Franklin Zoo Review 2011 » Franklin Zoo

Franklin Zoo Review 2011
20-06-2012

I visited solo on a very sunny day late last year (11/11/11), and didn’t get around to writing up a review until now. I realise a lot has happened since this time, but I've basically just ignored all that in this write up.

There is a relatively new entrance area now, which is further down the road, and means visitors no longer park in what is essentially the middle of the zoo. I entered one half of a large shed, which has a reception desk, some food and typical zoo souvenirs, and several herp terrariums, featuring Blue-tongue Skink, Eastern Water Dragon and African Clawed Frogs. There was also a cage with a young conure in it. The walls were plastered with newspaper articles, mostly relating to Mila and her progress. Entry was $12, I can’t remember if this was with a student discount or not. So quite steep really. The other half of this shed was an auditorium, but this was shut.

From the shed, turning left took me to the lion enclosure. This was essentially a mesh cage, with several wooden platforms at different levels, with the elderly, ex-circus, Lioness asleep on the barked-floor (Lion Cage - Franklin Zoo). It appears as though several such cages have been joined together, so she had plenty of room, especially with the very large adjacent paddock at the back, with long grass and flaxes, although this was not visible from the front (Lion Enclosure - Franklin Zoo).

Along the lion cage, a path lead down, past an aviary for Short- and Long-billed Corellas, and one for a pair of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and a group of Galahs (Cockatoo Aviary - Franklin Zoo). At the end was a spacious and lush mesh cage for the two Bobcats, which used to live at Hamilton Zoo, as did their signage (Bobcat Cage - Franklin Zoo). These are a nine-year old pair of litter mates, male and female, with the male vasectomised (Bobcat - Franklin Zoo). This exhibit comprised the top edge of a picnic area, bordered to the left by the lion paddock and to the bottom by open farmland.

The right-hand edge provided views into the African Elephant paddock, home to ex-circus female elephant Mila. I was very impressed with this enclosure, which has a wooden stand-off barrier and then large posts approx. 1.5m apart with cables on the outside, mesh on the inside, and electric wires along the top and inside (Elephant Paddock - Franklin Zoo). Inside, the sloping paddock was still well-grassed, although there was a worn trail along the fence line. A line of (I think hot-wired) trees ran down the centre of the exhibit, giving shade from the sun. There was a large, red, corrugated iron barn at the top of the paddock (Elephant Barn - Franklin Zoo), which had several doors open to provide air-flow (metal poles encircle the central area of the barn, preventing Mila reaching the sides of the barn, or any open doors). The main paddock is seperated from the barn by a small pen (Elephant Pen - Franklin Zoo).

Heading back up the hill was a smaller aviary with Lovebirds, and then a large cage for the lone female Pig-tail Macaque, which backed onto the elephant barn (Macaque Cage - Franklin Zoo). This was a very good exhibit, with much enrichment and vegetation. An L-shaped block of cages bordered the path around the macaque cage, this housed Kea, Ring-tailed Lemur and Cotton-top Tamarin (Tamarin Enclosure - Franklin Zoo). The path then opened out into the centre of the zoo, a large metalled area, which used to be the carpark.

At the other corner of the carpark was an aviary, with many Red-eared Sliders (previously an otter exhibit), then another two aviaries bordered a path heading away from the carpark, the first with Sun Conures and Luzon Bleeding-heart Dove, and the second with more conures and Swinhoe’s Pheasant. From here, the path lead through the South American monkey cages (Monkey Cages - Franklin Zoo), which featured a house and small cage on the right, and an overhead tunnel leading to a larger cage on the left. The first cage housed a male Spider Monkey, while the second held a group of Capuchins. The final cage in the row was a large and tall one on the right, which held more Cotton-top Tamarins.

From here, the path continued straight, with a paddock for two female Zebra (one who was very friendly and came up for a pat - Zebra - Franklin Zoo) and several Emu on the left, followed by one for Red Deer. Past these was a small, dark aviary for native birds: Morepork and Wood Pigeon (Native Aviary - Franklin Zoo). The path used to continue on down to the waterfowl lakes, but this has now been blocked off, with a sign stating that this area was going to be redeveloped as a walkthrough lemur enclosure.

Doubling back, a second path lead up from the tamarins, past a cage with Finnish Giant Rabbits, this must have been built for monkeys or perhaps large parrots, followed by more aviaries on the right, with the end one also housing Agouti. The aviaries held Alexandrine and Indian Ring-necked Parakeets (Aviaries - Franklin Zoo). Opposite the first aviary was another large monkey cage, this one holding more capuchins. Next to this was a lush paddock containing the Brolga and Tammar Wallaby (Brolga & Wallaby Exhibit - Franklin Zoo). The path then turned back towards the carpark, with a paddock for domestics, featuring Goats, Ducks and a Donkey, on the left. And next to this was a nice looking, again lush, exhibit for Asiatic Small-clawed Otters, although this appeared empty (Otter Enclosure - Franklin Zoo). And finally, next to this, was a long, narrow aviary for Australian species, with Diamond Dove and Snake-necked Turtles (Australian Aviary - Franklin Zoo). Opposite this, back next to the agouti enclosure, is a large building, which I think was originally a glasshouse, and which I think used to be open to the public as I have a feeling I have been in there, but it was all shut up now.

On the opposite side of the carpark was a shady picnic area, with a few small free-standing cages, holding rabbits, sliders and parakeets, with the far edge having a long aviary, with Mandarin Duck, Golden Pheasant, Superb Parrot, Musk & Rainbow Lorikeet. This was quite nice. The path then continues around the side, past a weta motel, back to the main entrance.

Overall, the exhibits were perfectly suitable for their inhabitants, most had plenty of space and were well vegetated. The best was probably the otter enclosure, although the tamarin enclosures were also excellent. The worst was probably the native bird aviary, as this was quite dark and low (although perhaps the birds were ex-rescue and couldn’t fly much anyway). Most cages were mesh, and many looked like they had been patched many times. In addition to the species listed above, there were also free-ranging pigeons, peafowl, chickens, ducks, geese and Guineafowl.

Once I had been around the zoo twice, I headed back to the entrance, and had a chat to one of the volunteers in the reception. She was very friendly, and reasonably knowledgeable, and had much to say about Mila’s improvements and future plans, which she certainly thought was an American sanctuary.

So overall, pretty much what you would expect: a private zoo with a limited budget, exhibiting domestics and a few phase-out, surplus or behaviourally-unsuitable animals, much the same as New Zealand’s other private zoos in non-tourist areas: Pouakai, Natureland, etc.

Below is a PDF of the Zoo’s map from 2006. No map was available when I visited, despite the quite drastic changes that have occurred since 06. Animals no longer in the collection include Chacma Baboons, Serval, Possum, Hawk, Llama, Swan, Cape Barren Goose, Pukeko and Quaker Parrots.

Attached Files

Franklin Zoo Map.pdf (413.6 KB, 15 views)

20-06-2012

Thanks for typing up this informative review. It is great to see someone take the time to discuss this little-known facility.

21-06-2012

I also visited November last year. Highlights for me were patting the Zebra and the friendly Kereru who kept following us along the cage.

21-06-2012

I don't think $12 is steep, in fact it seems remarkably cheap to see a collection of exotics in NZ, including an elephant! For comparison, Willowbank is $25 and doesn't have to feed an elephant or a lion.

21-06-2012

I understand that, being a privately-run organisation, Franklin Zoo has to cover most of its costs from admissions, however other (much bigger) zoos charge comparable amounts:

Auckland Zoo: $18 Student (was $14 pre-Te Wao Nui).
Hamilton Zoo: $12 Student.
Wellington Zoo: $15 Student.

Pouakai Zoo, the most similar zoo in NZ, with no elephant but a larger number of ungulates and birds, plus six primate species, bobcats, lions and tigers charged $12 for an adult on my last visit (2010).

So I certainly wouldn't call Franklin Zoo cheap, although its certainly not as expensive as those parks aimed more at tourists.

21-06-2012

well we'll agree to disagree on whether it's cheap or expensive. I think there's a difference in whether one comes from a southern or northern perspective. Adult prices in the south include Willowbank at $25, Orana at $25 and (in the middle) Wellington at $20, whereas heading into the north (where there are more people) you've got Hamilton at $16 and Auckland at $22. So to me Franklin and Pouakai are cheap at $12.

21-06-2012

Yes, maybe there is a difference in perspectives. Although I would also base 'value' on the amount of time I could spend at the zoo. Franklin & Pouakai (and maybe Willowbank?) can be well-visited in less than 2 hours, whereas the Big Four are pretty much full day zoos.

But I am happy to agree to disagree

21-06-2012

I wouldn't say Wellington is a full day. I went there last year with a friend and she pretty much read every sign there and we looked at every animal and we watched one of the shows with the serval, otter and birds, and we were there for little more than two hours. It really isn't a big zoo any more.

Willowbank is more akin to Franklin and Pouakai I guess but although its fairly small there is a surprising amount to see. You could probably spend half a day there. Even when I intend on just popping in and out quickly to get some photos I usually end up staying for up to a couple of hours.

I think in the end the concept of whether a zoo is expensive or cheap is an entirely subjective one, and it is also skewed by prior expectations and prior experiences at other (larger or smaller) zoos. Perhaps the best way of looking at it is to compare the cost to that of some other leisure activity such as the price for going to the movies (and to me, the zoo whatever the price would be the preferable option ).