22 December 2009
"Piwi" the Kiwi a 'Miracle' Chick
A nine day old Kiwi chick was assist-hatched at Orana Wildlife Park last week.
Orana Wildlife Park staff received the perfect early Christmas present nine days ago - the first successful Kiwi hatching at the Park in nine years! The little Kiwi was assist-hatched meaning staff had to carefully remove layers of shell and membrane to free the bird. Park staff, who were hatching a Kiwi chick for the first time, were given step by step advice from Claire Travers of Kiwi Encounter (Rotorua) via speaker phone resulting in the successful hatch.
Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, says the baby was a 'miracle' egg: "The chick is one of the smallest Kiwi hatched in captivity so some staff have affectionately nick-named it Piwi for now! We experienced problems throughout the incubation and hatching process and feared for the chick's survival. We considered it a miracle egg as at one stage we thought it had died."
The problems keepers encountered were numerous: when the egg was taken for incubation, multiple holes were found so staff patched them with clear nail varnish. Keepers then became concerned at the lack of development of the egg and feared bacteria had seeped into it. When the chick attempted to 'internal pip' (break into the air cell), it missed the air cell by a few millimeters so keepers removed some egg shell to enable the chick to breathe. "The Kiwi was trying to hatch out the side of the egg, rather than through the top. Generally, if the chick misses the air cell then it will not survive hence the reason staff created the hole" adds Tara.
The chick then attempted to hatch for a period of 24 hours before staff were advised to intervene once again and chip away the shell and layers of membrane to remove the Kiwi. On hatching, the chick had a partial external yolk (normally fully absorbed in the egg) meaning staff then had to massage the yolk through the chick's navel before the muscles clenched. "Staff only had a few minutes to perform this task otherwise the Kiwi could have died" says Tara.
Alyssa Salton, a senior Native Fauna Keeper, had the task of hatching the chick: "This was an interesting learning experience as we were under pressure and had a very short time frame to get things done correctly. Everything went well and we now have a very cute Kiwi chick that we closely monitor. It is obviously a fighter as it has struggled since it was an egg."
The parent birds, Riri (4) and Dearheart (5), arrived at Orana in 2006. They have produced five eggs over the past year with only the one egg being fertile. Riri and Dearheart are the first viable pair Orana has held for some time and staff expect more healthy eggs in the future.
Orana previously held mixed provenance Kiwi meaning those birds could not breed. The Department of Conservation genetically tested all captive Kiwi and separated them into provenance groups and then re-located those birds to the wild in predator free sites where Kiwi have not lived for hundreds of years. This created spaces in captivity for pairs such as Riri and Dearheart (which are North Island Brown Kiwi, Bay of Plenty Provenance).
Kiwi are under constant treat, particularly from introduced mammals as well as habitat loss. People can help by keeping their dogs on a leash and neutering pets.
"We are so privileged to work with Kiwi and having a chick for the first time in almost a decade is a very special for our team. We learnt a great deal through this difficult hatching and look forward to watching this little bird develop and hopefully having many more Kiwi chicks hatch at Orana in years to come" concludes Tara.
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11 December 2009
Party for Protected Parrots
Orana Wildlife Park's six Kea will host a 'house warming' party tomorrow morning, marking the official opening of a massive new exhibit.
An immersive walk-through Kea aviary will be officially opened at Orana Wildlife Park tomorrow by Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker. The exciting exhibit, costing $200,000 for materials, was built by the Park's Development Team and provides Orana's six Kea with a healthier home. Visitors traverse a board walk through the aviary giving people a close encounter with these remarkable birds and then exit through a musterer's hut, the main interpretation area.
Orana's Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, is delighted with the exhibit: "The habitat demonstrates the intelligence and uniqueness of Kea, whilst highlighting the fact that the birds are endangered. We want visitors to appreciate the beauty of these parrots and demonstrate how people can help conserve these magnificent mountain larrikins."
The aviary measures 20 metres long by 17.6 metres wide and reaches 6.8 metres at the peak giving the birds the opportunity to soar through the aviary. The habitat is designed to simulate a regenerating Beech forest and contains fallen trees, roosting posts, a water pool, an iron roof and many other features for the birds.
"The birds were moved from their previous 30 year old homes into the new exhibit four months ago, meaning they have adjusted to their larger surroundings. The Kea enjoy stretching their wings in flight, playing in their pool, following the sun around the exhibit and are especially intrigued by having visitors stroll through their habitat. Visitors enjoy the opportunity to see the birds so close and without barriers" adds Tara.
As a registered charitable trust, Orana Wildlife Park must separately fundraise for all new capital developments, such as the Kea aviary. "We take this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge the estate of Jessie Winchester and the Un Cadeau Charitable Trust for funding this important project" says Chief Executive, Lynn Anderson.
Kea are only found in New Zealand's Southern Alps. They are classified as a 'Nationally Endangered' species but their wild population is unknown - estimates normally range from 1,000 to 5,000 birds. One of the main ways local people can assist in Kea conservation is by not feeding the birds and ensuring their equipment is secure when entering Kea territory.
"It's fantastic to have a brand new native habitat that is so popular with our visitors. The interactive nature of the exhibit, and accompanying interpretation, enhances our conservation advocacy messages for these endangered birds" adds Tara.
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9 December 2009
Picturesque Park Poetry
A Christchurch woman's hobby of writing poetry for her grandchildren has resulted
in a published children's book about Orana Wildlife Park.
Jenny Mundy's favourite past-time of capturing adventures with her grandchildren through poetry has led to The Caxton Press publishing her first book, titled Orana Wildlife Park. A retired primary school teacher, Jenny, has written numerous stories for her grandchildren.
"My friends encouraged me to submit a story to a publisher. I wrote this book about Orana Wildlife Park because I love visiting the zoo with my grandchildren and as the story is based upon animals, I thought it would be very popular" says Jenny.
The book is both entertaining and educational. The pounding rhythm and delightful rhymes flow along like music and will appeal to children and adults alike. The book will make an ideal birthday or Christmas gift for children aged 0 to 8 years and is a wonderful book for reading aloud. Independent readers from approximately 6 years will be able to read it for themselves. This book would be a valuable resource for Pre-school and Junior classroom teachers.
"To gain material, I spent a day at Orana so the book follows the daily feed schedule. I took notes, wrote down the animals' pet names and then conducted more research. I tested the beat and rhymes by going for walks and saying the words out loud in time to my feet" adds Jenny.
"When the book was finally written I took my home-made copy along to a local school and asked a classroom teacher if she would read it to her Year 2 class. I wanted to hear what it sounded like when somebody else read it. The children were captivated by the story and responded every now and then with delightful outbursts of spontaneous laughter. The most gratifying part of the visit was to see the flury of hands that went up afterwards with every child bursting to share their greater knowledge about the animals or their visit to Orana" says Jenny.
Park staff fully supported Jenny's project: "We saw the book as being a unique promotional tool and thought it perfectly captured the Orana visitor experience. We are delighted it has being published as it is a fantastic story" says Nathan Hawke, Orana's Marketing Manager. Bruce Bascand of The Caxton Press quickly saw the book's potential: "It's great to be involved in something so creative and positive. Jenny, the Orana staff and Janice Page, who manages our graphic design studio, all worked collaboratively to produce a beautiful book. I like the fact it's a work of non-fiction with a conservation message. It is presented with humour, great language and has lovely rhythm and rhymes."
"It's wonderful that a hobby which has given me so much pleasure can now be shared with all children" concludes Jenny.
The book is now on sale at major book stores as well as Orana Wildlife Park's souvenir shop.
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1 October 2009
Natureland Zoo – A Year in Review
It is one year today since Orana Wildlife Trust took over the operation of Natureland Zoo, thereby saving the Nelson attraction and securing its future.
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This time last year, Orana Wildlife Trust officially took over the operation of Nelson’s Natureland Zoo. The attraction was originally scheduled to close in March 2008, but last April the Nelson City Council called for proposals to operate Natureland. Orana Wildlife Trust’s business plan was the only one to be considered and The Trust and Council entered negotiations in July.
One year on, the attraction is flourishing under the Trust’s operation. Trust Chief Executive, Lynn Anderson, is delighted with progress to date:
“Visitor numbers have been solid, we completed a brand new Meerkat exhibit in December and have increased staff levels. A key focus has been, and will continue to be, on long overdue maintenance work such as upgrading the Monkey House, the Food Preparation Room and the old aviaries.” |
“Natureland is a much loved community asset and we have been staggered by the support from Nelson and Christchurch people. We look forward to continuing our great start and helping Natureland fulfil its potential. We also take this opportunity to thank the Nelson City Council for the funding commitment which is vital to the successful operation of Natureland" says Lynn.
Operations Manager, Gail Sutton, is pleased to be part of a wider team: “It is fantastic to have such good support and direction. This first year has been about integrating new systems and aligning with Orana and we have seen some fantastic changes and development.”
“Our team is mostly comprised of those people who stuck with Natureland and they are extremely excited about the future direction of the Park. It is great to have the opportunity to help Natureland grow” says Gail.
Year Two of the Trust’s operation of Natureland will involve continuing with necessary remedial maintenance work and the development of a formal education programme. A qualified teacher will be added to the team in January 2010 as the Trust received an extension of its Ministry of Education, Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom, programme to include Natureland.
“We have also made great progress with the Nelson City Council in terms of securing additional land space for future development. Once this is resolved, a full master plan will be finalised and at that time we will be able to reveal some of the exciting future additions” says Lynn.
Some key highlights of Year One of operation include:
~1. Ongoing maintenance work including the re-roofing of one enclosure, upgrade to the food preparation room and upgraded heating for the Monkey House.
~2. A new Meerkat habitat was developed and opened in December. This was the first new exhibit in five years at Natureland.
~3. Additional staff have been recruited.
~4. Orana Wildlife Trust’s Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom contact with the Ministry of Education has been extended to include Natureland Zoo.
~5. Animal adoption and membership programmes implemented.
~6. New point of sale system installed to provide more data on visitors.
~7. Implementation of scheduled keeper talks/animal feeds underway.
~8. Major visitor satisfaction survey completed.
~9. First stage of interpretive signage commenced.
~10. Coffee and souvenirs are on sale.
~11. Two baby Capuchin Monkeys have been born in the last five weeks!
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30 September 2009
Newly Adopted One-Eyed Cantabrian at Orana
A one-eyed Morepork has arrived at Orana Wildlife Park as a mate for resident Owlvis.
Orana Wildlife Park’s male Morepork, Owlvis, was given something to hoot about lately – the arrival of a female companion. The new bird, named Rua, is a rescue animal from Wellington.
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Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, says Rua would not have survived in the wild: “Rua has a healed wound where her left eye used to be. As a nocturnal bird of prey this would have severely affected her hunting ability. She was found in a conservatory at a Wellington house and was subsequently handed to Bird Rescue who contacted the Captive Co-ordinator. We had space at Orana to hold Rua so she was transferred here.”
Since arriving at Orana one month ago, her weight has increased from 100 grams (being critically thin) to a healthy weight of 160 grams. Rua was introduced to Owlvis two weeks ago and the two animals now live together in the Nocturnal Kiwi House. |
“Owlvis is also a rescue bird and arrived in 2005. He has since shared the Nocturnal Display with Kiwi so it is great he now has a mate. Owlvis has an injured wing and one eye does not properly dilate meaning his ability to hunt is extremely limited. Sadly, Owlvis and Rua cannot be released as they would not survive in the wild with the injuries they have sustained. However, holding and rehabilitating injured native wildlife is part of our role as a zoo” adds Tara.
Park staff had been hopeful of acquiring a mate for Owlvis for some time, but until last year there was no captive Species Co-ordinator for Morepork meaning captive transfers were difficult to arrange. However, last year, Park Native Fauna Keeper, Alyssa Salton, was appointed as the national Co-ordinator for Morepork, which enabled Rua’s transfer to occur.
“Rua is a lovely animal and we are thrilled she is flourishing at Orana. We hope in time that Owlvis and Rua will breed as this will provide valuable information for the Husbandry Manual on Morepork which Alyssa will author as part of her Co-ordinator role” says Tara.
Park visitors have the opportunity to see these delightful nocturnal predators in the Kiwi House.
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24 September 2009
Lion Cubs Given Something to Roar About
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Three Lion cubs received their twelve week flu vaccinations at Orana Wildlife Park today. Five male cubs live at the Park but it was the youngest three being examined by the vet today. All of the little Lions have now received two inoculations so staff can start integrating the cubs together. Fifteen Lions live at Orana, so currently the cubs are on display every second day.
The five cubs are the result of a long term planning effort that involved transferring two male Lions, Malik and Zulu, from Wellington Zoo on a temporary breeding loan. |
The boys arrived last year and were introduced to mother and daughter, Kiara (eleven) and Mishka (seven), resulting in the birth of the cubs – the first Lions born at Orana in five years! Mishka became a first time mother in June and two weeks later Kiara gave birth to three cubs. Malik sired all of the cubs.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says the cubs are progressing nicely: “They are all in excellent health and doing really well. Kiara’s cubs are very loud and made a huge racket when the vet was present this morning for the inoculations. Visitors can view the cubs on alternate days at present, as the animals are regularly moved around to get them used to their setting”
“Kiara and Mishka have been kept separate whilst their cubs have developed. But now that the cubs have each had two jabs we can start working on getting them together. This will occur in steps - first Kiara and Miska (plus the cubs) need to be integrated before introducing those seven animals to Kiara’s two sons” adds Ian.
Park staff will then introduce Malik and Zulu to three other Lionesses. Initially Malik and Zulu were set to stay in Christchurch for one year, but their holiday has been extended until at least mid next year meaning Park staff are hopeful of many more Lion cubs in the next year.
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4 September 2009
Protecting Pateke
A new pair of Nationally Endangered Brown Teal (Pateke) arrived at Orana Wildlife Park recently and has settled in to their new home.
A 'teenage' pair of Brown Teal are the latest arrivals at Orana Wildlife Park . The birds were transferred as part of the Department of Conservation (DoC) breed for release Recovery Programme owing to Orana's success in breeding the species. Pateke are classified by DoC as Nationally Endangered; the wild population is approximately 2,000 birds!
Orana's Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, is excited by the arrival of the new birds: "They are beautiful animals and very healthy birds. This pair has produced ducklings in the past so we expect that they will nest soon. We are thrilled to have two breeding pair of Pateke as this demonstrates our desire to make an even greater contribution to the Recovery Programme."
Orana joined the Recovery Programme in 2004. The Park's first pair produced twelve ducklings before being released and replaced with a more genetically significant pair in 2005. These amazing parents have since produced 38 ducklings all of which have been released to the wild.
"We are proud of our contribution to the programme as 50 Orana-bred birds have been released to the wild. Due to the combined efforts of those involved in the Recovery Programme (captive breeders – private and zoos, DoC, farmers, iwi and more) the wild population has doubled in the past five years! With further effort the wild population could increase even more, ensuring the species is secure in the wild for future generations" adds Tara.
Brown Teal are great animals to manage as they have distinct personalities. Males in particular are extremely protective. In fact, one of the Park's male birds is affectionately known as Count Duckula due to his reaction to people when ducklings are present.
"This little male duck is extremely protective and races out to attack people who venture into or near his habitat in defence of his mate and progeny. It is amazing to witness the dedication of such a small animal. Male teal are excellent fathers, playing a vital role in teaching and rearing ducklings" adds Tara .
Pateke were once widespread throughout New Zealand but their range is now extremely limited and they are the rarest mainland waterfowl species. Pateke are endangered mainly due to predation and habitat loss. People can help assist in the conservation of native birds like Pateke by neutering pets, keeping cats inside at night, ensuring dogs remain on a leash and reducing the number of wild pests in your area (such as Stoats, Ferrets and feral Cats).
"We want people to take an interest in the preservation of the precious native birds – after all Pateke are unique to New Zealand !" says Tara .
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6 August 2009
Loud Little Lions at Orana!
Five male Lion cubs are progressing well at Orana Wildlife Park and two of them receive d their first inoculation s today .
Park vet Dave Martin inoculating one of the two Lions cubs. The cub is held by Orana Animal Keeper Aaron Gilmore. Animal Keeper Rob Clifford is in the background. 
[Above & Below]
Rob Clifford (left) and Aaron Gilmore (right) holding the two eight week old Lion cubs after their inoculation. 
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It's mission accomplished for Malik and Zulu, two five year old male Lions that are on a one year breeding loan to Orana Wildlife Park from Wellington Zoo. In June, two L ionesses produced five cubs – the first Lion cubs to be born at Orana in five years. However, the cubs have remained off public display, and away from the view of other male Lions, to give them the best possible start to life. This morning, the two oldest cubs receive d their first jabs. Fifteen Lions now live at Orana!
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, is delighted to have Lion cubs again: "Their birth is the result of a combined effort between two zoos and a lot of work from our team. The cubs are little dudes; they are doing really well and are very noisy characters as they attempt to roar in their dens and explore their surroundings. Mis h ka and Kiara are great mothers."
Mis h ka (seven) was born at Orana and produced her first cubs eight weeks ago. Her mother, Kiara (eleven), gave birth to three cubs two weeks later. Mis h ka and Kiara are currently separated; they each have a cubing den with access to outside areas (but not on display). Malik is a first time Dad and sired all of the cubs. Zulu was also given the opportunity to breed but Malik proved to be the dominant one of the two brothers.
"Malik and Zulu arrived on 24 December so we are thrilled to have cubs so soon. We are now working towards having the cubs on public display – this is a complex issue and will take time to achieve. To get the cubs on display we need to put Kiara and Mis h ka back together (and integrate their cubs). They then need to be re-introduced to the rest of their pride (Kiara's two sons). This will take their pride from four to nine Lions! Malik and Zulu will then be introduced to our three other Lionesses later in the year. We expect more cubs in the future" says Ian. |
Park staff are delighted that the transfer of Malik and Zulu has been a success. Orana's last breeding male Lion, Toby, tragically passed away in 2006. Park staff had been working with the Species Co-ordinator for over two years to locate a suitable new breeding male Lion, but sadly none of the possible transfer options eventuated. Park staff then proposed a novel idea; that Orana have the Wellington animals on a loan basis. Wellington 's Lions are a suitable genetic match to all five of Orana's Lionesses so the proposal was put to Wellington Zoo, who were examining options to temporarily re-locate Malik and Zulu whilst exhibit modifications occurred!
"This breeding loan is a unique way to manage the species and may pave the way for other animal transfers in the Australasian region. It is also a great example of how zoos work together for species preservation" adds Ian.
Park staff will provide updates on Orana's website (oranawildlifepark.co.nz) and Facebook page, advising the public when they will be able to see these cute cubs.
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9 July 2009
Cubs Come Out to Play!
Visitors now have the chance to see Orana Wildlife Park 's delightful Cheetah cubs!
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A temporary public display habitat has been created to house Shomari, Cango, Kunjuka and Mazza - Orana Wildlife Park 's cute Cheetah cubs. The cubs are now thirteen weeks old and weigh over six kilograms. In April, Park staff saved the animals by choosing to hand-raise them, owing to an inexperienced first time mother abandoning them.
The Cheetah Cub Habitat consists of a portable building with access to an outdoor area. The cubs were transferred to their new home last week and have ventured outside, and on public view, for the first time over the past few days. Visitors view the cats through glass panels and have the opportunity to see keepers interact with the cubs. Whilst the cubs are on display daily, viewing times will vary each day as they need time to sleep during the day.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says the cats enjoy being outside: "They race around their terrain quickly and constantly play and interact with each other – it's great to watch! We are just so thrilled with the progress of these animals. When they were born they were extremely vulnerable but each week they have developed nicely . The cubs will remain in this habitat for three months at which time they will move to one of our larger display exhibits."
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"We are pleased that the public now have the chance to watch the antics of these delightful animals. We also hope that by seeing the cats, visitors will take an interest in conservation in general. Visitors can help by thinking globally and acting locally" adds Ian.
Park staff are planning to offer a Cheetah Encounter within the next few weeks, giving visitors the chance to enter the habitat and personally meet the delightful cubs. This additional cost experience will complement other similar experiences such as the Lemur and Lion Encounters.
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2 July 2009
Massive New Home for Curious Kea
A new walk-through Kea aviary is complete at Orana Wildlife Park and yesterday some of the residents moved in!
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Orana Wildlife Park's elderly Kea, Silver (20) and Kikimo (24), moved home from their 30 year old aviary (64 square metres) into a newly completed 352 square metre home yesterday. The birds will be given the chance to adapt to their new setting before the aviary is opened to the public later this year.
This exciting 'walk-through' exhibit was built by the Park's Development team. The aviary has been five years in the planning and took one year to construct. It will provide the Kea with a healthier home and enable visitors to have close encounters with the 'Clown of the Mountains.' |
Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, says it is great to see the birds fly in the aviary: "This new habitat will be mind blowing for the Kea. They are such intelligent birds and will love having the space to fly and interact with each other. The habitat will add a great deal of stimulation for the birds owing to the space and enrichment items in the aviary."
The exhibit is 20 metres long x 17.6 metres wide and reaches 6.8 metres at the peak. The habitat is designed to be a regenerating Beech forest and contains fallen trees, roosting posts, a water pool, a mountain hut iron roof and numerous other features for the birds. The exhibit will be easier for keepers to operate than the current facilities owing to the large space, a hospital and service area plus a removable door to add new items to the exhibit. Visitors will walk-through the exhibit and exit through a musterer's hut, which is the main interpretation area. |
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"We moved Silver and Kikimo into the aviary first to give them time to settle in before adding four, more boisterous Kea later this month. We will then give all of the animals some time to adjust to the environment before opening it for visitors" adds Tara.
"The aims of the habitat are to demonstrate the intelligence and uniqueness of Kea, whilst highlighting the fact that they are endangered. We want visitors to appreciate the beauty of these special parrots and also provide them with ideas of how they can help conserve these magnificent mountain larrikins" concludes Tara.
Kea are only found in New Zealand's Southern Alps. They are classified as a 'Nationally Endangered' species but their wild population is unknown – estimates range from 1,000 to possibly 15,000 birds. One of the main ways local people can assist in Kea conservation is by not feeding the birds and ensuring their equipment is secure when entering Kea territory.
We gratefully acknowledge the estate of Jessie Winchester as well as the Un Cadeau Charitable Trust for providing the funds that enabled this exciting exhibit to be developed.
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7 June 2009
Cheetah Cub Inoculation
Orana Wildlife Park 's four Cheetah cubs receive d their first vaccination yesterday .
Shomari, Cango, Kunjuka and Mazza, Orana's spotty Cheetah cubs, turn eight weeks old today and received their first 'jabs' yesterday afternoon. The fact that the cats have reached eight weeks is a fantastic milestone and a credit to the Park's dedicated team. In April, Park staff saved the cubs from certain death by choosing to hand-raise the animals as first time Cheetah mother, Kura , left them to fend for themselves. |
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Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says dedicated animal keepers, Graeme Petrie and Naline Pirani work tirelessly to hand-raise the cats: "We are thrilled with the progress of the cubs. They now over five times their birth weight! The two keepers initially worked a twelve hour, seven day a week shift to cater for the cubs' needs. Due to the fantastic development of the cubs, the keepers now work five days each week. The cubs have two solid food meals per day and keepers bottle feed them once each day."
" The cool thing about these cats is that they are now starting to display what we'd describe as natural instincts. For example, when the keepers ('mum') are in the room talking to the animals, the cats are very active. However, as soon as the light is switched off ('mum's away'), the cats go quiet, mimicking what they would do in the wild to avoid the attention of other predators like Lions and Hyenas. It is fantastic to see how well these little cats have developed considering that they were so vulnerable" adds Ian.
Orana's cubs (three males and one female) carry some of the most significant bloodlines in the Australasian region as their father, Jonah, was transferred from Cango Wildlife Ranch, South Africa , last year. The cubs will remain off public display for some time yet.
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15 May 2009
Swinging, Singing Siamangs Sire Young
A baby Siamang Gibbon Ape is the latest arrival at Orana Wildlife Park.
 Oscar singing
 Siamang Baby with Peggy
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Peggy and Oscar, Orana Wildlife Park 's singing Siamang Gibbon pair, are new parents to the first Ape ever born at Orana! Both Peggy and Oscar are proving to be great parents to the five-week-old youngster. At present the baby is difficult for visitors to see as it clings on tightly to Peggy and staff are yet to determine the sex of the baby, which is an extremely significant arrival.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, explains the importance of the baby: "Not only is this the first Ape to be born at the Park, but the youngster is an important animal for the regional breeding programme. Oscar (aged 18 years) arrived at the Park in 2007. He is a new founder animal for the Australasian Species Management Programme (ASMP) for Siamangs because he is a confiscated wild caught animal and provides genuine new bloodlines as he is unrelated to all other Siamangs in this region!"
The birth of the baby is the culmination of collaboration amongst three zoos. The Park's Siamang exhibit was completed in 2005 at which time Peggy moved to the Park. Oscar was transferred to New Zealand from Singapore Zoo but his move was complicated because MAF regulations state that primates can only be imported into New Zealand from Australia - and that the animal needs to have resided in Australia for at least 120 days. So, Oscar spent four months at Adelaide Zoo (including 60 days in quarantine due to import/export protocols) before moving to Orana.
"Oscar's transfer was really important because the regional programme desperately needed new bloodlines. |
We really appreciate the support and effort of Adelaide Zoo in bringing Oscar to the region on our behalf demonstrating how zoos work together for conservation – and in this case the result is a delightful baby Siamang" says Ian.
Siamang Gibbons are classified as 'Endangered' by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The species is threatened due to a number of factors, particularly habitat loss as their rainforest home is being destroyed. Park staff members encourage people to embrace the 'Think Globally, Act Locally' idea to help Siamangs: "We consider conservation to be everyone's responsibility. Locally, people can become involved in conservation by planting native trees, neutering pets and making ethical purchasing decisions" adds Ian. |
 Mum, Dad and Baby |
Orana's Siamang habitat was funded by a donation from Park volunteer Mabel McClelland who sadly passed away last week at the age of 84 years. The Siamang exhibit is located near the Park's entrance and consists of a house above a landscaped island. The Siamangs access the island by swinging across high ropes which are 7.5 metres off the ground, demonstrating their spectacular brachiation movement pattern. The Apes sing loudly most days and their calls echo through the Park.
The Park's Siamang exhibit has been recognised in 2006 as an example of "excellence in animal display and exhibit design" by the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA).
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11 May 2009
'Amazingly generous' Orana Wildlife Park volunteer passes away.
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Mabel McClelland loved being an Orana Wildlife Park volunteer and in 2007 clocked up 30,000 hours voluntary service to the Park! Mabel was delighted to be appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 (New Year's Honours List) for her services to wildlife. Sadly, Mabel passed away last Thursday at the age of 84. |
"Mabel was an amazingly generous woman who truly loved the Park. She used to volunteer every weekday through the year but in the school holidays would work seven days a week. She is the only Park volunteer to have amassed 30,000 hours - that's the equivalent of fourteen years full time work, an incredible achievement" says Orana's Chief Executive, Lynn Anderson.
As well as volunteering at the Park for over twenty years, she personally funded two animal exhibits (Siamang Gibbon Ape and Otters) and provided money to complete another habitat (Kopje Rock containing Meerkats and Porcupines). Furthermore, Mabel worked tirelessly to raise thousands of dollars through face painting and selling raffle tickets at the Park (funds generated go directly back into caring for the Park's animals).
"Mabel used to sell over 15,000, $1 raffle tickets per year, not to mention paint the faces of thousands of children" adds Lynn .
In her earlier days, Mabel enjoyed conducting Park tours because she loved sharing her enthusiasm for animals with visitors. However, she found her passion was for fundraising as she enjoyed meeting people. In fact, many visitors would recall Mabel as one of the first faces they saw after entering the Park.
"Mabel was very much part of Orana Wildlife Park and will be missed. I know it was very frustrating for her over the past year as she suffered ill health and was in some pain so although I am deeply saddened by her passing, I take heart that she is now at peace" says Lynn.
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8 May 2009
Focus on Foster 'Mums' at Orana
Naline Pirani and Graeme Petrie are dedicated animal keeper foster mums, each working a 12 hour, 7 day a week shift hand-raising four precious Cheetah cubs born at Orana Wildlife Park.
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Four weeks ago (today) Park staff saved the cubs from certain death by choosing to hand-raise the animals owing to an inexperienced first time mother abandoning them.
"I work 6am-6pm and Graeme is on duty from 6pm-6am monitoring the cubs. Whilst they have made great progress to date, sadly, their lives may still be in the balance" says Naline. In the wild, Cheetah cubs have a mortality rate of 95%! Naline and Graeme carry out similar tasks of a new mother, in this case for four babies: |
The cubs are bottle fed every 3 hours. Keepers spend almost one hour preparing for each feed as they mop the floor, clean and sterilise bottles, prepare the milk formula, get the milk to temperature and set up the toileting 'equipment.' The milk powder is brought in from the USA and costs almost NZ$1000 for about 30kg.
The cubs do not naturally toilet themselves. In the wild the mother would lick their bottoms to 'stimulate' them to toilet. Our keepers need to simulate this task and wipe the cubs' bottoms with cotton wool after each feed to ensure that they properly empty their small stomachs.
The cats need to be washed so Naline and Graeme wipe the cats with cotton wool and water, replicating a mother licking her cubs to clean them. This prevents bacterial infections.
The cats must be weighed every day to strictly monitor their growth rates and health in general. The cubs should gain around 5% of their body weight per day!
The cubs are now teething so the keepers have recently been shopping in the baby aisle of the supermarket to get teething toys for the cubs.
The little cats now demand more attention of Naline and Graeme as they are more active and like to play. The cubs have a play pen where they get involved in rough and tumble play.
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Naline describes the role as being just like a mum: "I don't have children of my own, but I imagine this is just like having a baby. I was very cautious about what I was doing at first; it was difficult to get the cubs to take the teat, I was worried about how I was holding them and if I was hurting them. I am very over-protective and all sorts of things concern me about the babies. But it is great seeing their development - each new step is a milestone for them. It is an absolute pleasure to work with these delightful creatures as they are so vulnerable. This experience has prepared me for having children of my own one day."
The keepers undertake all of these tasks knowing that the cubs' lives are still in the balance. However, at four weeks of age the cubs have made great progress. The three boys (Shomari, Cango and Kunjuka) each weigh around 1630 grams whilst Mazza, the female, tips the scales at almost 1700 grams. Their birth weights ranged from 498 to 547 grams.
"They have changed so much and developed distinct personalities. Mazza is the 'hunter' of the group, pouncing on anything and everything including her brothers. Kunjuka is a very sleepy cat who loves cuddles and is very vocal...
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... Shomari is very weary of strangers but is quick to push his siblings around to get our attention – he also shows great 'paw-eye' co-ordination and loves bashing his green ball about! Cango hisses the most and is the first to go on a reconnaissance mission to check out anything new" describes Naline.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says the Park's vet is delighted with the progress of the cubs: "Our vet continuously compliments the efforts of our foster mums and their work in the development of the cats. The cubs are now ready to be introduced to solid food."
The cubs will have two sets of inoculations when they reach eight and twelve weeks of age. They will still remain off-display for some time yet.
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1 May 2009
Cheetah Update from Naline,
one of the keepers hand-rearing the cubs:
The Cheetah cubs are now 3 weeks old and progressing nicely.
| Their weights are: |
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| Shomari (meaning to be forceful) |
1329 grams |
| Cango |
1335 grams |
| Kunjuka (to be serene) |
1336 grams |
| Mazza |
1360 grams |
The cubs are nearly on full strength formula now and spend most of their day in their play pen depending on the room temperature. They are walking around quite a lot, although are a bit unsteady on their feet still! We are delighted with their progress to date.
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25 April 2009
Renovation for Ringtails
Orana Wildlife Park 's Ringtailed Lemur group has a brand new house that was lifted by crane onto the Lemur island this morning.
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A 55 tonne all terrain crane was needed to commence renovation work on Orana Wildlife Park 's Ringtailed Lemur home. The hut was pre-fabricated by the Park's development team and was carted through the Park on a truck and then loaded by crane onto the Lemur island. Orana holds seven female Ringtailed Lemurs. These primates live in a hierarchical society.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says the new house is essential for animal welfare: "The Lemurs have split themselves into two groups and as a result a new house is required to better manage them. We still have some work to do, such as connecting power, before the animals can shift into the new home though."
The Lemurs previously had one house (with two rooms) that led onto two islands giving each Lemur group access to the display islands on alternative days. The new house will provide both groups with a separate display island and also enhance public viewing. |
"This development is the start of the Park's plan to breed Lemurs again. Fourteen Ringtailed Lemurs have been bred at Orana since the species was added in 1992. However, our last male was transferred to Australia Zoo in 2007 as part of the regional breeding programme" adds Ian.
In order to breed Ringtailed Lemurs again, the Park will develop a third housing area in the future, but that will involve excavating a new island. Park staff take this opportunity to thank all the supporters who donated towards the project. As a charitable trust Orana must separately fundraise for all such developments.
Lemurs are threatened due to habitat loss and predation.
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23 April 2009
Orana Wildlife Park 's cute Cheetah cubs have reached an important milestone.
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Today, Orana's four tiny Cheetah babies are two weeks old! The cubs were saved from certain death after Park staff members chose to hand-raise the animals, owing to an inexperienced, first time Cheetah mother ( Kura ). Cheetah are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity and cubs have a 95% mortality rate in the wild.
"The cubs have virtually doubled their birth weight. They have their eyes open and are now supporting their own weight meaning they are quite active when out of the incubator. We are thrilled with their progress but their lives could still be in the balance so our dedicated staff members continue to work around the clock monitoring the cats" says Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams.
The cubs are named Shomari, Cango, Kunjuka (all males) and Mazza (female). The weight gains of the cubs are noted below: |
| |
Initial weight |
Weight at two weeks |
| Shomari |
544 grams |
1015 grams |
| Cango |
547 grams |
1024 grams |
| Kunjuka |
516 grams |
981 grams |
Mazza |
498 grams |
1003 grams |
Orana is the only New Zealand zoo currently breeding Cheetah as part of the international breeding programme. To date eleven cats have been raised to adulthood at the Park. This is a significant achievement as only a small number of zoos worldwide have experienced repeated breeding success with these big cats.
The cubs remain off-display but visitors can view footage on a screen in the entrance building.
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15 April 2009
Cute Cheetah Cubs Saved at Orana!
Dedicated animal keepers are working around the clock to hand-raise four, seven day old, Cheetah cubs at Orana Wildlife Park .
The cubs will remain off-display for some time, but visitors will be able to view footage of them on a large screen in visitor reception.
Orana Wildlife Park staff saved four tiny Cheetah cubs last week from certain death by choosing hand-raise the animals, owing to an inexperienced, first time Cheetah mother. Cheetah are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity and cubs have a 95% mortality rate in the wild. Orana's cubs carry the most significant bloodlines in the region.
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"These cubs are tiny, precious, little critters that would not have survived had we not made the decision to intervene and hand-raise them. Although all is going well at the moment, their lives could still be in the balance" says Orana's Chief Executive, Lynn Anderson. |
A few hours after giving birth last Thursday, mother Kura (aged four) suddenly began taking the cubs out of the den and leaving them for periods in the open. Six hours elapsed since the cubs were fed.
"We conversed with the most successful Cheetah breeding facility in the world, before making the decision to pull the cubs. Additionally, the weather forecast was to drop to one degree overnight and we were advised that if we didn't intervene, the cubs would not survive so we made the only decision we could – to save the animals" adds Lynn .
Orana's Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, says the Park does not normally hand-raise animals: "It is extremely labour intensive and we only do it when there are no other options. Two staff currently work twelve hour shifts feeding and monitoring the cubs. But these cats are vital for the breeding programme so we had to give them the best possible chance to survive."
Park staff had been eagerly planning for the cubs' arrival and had even purchased expensive specialist milk powder from overseas in case Kura did not mother them. The cubs are therefore the culmination of a long term planning effort and a lot of teamwork.
"All of our team deserves credit for the birth of the animals. Cheetah are notoriously difficult to breed in captivity so it is nice to prove that it can be done. In fact Orana has experienced breeding success with three Queens over the years now! These animals will be important for the regional breeding programme in the future" adds Ian.
Orana is the only New Zealand zoo currently breeding Cheetah as part of the international breeding programme . Orana last produced Cheetah cubs five years ago and Kura was herself one of the last litter. The father of the new cubs, Jonah (four), was transferred from Cango Wildlife Ranch ( South Africa ) last year. International comparisons show that these cubs had excellent birth weights, particularly for a litter of four cubs from a first time mother.
Head Keeper of Exotic Mammals, Graeme Petrie, is one of the staff members hand-raising the animals and currently works 6pm to 6am shifts monitoring the little cats: "It is great that such young cats have produced offspring as this is a positive sign for the future. The cubs are absolutely great to work with and I feel very privileged" adds Graeme.
Cheetah are a flagship conservation species for Orana and to date eleven cats have been raised to adulthood (plus the four new cubs). This is a significant achievement as only a small number of zoos worldwide have experienced repeated breeding success with these big cats.
Ms Anderson says the Park has invested significant resources to manage the species over the years so it is rewarding to have cubs: We currently hold eleven adult Cheetah and have fourteen Cheetah exhibits (most of which are behind the scenes). Another female will be transferred from South Africa later this year!"
"As a registered charitable trust, we must separately fundraise for all animal transfers. In the past two years, we have transferred four Cheetah from South Africa , all of which bring important new bloodlines to this region. We take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Josef Langer Charitable Trust and the Eureka Trust for their generous grants that enabled the transfer of those four cats and ultimately resulted in the birth of these beautiful babies" adds Lynn.
The cubs will remain off-display for some time, but visitors will be able to view footage of them on a large screen in visitor reception.
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7 April 2009
Miniature Meerkats at Orana!
Four female Meerkat babies are the latest addition to Orana Wildlife Park 's animal family.
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Orana Wildlife Park staff celebrated the birth of four tiny Meerkats last month. The delightful little carnivores, aged five weeks old, now regularly venture outside on display. The arrival of the babies doubled the Park's display group which now numbers eight animals.
"The babies are very active and extremely noisy little animals.They are healthy and now eating meat so we are happy with their development" says Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams.
The Park's breeding pair of Meerkats was formed in 2004 and they produced their first two babies last year (one in February and the other in October). Park staff were pleasantly surprised that four babies were produced this time.
"Meerkats are endearing animals. Our animal keepers thoroughly enjoy working with the babies as they provide a range of challenges. At the same time it is very rewarding seeing the quick progress of such small animals. They are very cute!" adds Ian.
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Meerkats are classified as 'Least Concern.' However, whilst they are not endangered, habitat loss could change their status. Wildlife parks and zoos therefore fulfil an important conservation advocacy role whilst maintaining a managed back up population of the species.
"We consider conservation to be everyone's responsibility! People can help our conservation work by thinking globally and acting locally, for example: planting native trees, purchasing sustainable products and assisting a conservation group," concludes Ian.
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3 March 2009
Tiny Twins at Orana
Two sets of Northland Green Gecko twins were born at Orana Wildlife Park last week.
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Orana Wildlife Park 's latest animal babies are four brilliantly coloured green tree geckos measuring just 60mm long! The tiny infants live in Orana's Conservation Centre. The Park now holds fifteen Northland Green Geckos.
Head Keeper of Native Fauna, Tara Atkinson, says the babies are stunning: "They are absolutely beautiful little creatures and have amazing markings. It is a real privilege to work with baby native reptiles and it is a delight to see their progress in such a short time. Geckos always look like they are smiling so you can't help but feel happy when working with them!" |
The reptile room of the Conservation Centre is home to a range of other young reptiles that remain under the watchful eye of the keepers. These young geckos cannot be integrated with the larger display animals until the babies reach two years of age.
"Whilst the new babies are off-display, we have eight adult specimens on show. Additionally, the Park has one of the most comprehensive public collections of native geckos (eight species) giving visitors the opportunity to view some of New Zealand's wonderful reptiles whilst providing us with the opportunity to educate people on the plight of these precious animals" adds Tara.
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New Zealand 's geckos are unique because all of them give birth to live young whereas most geckos elsewhere in the world lay eggs. Northland Green Gecko females are pregnant for 11 to 12 months and normally give birth to one or two live youngsters. The species is endemic and found in scrub such as manuka and, like many other native geckos, have a fantastic blue colour on the inside of their mouth. |
They are classified as Gradual Decline meaning their wild population is decreasing due to habitat modification (clearance of scrublands) as well as introduced predators such as cats.
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"Geckos are such delicate, vulnerable little creatures that are beautifully camouflaged meaning they can disappear without people knowing of their presence. Adult visitors to Orana often tell us that they used to see geckos in their own backyards but sadly when we ask those people when they last saw one they tell us that it was when they were children. |
One of our roles in holding the species is to give people the opportunity to see these beautiful native treasures."
Native geckos are fully protected and only permitted holders are able to hold them.
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