Auckland Zoo - conservation and fun

From City Scene, published on 9 September, 2007

Learning about our world - Discover something new at the interactive displays at the NZCCM.

Protecting the primates - Auckland Zoo's Lisa Morrison plays with an endangered orang-utan in Borneo.

Close up on conservation - Enjoy the wild animals during these school holidays at Auckland Zoo.

Auckland Zoo, owned by Auckland City Council, is an amazing recreational and educational resource - and is committed to protecting endangered species in New Zealand and worldwide. The zoo's conservation efforts include enabling visitors to find out what happens behind the scenes, keepers sharing their knowledge and expertise, and teaching children about endangered rainforest animals.

New zoo vet centre

Auckland city boasts a world first - a $4.6m state-of-the-art New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine (NZCCM). The centre has a viewing room that allows visitors to observe staff at work in the laboratory, treatment room and operating theatre. Cameras above operating tables relay images of medical work to a screen in the large public gallery. Other educational and observational facilities at the centre include interactive displays featuring medical equipment and the chance to listen to and compare animal and human heartbeats. "Opening the centre's doors is helping to open people's eyes and minds to what conservation medicine is all about," says Auckland Zoo senior vet and project leader Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff.

The NZCCM, along with serving the zoo's animals, will be focused on wildlife health, research, diagnostic work (particularly avian and reptile diagnosis), and specialised teaching, as well as furthering collaboration with the Department of Conservation, Biosecurity New Zealand, Massey University and many other organisations.

Conservation cruisers

Auckland Zoo primate keeper Lisa Morrison travelled to Borneo recently to share her knowledge and experience with staff and volunteers at Kuching's Matang Wildlife Centre, which cares for vulnerable primates.

During her visit, Lisa talked with staff and volunteers about ways to improve the primates' quality of life, including the behavioural enrichment (BE) programme developed at Auckland Zoo. This programme encourages natural behaviours that would occur in the wild, and primates' interest in their zoo environment.

Lisa took along some items used in the BE programme (including purpose-made boomer balls - large tough, hollow balls with small holes that food is put into to get the primates working for their food) and also helped centre staff to improve the animals' diets and ensure they contain sufficient protein.

Wild adventures

During the school holidays, Paddlepop Lion's Rainforest Adventure will take children on an exciting, interactive voyage of discovery about species that live in the rainforest (shows run daily at 10.45am and 11.45am). Kids can also do their bit to help these endangered species, which include tigers and orang-utans, by exchanging their gold coins for ASB Kashin dollars. Every Kashin dollar donated supports conservation efforts and comes with a fun activity sheet to complete while exploring the zoo. Normal zoo admission prices apply.