First news of 2015 is actually from 2014! Story & Photos here: Twin pygmy marmosets born at Wellington Zoo | Stuff.co.nz
Another Nyala has been born at Wellington Zoo, as reported on their Facebook page. * despite being the only ones in Australasia...
An article on the newborn nyala, which also notes that Wellington will be recieving five otters from Perth this year - wonder where they will be displayed? Story here: Baby antelope takes to Wellington zoo's savannah | Stuff.co.nz
Amy the Red Panda was euthanized today due to ongoing health problems. Amy produced two offspring Sir Ed and and Manasa. Son Manasa and mate Ishah still live at the Zoo. Wellington Zoo saddened by passing of Amy the Red Panda | Scoop News
I never realised Amy (1999) was as old as that. She was only slightly younger than the previous breeding pair, Jay and Reka, who were born in 1995 and euthanised in 2014. Amy's age could explain her limited breeding success (two cubs) in comparison to the success of the younger females: Maya (Auckland), Reka (Wellington), Tayla (Hamilton) and Bo (Auckland). Perhaps Wellington will import one of Hamilton Zoo's female twins (2014) to breed with Ishah (2002) or Manasa (2010)?
Comings and goings: Just posted onto the Hamilton Zoo Facebook page: One Red Panda in, one Chimpanzee out! Moves and grooves: Today we say farewell to red panda Khusi who travels to her new home at Wellington Zoo. On the return journey however will be Chima the chimpanzee to join our troop! Chimps and keepers very excited!
I was just having a look on the zoo's Facebook page, and they have (the post was from 30th March) two Fiordland Crested Penguins and six Yellow-eyed Penguins in for treatment. The Fiordlands were viewable to visitors as they were in the hospital's saltwater pool; the Yellow-eyeds were not viewable. The female one named Gari is the same one reported by zooboy28 in last year's news thread (in December), although at that time she was thought to be male and had the name Gary.
5.0 Asian short clawed otters have arrived from Perth Zoo: ?Otterly? adorable newcomers at Wellington Zoo | Scoop News
The perils of modern technology - mobile phones disturb kiwi. Full story here: Nocturnal Kiwis at Wellington Zoo scared by flashlight | Stuff.co.nz
in the latest email newsletter there is a bit which says that Meet The Locals (the new New Zealand area) will be opening on 24 October, so not long now.
That will be good, it has been a long time coming. The newsletter showed a photo of penguins, indicating that they are probably moving up there, leaving their exhibit empty, I think Kea were moving up there too, leaving an empty aviary. Wonder what they will do with those? Thinking back to the original plan which I vaguely remember, MtL was to include just a standard walkthrough forest aviary, a kea aviary, penguin exhibit, some lizards and some farm animals or deer (in addition to the pre-existing Roost). Has that changed at all? Rehab fur seals would be an exciting addition, but expensive and unlikely. I'll be in Wellington in late November so will be very keen to check out this development (and Neighbours) when I'm there.
the kune kune in the old peccary enclosure were supposed to be going over there as well, so the only animals left at the entrance will be the otters. Will be interesting to see what will happen there now.
The Black and White sleepy bears are back on the agenda again: Wellington City Council is trying to move along the idea of acquiring giant pandas for the city's zoo. Deputy Mayor Justin Lester says the Government has driven the panda initiative in the past and wrote to the council in 2011 to seek their interest. "The Christchurch earthquakes stalled further traction at the time, but it's worthwhile looking at it again now," he said. Mr Lester, who chairs the governance, finance and planning committee, says he's putting forward a proposal for the council to invest in a business case, as part of the annual plan, to investigate the financial viability of the project. "I think Wellingtonians would love to have pandas at the zoo. There would be considerable conservation and economic benefits to Wellington," he said. "We do know that Wellington has a suitable climate for pandas and also for growing their food source, bamboo. "Wellington Zoo also has the staff knowledge to manage giant pandas." There are about 1600 giant pandas left in the wild and 300 in zoos and breeding centres, mostly in China. It would cost $10 million to create a home for the pandas at the zoo and $1.3 million a year to lease a pair from China, stuff.co.nz reports. A pair of giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo increased visitor numbers by 70 percent but reportedly left the zoo with debt to manage. Wellington City Council pushes for pandas at the zoo | NZNews | 3 News
I've just cross-posted this onto the Giant Panda thread: http://www.zoochat.com/17/pandas-new-zealand-157277/index3.html
to advertise this, the zoo's Facebook has changed their cover picture to this: https://www.facebook.com/WgtnZoo/ph...73172638461/10153396483458462/?type=3&theater Only one comment so far, from someone who seems as bemused as I am: "What does this mean?"
I've been pondering that picture for about 20 minutes now, and I have no idea what it is supposed to mean. How odd.