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Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2022

Discussion in 'New Zealand' started by Zoofan15, 1 Jan 2022.

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  1. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    That’s a great idea. The zoo were looking at importing flamingo eggs a while back, not sure where they’re currently at with that. Edit: that was a document from 1999 (before the 2001 live import).

    Some bloodlines are going to become quite dominant in the flock. Richard, Richard’s dad, sons of Richard etc. Cheviot has sired a few as well, with his offspring also breeding. As mentioned, the zoo bred chicks have been quite productive!
     
  2. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Since the zoo has phased out elephants,sea lions and hippos they might as well focus on this species which no one else in the region has.
     
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  3. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Exactly. If they can build this flamingo aviary then they can easily accomodate the 40 plus flamingos needed for optimum breeding.

    It’s a miracle they’ve achieved what they have to date with a starting base of 16 surviving founders.

    They’re the first zoo in the world to breed from an entirely hand raised flock - and the flamingos are even rearing their own chicks.
     
  4. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    They have done an awesome job if they make a bigger breeding flock perhaps they can start a few other flock’s within the region
     
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  5. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    That could be a good way to streamline the gene pool with over represented individuals split off into smaller flocks to send to other zoos, with Auckland remaining the central breeding hub.

    It’ll be interesting to see once they hit 40, if it prompts previously unproven or poorly performing founders to enter the game. It might be just the encouragement they need.
     
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  6. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    It would be even better if another zoo within the region started a second unrelated flock
     
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  7. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Would be nice if they would focus just on the sub Antarctic fur seals and rare penguins that occur locally in the (sub-) Antarctic. It would allow them to pay attention to looking after native wildlife species (and species other zoos would never have). Allthough, I would like to make the case for some other Kiwi and Aussie collections on southern sea front to do the same.
     
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  8. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    It would have been good if Auckland Zoo established a breeding colony of either Sub Antarctic or New Zealand fur seals as both are held in small numbers in Australian facilities and they would have benefited from the pups Auckland could have bred. The zoo stated when they had six pinnipeds that they were at capacity and wouldn’t breed, so it’s disappointing they’ve allowed their numbers to dwindle and are now phasing them out.

    The Fiordland crested penguin is one of New Zealand’s rarest penguins. It’d be nice to see a colony established at Auckland Zoo from unreleasable birds. Taronga and Melbourne have small colonies, with the birds being an infrequent acquisition.
     
  9. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  10. Zorro

    Zorro Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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  11. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    The staff mentioned on my visit that a third fertile egg was being incubated. This would have hatched by now, so hopefully there’s a third announcement in the coming weeks. The zoo prefers to announce hatchings once the chicks have made it through the first month (when the mortality rate is at its highest).
     
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  12. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Galapagos giant tortoise update:

    The four eldest hatchlings turned one years old today. A significant milestone for the zoo, given the previous hatchling (Pinta) died at four months of age.

    The zoo shared this update today via social media:

    Since they hatched, they’ve increased in length by around 1-3cms and in weight by between 135-150 grams per tortoise.

    Ectotherm keeper Sonja says, “they are very self-sufficient as most ectotherms are and like to use their pool for cooling off (thermoregulation) and drinking. We also bathe the hatchlings twice a week to make sure they stay hydrated. They are very good at eating their hay as well as special treats like this watermelon.”

    As you know, these tortoises have a sibling that hatched in November, and is currently being cared for in a special back of house facility.
     
  13. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    American alligator update:

    Auckland Zoo currently has two female American alligator (and has done for some time). I thought people might appreciate confirmation as to the fates of the others from my visit this month.

    0.1 Dixie is still at Auckland Zoo (large exhibit)
    0.1 Tallulah is still at Auckland Zoo (small exhibit)

    0.1 Doris was sent away for breeding. I believe the keeper said “up north” which would refer to Ti Point; however last I heard, only Butterfly Creek had males - I will follow up.

    0.1 Dakota was sent to Ti Point Reptile Park.

    0.1 Georgia died a few years ago. Her skeleton now lies in this box on the tropics boardwalk:

     
  14. Matt_C

    Matt_C Well-Known Member

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    When we visited Butterfly creek earlier in the year there was one alligator in an enclosure within the butterfly House, and two alligators near the dinosaur animatronics in a nice big pool.
     
  15. Abbey

    Abbey Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the update! I named Dakota in the naming competition when these alligators first arrived, so interesting to hear where they've all ended up.
     
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  16. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    The tortoise hatchlings have finally been named.

    The four eldest hatchlings (now a year old) have been named; Apple, Isabela, Guava and Darwin.

    A fifth hatchling (currently three months old) has been named Fernandina.
     
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  17. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I’m glad they finally have names, but is this the best they could come up with? Apple sounds like a name borrowed from Australia Zoo’s naming catalogue and Guava is considered an invasive weed in the Galapagos:

    In the Galapagos islands, this is exemplified by the introduced guava (Psidium guajava), considered one of the greatest threats to the local biodiversity due to its effective spread in the archipelago and its ability to outcompete endemic species.

    https://journals.plos.org/plosone/articleid=10.1371/journal.pone.0203737

     
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  18. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Elephant Export Update

    Anjalee will be sent to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in early March.

    Burma will be sent to Australia Zoo in late April.
     
  19. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    That is almost settled then. What next for the freed up space?
     
  20. StoppableSan

    StoppableSan Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    A new exhibit for.... southern white rhinos. A species the zoo already has.
     
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