Otago Museum's "Tropical Forest" » Discovery World Tropical Forest

Otago Museum's "Tropical Forest"
09-01-2008

Otago Museum's "Discovery World, Tropical Forest" opened in November 2007, and I went down to see it in December, so I thought I'd just post a bit about it. Compared to some of the overseas ones its not spectacular but it is one of the two largest in NZ. I didn't actually get a lot of time to look around because I was talking for about two hours to Scott Kerr who set it up (he'd been through "my" Aquarium a few times getting advice in preparation); so I basically ran round for ten minutes taking photos before we had to go. My girlfriend had lots of time to herself though! The house is about 12.5 metres high (three stories). I'd variously heard that it's the largest butterfly house in NZ, Australasia, or the Southern Hemisphere (its one of those Chinese whispers things). Scott said he'd compared the size with Butterfly Creek in Auckland and the area is about the same, but the Otago one is much higher. I also asked him about what I'd heard about them not being allowed to breed the butterflies, instead having to import them all as chrysalises. Turns out they are allowed to breed them so long as its not in the public area, but they really can't feasibly do it because of the amount of food-plants they would need. So while they do have a few caterpillars on show, basically all the chrysalises are imported from the Phillipines and Costa Rica (and the butterflies only live for a few days to a few weeks, depending on species, so you can imagine the continual stream of imports that would be needed). The chrysalises are on display in a glass-fronted cabinet so you can watch the butterflies emerging. They have around 1000 butterflies and moths of 60 species.

Apart for the butterflies there are also three tarantula tanks, a pool for goldfish and red-eared turtles, and zebra finches and quail. He only has goldfish because the pool loses all its heat into the ground (I suggested he gets a pond heater for it so he can have more interesting fish; he doesn't appear to have actually considered this before). He'd also like to get more exotic birds and some reptiles, including having free-range Madagascar day geckoes which I tried to dissuade him from (they wouldn't last more than a couple of days before leaving in some dishonest person's bag).

The house isn't funded by the council as the Museum itself is, so it has to pay its own way (entry $9.50). After three years they're going to review its performance and if it isn't doing well its going to be terminated. Hopefully that won't happen. Eighty percent of the museum's visitors are locals which is why they are trying to keep the price low to encourage return visits, but I suspect there will be an increase in tourist numbers just to see the butterflies. Totally recommend a visit if you're in Dunedin.

09-01-2008

looks beautiful...bit of a waste for just zebra finches

09-01-2008

Yeah should be crimson finches and some Parrot FInches

09-01-2008

lol, he started with gouldians and they died (I reckon it'd be too humid for them). He's thinking about parrot-finches next. I suggested orange-breasted waxbills and cordon-bleus (all of these are available to NZ aviculturists). He's got some grand ideas like hummingbirds but I don't think they're that feasible with NZ's biosecurity issues.

12-01-2008

Looks pretty fab...

You said its the second biggest tropical house in NZ... Where's the largest..?

13-01-2008

Butterfly Creek in Auckland is the other comparably-sized one. It has an eleven foot African cichlid tank!

13-01-2008

I'll have to head out there soon... I've driven past it but not even considered it (butterfly's not really my thing)...

13-01-2008

got any photos of the cichlid tank?

13-01-2008

you read my mind boof, is it Malawi or Taganyikan? or just a mix

found my own answer Attractions Butterfly Creek

I wanna move to NZ now with all the animals you can keep! I dont like snakes anyway!

14-01-2008

correction -- its an eleven METRE tank, not eleven feet! I haven't actually been there yet, but there's a pic of it here:

Butterfly Creek - African Tank? - Aquarium Forum New Zealand

4 Weeks Ago

orange breasted waxbills and cordon bleu's are also comparatively dry climate species species. strawberries, javas, nuns or some parrotfinches would likely work better.

4 Weeks Ago

Quite true, and all of those are available in NZ. I think red-headed or blue-faced parrotfinches would be ideal. Funnily enough the nearby Dunedin Botanic Gardens has a great aviary complex with a number of finches of various species that could be used in the Buttterfly House. I just revisited a few days ago. The only birds in there appear to now be Chinese painted quail (king quail to Australians).

There are no very large moths or butterflies anymore, only smaller varieties and all the chrysalises are also of smaller species; not sure why, maybe they aren't allowed to import the larger moths any more.

The little turtle pool has become overcrowded with too many individuals.

There is now a pair of Madagascar day geckos loose in the house as well and so far they haven't been stolen, although I still think its risky. I couldn't find out anything reliable on the geckos as unfortunately the guy I was talking to didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Apparently they have bred once but they haven't seen the babies again ("they probably got eaten by the male, because that's what male geckos do")

4 Weeks Ago

its often mentioned how draconian NZ's biosecurity laws, even compared to australias - yet to me they seem pretty relaxed.

to be able to import a range of live exotic insects seems pretty risky to me. as does having day gockoes and red-eared sliders (which are a very potential risk) unsecured in the facility.

unlike australia, i understand that there are a number of exotic reptiles that can be kept legally in new zealand - but i was pretty sure day geckoes were not amongst them..

4 Weeks Ago

I went here last year, pretty impressive. From what I've seen the numbers that go through there are sufficent to keep it going in 2011, when tourist numbers (should) spike.

4 Weeks Ago

if you talk to private pet keepers then NZ biosecurity laws are extreme to the max, but if you talk to those of an environmentalist bent then the laws aren't strict enough. (I sit somewhere in the middle )

I was surprised originally that live butterflies and moths would be permitted to be continuously imported. If it makes any difference (which it doesn't really) then they are only brought in as chrysalises, and they couldn't survive outside even in a Dunedin summer.

Red-eared turtles are two-a-penny in NZ so its much the same as having a few pet mice in a public exhibit. And even if they did get out of the building (under their own steam) then they're in the middle of the city and couldn't get anywhere anyway.

The day geckos can only be kept by zoos and not by private keepers (which is why I was concerned they would soon be stolen). There is always a person stationed within the butterfly house to talk to the public, so this goes some way to dissuading theft. There are quite a few reptile species that can be kept privately in NZ (the most common being several turtle and tortoise spp, blue-tongue skinks, water dragons and bearded dragons). There are also many illegal species around, including iguanas and monitors. Zoos have a few other species including chameleons which private owners cannot have.