hybridised with Red Deer.

*Sambar (Cervus unicolor)

The New Zealand population derives entirely from one pair of animals from Sri Lanka, released in the Manawatu area in 1875.

*Rusa (Cervus timorensis)

The New Zealand population derives from 14 animals imported from New Caledonia in 1907 (at the time thought to be Sambar) and released near Rotorua.

*Sika (Cervus nippon)

The New Zealand population descends from six animals imported in 1904 from the UK (from the Duke of Bedford) and released in the Kaimanawa Ranges in 1905.

*European Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

Widely introduced to the wild from European imports, starting in 1864. Also farmed extensively.

*Mesopotamian Fallow Deer (Dama (dama) mesopotamica)

A number of individuals were imported from Europe in the late 1980s for deer farming. I have seen "about twenty" referenced as a total number, and have seen import data for three animals in 1987 and seven animals in 1988. There are only a couple of dozen animals currently in New Zealand.

*White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

The New Zealand population is descended from releases of animals imported from North America in 1905, on Stewart Island (nine animals) and at Lake Wakatipu (also nine animals).

*Pere David's Deer (Elaphurus davidianus) – only at Mt. Hutt Station (a private high-country farm)

Between 1983 and 1985 seventy-seven Pere David's Deer were imported to New Zealand for farming purposes and experimentation into hybridisation with Red Deer. Most died of malignant catarrhal fever. From a low of about a dozen, there are now (2014) about fifty pure Pere David's Deer in the country, all at the Mt. Hutt Station, as well as many hybrids.


GIRAFFIDAE

*Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) (Rothschild's and hybrids) – Auckland; Keystone; Hamilton; Wellington; Orana

Giraffes have been kept in New Zealand since at least the 1920s but with regards to the current stock the following applies (and this is rather generalised - there have also been occasional additional imports of individual animals from Australia and elsewhere).
Auckland's most recent breeding stock was initially established from a male bred at the zoo in 1975 and four animals (2.2) imported from Honolulu Zoo (Hawaii) between 1981 and 1983. Later (in 1988) a male was obtained from Orana Park as well. All these individuals have since died although they produced many offspring at the zoo. Currently Auckland holds just three female giraffes, respectively born at Auckland, Wellington, and Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Orana's herd derived largely from an already-inbred sibling pair of Rothschild's Giraffes (possibly hybrids) imported from Toronto Zoo (Canada) in 1982 and later a hybrid male (imported as an assumed pure Rothschilds) from Chicago (USA) in 1994 (following the death of the original bull in 1991). Later more hybrid animals were added to the stock and now almost all their animals are hybrids.
Wellington currently has three giraffes: a female born there in 2004 (from parents imported from Australia), a female born at Auckland Zoo in 2015 (arrived at Wellington in May 2016), and a male imported (in May 2019) from Australia Zoo.
Hamilton and Keystone hold bachelor groups of surplus males.


BOVIDAE

*Domestic Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) – Orana; in some private-run zoo collections (farm parks); also privately farmed in small numbers

The current New Zealand stock of Water Buffalo derives from imports from Australia for farming purposes between 1990 and the late 2000s.

*American Bison (Bison bison) – Hamilton; Orana; in some private-run zoo collections (farm parks); also privately farmed in small numbers

Formerly also held as breeding groups at Auckland and Wellington (until the late 1980s/early 1990s) as well as at some smaller zoos (e.g. Ti Point). Three wild-caught bison (1.2) were sent to Auckland Zoo by the Canadian government in 1923, and two males in 1929 (the male from the first import having died). Wellington Zoo also received a pair of bison from Canada in 1926 and a trio (1.2) in 1938. The species was first recorded as being bred in New Zealand at Auckland Zoo in Nov 1930. There was also a later import from Australia (probably Taronga Zoo) but I can't find a date; Australian zoo stock is also derived from Canadian imports in the early 1900s. Farmed stock in NZ derives from the New Zealand zoo stock.

*Domestic Yak (Bos grunniens) – Orana (still?); also kept in some private-run zoo collections (farm parks); farmed in New Zealand in small numbers

The current New Zealand stock of yaks descend from a private import from Toronto Zoo (Canada) in 1990 for farming purposes. Orana's yaks were obtained in 2014 from a Nelson farm, but they may no longer keep them.

*Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) – wild in New Zealand; kept at Paradise Valley Springs, Queens Park (Invercargill), and in some other private-run zoo collections (farm parks)

The New Zealand wild population is descended from animals imported from the UK (from the Duke of Bedford) and released into the Southern Alps in 1904 (five animals), 1909 (fourteen animals) and 1919 (four animals).The Himalayan Tahr in Australian zoos are descended from the New Zealand population. Ironically a former New Zealand captive population was descended from animals imported by Auckland Zoo from Taronga Zoo (Australia).

*Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) – wild in New Zealand; only occasionally kept in the smaller private-run zoo collections

The New Zealand population is descended from six animals (2.4) imported from Austria, and released into the Southern Alps in 1907 and 1913.

*Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) – Hamilton

Until a 2015 import of eight females by Hamilton Zoo from Altina (Australia), the New Zealand population was descended entirely from two imports by Auckland Zoo from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 1967, totalling four males and three females. Apart from Auckland (kept there until the early 1990s) they have also until recently been held at Wellington – in the late 80s/early 90s (from Auckland stock but later all sent to create the Hamilton herd) and then from 2007 to 2012 (ex-Hamilton) – and also at Kitenui Lodge in Rotorua (surplus males from Hamilton).

*Springbok (Antidorcas marsuplialis) – Orana

The New Zealand population - currently only six animals (still, as of April 2022) - is descended from a trio (1.2) imported by Orana in December 1989 from the Woodland Park Zoo (USA).
Auckland also kept Springbok from 1997 until 2017. Their initial animals (one male and two females) came from Orana; their last animals were two which had been bred at Auckland in 1999/2000, which both died in 2017.
Until 2007 Hamilton also held a bachelor group of surplus males from Orana.

*Lowland Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) – Auckland; Keystone; Hamilton; Wellington; Orana

A trio (1.2) was imported to Wellington in Oct 2009 from Johanesburg Zoo's Rietkuil breeding farm (South Africa) and a male from Singapore Zoo in April 2011. These produced several calves. In Jan 2016 twenty Nyala (5.15) were imported to Wellington from South Africa, and some of the females from this import (along with all the males from the preceding stock) were later exported to Australia via Auckland Zoo. The first animals specifically kept at Auckland came from or via Wellington in June 2017. The animals at Hamilton are surplus NZ-bred males, first arrived in September 2019. The animals at Keystone are likewise surplus males, kept there since 2020. The animals at Orana Park arrived in June 2021.

*Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) – Orana

Three females were imported from Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Australia) in March 2018, and a male from Werribee (Australia) in April 2018. They have since bred at Orana.

*Common Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) – Auckland; Orana

The current stock in New Zealand was initially descended from one pair imported to Orana from Werribee (Australia) in 2004 (with the female already pregnant to a different - but related - male); Orana also imported a new male in October 2019 from Werribee. Auckland's current animals are a male imported from Werribee in October 2019, and three females which came from Hamilton Zoo in September 2019 and which were originally bred at Orana. While at Hamilton there were attempts to artificially-inseminate these females with sperm imported from Western Plains Zoo (Australia), but the attempts were unsuccessful.
The species was also formerly kept at Auckland until the early 1990s when their last animals went to Hamilton where they survived until 2003; and formerly also at Orana (a pair came from Auckland Zoo in 1987, which were kept into the 1990s [breeding by 1993]).


PRIMATES

*Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) – Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington; Orana; Willowbank

I really don't know much about the Ring-tailed Lemurs in New Zealand other than broad generalisations. Most stock seems to be derived from Australian imports and locally-bred animals. Auckland has had them since the mid-1990s, Hamilton since the late 1990s/early 2000s, Wellington since May 2021 [from Hamilton], Orana since 1993 [their original animals came from Taronga and Melbourne Zoos], and Willowbank since the mid-2000s [from Hamilton]. They have bred at all these zoos, although not all of them have breeding groups now.
Natureland has temporarily held Orana-bred animals before export to Australia.
Formerly also kept at Brooklands but their last one went to Franklin Zoo in 2011, and after the closure of Franklin in 2012 all their lemurs were exported to Mogo Zoo (Australia).

*Black And White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) – Hamilton; Wellington; Natureland; Orana; Willowbank

Hamilton has kept the species since the early-1990s (the original trio being imported from the UK in 1993 [females] and 1994 [male]). They first bred them in December 1994, and they have since been the dominant breeder in the country. Their current group is a mix of imported and New Zealand-bred animals.
Wellington's currently has two animals (both males), one of which came from Hamilton in 2014 while the other was imported from Australia's National Zoo in 2021. Wellington's previous animals were two sisters which came from Hamilton in 2001 - these were exported to Melbourne Zoo (Australia) in 2014; and a male which came from Hamilton in 2014 (the father of their other male from the same year), and died in c.2020.
Natureland has three males, all bred at Hamilton.
Orana's original animals were obtained from Wellington Zoo in c.1987; they bred them in the past, but until 2015 not for many years.
Willowbank kept the species from 2007 to 2015 (from Hamilton), and then none until two Hamilton-bred females arrived in late 2021.
Auckland also kept hybrid animals (variegata X rubra) until the early to mid-1990s.

*Cottontop Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) – Auckland; Butterfly Creek; Hamilton; Brooklands; Wellington; Natureland

In Australasia this species is entirely managed by a studbook system and has a number of international founders. They have been kept at Auckland since at least the late 1980s and at Wellington and Hamilton since at least the late 1990s. The other zoos mostly house surplus animals.

*Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator) – Auckland; Butterfly Creek

Two males were imported to Auckland from Perth Zoo (Australia) in November 2018, and two females from Dortmund Zoo (Germany) in October 2019. The first baby was born in March 2020. The animals at Butterfly Creek are six males obtained from Auckland Zoo in November 2023 as a bachelor holding.
Previously there was a failed attempt at establishing a group at Wellington Zoo in 2008 when a pair was imported from Zoo Osnabrück (Germany). The female died in 2010 and was replaced with a new female imported from Newquay Zoo (UK) in 2011. This female had to be euthanased in 2012, and in 2013 the male was exported to Mogo Zoo (Australia). None of the pairs bred successfully.

*Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) – Auckland; Wellington

This species is managed by an international studbook system.
Auckland currently has one pair (as of January 2020). The male was born at Mogo Zoo (Australia) in 2013 and imported in 2017, while the female was born at Riverbanks Zoo (USA) in 2010 and imported in 2014. This pair bred in 2020, the first time the species has been bred in New Zealand.
Wellington also only has one pair (as of January 2020). The male was born at Adelaide Zoo in 2013 and imported in 2017, and the female was born at Santa Ana Zoo (USA) in 2010 and imported in 2013.
Both zoos have had several other individuals through the 1990s and 2000s.

*Pigmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) – Hamilton; Wellington; Natureland

The first pair was imported by Wellington in July 2010 from Banham Zoo (UK), with the first birth occurring in Oct 2010. These may have been the first Pigmy Marmosets to be kept in New Zealand (although there is a CITES record of an import of three animals from Australia to New Zealand in 1992). In Jan 2011 Auckland imported a female from Twycross Zoo (UK) and a male from Mogo Zoo (Australia). In Feb 2011 three more (a mother and two sons) were imported by Wellington from Newquay Zoo (UK), two of which were then transferred to Hamilton. They have been bred at all four zoos in which they have been kept. Auckland, however, hasn't kept them since 2020.

*Bolivian Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) – Auckland; Brooklands; Wellington

Initially thirty individuals were imported from Europe by Wellington in 2012 and divided between the three zoos. There have been many births since the importation. Some additional animals have also been imported from Australia from an unrelated import to there, and also some additional animals from Europe have been imported. Brooklands only keeps excess males, rather than a breeding group.

*Black-capped Capuchin (Sapajus (Cebus) apella) – Ti Point (one old animal); Hamilton; Brooklands; Pouakai; Parrot Ranch; Wellington; HUHA (private sanctuary); Natureland; Willowbank

This species has been kept in Australasia for a very long time in many different zoos and circuses, and the population is extremely inbred. Until recently there was little movement between zoos (each tended to just repeatedly inbreed within their own group). Formerly also kept at Auckland until the late 1990s; there is/was a female at Brooklands – still alive in 2017 (I can't see anything more recent) – who was born at Auckland Zoo 1966. There are about forty individuals in New Zealand zoos in total.

*Geoffroy's (Black-handed) Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) – Auckland; Hamilton; Pouakai; Wellington; Orana

Auckland's colony descends from an import of four animals (ostensibly A. g. geoffroyi) imported from the USA in 1964, with further animals added later from other NZ zoos.
Hamilton's colony was derived initially with individuals from Auckland's colony in 1995, and they have also imported animals from Australia.
Wellington originally had a mixed-species group dating from the 1960s (containing A. belzebuth, A geoffroyi and A. hybridus). Since 2009 they have obtained animals from other NZ zoos (Auckland, Hamilton, Orana) as well as importing from overseas.
Orana's colony descends from an import of five animals (2.3) from San Francisco Zoo (USA) in 1978, at the time thought to be pure A. g. vellerosus but later shown to be subspecific-hybrids. Other animals have been added more recently from other NZ zoos (e.g. Auckland and Hamilton).
Pouakai just has two surplus females. Odd animals have been kept at other zoos in the past, e.g. Franklin Zoo (closed 2012), North Brighton Zoo (closed 1996) and Hadlow Game Park (closed 1986).

*Variegated (Brown) Spider Monkey (Ateles hybridus) – one female at Wellington

A remnant of Wellington's original mixed-species Ateles group dating back to the 1960s, which also included White-bellied Spider Monkeys (A. belzebuth) and Geoffroy's Spider Monkeys (A. geoffroyi). Formerly A. hybridus was considered to be a subspecies of A. belzebuth.

*hybrid Spider Monkey (Ateles) – two females at Wellington

Remnants of Wellington's original mixed-species Ateles group dating back to the 1960s.

*Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) – Auckland

Auckland's group of baboons was established with two males imported from Adelaide Zoo in 2009 (animals unrelated to Wellington's previous import - see below) and two females from Wellington.
The group which was previously held at Wellington was established in and around 1967 with imports from Australia (probably mostly Melbourne, although at least one male came from Adelaide), with the only later additions being a female from Melbourne Zoo in 1988 and a female from Dierenpark Emmen (Netherlands) in 2001. In 2015 all the females of Wellington's group were exported to Australian zoos, and the four remaining males were euthanised in February 2018.

*Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) – Auckland; Hamilton; Orana; Willowbank

Auckland currently has a related pair. A female imported in 2010 was sent back to Australia in 2013 after zero breeding success.
Hamilton had housed the original (now retired) breeding pair from Auckland since 2009, the female of which was originally imported from Adelaide Zoo (Australia) in 1987, and the male originally imported from Berlin Zoo (Germany) in 1988. The female died in September 2018. In January 2018 they obtained a new female from Orana. They also have a surplus male, imported from Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Australia) in May 2021.
Orana had a family group established from an Auckland-born female (arrived from Willowbank in 2005) and a wild-caught male imported from Singapore Zoo via Australia in 2007. Currently (as of January 2020) they only house two females.
Willowbank has a breeding pair (the female Auckland-born, arriving at Willowbank in 1994 with her sister who was later sent to Orana; the male came from Australia); they have bred several times, with one of the offspring now at Auckland.

*Northern White-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) – one pair at Wellington

The male Vilson came from Melbourne Zoo (Australia) in 1991, and the female Robyn from Perth Zoo (Australia) in 2005 to replace the former breeding female Eeyore - also from Perth - who had died in 1998. Robyn is the younger sister of Eeyore. The current pair have never bred successfully. The former pair had one successful birth (female, now in Perth).

*White-handed (Lar) Gibbon (Hylobates lar) – one female at Pouakai

Two pairs were imported by Pouakai from Perth Zoo (Australia) in 1995.

*Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) – 2.2 at Auckland

The Auckland Zoo group was initially established with two males and two females imported from the Singapore, Frankfurt and Rotterdam Zoos in 1983-84. Two further females were imported to Auckland from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 2001. In November 2015 three individuals were exported to the USA, leaving just two at the zoo (male Charlie from Singapore Zoo [born 1981] and female Melur from Taronga [born at Hong Kong Zoo in 1988]). In November 2017 these last two animals were moved on a temporary basis to Orana Park, returning to Auckland in January 2020. A male baby was born to this pair in March 2022. An additional adult female was imported from Ouwehands (Netherlands) in July 2023.
Auckland Zoo also had a hybrid Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus X Pongo abelii) named Wanita, born at Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 1979, and imported to Auckland Zoo in 2001 with the two Bornean Orangutans. In November 2017 she was moved on a temporary basis to Orana Park along with Auckland's remaining two Bornean Orangutans; all three animals returned to Auckland in January 2020. Wanita died in March 2022.

**As far as I can ascertain the only Orangutan ever kept in a New Zealand zoo outside of Auckland Zoo (and Orana temporarily, as above) was an adult male of unknown species named Jimmy, kept at Wellington Zoo. He was an ex-circus animal (from Wirth's Circus in Australia) and came to Wellington Zoo in April 1960. He died there in May 1962.

*Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) – Hamilton; Wellington

The first chimps at Wellington were a group of three female “tea-party chimps” imported from London Zoo (UK) in 1956, followed by four males in 1957. These animals later formed the basis of the zoo's breeding group (all the original “tea-party” chimps are now dead). Later additions to the Wellington colony were three females from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 1992 which are the current breeding females (the breeding males were born at Wellington).
The group at Hamilton results from six animals transferred from Auckland in 2004 (see below), plus two females from Adelaide Zoo (Australia) in 2008.
Chimps were formerly also kept at Auckland, the last one (Janie) dying of old age in 2013: she was the last of four “tea-party chimps” imported to Auckland from London Zoo (UK) in 1956. A second group of four London Zoo “tea-party chimps” was imported in 1959 (now all dead). In 2004 Auckland's breeding group of six “non tea-party” chimps was sent to Hamilton (this group was descended from Auckland's former [1959] “tea-party chimps”once they became adult, and two imported in 1982 from Taronga Zoo).
Willowbank had a family of chimps (both parents were ex-circus chimps, with the mother of Taronga descent). The young were a female born in 1982 and a male born in 1987. The father and daughter went to Mogo Zoo (Australia) in 2009 (the mother had already died by then, and the son had also either died or gone elsewhere).

*Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) - two males at Orana

A bachelor group of three related males (Fataki, born 2003; Fuzu, born 2007; and Mahali, born 2008) were imported to Orana from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in July 2015. Mahali died in May 2021. These are the only Gorillas to have ever been kept in New Zealand.


FELIDAE

*African Lion (Panthera leo) [also including "Barbary" and white lions] – Kamo (Zion); Auckland; Paradise Valley Springs; Pouakai; Wellington; Orana

”generic” and krugeri African Lions: There is a very long history of lions in New Zealand zoos and circuses, dating right back to the first menageries in the country in the early 1900s.
The most important lion stock for almost the last forty years has been that at Paradise Valley Springs, which was established from ex-circus stock in the mid-1970s. Every other New Zealand zoo with lions obtained at least some animals from this collection over that time.
Auckland has had lions since opening day in 1922, apart for a period during 2021. Their last lions in early 2021 (two elderly males originally from Wellington Zoo) were put to sleep in April, and then three females were imported from Weribee (Australia) in September 2021. The previous pride at Auckland, the last elderly individuals of which were put down in mid-2018, was established between 1999 and 2003 with imports from Australia, South Africa and the USA.
Wellington has had lions since opening day in 1906, apart for a period during 2021. Their last lions in early 2021 (two elderly females originally from Auckland Zoo) were put to sleep in April, and then two males were imported from Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark) in November 2021.
Orana had eighteen lions when it opened in 1976 and these were their stock for most of their history, but the current animals (5.4 as of January 2020) are a mix of stock from Paradise Valley Springs, Auckland Zoo, and Australian imports.
Hamilton has not kept lions since the 1990s.
"Barbary Lions": All of Pouakai's “Barbary lion” stock and all but one of Kamo's “Barbary lion” stock came originally from Paradise Valley Springs (i.e. generic lions derived from ex-circus animals). The only one of the faux "Barbary lions" at Kamo which was not from that stock is a female tawny krugeri imported from South Africa in 2005 (with the four white krugeri).
White Lions (P. l. krugeri): The original white lions at Kamo were four animals imported from South Africa in 2005. Two animals imported to Auckland in 2000 from the Philadelphia Zoo (USA) carried white genes but were themselves normally-coloured.

*Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) – Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington; Orana

All the Sumatran Tigers are part of an international/regional managed breeding programme and individuals are moved around regularly between zoos and countries. The ones kept in New Zealand in recent decades have either been NZ-bred or imported from Australia (other than one from Israel in 2006 and two from the USA in 2022). They have bred at Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, but Orana has only ever held males.

*”generic” Tigers (Panthera tigris) – Kamo (Zion)

Kamo originally imported 0.1 orange “Bengal” tiger and 3.1 white tigers in 2002 from a private breeder in the USA.
Pouakai Zoo obtained Kamo-bred white tigers in 2010, of which the last one died in 2023.
There have been numerous other generic tigers in New Zealand zoos and circuses prior to the opening of Kamo. Orana Park, for example, bred a litter of five hybrids (Siberian X “Bengal”) which remained at the park until 1993 when they were put to sleep due to old age. An ex-circus tiger lived at the North Brighton Zoo until the early 1990s.

*Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) – Wellington

Two females (sisters) were imported by Wellington Zoo in April 2023 from Melbourne Zoo (Australia), where they had been born in 2020.
The only other Snow Leopards to be kept in NZ were a pair imported to Wellington Zoo from the USA in 1986, which produced two female cubs in November 1988. The male of the pair was born at Cincinnati Zoo (USA) in 1978, and died at Wellington in 1994. The female was born at Seneca Park Zoo (USA) in 1980, and died at Wellington in 1995. Of the two cubs bred here, one died in early 1989 at Wellington after an eye infection, and the other was exported to Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens (UK) and died in 2006.

*Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) – Auckland; Hamilton; Orana

Cheetahs in Australasian zoos are managed as a regional population, although in NZ most zoos hold (or held) non-breeding groups. Auckland has two females imported from South Africa in 2017. Hamilton has four males imported from Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2021. Orana has about ten cheetahs of both sexes and breeds them regularly. Animals are a mix of local-bred and imported individuals (mostly from Australia and South Africa).
Wellington had two males (both bred at Orana in 2009), which were put down due to old age in October 2022.
Kamo (Zion) formerly had a pair which were imported from a private breeder in South Africa in 2007; they were held outside of the regional programme and never bred. The last of this pair died in 2022.

*Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) – one male and two females at Hamilton

A pair was imported from Taronga Zoo (Australia) to Hamilton in 2009. The male had been born at Singapore Zoo in 2002 and the female at Melbourne Zoo (Australia) in 1998. The female died in 2012 with no breeding at Hamilton. A new female was imported from Singapore Zoo in 2015. The old male then died, around 2016. In early 2017 another female was imported from Ostrava Zoo (Czech Republic) and in May 2017 a male was imported from Port Lympne (UK).

*Serval (Leptailurus serval) – Auckland

The former Serval population in New Zealand (from before c.2000) had become highly inbred and eventually most animals died or were retired from display. New stock was imported in the 2000s from various countries including Australia, USA, and South Africa, but most animals have since died out again.
There are just two animals currently in the country, both at Auckland. The female was born at Boise Zoo (USA) in 2013 and imported in 2014. The male is a ten-year old animal imported from Singapore Zoo in 2022 [previously they had a male born at Mogo Zoo (Australia) in 2005 and imported in 2013, which presumably has since died].
Wellington's last two Servals, male and female siblings born at Wellington in 2006, both died in March 2023. The parent pair, both also now deceased, were a male born at Bester Birds And Animals Park (South Africa) in 2003 and imported to Wellington in 2005; and a female born at Auckland Zoo in 2004 and moved to Wellington in 2005.
Hamilton sent their only Serval (ex-Wellington) to the USA in 2013.
Other collections which formerly housed Servals include Pouakai (last date?), Franklin (until 2008), Orana (until 2011 - two animals came from the North Brighton Zoo when it closed in 1996, and were permanently off-display until their deaths), and Kamo (Zion) (until 2012).

*Caracal (Caracal caracal) - Hamilton

One male imported to Hamilton from Darling Downs Zoo (Australia) in Feb/March 2024 is currently the sole animal in New Zealand.
Previous animals in the country were two females (sisters) imported to Wellington Zoo in Sept 2014 from Copenhagen Zoo (Denmark); one of the animals died in March 2022 and the other was put down a short while later in April on welfare grounds. Prior to this the species was also kept in the 1980s to early 1990s at the North Brighton Zoo, with a trio (1.2) imported from Australia in 1982.

URSIDAE

*Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) – one female at Wellington

In 1992 a pair of captive-bred Sun Bears named Bakti and Chomel were imported to Wellington Zoo from San Diego Zoo (USA). The pair produced cubs in 1997 and 1999, although only two survived (twins born in 1999, of which one [named Madu] died in 2001 and the other [named Arataki] was exported to Canberra's National Zoo in the same year). The adult male Bakti also died in 2001. In 2004 a new male, Sean, was imported from Perth Zoo (Australia); he was originally a rescue animal from Cambodia (imported to Australia in 1998). This new pairing between Sean and Chomel produced just one cub, a female named Sasa, in 2006. The original female, Chomel, died in 2009. The male Sean died in December 2018. The sole Sun Bear now left in New Zealand is the female Sasa.
Sun Bears had also been previously kept (into the 1980s) at both Auckland and Wellington.


CANIDAE

*Dingo (Canis [lupus] dingo) – Wellington

Dingos have been kept in the past at Auckland and Wellington, but the current holdings (all at Wellington Zoo) started with a pair imported in 2008 from the Australian Dingo Foundation in Victoria (Australia). Further imports from unspecified places in New South Wales (Australia) have been a male in 2010, a female in 2012, and a male and female in 2018. Not all of these individual animals are still alive.

*African Hunting Dog (Lycaon pictus) – Hamilton; Orana

Hunting Dog populations in zoos change frequently due to the high breeding rate and the species having a relatively short lifespan.
Hamilton currently has four animals (2.2), all imported from Australia in various years since 2015. The former pack at Hamilton was established with a trio (2.1) imported from South Africa in 2003, plus two females from Orana in 2007 and a female from Wellington in 2011.
Orana currently has eight animals (all females, imported from Taronga Zoo in Australia in June 2017). Previously, they imported three males from Perth Zoo in 1998 and two females from South Africa in 2002. These animals never bred and after the death of the males the two females were transferred to Hamilton, with seven Hamilton-bred females received in exchange. All these females have since died of old age.
The last remaining few of Wellington's pack, established with two pairs imported from Johannesburg Zoo (South Africa) in July 2003, were put to sleep due to old age in April 2014. The first African Hunting Dogs to be kept at Wellington were as far back as 1971 (they came from Melbourne Zoo and were probably the first ones in New Zealand).
The species seems to have never been kept at Auckland.


MUSTELIDAE

*Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea) – Auckland; Butterfly Creek; Brooklands; Wellington; Willowbank; Orana

In the 1980s almost all the otters in New Zealand zoos had been bred by the North Brighton Zoo (this zoo closed in 1996). Through the 2000s most otters seem to have been produced at Auckland (from parents both locally-bred and Australian-imported). Currently [March 2022] there are no breeding groups in the country, with Auckland sending all their females to Willowbank in 2021 and retaining only males themselves. Wellington and Orana have all-male groups (imported from Perth Zoo, Australia, in 2015 and 2021 respectively), Brooklands has an all-female group (0.5 imported from Western Plains Zoo, Australia, in 2022), and Butterfly Creek has a family group (mother and 2.2 siblings, imported from Perth Zoo in 2017).
The species has not been kept at Hamilton since the early 2000s.
I have a newspaper article from 1995 which says that this species was kept at that time at Peacock Springs (Isaacs Wildlife Trust) in Christchurch, but I don't remember them being there at all.

*Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

*Stoat (Mustela erminea)

*Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Ferrets, Stoats and Weasels were introduced to New Zealand in the thousands for several decades from 1884 onwards in an ill-conceived attempt at rabbit control. Ferrets were formerly common as pets in the country but have now been banned; they can still be seen in several zoos. Stoats and Weasels are not usually seen in captivity in New Zealand but may be kept in zoos from time to time.


HERPESTIDAE

*Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) – Auckland; Butterfly Creek; Hamilton; Pouakai; Brooklands; Wellington; Natureland; Orana

Auckland, Wellington and Orana all imported groups of Meerkats from Australia in 1991 following the great popularity of Telecom tv adverts featuring the species. Auckland and Wellington imported breeding groups from Australia. Orana imported a male-only group from Toledo Zoo (USA) which soon died out and had to be replaced with a breeding group. The first to be bred in New Zealand were at Wellington in March 1992. More imports from Australia, South Africa and the UK have been made by several of the zoos since then.


AILURIDAE

*Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) – Auckland; Hamilton; Wellington

Formerly one also kept at Brooklands from 2006 to 2010 (a male bred at Auckland in 1998). Red Pandas are managed with an international zoo studbook. Between 1992 and 2010 seven males and six females have been imported into New Zealand, mostly from Australia but also Madrid, Rotterdam, Johannesburg and Darjeeling. About a dozen have been bred in New Zealand.


PINNIPEDIA

*Subantarctic Fur Seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) – one male at Auckland

Formerly both Subantarctic Fur Seals and New Zealand Fur Seals (A. forsteri) were held at Auckland Zoo and at the now-closed Napier Marineland. The last NZ Fur Seal at Auckland was a 16-year-old male which died in March 2020. The last animals at Napier Marineland (five NZ Fur Seals and one Subantarctic Fur Seal) were exported to Australia in 2014/2015 following that facility's closure. All the animals of both species at Auckland Zoo and Napier Marineland were rescue animals which were unreleasable.


LAGOMORPHA

*European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

*Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)

Domestic rabbits are often kept in childrens zoos but wild rabbits and hares never. European Rabbits were introduced to the wild in New Zealand in the mid-1800s, and Brown Hares through the 1850s to 1870s. Domestic rabbits have been in the country since Europeans first arrived (they were carried on ships and liberated in likely spots – the first to do so in New Zealand was Captain Cook himself) but there was a period of at least twenty years from the late 1940s when it was illegal to keep domestic rabbits in New Zealand due to ultimately futile efforts to wipe out wild rabbits in the country.


RODENTIA

*Black Rat (Rattus rattus)

*Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

*House Mouse (Mus musculus / Mus domesticus)

Domestic rats and mice are often kept in childrens zoos; wild ones are only occasionally displayed anywhere. European rats and mice arrived in New Zealand with the early explorers and settlers: Norway Rats and probably House Mice in the 1700s, Black Rats not until the mid-1800s.

*Polynesian Rat (Kiore) (Rattus exulans)

Kiore were introduced to New Zealand with the Maori, around 1000 years ago. They are very rare on the main islands now and have been removed from most offshore islands due to their impact on native wildlife. The only captive population in a display situation was at Nga Manu but they no longer keep them. Their population was derived from animals removed from Moturua Island in 2008; they kept them until at least the mid-2010s.

*Long-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) – kept as pets in New Zealand; found in various smaller zoos and sometimes the larger zoos' childrens zoos

The first Chinchillas in New Zealand were 30-40 animals imported in 1985 as farm stock (for their fur). The venture was unsuccessful and the animals were sold into the pet trade instead. They are illegal to keep in Southland without a permit due to concerns they may establish in the wild in that region.

*Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) – common in childrens zoos

Guinea Pigs have been in New Zealand since at least the mid-1800s.

*Brazilian Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) – Hamilton; Brooklands; Wellington; Natureland

Until 2016 the entire Australasian population was descended from four animals imported by Auckland in 1949. In May 2016 Wellington imported 1.3 from Szeged Zoo (Hungary) to found a new zoo population. (Four unrelated animals from the USA were additionally imported to Australia by Darling Downs Zoo in 2016; some animals bred from these have also been imported to NZ by Wellington Zoo). There are currently about 25 individuals in the country.
The species has also been kept at Orana Park (around the late 1970s), Moana Zoo (closed in 2000), and Franklin Zoo (closed in 2012).
There are suggestions that the original stock may have been hybrids or a different species, based on their appearance. There is a photo here comparing the new animals versus the old animals: Brazilian Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) | ZooChat

*Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaerus) – Brooklands; Wellington; Willowbank

Auckland imported 0.2 from Adelaide Zoo (Australia) in April 2015 and 1.0 from Chester Zoo (UK) in Oct 2015. This group bred for the first time in June 2016, and several Auckland-bred animals were transferred to other zoos. However Auckland currently no longer keeps Capybara (as of early/mid-2022)
Wellington imported 1.3 from Parc Zoologique de Paris (France) in April 2016. The male died in mid-2017 and was replaced in January 2018 with one of the males bred at Auckland in 2016. This group bred for the first time in October 2018.
Willowbank has four males which arrived in April 2019, and Brooklands has two males which arrived in January 2020; all of these were bred at Auckland.
Capybara were also kept in earlier decades at Auckland (until at least the 1960s), Wellington (until 1990) and Hamilton (1990 to 1998).

*South African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) – Auckland; Butterfly Creek; Hamilton; Natureland; Orana Park

The animals which have been imported [as far as I know of] were by Orana (one male in 1995), Auckland (two females and one male in 2019), and all the rest by Wellington (two males in 2006; one male and two sibling females in 2007 [two additional females from 2006 and 2007 did not survive]; one pair in 2015; and two females in 2018). All imports have come from the UK except for the two 2018 females [Wellington] which came from the USA, the two 2019 females [Auckland] which came from the Czech Republic (Prague), and the 2019 male [Auckland] which came from Australia (Monarto).
The first to be bred in New Zealand were at Orana in 2007, and since then they have been bred at Auckland and Hamilton.
Wellington no longer has any porcupines.
Crested Porcupines had also been kept in New Zealand prior to the current stock (e.g. at Wellington in the 1950s).

*North African Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) – two females at Orana

Originally one female had been imported from Marwell Zoo (UK) in 1995, in error for a female H. africaeaustralis (in the company of a male of that latter species) - this female died in mid-2017. The two currently at Orana were imported from Basle Zoo (Switzerland) in 2013. No males have been imported.


INSECTIVORA

*European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) – wild in New Zealand; occasionally displayed in zoos. Albino ones are sometimes displayed also.

Hedgehogs were widely released in New Zealand from the late 1800s to mid-1900s but most of the releases were translocations of wild New Zealand stock, rather than new imports from Europe. All the hedgehogs in New Zealand are thought to be descended from 12 animals released in Christchurch in 1894.


MARSUPIALIA

*Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisonii) – Auckland; Wellington; Orana

The Devils currently in New Zealand were imported as advocacy animals, surplus to the Australian breeding programme. Originally four were imported by Wellington in Dec 2013, four by Auckland in April 2014, and four by Orana in Dec 2014. Devils have short lifespans, and imported animals are generally already quite old (because they are no longer needed for breeding), so there will be regular change-over of individuals. For example, in 2018 Auckland imported new animals, at which time only one of the original four animals (from 2014) was still alive.
Tasmanian Devils had also been kept at Auckland in the 1980s (two, which arrived in Feb 1985).

*Common Brush-tailed Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) – wild in New Zealand, occasionally displayed in zoos.

Many introductions of this species were made to New Zealand between the mid-1800s and early-1900s, with animals from Tasmania and eastern Australia. They are now extremely common in New Zealand in the wild.

*Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) – Wellington

Wellington's previous stock came from Western Plains Zoo (Australia), but four new ones (3.1) were imported from Symbio Wildlife Park (Australia) in April 2016 to join the remaining Wellington-bred animals (then down to 1.1). Previously also kept at Orana [four pairs from Taronga Zoo (Australia) in 1980] and Auckland.

*Red-necked (Bennett's) Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus)

All Red-necked Wallabies present in New Zealand are descended from three animals (1.2) released in South Canterbury around 1874. This is the most common wallaby species in the wild in New Zealand (numbering in the tens of thousands). Amongst the "proper" zoos they are kept at Auckland (still?), Orana Park, and Willowbank. They are also at Queens Park (Invercargill) and probably at other small petting zoo/farm park places. A small petting zoo in Waimate, called Enkle Doo Very Korna, houses only this species (it rescues and hand-rears joeys from the wild population).

*Parma Wallaby (Macropus parma)

Released on Kawau Island around 1870 but at the time thought to be Tammar Wallabies: they were not correctly identified until 1965. They are still fairly common on the island. Wellington Zoo formerly had a large number on display (now down to a single individual). They are probably kept in several petting zoo/farm park places.

*Tammar Wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

Released on Kawau Island around 1870 and at Rotorua around 1912. The subspecies present in New Zealand is M. e. eugenii which became extinct in Australia after the New Zealand introductions were made. They are still fairly common on Kawau and very common around Rotorua. They are kept at several of the smaller zoos (including Butterfly Creek, Rainbow Springs, Paradise Valley Springs, and Pouakai Zoo), and probably in numerous petting zoo/farm park places.

*Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) - Wellington

Released on Kawau Island around 1870. They were not as successful as the other species on the island but have persisted in low numbers. They have not normally been kept in New Zealand zoos despite being locally available. Wellington Zoo imported a pair in March 2022 from Taronga Zoo (Australia), which have since bred successfully. I don't know of any other collections which currently keep them in New Zealand.



APPENDIX:

Since this list was first started in 2010 there have been a few species added to New Zealand collections and several species lost from the country. They are as follows.


MAMMALS NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZOOS SINCE 2010:
["New" meaning not held in NZ zoos at the time of import, although in some cases the species had been present in previous decades]

*Pigmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea): Wellington, July 2010
*Bolivian Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri boliviensis): Wellington, February 2012
*Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisonii): Wellington, December 2013
*Caracal (Caracal caracal): Hamilton, March 2024 (previously at Wellington from 2014 to 2022)
*Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaerus): Auckland, April 2015
*Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla): Orana, July 2015
*Bongo (Tragelaphus euryceras): Wellington, October 2015 (but lost in 2017)
*Addax (Addax nasomaculatus): Orana, March 2018
*Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator): Auckland, December 2018 (previously at Wellington from 2008 to 2013)
*Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor): Wellington, March 2022
*Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia): Wellington, April 2023


MAMMALS LOST TO NEW ZEALAND ZOOS SINCE 2010:

See also: Former Mammals in New Zealand Zoos (1980 to present)

*Asian Golden Cat (Catopuma temminckii): Auckland and Hamilton, 2011
*Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus): Hamilton, 2011
*Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu): Wellington, 2011
*Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus): Auckland and Kamo (Zion), 2011
*Addra Gazelle (Nanger dama): Orana, 2012
*Vervet (Chlorocebus sp.): Pouakai, 2012
*African Elephant (Loxodonta africana): Franklin, 2013
*Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger): Orana, 2014
*Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus): Orana, 2014
*Californian Sealion (Zalophus californianus): Auckland, 2016
*Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius): Auckland, 2016
*Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus): Auckland, 2016?
*Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata): Pouakai, c.2017
*Southern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina): Pouakai, c.2017
*Bongo (Tragelaphus euryceras): Wellington, 2017
*NZ Lesser Short-tailed Bat (Mystacina tuberculata): Auckland, 2017
*Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii): Hamilton, 2018
*Bobcat (Lynx rufus): Hamilton, 2018
*Brazilian Tapir (Tapirus terrestris): Hamilton, 2019
*New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri): Auckland, 2020
*Little Red Flying Fox (Pteropus scapulatus): Auckland, 2020
*Scimitar-horned Oryx (Oryx dammah): Orana, 2021
*Leopard (Panthera pardus): Kamo (Zion), 2023

 

ISIS says 1 female at Auckland, 3 male and 5 female at Hamilton, and 5 male and 6 female at Wellington

 

the single animal at Auckland is Janie, the last surviving individual of the tea party chimps from the old days

 

thought it was time for some small updates (until I get round to getting the list edited):

*the Auckland Zoo gemsbok listed on ISIS is a ghost, so ignore that species' inclusion in the list.
*Pouakai Zoo's lone zebra died last year.
*Pigmy marmosets now also at Auckland Zoo.
*I forgot to put Ti Point on the list for black-capped capuchin.
*Brookland Zoo's lone ring-tailed lemur has been moved to Franklin Zoo.
*Meerkats now at Brooklands.
*there should now be South African crested porcupines at Natureland (from Orana Park).

 

*Asian golden cats should now be gone from both Hamilton and Auckland. No more in NZ

 

a few more updates:

*I just found out the other day that the Parrot Ranch at Levin has black-capped capuchins and cottontop tamarins.
*Tony the Franklin/Auckland Zoo chacma baboon died in January, so now the only one in the country is the Zion one (assuming he's still alive).
*I recently found out (via this thread http://www.zoochat.com/17/privately-held-exotic-species-209116/) that there are blackbuck and two zebra at Kitenui Lodge in Taupo
*The same thread reminded me that there are guanaco in private hands (llama farms)
*And just to show how far behind things I am, Wellington Zoo no longer has zebras (not since about 2009!)....

 

our friendly local moderator ZYBen has kindly edited the original post for me to include the changes outlined in the above posts

 

As noted by kelvin above, there are no longer any collared peccaries in NZ.

Also, according to this article (Primrose, a Marineland seal, dies aged 18 | Stuff.co.nz) there is a subantarctic fur seal at Napier Marineland which means there are two in NZ. It doesn't really affect the list too much given that Marineland is closed, and I would suspect that this animal will most likely go to Auckland Zoo at some point (?)

 

I just heard that Foxy the chacma baboon at Zion has been put down due to age-related problems (30 years old). No more chacmas in the country.

 

Tony is already dead (January 2011)

 

are you sure it was a baboon you saw and not a pig-tailed macaque. The information on the forum is that he died at Auckland Zoo and never returned to Franklin.