2015 should be a big year for Orana Park - especially the scheduled arrival of NZ's first gorillas. The first news however is the birth of a male white rhino. Story here: New rhino at Christchurch zoo - news - the-press | Stuff.co.nz
Cheetah Cubs Orana Park has welcomed another litter of cheetah cubs, born November 2014 to Mazza. Mazza was born at Orana Park in 2009 and is also mother to males Boo and Lion, born in November 2013. The female cub of this litter, Nia, is the most valuable to the park as she will remain at the park, and continue their impressive lineage of breeding females: Malaika (1990) > Yatima (1997) > Kura (2004) > Mazza (2009) > Nia (2014) Photos: Orana?s cheetah cubs feisty on first outing | NZNews | 3 News
Article and video on the Gorilla enclosure. Orana Park gorilla enclosure almost open for business | NZNews | 3 News
primates need a 30 day pre-export quarantine period (i.e. in Australia) before coming to NZ, and then a 7 day post-import quarantine in NZ. I think they only went into quarantine in Australia about two weeks ago?
In definitely the biggest news for Orana this year (and for quite some time really), three male gorillas have arrived to form a bachelor group! This is the first time the species has been displayed in NZ. See thread here: http://www.zoochat.com/17/gorillas-arrive-new-zealand-419626/#post895409
Female giraffe Shira is on her way to Orana Wildlife Park from Auckland Zoo and will be followed by half sister Mdomo in early 2016. Head's up: Shira the giraffe is on its way to Timaru - Life & Style - NZ Herald News
a ruffed lemur was born in December. Photo from their Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/oranawildp...43045884689/10154443031774689/?type=3&theater