This is an interesting change from the usual 'cute and fluffy' animal encounters most zoos seem to offer. Wellington Zoo have introduced a new animal experience for visitors that involves going behind the scenes at Hero HQ and meeting some of their invertebrates. Full article: Wellington Zoo launches new Behind the Scenes experience - Australasian Leisure Management
Upgrade to the Giraffe Exhibit: The giraffes of Wellington Zoo are being treated to a revamped enclosure and some new facilities, which will improve their quality of care and give better access to the public. The 4000sqm enclosure received earthworks to increase the usable space, and a new barrier installed which allowed more than one giraffe at a time to put their heads over the top and interact with people. Because of this, close encounters for the public were about to get a lot more interesting. More details in article: Giraffes at Wellington Zoo get new facilities for health checks and close encounters I’m looking forward to the improvements to the public encounters, always a highlight of a visit to Wellington Zoo; as well as the increased space as the commence breeding in the next couple of years. By that time, it’ll be almost two decades since their last giraffe calf (Zahara) was born.
Wellington Zoo have opened a new exhibit for Wellington Green Gecko right next to Hero HQ (their main reptile/invertebrate building): Log into Facebook | Facebook
When I see how so few zoos in New Zealand can do so much for conservation compare to what are doing french zoos I am so sad... Well done New Zealand ! The same for Australian zoos. And thank you @WhistlingKite24 for all the interesting infos you give
That's nice. I will try and go either this or next weekend and photograph it (their article says that this weekend they are doing kids' activities there, so maybe I'll wait in order to avoid that...)
I did end up going this morning. The new exhibit is rather smaller than I had anticipated but it is nice enough, although it suffers from the same reflection problems as the Hero HQ building. In the photo below I placed my camera lens cap next to the enclosure (at bottom left) so a scale could be determined. There are two geckoes on display, one in each enclosure. I only saw the one in the left-hand enclosure. It was quite active but wouldn't place itself in full view on the plants for a perfect photo. I've put two photos in the gallery, one of the gecko amongst the plants and one of the gecko climbing on the mesh between the two halves of the enclosure.
Opening of native reptile breedingfacility : Wellington Zoo opens new native reptile breeding facility
From the article: "There are 23 reptiles in the facility now, and five different species, including four Wellington green geckos, some Auckland green geckos, Forest geckos, Duvaucel's geckos, and Tuatara."
Wellington Zoo have announced the arrival of 1.0 Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur called Kamory. He has been introduced to their other lemur, Ankari following the death of Lucky, a 24-year-old male a few weeks ago. The lemurs are now on-display as of today. Log into Facebook | Facebook
I assume this male came from Australia? These were the Black and white ruffed lemur at Hamilton Zoo at the start of this year and Kamory wasn’t among them: 1.0 Mikaly (2008) 1.0 Ankoto (2012) 1.0 Sambava (2012) 1.0 Vazimba (2016) Sambava x Ayana 0.1 Ayana (2010) 0.1 Vezo (2016) Sambava x Ayana
Yes, Kamory was transferred from the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra. Like the new ruffed lemurs at Melbourne, he came from one of their recent litters.
