Orana Wildlife Park have successfully hatched 14 Orange-fronted Kakarikis (four more eggs are due to hatch as well): Log into Facebook | Facebook
A Kea has arrived from South Island Wildlife Hospital who was deemed unreleasable due to car-related injuries. The female will slowly be introduced to Orana’s three other parrots: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Awful news. Mahali the Western Lowland Gorilla has died. This leaves New Zealand’s gorillas with only two males at Orana: Orana Wildlife Park
New species for Orana! They have acquired Nyala from Wellington Zoo. From their Fb page: Edit: Further information about the new additions. They received 5 (2.3) Nyala and they are aged between 1 to 4. The females are currently on display while the young males are currently off show. They will be a breeding herd: New arrivals at Orana Wildlife Park
Nyala seem common now in NZ collections. I wonder how long before any further imports to Australian zoos happen, They might run out of zoos over there to hold them.
Asian Small-clawed Otters have returned to Orana Wildlife Park. Five males were transferred from Perth Zoo: Five otter brothers the newest stars at Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park
Today Orana Wildlife Park commenced construction on their 1.4 million dollar White Rhino Conservation Centre which will lead the importation of 35 white rhinos into the Australasian region in conjunction with the Australian Rhino Project. Further details are below: "As New Zealand’s only open range zoo, Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch is a key player in a major global effort to help save rhinos from extinction. We have partnered with two Australian open range zoos and a charity called The Australian Rhino Project (TARP) to expand the managed rhino breeding population in Australia and NZ. This will involve transferring approximately 35 animals from Africa to maintain a genetically diverse insurance population in our safe countries (NZ and Australia). Orana Wildlife Park will construct a $1.4M White Rhino Conservation Centre that will house and breed more rhinos in Christchurch and quarantine (for up to 1 year) all animals from Africa destined for our Australian partners. Some rhinos from each import will remain at Orana to build the genetic diversity of our herd." Log into Facebook | Facebook Edit: This article provides more details. They hope to complete the development by December and the first lot of rhinos will arrive March/April 2022: Christchurch wildlife park to become quarantine facility for at-risk white rhinos
@Kifaru Bwana The first numbers quoted for Australia were 80+. It appears the numbers keep dropping . Dont expect any rush here,LOL. I believe the importation ball was only started in 2013. As for Black rhino
The zoo’s three pairs of North Island brown kiwi each laid an egg. The eggs have been candled for fertility.
Springbok Update: Orana haven't publicly mentioned much about Australasia's only Springboks recently so I contacted the zoo. They currently have six individuals - two males and four females. They are still aiming to breed them apparently. Their last couple of Springbok births have included two offspring in late 2016 and one in December 2018.
Thats quite interesting to hear so heres my take on it. The have an interest in breeding them and have the only group/animals in the whole region, So since Nyala have been imported from South Africa in resent times why cant they import a shipment of Springbok and add to the herd they have now?. I am certain other zoos within our region with African exhibits would also love to have them among the species they display currently, Perhaps a better fit even than having Indian Blackbuck roaming among the Giraffe and Zebras?
A North Island Brown Kiwi has hatched at Orana. From their social media: "Check out Orana’s cutest new addition! This wee bundle of joy is only a week old but has already stolen our hearts We are extremely proud to do our part for this precious national icon by participating in the captive component of the Kiwi Recovery Programme. Adorable kiwi chicks that hatch at Orana go on to be transferred to other captive facilities or, in some cases, are even released to the wild. This wee chick is currently off display resting but you can still visit our kiwi pair, Sonic and Maru, in our nocturnal kiwi house."
Their first giraffe calf in eight years. A giraffe was born at Orana today. Unfortunately it's bittersweet occasion as the calf's sire Mabuti - a male from Monarto - died recently. From their social media: "We’re delighted to announce that a beautiful giraffe calf was born this afternoon!! Sadly, it is a bitter sweet situation as our male Mabuti died earlier this week. His legacy lives on in this precious little calf. Mum Shira is proving to be a great first time mother."
A few newsy bits and pieces from Orana that haven’t yet been mentioned throughout the year - the zoo hatched a combined total of 50+ Blue Ducks and Orange-fronted Kakarikis, the native walkthrough aviary received a refurbishment, Central Bearded Dragons were added and construction continues on the $1.4 million rhino centre: Log into Facebook | Facebook
