Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary facts for kids
| Location | 124 Gray Road, Kamo, Whangarei, New Zealand. |
|---|---|
| Land area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Coordinates | 35°41′37″S 174°12′44″E / 35.6936°S 174.2122°E |
| No. of animals | 19 |
| No. of species | 4 |
| Major exhibits | Big cats |
The Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary is a special place for animals located near Kamo, in Whangarei, New Zealand. This sanctuary is privately owned and is home to several types of amazing big cats. It was once a filming location for a TV show called The Lion Man.
Contents
History of the Sanctuary
Starting as Zion Wildlife Gardens
The sanctuary first opened in 2002 as Zion Wildlife Gardens. It was started by Craig Busch on land in Kamo, Whangarei. Before this, the zoo was in a different town called Kerikeri.
Over time, the zoo faced some challenges. There were changes in who managed the park. Concerns were also raised about the welfare of the animals and the safety of their enclosures. This led to investigations to make sure the animals were well cared for and safe.
Sadly, in 2009, an accident happened where a zookeeper was hurt by a white tiger. This led to the park closing for a short time. When it reopened, important changes were made to the big cat enclosures to make them safer for both the animal handlers and visitors.
Changes in Ownership
After facing more financial difficulties, the park changed hands. In 2012, it was sold to a new company and reopened with a new name: Kingdom of Zion. The new owners worked to improve the park.
However, in 2014, the Ministry of Primary Industries, which helps make sure animal parks follow rules, asked the zoo to close to the public. This was because the animal enclosures needed to be upgraded to meet safety requirements.
Becoming Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary
Later in 2014, a new company called Bolton Equities bought the park. They planned to make big improvements and turn it into a major tourist attraction. They changed the name to Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary.
Since then, the team at Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary has been working hard to upgrade the park. They are making sure everything meets the necessary safety and animal welfare standards. The park has been closed to the public while these important improvements are being made.
Amazing Animals at the Sanctuary
The Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several incredible big cats and other animals. Here are some of the species that have lived there:
Lions
- Zion (deceased)
- Shikira
- Abdullah
- Cleo
- Tshaka (deceased)
- Aslan (deceased)
- Cora
- Jabu
- Narnia (deceased)
- Tanza (deceased)
- Savannah
- Shumba
- Zamba
- Shia (deceased)
- Samson (deceased)
- Shania (deceased)
White Lions
- Gandor (deceased)
- Laduma
- Amafu
- Imvula
- Marah (deceased)
- Moya (deceased)
- Sabie
- Sibili
- Timba
- Themba
Tigers
- Shikana (deceased)
- Indira
- Kahli (deceased)
- Sita (deceased)
White Tigers
- Jahdu (deceased)
- Rewa (deceased)
- Tygo (deceased)
- Shanti
- Azra (on loan to Pouakai Zoo)
- Anila (deceased)
- Kala (on loan to Pouakai Zoo)
- Rongo (sent to Africa)
- Kiwi (sent to Africa)
- Aotea (sent to Africa)
- Tane (sent to Africa)
- Khan (deceased)
- Abu (deceased)
Other Cool Species
- Mandla - black leopard
- Kenya - cheetah (deceased)
- Thabo - cheetah
- Foxy - chacma baboon (deceased)
- Zoe - serval (deceased)
- Silas - serval (deceased)
