Wellington Zoo facts for kids

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Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo's logo
Date opened	1906
Location	200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand
Land area	13 hectares (32 acres)
Coordinates	41°19′11″S 174°47′03″E / 41.3196°S 174.7843°E / -41.3196; 174.7843
No. of animals	500+
No. of species	≈80
Memberships	ZAA

Wellington Zoo (also known as Māori: Rawhi Whakaaturanga o Te Whanganui-a-Tara) is a fun and educational zoo in Wellington, New Zealand. It covers about 13 hectares (32 acres) and is home to over 500 animals from around 80 different species.

History of Wellington Zoo
Conservation and Sustainability
Visitor Interaction and Experiences
Zoo Development Programs
Animals at Wellington Zoo
- Amphibians
- Birds
- Fish
- Insects
- Mammals
- Reptiles
- Spiders
See also

History of Wellington Zoo

Brown kiwis at Wellington Zoo in 1956

Tuataras at Wellington Zoo in 1956

Wellington Zoo first opened its doors in 1906. The idea came from New Zealand's Prime Minister at the time, Richard Seddon. He received a young lion, named King Dick, from a circus. This gift led to the creation of the zoo. Over the years, the zoo has grown and improved a lot.

For many years, Wellington Zoo was run by the Wellington City Council. But in 2003, it became a special kind of organization called a charitable trust. This means it's now managed by a group of six trustees. The Wellington City Council still provides most of the money to help the zoo run.

Wellington Zoo in the 1960s

An elephant at Wellington Zoo having a bath in 1975

The chimpanzees you see at Wellington Zoo today are related to a male named Tom and two females, Yoka and Sarah. Yoka had three daughters: Bebe, Jodie, and Jessie. Sarah had a son named Sam. Bebe also had two sons, Boyd and Marty, with Tom. In the past, the zoo used to have "chimpanzee tea parties," but these fun events stopped in the early 1960s.

In 1967, two tigers, Napoleon and Josephine, escaped from their enclosure. They were seen walking in the Newtown area, where the zoo is located. Zoo staff and police worked to find them. The tigers were eventually put down to keep everyone safe.

Wellington Zoo in the 1990s

In 1990, Wellington Zoo welcomed Jambi, a two-year-old Sumatran tiger. He was joined by a female tiger named Toba in 1992. After Toba passed away, another female, Cantic, arrived in 1994. Cantic had three cubs in 1996: Rokan, Nisha, and Malu. Rokan stayed at Wellington Zoo.

More chimpanzees joined the zoo in 1992. Three females named Cara, Samantha, and Sally came from another zoo. Jodie had a son named Gombe in 1993. Cara had a daughter, Chima, and Samantha had a son, Temba, in 1994. Sally had a son, Mahinga, in 1996. Later, Samantha had a daughter, Keza, and Cara had a son, Alexis, in 1998.

In 1992, two Malayan sun bears, Bakti and Chomel, arrived. Chomel had twin cubs in 1997, but they did not survive. She had another cub later that year, which also sadly passed away. In 1999, Chomel gave birth to twin male cubs, Arataki and Madu.

In 1998, giraffes Ricki and Tisa had their first calf, Ndoki. This male calf moved to another zoo the next year.

Wellington Zoo in the 2000s

In 2000, the tigress Cantic had her second litter of three cubs: Jaka, Molek, and Mencari. They moved to another zoo in 2001. Sadly, Jambi, the male tiger, died in 2001. This meant the zoo needed a new male tiger for breeding.

The chimpanzee family also saw changes. Sally had a son named Bahati in 2000. Some chimpanzees, like Josie and Bebe, passed away in 2002 and 2003. Cara had a son, Hasani, who died when he was three months old. Sally had another son in 2005, but he was put down after Sally did not care for him. Later that year, Sally's sons, Mahinga and Bahati, also passed away due to illnesses. In 2007, Sally had a son named Beni. In 2009, Boyd and Gombe moved to a zoo in Australia.

In 2001, the sun bear Madu was going to move to a zoo in Australia, but he passed away after surgery. His twin, Arataki, went instead. Bakti also passed away in 2001. In 2004, a new male sun bear named Sean arrived. He had been rescued as a cub in Cambodia. Chomel had a female cub named Sasa in 2006. At that time, Wellington Zoo was the only zoo in Australia and New Zealand to successfully breed a sun bear. Chomel passed away in 2009.

In 2001, the giraffe Tisa had her second calf, a female named Rukiya. Rukiya moved to Auckland Zoo in 2002. In 2004, Tisa had her seventh calf, a female named Zahara, who stayed at Wellington Zoo. In 2007, the male giraffe, Ricky, passed away. A new male, Seun, arrived in 2008.

Wellington Zoo in the 2010s

In 2010, chimpanzee Samantha had a daughter named Malika. Sally had a son named Bakari in 2012.

Sasa the zoo's Malayan sun bear

Tahi, the one-legged brown kiwi, was an unofficial zoo mascot for 15 years.

In 2012, giraffe Zahara went into labor with her first calf. Sadly, the female calf was already dead and had to be removed by a special surgery. Zahara recovered well. The male giraffe, Seun, passed away in 2012. The zoo is now looking to bring in a new male giraffe or use artificial breeding methods for Zahara.

In 2012, Wellington Zoo opened a new home for their Malayan sun bears, Sean and Sasa. Sean passed away in 2018, but Sasa is still a beloved resident at the zoo.

In 2013, the Sumatran tiger Cantic passed away at 21 years old, making her one of the oldest tigers in zoos. In 2014, a young Sumatran tigress named Senja arrived.

In 2014, Wellington Zoo opened a new exhibit called Grassland Cats. It was home to servals and caracals, which were new to New Zealand zoos at the time. The zoo no longer has caracals.

In 2019, the zoo made the difficult decision to put down all four of their baboons. This was because their social group had broken down, causing them to fight and become very anxious.

Wellington Zoo in the 2020s

For 15 years, Tahi, a one-legged brown kiwi, was an unofficial mascot for Wellington Zoo. He sadly passed away in June 2021.

In November 2023, a giraffe calf named Nia was born at Wellington Zoo. This was the first giraffe born at the zoo in 20 years!

Conservation and Sustainability

Wellington Zoo is very dedicated to caring for animals and protecting wildlife around the world. They not only look after their own animals but also take part in special breeding programs. These programs help to increase the numbers of endangered animals. The zoo also supports conservation and research projects in New Zealand and other countries.

The zoo works with other zoos globally through "studbook keepers." These experts keep track of information about specific animal species. This helps make sure that animals in breeding programs are genetically diverse and healthy. Wellington Zoo is a full member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA).

Besides breeding programs, the zoo is involved in local conservation projects. The Kererū Discovery Project works with other groups to make Wellington a better place for the native wood pigeon, the kererū. The Places for Penguins project works to find and protect nesting areas for blue penguins along Wellington's coast.

The Wild Theatre

Visitor Interaction and Experiences

The zoo offers many talks and demonstrations throughout the day. These are great ways to learn more about the animals.

At The Nest – Te Kōhanga, visitors can watch the zoo's veterinarians at work. They can see how the vets provide medical care to many different animals. You can even ask questions through a special intercom system!

The Nest – Te Kōhanga

Meet the Locals He Tuku Aroa opened in 2015. This area takes visitors on a journey from the sea to the mountains of New Zealand. It shows different environments like farmland and native forests. This exhibit is all about local animals and conservation. It includes Pōhutukawa Farm, where you can see traditional farm animals.

Zoo Development Programs

The Nest – Te Kōhanga is Wellington Zoo's newest big addition. It has modern facilities and equipment to treat almost every animal at the zoo. It is also used to help rescued native wildlife. The main surgery rooms have viewing areas. Staff can explain what they are doing, and visitors can ask questions. In the future, the zoo plans to build an Asia Precinct and The Roost, a facility for native bird care and breeding.