Auckland's original stock of Borneans(2.2) came from Europe, from memory at least two of them(Horst & ?) from Frankfurt Zoo who at the time wanted to focus on just their Sumatrans. Now it seems history repeats itself. Will Auckland retain the three Borneans they still have, alongside the incoming Sumatrans, or do they want to go out of them altogether?
I think they are still looking for new homes for the Borneans, but I don't know for sure. I guess they will be looking for a home for all three together, which might be a tough sell given Wanita is a hybrid. I suspect a redevelopment will require the Orangs to move out of that area at least. The changes there will likely be massive, with little remaining of the current exhibits and surrounds.
the four original Bornean Orangutans were male Horst and female Dara, both born at Frankfurt and imported to NZ in 1983; female Indra born at Rotterdam, imported in 1983; and male Charlie born at Singapore, imported in 1984. In 2001 Melur, Gangsa and Wanita came from Taronga Zoo, all three being females. Wanita is a hybrid, bred at Taronga. The other two are Borneans, and both were born in Hong Kong.
Exciting plant movements happening at Auckland Zoo! Plant relocations have been done for most of the recent large exhibits at the zoo, and are generally highly successful. Story here: Plants move in
I just noticed (a few posts ago on the zoo's Facebook page) that their female crested porcupine has died. The male has been moved out of the old kiwi house and is now in one of the meerkat enclosures (the meerkats have moved to a new enclosure).
Oh, that's unfortunate that the female has died. I hope they import more. I hope Nyack is also slated to move into the new Pridelands extension with the meerkats. I wonder what the plan now is for the old kiwi house and adjacent aviaries. I will check them out next month and see if anything is in there. I think that area could use a substantial overhaul, I'm still keen for a ring-tailed lemur exhibit to be built there.
The new Galapagos exhibit has opened at Auckland Zoo. It is a renovated version of the exisiting Galapagos tortoise exhibit, but with the grass largely replaced with a rocky surface, and a new, much larger, indoor hall, which is heated to 30 degrees C, with 80-90% humidity, year-round. This should provide better viewing during winter. Story (and video) here: Auckland Zoo's Galapagos tortoises in new and improved habitat | Stuff.co.nz
Auckland Zoo will be receiving a pair of lace monitors from Darling Downs Zoo bred at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo: Eagerly awaited little lizard has arrived | News Mail
Any idea if they have finally been able to assign their Galapagos tortoise to (former sub-)species level within the Chelonoidis complex?
That's shame. They were trying to breed them as well a few years back. I last visited in 2014 and really liked the Nocturnal Porcupine House. I thought it displayed them very well. They were never that inspiring in the meerkat enclosures.
I'm not sure if that would have been successful - last I heard Nyack was supposed to be infertile? all four tortoises were hatched at Honolulu Zoo, and they were imported to Auckland Zoo in 1983. The Stuff article is misleading - the tortoises have moved out of their previous enclosure which they had been in since 1996, but that wasn't the year when they arrived at the zoo.
oh, interesting. Nyack went from Wellington to Auckland in 2008 - he was swapped for Auckland Zoo's male because he was supposed to be infertile and so they were going to instead try breeding the Auckland male with the Wellington female (Onion). That female Onion (who died this year) later also went from Wellington to Auckland, in 2010. I think they are the only three porcupines Auckland has had in the 2000s.
