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New Zealand broke away from the ancient super continent landmass known as Gondwanaland at an early stage and carried with it a unique range of birds, reptiles and amphibians which evolved in isolation for millions of years. As far as we know, no terrestrial mammals (apart from bats) made the journey. Free from competition (apart from each other), these animals evolved in unusual directions. The New Zealand forest floor was inhabited not by small, furry animals but by frogs, ground crickets (wetas), reptiles and various bird species, many of them flightless. High percentages of New Zealand’s animals and plants are endemic – they are only found in New Zealand. Most of our native fauna face environmental problems, including introduced mammalian predators, competition for their food, and the destruction of their habitat. Breeding sanctuaries, such as Orana Wildlife Park, provide a venue where the pub-lic can view New Zealand’s diminishing native fauna and hopefully become engaged in assisting conservation efforts.
Orana Wildlife Park has a comprehensive native fauna collection enabling you to see many of New Zealand’s unique native treasures.
New Zealand Native Animals at Orana Wildlife Park
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Free ranging native animals
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New Zealand
