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Exotic Amphibians And Reptiles In New Zealand

Discussion in 'New Zealand' started by Chlidonias, 12 Mar 2011.

  1. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    This is a list of the exotic amphibians and reptiles in captivity in New Zealand. Native species (not listed below) include four species of frogs, eighty-odd species of skinks and geckoes, and one or two species of tuatara (depending on taxonomy). The species in the list are those which I know are in New Zealand that are held legally. Most are to be seen within zoos and aquariums; some chelonians are kept only in the private sector but would be available to zoos if they sought them out.

    For the species held only in a few specific zoos I have listed those holders. For species where no zoos are listed they can be taken as being either common in both private hands and in public collections, or as being remnant species kept only in private hands (these mainly being chelonians); in both cases this will be mentioned in the notes for the species.



    AMPHIBIANS

    These are the only exotic amphibians held legally in New Zealand, either publicly or privately. Other species are probably also held illegally. Cane Toads (Rhinella marinus) were commonly imported from Australia by the universities for their laboratories in the 1980s and 1990s, and were sometimes seen in zoos, but there are none left now. Up until the early 1990s Auckland Zoo had a Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in its aquarium.


    *Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea)

    Introduced Australian species found wild in the top half of the North Island. Commonly kept in zoos and aquariums.

    *Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis)

    Introduced Australian species common all over New Zealand. Commonly kept in zoos and aquariums.

    *Whistling Frog (Litoria ewingii)

    Introduced Australian species common in parts of New Zealand. Rarely kept in zoos or aquariums, probably due to it being small and nocturnal, so it makes a poor display.

    *African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)

    Originally brought in by University labs in the 1980s or earlier. Has been kept in various zoos and aquariums as well, but as of January 2020 the only ZAA collection listed as a holder was Brooklands Zoo (with one animal, listed as "delete by attrition"). I suspect there are no longer any in the country. Not legal to keep privately.

    *Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

    Common in the pet trade in various colour forms. Sometimes seen in zoos and public aquariums.

    *Japanese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster)
    *Chinese Fire-bellied Newt (Cynops orientalis)

    Both these species of newts are in the pet trade in New Zealand, originally descended from smuggled animals. They are only occasionally seen in public collections. In 2020 the National Aquarium in Napier kept both species, while Brooklands Zoo and Orana Park kept the Chinese species. As of a March 2021 visit the National Aquarium only had the Japanese species on display (National Aquarium (Napier) species list, March 2021 [National Aquarium of New Zealand]). As of a Dec 2021 visit Ti Point had the Japanese species on display (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]).


    SNAKES

    No exotic snakes are allowed to be held in New Zealand, even for zoos. The larger zoos (i.e. Wellington and Auckland) have tried in the past to be permitted to hold male individuals of non-venomous species which wouldn't be able to survive in the New Zealand climate, but have been rejected every time. The only "native" snakes in New Zealand, in the sense that the individuals make their own way to the country, are the Sea Snakes which occasionally wash up on our shores half-moribund with cold. These are usually Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes (Pelamis platurus) although Banded Sea Snakes (Laticauda colubrina) also occur from time to time. Sea Snakes which are still alive are taken to Kelly Tarltons in Auckland for care, and they are sometimes displayed to the public until fit enough to be released in the tropical Pacific.



    LIZARDS

    There are probably a few more species than listed here kept illegally in private hands.
    As well as the current species which will be listed below, Auckland Zoo had an Asian Bloodsucker (Calotes versicolor) and Fijian Banded Iguanas (Brachylophus fasciatus) in their collection in the 1990s but these are long gone now (the iguanas lasted until the early 2000s).
    Wellington Zoo had a Gould's Monitor (Varanus gouldii) up until 2007 when it went to Ti Point where it lived until c.2009 - this was the last survivor of six animals imported in 1983/84.
    There were also Rhinoceros Iguanas (Cyclura cornuta) in New Zealand in the 1980s, probably at Auckland Zoo (imported from Australia in 1984).
    Ti Point kept two additional gecko species until recently, the Northern Dtella (Gehyra australis) and the House Gecko (Gekko monarchus). The latter species was still signed but unseen in October 2017 (Ti Point Reptile Park species list) but not listed in a December 2021 visit (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]).
    The most recent exotic reptile losses in zoos are Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and Jackson's Chameleon (Trioceros (Chamaeleo) jacksonii):
    For the Veiled Chameleons, three animals (1.2) came to Wellington Zoo after being seized by Customs in October 2014 at Auckland Airport, and then an additional two (1.1) which were seized in January 2016. All of these animals have since died and there are none currently in the country, although as they are allowed to be imported by zoos the species may reappear at some point.
    For the Jackson's Chameleons, they were originally kept at Auckland Zoo, with seven animals imported from Australia in 1996. Stock bred there went to Ti Point, and Wellington Zoo also obtained a pair in January 2003, which bred at least once. The last animals at both Auckland and Wellington died out in 2007, leaving animals only at Ti Point. Wellington Zoo acquired three (1.2) from Ti Point in 2013, but in 2016 sent their last two (1.1) to Auckland Zoo. The last of these two animals (a male) died in April 2022.


    *Scheltopusik (Ophisaurus (or Pseudopus) apodus) - Auckland, Brooklands, Wellington

    Auckland Zoo imported a pair in 1985 from Chester Zoo (UK) - I think both of these are now dead, although one survived until at least c.2017. In 2013 Wellington Zoo imported five individuals from Artis Zoo (Netherlands) and these have since been bred from. Two animals were sent from Wellington Zoo to Auckland Zoo in 2017. Brooklands Zoo also has one individual from Wellington. The species makes a good snake-substitute. Not legal to keep privately.

    *Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii)

    Commonly seen in zoos. Auckland Zoo and Ti Point, in particular, have been major breeders - the latter collection currently (January 2020) has about sixty animals. Now common in the private sector as well.

    *Inland (Central) Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

    Common in both zoos and the private sector.

    *Coastal (Eastern) Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)

    Common in both zoos and the private sector.

    *Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) - Ti Point, Auckland, Butterfly Creek, Wellington (still?), Willowbank, Natureland

    Four iguanas were imported by Wellington Zoo in August 2011 from Melbourne Zoo. Two remained at Wellington Zoo (now just one and it hasn't been on display for several years so may no longer be kept), and two were sent to Ti Point in October 2012. The latter pair bred in 2015, producing 20 babies. There is one each at Butterfly Creek, Natureland, and Willowbank (originally two), from the young bred at Ti Point. Auckland Zoo has five animals: one was seized by Customs in October 2014 at Auckland Airport, and the rest came from Ti Point at the start of 2018.
    Previously also held at Wellington Zoo and Napier Aquarium in the early 1980s to early 1990s (CITES records show imports from Australia - probably all Taronga-bred - of four animals in 1982, four in 1984, three in 1985, and one in 1991). Ti Point also had animals in the early 2000s which were obtained from a private person; this stock was proven to be smuggled animals, all of which were seized and destroyed.

    *Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) - Ti Point, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Orana Park

    Of the animals currently in New Zealand, Auckland Zoo imported six (3.3) captive-bred animals from Australia (via the Australian Reptile Park) in October 2015, and two more in 2016 (bred at Snakes Down Under). Babies from a 2018 breeding at Auckland were obtained by Wellington Zoo and Ti Point (just two animals at each). Orana Park obtained two animals from Auckland Zoo in February 2020, and Hamilton obtained two in May 2023. From CITES records, others have been exported to the USA and Denmark which are presumably Auckland-bred animals.
    Previously also held at Auckland Zoo (four animals imported in 1971; the last one died in 2002) and at Orana Park (two animals imported in 1988; the last one died c.2005). CITES records also list an import into NZ of one animal in 1982.

    *Eastern Blue-tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides)

    Very common in zoos and the private sector.

    *Stump-tailed or Shingleback Skink (Tiliqua (or Trachydosaurus) rugosus) - Orana Park (still?)

    Not many (if any) left in New Zealand. As of January 2020 the only ZAA zoos still listed as holding them were one at Orana and two at Wellington. The Wellington ones went off-display that year and have since died. They can still be imported by zoos, so may make a return in the future.

    *Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) - Ti Point, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington

    Not many left in New Zealand zoos. As of January 2020 the only ZAA collections holding them were Auckland Zoo with ten animals, Hamilton Zoo with four, and Ti Point with four. Wellington has six animals obtained in 2023. Still some in the private sector as well.

    *Rainbow Skink (Leiolopisma delicata)

    Introduced Australian species common in the wild in the North Island. A permit is needed to keep these privately.

    *Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) - Ti Point, Butterfly Creek, Brooklands, Wellington

    Originally (four?) individuals were imported by Orana Park in 1988 for their new reptile house. Later they were passed on to Eric Fox of Otorohanga Kiwi House who bred them, and from there they entered the private sector. Now rarely seen in zoos (currently - as of January 2020 - at Brooklands Zoo, Butterfly Creek, and Ti Point; and also, as of January 2023, at Wellington Zoo again).

    *Madagascar Day Gecko (Phelsuma (madagascariensis) grandis) - Ti Point, Auckland, Butterfly Creek, Wellington

    Originally five animals were imported from Australia in 2000 (I think by Auckland Zoo). There are still not a lot of them around. They are still currently at Wellington Zoo (two), Ti Point (about twenty), Auckland Zoo (two, since August 2022), Butterfly Creek (two). Also formerly at Hamilton Zoo and the Otago Museum's Butterfly House in Dunedin. Not legal to keep privately.



    CHELONIANS

    The turtles are found mainly in the private sector and range in abundance from very common to very rare. Apart for the Greek and Hermann's most of the tortoises can be classed as rare to very rare in New Zealand, and (for zoo-held individuals) are mostly housed at Ti Point. There are probably a few more species in New Zealand than listed below but they would be composed of one or two old individuals unless smuggled animals. Turtles could be freely imported from the UK and Japan up until the late 1980s, hence the interesting selection below. There may be other species still around which I am not aware of.


    *Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis sp.) - Auckland

    A male and two females at Auckland Zoo, and one non-breeding male which has alternated between Ti Point and Auckland Zoo (but which has been at Auckland for the last couple of years). All were bred at Honolulu Zoo (Hawaii) and imported in 1983. The species name used by the zoo has changed several times - C. elephantopus, C. nigra, and now C. vicina - but they are probably hybrids. The Auckland Zoo tortoises have successfully bred twice, with one baby hatching in January 2018 and four in March 2021. Not legal to keep privately.

    *Red-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) - Ti Point

    Possibly still one at Ti Point - the only one left in the country - but not listed from a December 2021 visit (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]).

    *Yellow-footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata) - Ti Point

    Just one left at Ti Point - probably the only one left in the country.

    *Chaco / Pampas Tortoise (Chelonoidis petersi / C. chilensis) - Ti Point

    Still two at Ti Point - I think these are still kept in private hands as well.
    [In New Zealand these are called Chaco Tortoises with the scientific name Geochelone chilensis (under the older genus name), but the Chaco Tortoise is petersi and the Pampas Tortoise is chilensis so I'm not actually sure which is the species in New Zealand]

    *Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) - Ti Point (still?)

    At Ti Point (still?) - not listed from a December 2021 visit (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]).

    *Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

    I don't know the current status of this species in New Zealand.

    *Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans) - Ti Point, Willowbank

    Over forty at Ti Point (having been bred there on several occasions). Also kept at Willowbank (eight animals from Ti Point). Four were imported in 2000 from Australia by Auckland Zoo, but they no longer keep them.

    *Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)

    A few in private hands.

    *Greek (Spur-thighed) Tortoise (Testudo graeca)

    The commonest tortoise in the New Zealand pet trade, but only sometimes seen in zoos.

    *Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni)

    The second-commonest tortoise in the New Zealand pet trade, but only sometimes seen in zoos.

    *Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) - Ti Point, Auckland, Butterfly Creek, Hamilton, Brooklands, Willowbank

    Two females confiscated at Wellington airport in 1996 were sent to Auckland Zoo, where they were joined in 2002 by a male donated by a lady from Dunedin who had been keeping him as a pet since being given him in northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1958! Ti Point also had at least one leopard tortoise at that time, but Auckland Zoo has bred a lot of babies from their trio and the young ones can now be seen in several other New Zealand zoos including Butterfly Creek, Brooklands Zoo, Hamilton Zoo, and Willowbank. Ti Point has almost twenty animals, which I think are also Auckland-bred. Wellington Zoo also formerly had Auckland-bred animals but they no longer keep them.

    *Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans)

    Very common in the pet trade. There are suggestions in some circles that they should be banned to prevent them becoming established in the wild as a pest.

    *Cumberland's Terrapin (Trachemys scripta troostii)

    Still fairly common in the pet trade.

    *Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) - Ti Point

    Very few left in New Zealand (no imported pet stock ever bred, and the remaining animals are now elderly). Ti Point should still have two females., although they weren't listed in a December 2021 visit (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]).

    *Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana)

    *Painted Terrapin (Chrysemys picta)

    *Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)

    There may now be none left of the three species above.

    *Carolina Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

    Pretty common in the pet trade.

    *Three-toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis)

    Pretty common in the pet trade.

    *Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri)

    *[There may still be some other Terrapene around as well]

    *Reeves' Turtle (Chinemys reevesii)

    Common in the pet trade.

    *Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata)

    *Striped Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys atripons)

    *Spiny Turtle (Heosemys spinosa)

    *Asian Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

    I'm not sure of the status of the above four species - I have seen them all in the pet trade but I don't know overall numbers and some may no longer be present in the country.

    *Chinese Box Turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) - Napier

    The only Chinese Box Turtles I've seen in a public collection are the group of males at Napier's National Aquarium, which were a seizure of smuggled animals - originally they had five animals but currently [March 2021] they only have two left. I have never seen them in the pet trade in New Zealand.

    *[Possibly some of the other Cuora species are still around as well]

    *Murray River Turtle (Emydura macquarii)

    Fairly common in the pet trade.

    *Jardine River (Red-bellied) Turtle (Emydura subglobosa)

    Fairly common in the pet trade. Kept at Butterfly Creek.

    *Eastern Snakeneck (Chelodina longicollis)

    Very common in the pet trade.

    *Narrow-breasted Snakeneck (Chelodina oblonga)

    May still be around in the pet trade.

    *Broad-shelled Snakeneck (Chelodina expansa)

    May still be around in the pet trade.

    *Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) - Ti Point (still?)

    Possibly still one male at Ti Point which is the only one left in the country, however it was not seen or signed on a December 2021 visit (Ti Point Species List+Review (30/12/21) [Reptile Park]). Ti Point formerly held a pair which had come from the National Aquarium in Napier in 2009 or 2010.

    *Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

    These used to be commonly seen for sale as babies in the 1980s and 1990s, so in theory they should still be around in private hands.

    *Snapping Turtle

    I can't remember if the one(s) in New Zealand were Common or Alligator Snappers. I doubt there are any left now.

    *Matamata (Chelus fimbriatus)

    These used to be in New Zealand in private trade, probably none left now.

    *Marine turtles - Kelly Tarlton's, Napier

    Kept at Kelly Tarltons and the National Aquarium in Napier. The latter still has one male Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) which came from Fiji in 1979 (two were imported at the time). Kelly Tarltons provides a rescue service for sea turtles which wash up in New Zealand. If possible, after recovery at the facility they are returned to the wild in the tropical Pacific. The most common species received at Kelly Tarltons is the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) but they also receive Hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerheads (Caretta caretta), and Olive Ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea).



    CROCODYLIANS

    Obviously not legal to hold privately in New Zealand. Most public facilities aren't set up to hold large crocodylians so there are not many here. Additional individuals held in the past few decades included a Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) at Auckland Zoo into at least the 1980s, an American Alligator at Wellington Zoo up until at least the late 1980s, a Saltwater Crocodile at Napier's National Aquarium until 2010, and a Saltwater Crocodile at the now-closed North Brighton Zoo in Christchurch until 1995.


    *American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) - Ti Point, Auckland, Butterfly Creek

    As of March 2021, there were nine individuals (2.6.1) in the country - at Auckland Zoo (0.2), Ti Point (0.2), and Butterfly Creek (2.2.1).
    Auckland previously had five animals: a female named Doris, imported from Australia in 1982, and four imported in 2010 from Australia Zoo - their current two are from the 2010 import.
    Ti Point had a pair, a male originally imported to Auckland Zoo in 1982 (with the female Doris) and a female from Australia Zoo (imported in 2010 together with the four that went to Auckland Zoo). Currently they have two females (I think the second female also came from Auckland Zoo), and a male (from Butterfly Creek in November 2021).
    Butterfly Creek imported five females together as babies from Australia in 2009. Two were sent on loan to Napier's National Aquarium in 2011 - one of these died in Oct 2016 and the other returned to Butterfly Creek in March 2020.

    *Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) - Butterfly Creek

    Now only at Butterfly Creek, which holds two adult males imported in 2009 from Australian crocodile farms (originally wild-caught in Queensland and the Northern Territory). Butterfly Creek also had six young ones hatched from imported eggs in June 2011 but all six were exported to Ireland in July 2014.
    Previous individuals of the species in New Zealand were one held at the National Aquarium in Napier - originally imported from a Singapore crocodile farm c.1990 - which died in July 2010; and one held at the North Brighton Zoo in Christchurch - originally imported from Australia in 1954 - which died in 1995 (and the zoo itself closed in 1996).

    *False or Sunda Gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) - Auckland

    Two 12-year-old females were imported in September 2022 from Krokodile Zoo (Denmark).
     
    Last edited: 3 Jan 2024
  2. Electus Parrot

    Electus Parrot Well-Known Member

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    Very interesting stuff, thanks Childonias.
     
  3. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

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    Indeed - these threads are fascinating. No snakes (not even odd males for display) is a weird thought.

    Incidentally, I do enjoy how these threads give us almost a New Zealand Zootierliste at this point!
     
  4. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Excellent job as always!

    I would suspect the Auckland Galapagos giants to be Chelonodis porteri (as they all originate from Honolulu Zoo captive-breds ... bred 1969/1970, not since ... alas).

    True or false: someone suggested on ZooChat Galapagos giants moves in the works. What is to happen to the Auckland group?
     
  5. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    yes I wasn't quite sure what the Galapagos tortoises at Auckland were species-wise so just listed them under the lumped name nigra (both the Auckland and Honolulu Zoo websites still just call them Geochelone elephantopus anyway). One of the Auckland group's males moved to Ti Point last year because he was interfering with mating attempts or something like that. He is a non-breeder himself (I believe he had his personal area mutilated by the other male tortoise, to put it delicately), but as far as I know there are no plans to move the other three anywhere.
     
  6. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    I'm not going to attempt listing fish and invertebrates if that's what you're suggesting! :D
     
  7. Ituri

    Ituri Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Interesting. Much like Hawaii. It would seem that the Honolulu Zoo on Oahu has a permit to hold 2 male, non-venomous snakes at any given time. These would be the only snakes legally in the state.
     
  8. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    I was just at the Napier Aquarium and didn't see any soft-shell turtles, and they now only have one hawksbill turtle (now very big!)
     
  9. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    When I visited the National Aquarium in 2008, as part of a class trip, they had Florida Soft-shelled Turtle(s?), but these were not on display and were in a tank out the back, but we were given a 'behind the scenes' tour and I got some very blurry photos of them. They may still be there.
     
  10. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    if so they should put them in their old crocodile tank - its totally wasted at the moment housing red-eared and snake-necked terrapins!
     
  11. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    I remember seeing the turtles at Ti Point in November 2009, and being quite surprised to see them there, as they were not a species I had seen there previously.

    The turtles are listed in the 2007 and 2009 Arazpa censuses (censi?) as being 1.1.1 at National Aquarium, but there are no records of them (anywhere) from the current census.

    I think that the turtles probably left National Aquaqrium for Ti Point in 2009, and have a) died out, or b) are still there and not being reported. This is a definite possibility as there seems to be a few species missing from their species (capuchins, red-eared sliders and Australian snake-necks for example, which I'm sure they must have). I will check it out next time I'm up there, which will be Easter weekend (weather and other zoos permitting).
     
  12. zooboy28

    zooboy28 Well-Known Member

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    The August 2009 Ti Point Reptile Park Newsletter has this to say about the Florida Soft-shells:

     
  13. Jabiru96

    Jabiru96 Well-Known Member

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    Are there any plans for any NZ zoos to import Komodo Dragons? A regional breeding program could be established if there were more individuals and NZ got on board.
     
  14. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    not as far as I'm aware
     
  15. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    there are now legal green iguanas in New Zealand once again, with four at Wellington Zoo imported from Melbourne Zoo in August.
     
  16. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    a small (and tardy) crocodylian update, the National Aquarium in Napier now has two American alligators (since December 2011) on loan from Butterfly Creek in Auckland:
    Pair of alligators on loan to Napier aquarium - National - NZ Herald News
    Izzy mentioned in the article was actually the aquarium's saltwater crocodile, not an alligator.
     
  17. AskAlice

    AskAlice Well-Known Member

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    Apparently Ti Point Zoo does have two alligators. My daughter went there a few days ago and said there were two alligators each in separate enclosures. I'll double check with her. We do have some photos from that visit.
     
  18. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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  19. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    scheltopusiks now also at Wellington Zoo (imported this year, not yet on display).
     
  20. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    Wellington Zoo now has Jackson's chameleons (from Ti Point). Ti Point is the only other collection with them as far as I'm aware. The Parrot Ranch near Wellington did have them at one time (also from Ti Point) but they were no longer there when I visited in 2011.

    However I did just now (while googling) find out what happened to Auckland Zoo's colony:
    http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/file...surveillance/issue-33-3/surveillance-33-3.pdf (Sept 2006)
    I still don't know where the zoo's chameleons came from originally though.