Chapman's
Zebra
They have been called horses in striped pyjamas. Orana's
species are not considered endangered, however several
Zebra species are rare and one, the Quagga, is already
extinct.
Although
different species of Zebra have their own distinctive
markings, no two zebra within these groups are identical;
in fact their markings are unique and identifiable, like
human fingerprints.
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Rothschild's
Giraffes
Our
Rothschild's Giraffes are perhaps the most popular of all our animals. Male Rothschilds Giraffes
are easily identified because they possess three horns rather
than two found in the other eight subspecies.
Giraffes
have few enemies. They can run at up to 56 kph, sufficient
to outrun most predators. They live on average 20 to 28
years. |
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Wild
Dog
Once widely distributed throughout Africa, the Wild dog
is now one of the most endangered animals in that continent.
They
are also known as Cape Hunting Dogs and African Hunting
Dogs. They live a nomadic existence, a group typically being
4-10 adults. A captive breeding scheme for these animals
commenced in Australasia in the mid 1960s. |
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Cheetahs
These cats are another
Orana Park success story. Extremely threatened in the wild,
their survival may well depend upon the captive breeding schemes
and Orana Wildlife Park is part of the Global network dedicated
to their recovery. |
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Meerkats
Meerkats
are
highly sociable members of the mongoose family. They live
in large family groups of up to 30 animals and do most things
communally, including hunting, raising the young and taking
turns at guard duty. They have acute eyesight and a highly
developed sense of smell. |
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Lions
Orana
Wildlife Park Lions
are well known locally. Their roars can be heard for miles.
Lions are the only cats which live in social groups called
prides. In the wild a lion can live up to 15 years but in
captivity it may live for up to 25 years. |
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Southern
White Rhinoceros
At one time there were only around 30 left in the wild but
with the establishment of game reserves, anti-poaching patrols
and captive breeding programmes the outlook has improved
markedly.
Orana
Wildlife Park is part of an international White Rhino breeding
program. White Rhinos generally live together in small family
groups. Despite their size they can move quickly and speeds
up to 40 kph have been recorded.
Although
the Rhino's sight is poor, its hearing is excellent. Its
skin is mainly coarse and leathery, yet in the folds it
is as soft as chamois. |
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Sable
Antelope
These are
amongst the most elegant of African antelope. During the
breeding season, males with territories maintain harems
of 10 to 20 females.
Like
most of Africa's mega mammal fauna, Sable Antelope are threatened
by habitat loss and poaching. |
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Ringtailed
+ Black & White Ruffled Lemurs
Lemurs are
primitive primates, all of which are native to Madagascar.
Orana Wildlife Park has two species, the Ringtailed and
the Black and White Ruffled Lemurs.
Lemurs
have no real predators other than man, but are considered
endangered because of loss of habitat through forest clearing. |
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| Scimitar-horned
Oryx
These animals epitomise what the original trustees of Orana
Wildlife Park envisioned when they founded the Wildlife
Trust. Highly endangered, the Oryx have flourished under
favourable Canterbury conditions and have bred prolifically.
Offspring have been sent to many parts of the world to help
other breeding centres.
Early
explorer reports suggest that the population then numbered
in the hundreds of thousands. With the advent of modern
guns and off road vehicles they fell easy prey to hunters
and by the 1950's there were only a few thousand left. In
mid 1984 civil war in Chad eliminated the last of the wild
population.
Orana
Wildlife Park is part of a worldwide breeding programme.
Since 1978 Orana Wildlife Park has made a highly significant
contribution, with more than 50 animals bred. Orana Wildlife Park
was the first institution to breed Scimitar-horned Oryx
by artificial insemination. |
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Ostriches
Being the largest of the living birds, a male may stand
2.5 metres tall and control a harem of up to three females.
New
Zealanders can only look at the Ostriches, wonder if our
Moas were similar and remind ourselves that extinction is
forever. |
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Crested
Porcupine
The Park has three species of animal in the Kopje exhibits.
The Crested Porcupine is the largest and spiniest
of these rodents and are in no way related to the hedgehog.
These
animals can live up to 15 years of age and weigh up to 24
kgs. |
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Greek
Tortoise
Contrary
to its name is found in many places other than Greece. Highly
popular in Britian and elsewhere as a pet.
It
is a hardy and robust animal, found throughout the eastern
Mediterranean and into northern Africa. |
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Addra
Gazelle
Frequents habitat similar to, but slightly less marginal
than that occupied by the Oryx.
Addras
live in small herds of up to 15 animals. It is estimated
that fewer than 500 animals live in the wild, most of them
in a fauna reserve in central Chad. We have successfully
bred Addras at Orana Wildlife Park. |
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Eastern
Waterbuck
These are
found throughout most of Africa, usually in conjunction
with water.
They
are excellent swimmers and will take to water to avoid potential
danger. |
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Springbok
Gregarious creatures living in herds of up to 1500, forming
part of the huge mixed herds that migrate across the African
plains looking for fresh growth.
When
alarmed or excited, they will bound straight up into the
air reaching heights of up to 3.5 metres. |
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