I visited Brooklands Zoo today, and theres a couple of minor updates, and of course the biggest animal news in the country this year (thus far): -The Asiatic Small-clawed Otter enclosure has been renovated, and given a somewhat beach-theme, with a broken dingy and painted pool. Compare before (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-asian-small-clawed-otter-200275/) and after (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-asiatic-otter-enclosure-267766/). -The Cotton-top Tamarin enclosure has a temporary stand-off barrier around it, with a sign saying the family need some quiet time, maybe for breeding? -And the big news: the Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys are on display in the old Ring-tailed Lemur exhibit, which has been greatly enlarged with a new indoor accommodation block built at one end (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-bolivian-squirrel-monkey-enclosure-267768/). The five males were energetic and great to watch (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-bolivian-squirrel-monkey-267767/). These are the first Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys to be displayed in NZ (at least in recent times).
Hi Zooboy28. The ones at Wellington Zoo have been on display for a while now, so the Brooklands ones would have been the second group to go on display
Well I hope the remaining baby does well, found an article here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6727775/Tamarin-baby-only-surviving-triplet
There hasn't been much news from this small zoo so far this year, the major items being: -Fire-bellied Newts joined the collection in April. -The otter enclosure was extended and a new window installed in April. -A capuchin was born on May 28, to three-time mother Dixie. -Their oldest capuchin turned 47 on June 10. -A male Eastern Blue-tongue Skink joined the collection in June. All news items taken from the zoo's facebook page.
New Species for Brooklands A Brolga from Auckland Zoo will be joining the Brooklands collection tomorrow. Brooklands will become the fourth NZ zoo holding this species, with Auckland maintaining a breeding pair, and surplus males also held at Wellington and Hamilton. Story here: New Species Comes to Brooklands Zoo
Mulloka the Brolga has arrived and apparently settled in to his new home at Brooklands Zoo. The most interesting point of this story is that the zoo expects a sibling to join him next year, which makes sense as there's little room anywhere else for another brolga. It would be nice if a zoo set up a small flock of this species, although I don't know how well that would work. Story here: No 'gidday mate' coming from this Aussie | Stuff.co.nz
The history of Charlie the Cockatoo at Brooklands, and plans for a new home for him. Story and photo here: Cockatoo Comes Out Of Hiding | Stuff.co.nz
Finally some news about Brooklands Zoo for 2014! As far as I can tell the zoo is ticking over nicely, with no developments though, possibly due to budget issues in the city council. I haven't visited this year, nor will I, but maybe I'll get back there next year. Anyway, actual news time: Brooklands Zoo is to recieve a female otter, Jem, from Wellington Zoo after Jem's mate was put to sleep. Jem will join Brooklands two otters (1.1).
article about the otter from Wellington: https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/local/25616237/third-otter-for-brooklands-zoo/
Hopefully this will be a more exciting year for Brooklands Zoo, after a very quiet 2014. One of the upcoming highlights will be a celebration of the zoo's opening, 50 years ago! In other news, Crystal (a capuchin), the zoo's oldest resident, turned 47 today: Full story here: Crystal reaches ripe old age of 47 | Stuff.co.nz
A new Capuchin has been born at Brooklands Zoo: Story here: Capuchin monkey born at Brooklands zoo | Stuff.co.nz
Sadly, the baby Capuchin has been euthanised after being injured in a fight. Story here: Sad Death at Brooklands Zoo
I visited Brooklands on 28 November, my first visit for almost three years. Not much has changed really, although it was looking very tidy. A number of small additions have been made, including some new elephant sculptures (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-elephant-sculptures-432782/) and signs about native plants and animals. The only new exhibit is one for the Zoo's Sulfur-crested Cockatoo, who is a long-term resident of Pukekura Park and previously (not recently) lived in a small cage in the kiosk. It is a small triangular enclosure with rope and perches for this bird that is unable to fly. He is only displayed here during the day, when the weather is good (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-cockatoo-exhibit-432781/). I have also put a photo of the Brolga exhibit in the gallery (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-brolga-enclosure-432780/), and one of a sign on that exhibit too (http://www.zoochat.com/990/brooklands-zoo-brolga-sign-432779/), which explains why the Zoo just have the one Brolga.
A recent news article about Brooklands Zoo. "Brooklands Zoo prepares animals for a chilly winter Just like humans can get colds, monkeys can too, so Brooklands Zoo has been preparing our primate cousins for the winter. Adapting their living areas and diets while in captivity is important to ensure they survive the colder months. Pukekura Park curator Chris Connolly said the general rule for getting the park and all the animals ready was making sure their sleeping areas were well heated. "It's not so much about changing things up too much, but about making warmer areas available" "That way they can sort of self manage their own temperature by moving to the UV lamp when they're cold." Connolly said the zoo staff also altered the animal's diet slightly in some cases to account for a seasonal change they would have in the wild. "Our three tamarin monkeys for example receive more vitamin C, because they get colds like humans do," he said. "The UV light is also there because they don't produce vitamin D, which they normally get from sunlight, on their own, which is good for their coats." With tamarins now critically endangered, keeping them happy and well enough to breed was a big concern for the zoo. Other animals such as the blue-tongued lizards, otters, six capuchin and five squirrel monkeys all received either heated dens, or UV lamps to ride out the winter. One blue-tongued lizard at the zoo, named Kaawa, received a 60 watt upgrade in his sun lamp for the winter as well as being allowed his UV light on all night. "We still offer him the same amount of food but he tends to eat less in winter anyway," Connolly said. The two short-clawed South China otters the zoo houses also received a UV lamp as well as some extra straw to cuddle up in for those extra cold nights. "Although the otters weren't born in China, they were born here, we still need the option for them if they do get cold." "Mostly though they just use it in the morning or huddle up together." link to full article here Brooklands Zoo prepares animals for a chilly winter | Stuff.co.nz I have only been to Brooklands Zoo once as an adult, about 5 years ago. It is located in Pukekura Park and is run by the local Council. Free Entry. It is a nice little Zoo. I recall going there several times as a child, and seeing several Chimps in a barren concrete cage. (this was in the early 1970's.) Does anyone know where these chimps originated or what happened to them?
It is wet and cold today, so I have been doing some internet searching on Brooklands Zoo and found some more news about this little known zoo. Animal Welfare Accreditation for Brooklands Zoo Wed 29 Jun 2016 Brooklands Zoo’s high standard of care for its animals has been confirmed with a new accreditation. The zoo is one of a handful in the country to complete the Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (ZAA) Animal Welfare Accreditation Programme, which takes a new approach to the health and welfare of captive animals. Says Brooklands Zoo Coordinator Eve Cozzi: “We still work on the broad principles of good welfare, such as making sure the animals can choose their food, move around and express their natural behaviours. “But this new accreditation builds on those principles by delivering positive welfare outcomes based on five welfare domains: nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental affective state. “The accreditation is quite detailed and I’m proud that Brooklands Zoo has been confirmed as meeting that high standard of care.” Among the accreditation notes were particular praise for the variety of environments provided to the animals and how they have choice over microclimates (e.g. sun or shade, being at height or on the ground) and their diet. ZAA New Zealand Representative and Immediate Past-President Karen Fifield says with a focus on delivering positive animal welfare rather than just eliminating negative factors, the new accreditation programme is a world first for the zoo industry. “The wider community can be certain that ZAA member institutions provide the best level of care for their animals, not just a minimum standard,” she says. Brooklands Zoo’s accreditation lasts for three years. •ZAA represents the zoo and aquarium community throughout Australasia. The association has 91 member organisations, 86 of which are zoos, aquariums and museums, with the remainder comprising universities, TAFEs (technical and further education institutions) and government departments. Link to article here Animal Welfare Accreditation for Brooklands Zoo Well done to the team at the zoo.
