Zoo Alive - Autumn 2014

aucklandzoo.co.nz

ISSUe # 6 | AUTUMN 201

World-first for bats

Caring for kākāpō

Baby

boom

Otter pups almost out

We work hard to provide exceptional care for the animals at Auckland Zoo. But we need your help to secure their future.

Bruce, Auckland Zoo keeper

A third of all known mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are threatened with extinction (IUCN*).

*International Union for the Conservation of nature

We need to act now.

Get involved – donate online at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/donate

From the editor Auckland Zoo has celebrated many new precious animal arrivals over summer.

These have included the breeding of bats, flamingo, red panda cubs, otter pups and, from across the Tasman, the arrival of the very loveable and endearing Tasmanian devil.

Contents

Our vets and keepers have also been particularly active out in the field, including on Codfish and Little Barrier islands – where our world-famous kakapo has bred. A chick that hatched on Little Barrier and needed some specialist help is currently with us at the Zoo. You can read all about these arrivals and our efforts for New Zealand native wildlife in this latest issue – which also happens to be our last.

While it’s the end of an era, it’s also the start of an exciting new development. We are evolving Zoo Alive to an online format that will not only be more ecofriendly, but will enable us to share our news with you more regularly and in a much more dynamic way.

Come Spring, when we launch this new digital zoo community, you can expect more breaking news, more fabulous photos, more amazing videos, more from our keepers - just more! Stay connected with us on our website and Facebook page for updates.

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I 8 I New Arrivals 10 I Bats 14 I Team effort for Kākāpō 17 I Worldview 19 I Our People 20 I K is for Kids 22 I Connect 23 I Friends of the Zoo 4 The Feed

Our all-you-can-eat update!

Devils, otters, red pandas and more...

Breeding and rearing a New Zealand micro-bat

Jane Healy Editor

Contents cannot be reproduced in whole or part without permission of the publisher.

COVER PHOTO: McLennan Front cover:Chris Nepalese red panda

Editor: Jane Healy Design: Rainger&Rolfe

Address all enquiries to the editor: Jane.healy@aucklandzoo.co.nz Phone: 09 360 3804

www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

Out in the field and at the Zoo Road safety for rhinos

5 questions with Odin Neil Rr is for red panda

Auckland Zoo is a member of the World Association of Zoos & Aquaria, and the Australasian organisation – Zoo Aquarium Association

Experience emarkable reptiles

Wednesday walks and an art competition

Auckland Zoo thanks its valuable partners for their generous support:

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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Bat

Breakthrough The Zoo Quiz 1

Which three species of mammal at Auckland Zoo have all produced twins in recent months?

2

Name the world-famous primatologist and conservationist coming to New Zealand for a fundraising speaking tour in June this year.

3

In to which Northland marine reserve did Kelly Tarlton’s SeA LIFe Aquarium and Auckland Zoo recently release a rehabilitated green sea turtle?

4 What is the term for a group of adult alligators?

5

Which large mammal species in southern Africa lost over 1,000 animals to illegal poaching in 2013?

6

How fast can New Zealand’s lesser short-tailed bat fly – 35km, 50km or 60km per hour?

7

Name the two bird species (giving both their Maori and english names) that will be translocated from Little barrier (Hauturu o Toi) onto Rotoroa Island in May by Auckland Zoo and the Rotoroa Island Trust?

8

How many kākāpo chicks have been successfully bred this season? And what is the name of the kākāpō chick that is currently being cared for at Auckland Zoo?

9

On which predator-free island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf is Auckland Zoo releasing 150 wētā punga at the beginning of May?

Auckland Zoo has made history by successfully breeding and hand-rearing lesser short-tailed bats (pekapeka) – an endangered micro-bat species and one of New Zealand’s only two terrestrial mammals.

Twin bat pups, nick-named ‘Bruce’ and ‘Wayne’, were born last November, each weighing just 4 grams (the size of 20 cent coin).

While it is rare for this species to produce twins, their mother previously gave birth to a set in 2012, but they did not survive.

This time, Zoo staff separated Bruce to be hand-reared at two days to give his mother the very best chance to raise Wayne (later confirmed to be female). However at two-weeks, due to her failure to thrive, Wayne also had to be separated to be hand-reared.

“This is the first time these bats have ever been bred and handreared in a zoo. It’s provided an amazing opportunity to gain specialist husbandry skills and invaluable knowledge about bat breeding biology and pup development to share with bat conservationists,” says curator Richard Gibson.

Bruce and Wayne are progressing well, and are due to go on display in Te Wao Nui’s The Night area in May. (See bat feature, pages 10 and 11).

10 Which Australian animal has the Zoo just welcomed and opened a major new exhibit for?

1. Nepalese red panda, lesser short-tailed bat, and Asian small-clawed otter; 2. Jane Goodall; 3. Poor Knights Marine Reserve; 4. A Congregation; 5. The rhinoceros; 6. 60kmph; 7. Tīeke (saddleback) and pōpokotea (whitehead); 8. 6 kakapo chicks, and chick Heather One is being cared for at the Zoo. 9. Tiritiri Matangi Island; 10. The Tasmanian devil.

4 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

The Zoo is the only national facility to hold and display the lesser short-tailed bat.

Michael Batty, former exotic birds team leader and now head of capital works and infrastructure, with some of the Zoo’s flamingo flock he hand-reared in England in 2001.

flamingo

flockfirst

Auckland Zoo celebrated the hatching of two greater flamingo chicks in late December and early January – the first time a zoo has ever successfully bred from an entirely hand-reared flock anywhere in the world.

It was a moment Michael batty had been waiting for since raising and transporting the Zoo’s flamingo flock to New Zealand from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, england in 2001.

“Sadly, the first chick’s health deteriorated dramatically in February and we had to make the difficult decision to euthanase him - a huge blow for the Zoo and all of us involved in caring for him. However, our younger chick is continuing to thrive, and it’s wonderful to see that we have achieved this circle of life, a world-first and the start of a second generation,” says Michael.

Now in the role of head of capital works and infrastructure at the Zoo, Michael rejoined the Pridelands team and shared his specialist bird skills to help rear the chicks.

“Pulling and artificially incubating the eggs gave the chicks the best chance of survival.

For me, it was fantastic to be involved again with these special birds. Newlyhatched chicks grow so fast. They start out short and stocky with straight bills, but within three months grow tall and slender and their bills curve and transform into that classic flamingo shape,” says Michael.

‘Little chick’ (sex to be confirmed) has grown from 89 grams at hatch in January to 3 kg, and is slowly being integrated with the Zoo’s 16-strong flock.

The bird-lover says flamingos can live to be over 60 years, and that the most successful pairs in England have proven to lay their best eggs at around 40 years old, which makes him optimistic for the future of the Zoo’s adult flock (13-year-olds) and this latest youngster.

Pridelands team leader Nat Sullivan says ‘little chick’ is continuing to progress well.

Visit Auckland Zoo’s youtube channel to watch a flamingo chick video.

Blue pullsthrough A little penguin rescued by kayakers off Waiheke Island’s Onetangi beach in January and brought to Auckland Zoo has recently joined our penguin colony at The Coast.

When found, Kikorangi was missing almost her entire left flipper (likely the result of being hit by a boat propeller) and was seriously underweight and dehydrated.

This feisty young bird, which required surgery to remove the remaining exposed bone from her severed flipper, is back to a healthy weight, and has mastered swimming with just one flipper – like two other rescued one-flippered penguins in our colony have also done.

You can help: Call 0800 HOT dOC (0800 362 468) to report sick or injured wildlife. But be aware, a scruffy-looking penguin is probably moulting, not sick, and is best left alone to hide away from dogs, cats, ferrets and stoats. In addition, keep your cats and dogs in at night, Intense blue eyes earned this and your dog on a leash at the beach, and if in a boat, turn off your engine if you spot little penguins nearby. little penguin the name Kikorangi, which in Maori means blue.

ZooAlive Autumn 2014 5

Rescued turtles return to

the wild

Three green sea turtles rescued off Northland’s west coast and successfully rehabilitated by Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium and Auckland Zoo were recently returned to the wild.

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.

A female nick-named ‘Stacey’ discovered at Ripiro beach near Dargarville last September - weak, underweight and with poor muscle tone, was released into the Poor Knights Marine Reserve.

Rehabilitate

ee n d gr

a se

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‘Luke’ and ‘Isla’, two others found by locals at Ahipara beach last August suffering weight loss, weakness and a gut impaction from ingesting plastic, were returned to Ninety-mile beach. They were also fitted with satellite tracking tags so that more information can be gained about their habits and migration.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with the great team at Kelly Tarlton’s and Massey University’s marine turtle expert Dan Godoy.

Our goal is to further improve the specialist care we can give to injured marine mammals such as these to ensure they get a second chance at life,” says the Zoo’s veterinary services manager, Craig Pritchard.

Sea turtles are generally found in warmer tropical waters, but can be washed onto our shores during colder periods if weak and suffering from injury or illness.

Zoo vets provide the initial emergency treatment and health support for such turtles, and pre-release health-screening, while Kelly Tarlton’s provides the ongoing care and rehabilitation.

Audience with world’s top

wildlife warriors The world’s most famous primatologist and conservationist, Dr Jane Goodall, will visit Auckland in late June for a public talk as part of a New Zealand tour. Auckland Zoo is helping co-ordinate the evening talk - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and hear this inspirational 80-year-old.

Jane’s 80th birthday wish is to give a further 100 orphaned or rescued chimpanzees sanctuary at the centre she has established in Gombe, Tanzania. The Auckland talk will be a fundraiser to help achieve this. Full event details including date, venue and ticket price, will be posted on the Zoo’s website from May. World-leading orangutan expert and conservationist, Dr Ian Singleton, will also visit this year. He is director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), a project that the Zoo’s conservation fund has supported

6 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

for over 10 years. The doctor has devoted his life to saving this critically endangered great ape and is active in many orangutan conservation projects.

As co-founder of Earth 4 Orangutans, Dr Singleton is working to raise funds for the establishment of the Orangutan Haven and Wildlife Conservation Education Centre in North Sumatra. His talk in late August will be fundraising for this project.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to get the latest news from an expert working directly in the field to help ensure a future for this remarkable great ape. Full details of Dr Singleton’s public talk will be available online from June.

Photo: Brian Cairns

The noisy, gregarious saddleback can’t survive in the presence of rats, making it a strong indicator species. Like the whitehead (pictured below) it thrives on pest-free sanctuary islands.

Bird

call

Plans are well advanced for 40 saddleback (tīeke) and 40 whitehead (pōpokotea) to be translocated from little Barrier (Hauturu o Toi) to Rotoroa Island in May. The birds will be the first wildlife species being introduced onto this sanctuary in the making.

The move follows extensive monitoring and pest eradication programmes by the Zoo and Rotoroa Island Trust, who in 2012 formed a partnership to create a worldclass wildlife sanctuary on Rotoroa.

“Introducing these two endemic birds is a hugely exciting milestone for everyone involved as it marks the beginning of our five-year programme to greatly increase the diversity of native fauna on the island,” says Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken.

Kiwi, duvaucel’s gecko and moko skinks are among other wildlife planned for release onto the island later this year.

“It’s through these, and other wildlife that will make their home here in the coming years, that we can start fulfilling the island’s potential – both as a centre for environmental education and a venue to demonstrate intensive wildlife management,” says Mr Wilcken.

The Zoo’s field conservation manager Ian Fraser says the saddleback and whitehead will be released into the north east of the island where there is good established forest habitat for them.

The two endemic bird species are being moved from Little Barrier with the support of several iwi groups including Ngati Manuhiri, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki and numerous other parties including the Department of Conservation.

Students for

saddlebacks

Since February, 141 Long Bay College students have been using their woodwork technology skills to help build 520 nest and roost boxes for the 40 saddlebacks (tīeke) moving to Rotoroa Island.

Under the leadership of the school’s woodwork technology head, Jeff Evans, the Year 9-13 students have clocked up an astounding 900 hours to get the job done.

The Zoo’s field conservation manager Ian Fraser says the large quantity of boxes is to cater for future breeding, and also give these birds plenty of roosting and nesting site choices.

One of the students most passionate about the project has been 16-year-old Edward Ring, who helped Mr Evans build the initial prototypes.

The woodwork enthusiast has used every woodwork and study period to help make the specially designed plywood boxes.

This has included assisting other students – including those from the school’s Sustainability Action Group (SAG), who have also been fired up about the project.

“I’ve done woodwork since Year 10 and I love it. We’ve built boxes for a few different bird species.”

“This time, I’ve especially enjoyed being involved helping get the prototypes just right. Plus, it’s definitely given me a better perspective into just what goes into helping conserve the birds,” says Edward, who is looking forward to seeing tīeke for the first time when he and other students visit Rotoroa in May with Mr Evans.

Long Bay College’s Jeff Evans and his students have built 400 roost boxes and 120 nest boxes for the saddleback (tīeke) that will make their home on Rotora Island.

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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NEW

arrivals

The world’s largest carnivorous marsupial has moved into Auckland Zoo to take up residence in a new purpose-built exhibit that offers visitors a wonderful walkthrough experience.

Tassies’

new possie One female and three male devils have relocated from Australia’s Healesville Sanctuary as part of the global ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’, set up to prevent this animal’s extinction.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming these devils. They’re part of an insurance population for their species, which has been hit hard by the contagious cancer, Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Having them here helps free up valuable space for breeding in Australian facilities and offers fantastic opportunities to both raise their profile and engage with visitors about just how cool they are,” says mammal collection development manager, Bruce Murdock.

Bruce says these smart and endearing marsupials are likely to be pretty shy and timid until they get used to their new home. be sure to get along to the Zoo’s TasMania April holidays experience from 18 April – 4 May.

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“Just be patient – they will eventually emerge! Devils are particularly active at night, but once they become more comfortable it’s likely you’ll see them out sunbaking during the day, and they will become more social,” he says.

Otterly

ce a Pear

adorable

The Zoo’s Asian small-clawed otter pair Jeta and Juno became proud parents to twins in February.

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Now eight weeks old, they tip the scales at over 600 grams, and their glossy fur coats are almost fully water-proofed, which means they’ll soon be getting their first swimming lessons.

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ter twi

o ns at seven weeks

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Fast Facts 8 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

Acting carnivore team leader Lauren Booth says the raising of the pups is a team effort

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of the world’s 13 otter species, with an adult weight range of 1 - 5 kg

from first-mum Jeta and second-time dad Juno and both are doing a great job.

“Jeta and Juno will likely start to bring them outside for very brief periods sometime in the coming weeks to teach them to swim and guide them in exploring their outdoor home.”

The pups’ first vet check in late April will confirm their sex which will in turn enable them to be named.

Perfectly adapted to life on land and water with streamlined bodies, two layers of fur (for water-proofing and insulation), webbed feet and blunt short claws for catching prey

Meet

Sundar and Kesari Lauren says red panda cubs are slow to develop, which is why at over three months of age, they are only now just starting to venture outside into their enclosure with mum.

The two offspring of second-time parents mum, Bo and dad, Sagar are extremely valuable additions to the international breeding programme for this species whose population is in decline due to deforestation and illegal poaching.

“Bo’s a fantastic mum and naturally very protective, which is exactly how she needs to be. At the moment, when she does bring them out, it’s mostly early morning and late afternoon.”

Visit Auckland Zoo’s youtube channel to watch a short video of Bo and her cubs.

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“Sagar in particular is something of a stud.

He came to us from Darjeeling Zoo in India in 2010, so he contributes a very valuable bloodline to the Australasian region,” says acting carnivore team leader, Lauren Booth.

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Auckland Zoo celebrated the New Year with the birth of Nepalese red panda twins on 3 January, a male and female who have just earned themselves the lovely Nepalese names, Sundar and Kesari.

Three-month old twins – male Sundar, meaning handsome, and female Kesari, Nepalese for like the colour of saffron.

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DePARTUReS

Photo: Carey Knox

Giants leave wētā workshop The Zoo’s unprecedented success in breeding and rearing wētā punga saw 150 of these nationally endangered giant weta released onto Motuora Island in early April.

The jewelled gecko is an expert climber with long clawed toes and a prehensile tail that it uses to hang from.

New Zealand

jewel

The Zoo High Country in Te Wao Nui is now home to a small population of jewelled gecko – one of our most beautiful endemic green geckos.

A further 150 of these stunning invertebrate heavyweights (one of the world’s heaviest insects that can weigh as much as a sparrow!) are being moved to Tiritiri Matangi Island in early May. Another 200 will be released into the wild later this year.

A group of adults will also remain at the Zoo in our temperature-controlled ‘wētā workshop’ facility, so we can help breed up a second generation for future releases.

All offspring have been bred from six male and six female wētā punga,translocated to the Zoo in 2012 from Little Barrier Island – the only place they are naturally found, as part of the Department of Conservation’s wētā punga breeding recovery programme. Visit the Zoo’s website for more about our wētā punga.

This stunningly patterned South Island gem, most prevalent on Banks and Otago peninsulas, is a threatened species – due to habitat loss, and the impact of mammalian predators.

“These geckos are also highly prized by gecko enthusiasts, which has led to illegal gecko smuggling. Some localised populations of geckos are sadly so small that illegal collection of just a few animals can pose a serious risk,” says the Zoo’s curator of ectotherms and birds, Richard Gibson.

“We feel very privileged to be able to establish a small but important captive population to help conservationists learn more about this gecko’s behaviour and biology, and are pleased to report our breeding pair have recently bred,” says Richard.

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Bats off to a flying Auckland zoo’s lesser short-tailed bat twins, male ‘Bruce’ and female ‘wayne’ are the first of their species to be bred and hand-reared in a zoo.

The five-month-old alien-looking beauties were re-integrated with their parents in February. They have mastered flying, are maintaining their weights (13-14grams) and will soon leave home to move into The Night in Te Wao Nui. Their nine-year-old parents are descendants of a small remnant population from the Tararua Ranges – part of a group moved to the Zoo in 2007 from Kapiti Island by the Department of Conservation (DOC) after they contracted a fungal ear infection.

While it’s rare for these bats to produce twins, the mum did so last year. “We knew she wouldn’t cope with raising both so we separated Bruce at two days. After a further fortnight we also had to remove Wayne as he was failing to thrive, says Zoo veterinary services clinical coordinator Mikayle Wilson.

Bat diary

the first 86 days

Day 0

Day 2

1 NOV. Twin bat pups born, 19 NOV. Male pup ‘bruce’ each weighs four grams. removed to be hand-reared to allow mother to focus on second pup. bruce’s roundthe-clock milk feeds start.

10 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

start

Playing mum

With experience in hand-rearing bats in Australia, Mikayle set up a programme. This included training bird keeper Debs Searchfield to share the intensive parenting role that for many weeks included fourhourly feeding and lots of sleepless nights!

A portable incubator set at 28 degrees celsius closely mimicked a wild nursery roost and served as a ‘bat-mobile’ for transporting the babies home for night duties. The pups quickly gained the secret identity nicknames Bruce and Wayne from Debs’ children, as initially it appeared both were the same sex.

“I felt like a new mum all over again, worrying about and caring for these incredibly vulnerable and endearing creatures. It’s been an amazing opportunity to learn about bat breeding biology and pup development,” says Debs, who’s been particularly impressed at the ease with which these terrestrial mammals can run both backwards and forwards!

The keeper says among the biggest challenges initially were feeding around the clock and handling creatures weighing just a few grams.

“It was tricky at first, but with practice I got quite dextrous at handling them. We fed their milk formula through a tiny syringe. Fortunately they caught on pretty quickly to taking it this way. For their first solids - before they grew teeth and could eat by themselves, we squeezed out the intestines of mealworms – a great source of protein for them,” says Debs.

Day 10

Day 18

Day 23

Day 29

2 NOV. bruce takes first squeezed guts of mealworm, and intake gradually increases.

 DeC. Female pup ‘Wayne’* pulled from mum after failing to thrive. Placed in a separate incubator.

9 DeC. bruce and Wayne put together in same incubator.

16 DeC. Fur starts growing.

*In mid-March, tests confirmed ‘wayne’ to be female

Bat facts New Zealand’s unique lesser short-tailed bat Mystacina tuberculata, is classified by DOC as ‘nationally endangered’. It is an ancient micro-bat species that diverged from other species early in the evolution of bats, 60 million years ago!

Adapted to hunting on the forest floor, this bat folds up its wings to use as front limbs to scramble around, and catches its prey by echolocation; it sends out pulses of high-frequency sound and listens for the returning echoes that bounce off objects Can fly at 60kmph and up to 50km a night. While flying, its heart rate reaches 800 beats per minute! At rest it reduces to 250-450 beats The short-tailed and long-tailed bat are New Zealand’s only terrestrial native mammals.

Sharing new knowledge A Forest & Bird national bat conference in Marlborough in midMarch provided the opportunity for Debs to present a paper about the Zoo’s bat breeding and rearing.

“It was fantastic to share what we’d learned, and also learn from others. What became very clear was that without regular pest control, particularly in response to the mast seeding of native plants, these already endangered bat populations will be lost forever. Trapping’s not enough either, the best tool we have is 1080 pesticide.”

One way Auckland Zoo is helping bats in the wild is by supplying bat poo to DOC rangers in the central North Island to help familiarise tracking dogs with bat scents. This assists the dogs to find bat roosts in the forest, so that DOC can in turn work to protect these populations.

Find out more!

To learn more about our native bats, visit: www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/native-animals/bats/ Or check out our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/aucklandzoo

Above: Keeper Debs Searchfield gets bat pup Bruce ready for a milk feed, which is given via a tiny syringe.

Day 39

Day 42

Day 50

Day 60

Day 70

Day 86

26 Dec. Teeth growing through.

29 Dec. Milk feeds stop.

Pups stretch, flap wings, make short jumps.

6 Jan. Hand-feeding stops.

Pups self-feed on live and dead insects. Incubator moved to large cage in parents’ enclosure.

16 Jan. Pups removed from incubator into large cage.

26 Jan. Pups fly for the first time in their cage.

10 Feb. Cage door left open.

Pups fly around enclosure and interact with parents.

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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Asian elephant Burma Elephas maximus

aucklandzoo.co.nz

CONSERVATION Auckland Zoo vets (at left and far right) James Chatterton and Richard Jakob-Hoff with DOC kākāpō ranger Hayley Richardo and Sanjay Thakur from DOC’s Te Anau biodiversity team with adult male kākāpō, Bonus on Whenua Hou.

Team effort

kākāpō k

for

New Zealand’s world-famous flightless parrot, the critically endangered kākāpō, has taken its cue from the fruiting of rimu this season and successfully bred six chicks, increasing its population to 129 birds.

14 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

Five of the chicks hatched on Codfish Island (Whenua Hou) and one on Little Barrier (Hauturu o Toi). The latter is considered remarkable, given that nine kākāpō were only just reintroduced back to this Hauraki Gulf island in 2012.

As suppliers of veterinary services to the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) Kākāpō Recovery Programme (KRP), the Zoo’s vet team has been among those assisting the specialist team over summer.

This has involved Zoo and DOC staff working together on both islands, and as it turns out, also at the Zoo. Cyclone Lusi’s effect on Heather and her chick Heather One, at their Little Barrier nest site, meant this chick had a very hard start to life. At 10 days old she had to be helicoptered to Auckland for treatment and ongoing care, and remains with us.

Codfish assignments Zoo vet nurse Mikayle Wilson spent three weeks on Whenua Hou assisting the KRP chick management team with both day and night-time nest monitoring, and helped with the rearing of ‘Lisa One’ – the first kākāpō chick to hatch since 2011.

“DOC staff found the egg Lisa One (belonging to mum Lisa) crushed in Lisa’s nest, so kākāpō ranger Jo Leddington did this incredible ‘No 8 wire’ job using tape and glue to repair the egg so it could successfully hatch, which it did in an incubator.

“I helped with around-the-clock twohourly, then three-hourly feeds for six days while it was on antibiotic treatment – a precautionary measure to prevent any infection that might have entered its cracked shell,” explains Mikaylie.

Helping ‘Heather One’ Heather One (a temporary name until she is formally named) arrived at the Zoo on 22 March, as a 10-day-old chick, underweight and critically ill.

Little Barrier kākāpō ranger Leigh Joyce and Zoo vet Bethany Jackson, who was on the island at the time, managed her through the first difficult days of her life before her flight to Auckland.

Zoo bird and ectotherm keepers Michelle Whybrow and Lou Parker, who have previous experience in kākāpō chick rearing have joined DOC’s Leigh Joyce, Ruth Cole and the vet team including Mikayle Wilson, Richard JakobHoff and James Chatterton, to intensively care for and rear the chick.

Heather One is being cared for in the surgery room at the New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine which has been converted into a temporary nursery.

Zoo vet James Chatterton carries out a health check on elderly male kākāpō, Jimmy.

“While I’ve treated sick kākāpō at the Zoo, this was my first time on Whenua Hou, and the whole experience just blew me away. Whether you’re out day or night monitoring the nests or helping with hand-rearing, everything about managing kākāpō is intense, and the knowledge and expertise of the KRP team is just incredible,” she says.

Check-ups on adult kākāpō and monitoring chicks on nests was the brief for Zoo vets James Chatterton and Richard Jakob-Hoff, who followed Mikaylie to Whenua Hou.

In a few weeks’ time, at the NZCCM viewing gallery, Zoo visitors will be able to view into the surgery room where Heather One is being cared for. (Like us on Facebook for comfirmation of when this commences).

KRP head Deidre Vercoe, says that later in May, Heather One will likely move to Invercargill to join one or more other chicks, reducing the chances of her identifying too closely with her human carers.

“In the meantime, we’re delighted this feisty chick is now doing so well. And it’s fantastic that visitors will get to see and learn more about this extraordinary bird that we’re working hard to ensure has a healthy future,” says Deidre.

Six adult kākāpō were health checked for a range of minor injuries or previous conditions, with all found to be in general good health.

While Richard is handing over the coordination of day-today vet services for kākāpō to James Chatterton so he can focus on kākāpō research, the long-time visitor to Whenua Hou was without fail, wowed by his time on the island.

“It was hugely thrilling and satisfying to see two female kākāpō, Rakiura and Pounamu, looking so well. We’ve treated both birds at the Zoo for cloacitis or ‘crusty bum’ – a serious condition into which we’re doing a lot of research.

“Rakiura came to the Zoo several times for treatment and has produced two chicks this season and is helping to foster chick Heather Two. Being able to see her on the nest with a chick was a huge buzz,” says Richard.

Invaluable experience For vet James Chatterton, a recent arrival from England, his first time on Whenua Hou – an island he describes as “an untouched ancient forest teeming with bird life”, was both exhilarating and exhausting. Caring for kākāpō can involve walking up to seven hours a day!

“I helped perform health-checks on adult birds during the daytime and on chicks at nest sites in the evenings, as well as learning about the hand-rearing process – it is a privilege to work with such an enigmatic species” “Working with the KPP staff was invaluable experience, including the intensive hands-on assistance we gave to several chicks. This has helped enormously in our management of Heather One, who we’re delighted to say is now doing great,” says James.

At the Zoo’s NZCCM surgery room, Little Barrier DOC kākāpō ranger Leigh Joyce feeds Heather One, whose weight has increased to over 700 grams.

kākāpō count • Six kākāpō chicks hatched this season. Total kākāpō population is now 129 birds • On little Barrier, female Heather had one infertile egg, and two fertile eggs; these successfully hatched, producing Heather One and Heather Two (the latter sent to Whenua Hou to hatch) • On whenua Hou, seven birds laid 15 eggs. Four of these chicks successfully hatched, and are continuing to thrive

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

15

WORLDVIEW

Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff says Disease Risk Analysis (DRA) is being used to help understand and address a newlydiscovered skin disease that can be potentially fatal to tuatara.

New tools to manage

wildlife

disease

With over seven billion people on Earth, our connection with other species is becoming harder to ignore.

One of the ways this can be seen is through the increasing number of diseases transferred between people and animals.

Since the 1940s, over 300 new infectious disease events affecting people have occurred, and about 75 percent of these diseases have an animal origin, many of them from wildlife.

New diseases are also driving wildlife species towards extinction (e.g. Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) in Tasmanian devils, and chytrid fungal infections in frogs and other amphibians). To help protect wildlife and, ultimately, human health as well, we need to understand how these diseases emerge and spread.

How do we do it? Over the past four years, Auckland Zoo’s conservation science and research manager, Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff, has led 22 international experts in authoring two world-first publications on this topic.

Now available online at http://web.oie. int/boutique/index.php?lang=en these documents have been produced for worldwide distribution by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Organisation 16 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

for Animal Health (OIE) with input from conservation, veterinary and environmental management experts.

Guidelines for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis (DRA) explains the value of using DRA for policy and decision makers. The Manual of Procedures for Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis is the practical tool for people implementing DRA in the field.

Just for conservation science geeks like Richard, you ask? Not so. These are practical resources designed to help everyone working in disease prevention – from conservation managers to public health practitioners and biosecurity agents.

“Think CSI – a crime scene or ‘conservation science’ investigation – we’re gathering evidence to understand what the disease threats are to work out exactly how to deal with them. “ “How a disease gets transferred between a wild animal and a human or domestic animal species can be pretty complicated, which is why we need these tools,” says Richard.

A disease example is the introduction of possums to new zealand.

When first introduced, we had no idea of the effect possums would have.

We now know that not only do they damage our forests and kill our wildlife, they also harbour Tuberculosis (TB).

This serious and potentially fatal lung disease can affect cattle and also people, and can be transferred as simply as by coughing or sneezing.

Possums here were originally exposed to bacteria that cause TB by infected cows. Now they are passing the disease back to cows, making its eradication much harder. Naturally curious, cows will approach infected possums that can behave strangely - sometimes walking into paddocks during the day. By sniffing them, cows can get infected. People in close contact with possums can get the disease the same way, or by drinking unpasteurised milk from an infected cow,” says Richard.

The DRA approach helps us understand these types of situations and plan actions to safeguard the health of people, domestic animal and wildlife.

AFRICA

rhinos

Road safety for

The specialised rhino mover is equipped with heavy duty cranes and translocation crates big and strong enough to pick up, hold and transport a 3000kg beast.

Translocating rhinos is a critical part of conservation of this species, involving moving them to establish new breeding populations or reinforce existing ones. It’s also required in emergency situations; to protect animals from poaching or help the injured or sick.

2013 saw a record number of rhino poached, with over 1000 animals in southern Africa

new zealand

slaughtered for the illegal horn trade – over 5 per cent of the overall population disappearing to poaching alone.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our colleagues at the Lowveld Rhino Trust, poaching has reduced considerably in Zimbabwe, where about 400 (10 per cent) of the approximately 4000 remaining black rhino live,” says ACF programmes coordinator, Peter Fraser “By providing tyres, Auckland Zoo has helped the Trust to clock up over 170 translocations – from moving rhinos to safe areas to rescuing bullet-injured animals.

Many of these road trips have to be done urgently, and in areas with rough or no proper roads. We’re really proud to be playing a part in this very important and worthwhile project,” says Peter.

Maud Island

mission

A mission to Maud Island in the Marlborough Sounds to set up a safety-net population of the rare Cook Strait striped gecko mightn’t be everyone’s idea of a break.

During the day I spent my time building and landscaping cages and writing a husbandry manual for the Department of Conservation, and by night, hunting elusive geckos.

But to Zoo curator of ectotherms and birds, Richard Gibson, who spent the week before Christmas on such a mission, it felt like holiday heaven.

It was a busy schedule, and we were successful in establishing 17 healthy adults in their new accommodation just in time for Christmas,” says Richard.

Present only on Stephen’s and Maud Islands, this delicately-marked and highly cryptic gecko may be under imminent threat on Maud due to the recent arrival of mice.

Richard says highlights included seeing bucket loads of giant weta, countless common geckos, takahē and chicks, and ‘dear old kākāpo Sirrocco’.

By winter, mice will be in their greatest numbers, get increasingly hungry and turn to alternative food sources like these geckos, and other island rarities like the Maud Island frog and Cook Strait giant weta.

“He came crashing out of the undergrowth like a misdirected bowling ball and proceeded to treat each of us in turn like a personal climbing frame before following us home and trying to break into the house. Priceless!”

“My job was to set up a captive facility to hold around 20 adult geckos – a shortterm insurance population while a mice eradication programme takes place.

Lowveld Rhino Trust staff preparing two rhinos for translocation.

Photo: Richard Gibson

Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund (AZCF) recently approved ongoing financial support to Zimbabwe’s Lowveld Rhino Trust to purchase much-needed new tyres for its purpose-built rhinoceros translocation truck.

Auckland Zoo’s curator of ectotherms and birds, Richard Gibson.

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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OURPEOPLE

Mel Trickett

Getting to know Mel Trickett joined Auckland Zoo’s veterinary services team in 2007, shortly after moving to New Zealand from England.

The 35-year-old vet nurse thinks all animals are amazing, but is especially fascinated by birds and reptiles and says she was lured Down Under by “all the weird birds” we have!

what inspired you to become a vet nurse?

I grew up in Cornwall and always loved, and had, pet animals – especially horses – and I helped out a lot on my aunt’s farm. It just seemed a natural progression that animals would be central to my career.

How did you get so crazy about birds?

I got a lot of opportunity to work with them, and that kept fuelling my fascination.

Early jobs included working in a practice that treated farm animals as well as birds and reptiles from nearby Newquay Zoo. Another serviced the Screech Owl Sanctuary – home to many owl species.

I was then incredibly lucky to work with

18 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

Neil Forbes, a renowned specialist in avian medicine surgery. It was bird heaven! We worked with everything from parrots to falcons and eagles.

what “weird” nz birds are you most wowed by?

The kākāpo and takahē are both so prehistoric. A major highlight since working here has been helping treat sick and injured kākāpo. They have real attitude, and are so unusual. They don’t fly, they’re really big, have amazing camouflage abilities, and are super noisy. With whiskers around their eyes, they also remind me of little old men; I want to put spectacles on them! The takahē is just as vibrant and opinionated. Once I was taking blood samples from this female takahē, ‘Cheesecake’, on Tiritiri Matangi and her mate was nearby, just screeching at the top of his lungs because we were interfering with his ’Mrs’. His bizarre and high-pitched squealing amazed me.

Other memorable experiences?

Putting my arm down the mouth of our female lion Sheeka, to intubate before a surgical procedure, and getting covered

in lion slobber – awesome! Also up there; helping keepers scrub down elephants Kashin and Burma soon after I arrived – my first time up close to these beautiful beasts.

Scary moments?

Having to feed locusts to some of our animal inpatients. I’d happily wrestle a Stella eagle but insects scare me. Wearing gloves has helped me conquer this fear – to some degree!

Best thing about your job?

The incredible variety of animals, the challenges we sometimes need to overcome in treating them, and just how much I learn in the process.

5

questions with

Odin Neil

Toads, spiders and snakes were among the animals that first fascinated Australian-born Odin Neil before he moved to New Zealand as a four-year-old to live on his poppa’s farm in Waiuku. Fast-forward 20 years and the 24-year-old Auckland Zoo keeper is living his dream.

1 did you always want a career working with animals?

Yeah. I loved growing up on Poppa’s farm with my mum and dad. I had every kind of pet you can imagine; including a hawk, dogs, fish, and even pest animals! When I left school I worked there as a sharemilker and helped build our new family home.

Then I took a labouring job at New Zealand Steel to fund myself to do the UNITEC Certificate in Animal Management – an essential qualification for zoo keeping.

2 How did you get your lucky break to work at Auckland zoo?

In 2008, I got an awesome opportunity to volunteer for a week on the Elephant, Carnivore and Pridelands sections. I got to help scrub down elephants Kashin and Burma and watch the keepers work with the seals and sea lions. I so appreciated how the teams worked together, the connection they had with their animals, and how much effort they put into them. After UNITEC, I got a casual keeper position on the Elephant section, which eventually led to a full-time position.

3 what do you most love about working with Burma?

Burma’s a really mischievous and playful elephant, so she’s very exciting, fun and challenging to work with. As she gets to know you and you’ve spent time training with her, you build up a real cool relationship and become part of her family.

Her intelligence just amazes me, and I love it when she roars. Burma inspires me to want to get involved in elephant conservation overseas.

5

4 Have you always been interested in marine animals?

I’m a surfer. I’ve always loved the sea and appreciated marine life. I see fur seals out surfing and it’s just automatic for me to pick up rubbish at the beach. I work closely with our sub-Antarctic fur seal Orua.

He’s got a pretty short attention span, which is challenging, but that’s also what makes working with him so rewarding. I’m currently teaching him to climb our large rock stack. I also love our Californian sea lion Scuttles – I’m training him to swim into a fish net underwater to show visitors how dangerous nets and other plastic pollution are to our marine life.

what land and sea animals would you most love to be?

I’m pretty laid back, but also active. On land, I reckon I’d be a lion. In the sea, a great white shark – they’re amazing!

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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zookidz

Rr red panda

tail

whiskers

fur claw paw What do you put on when you feel cold?

Red pandas don’t put on anything – they already have thick red fur.

What other colours is the red panda’s fur?

A red panda foot is called a paw. It has sharp claws for climbing trees and is furry, like a warm slipper.

do you eat the same food as a red panda?

They like eating fruit, eggs, bamboo and insects too.

A baby red panda is called a cub. Cubs drink milk.

This red panda is hungry. Can you help it choose some healthy food?

20 ZooAlive Autumn 2014

KIDS CARE FOR

PETS Having a pet is heaps of fun, but it’s also a big responsibility.

Good pet owners don’t just love their animals. They keep them safe and clean, and give them the right food and fresh water every day.

Keeper Ashleigh says...

“Rainbow lorikeets have tongues that are like brushes, for licking nectar and pollen from flowers. The Zoo’s lorikeet, Buddy, eats flowers like dandelions and pohutakawa, as well as grapes, corn, peas and other fruit.

Some pets can live a long time Mouse

1 year

Buddy is already 24 years old. If kept as a pet, rainbow lorikeets need company; they could need your care for as many as 30 years! Even budgies and cockatiels can live to 20.”

Pets also need daily exercise for their body and brain – just like the animals at Auckland Zoo. Some pets live so long that you might have to ask your grandchildren to look after them, so choose pets wisely!

Spot the difference

Look at the rainbow lorikeet (bottom) and eastern rosella.

Have you had one or both of them in your garden?

Guinea Pig

5 years

Goldfish

10 years dog

Rabbit 12 years 12 years

These introduced Australian birds are beautiful, but bad news for New Zealand birds like kākā, kākāriki, tui and bellbirds. They eat the same food and compete for nesting places. Plus, they hang out in big flocks, and our birds don’t.

Cat

18 years

Q A

Turtle

50 years

Cockatoo

80 years

Why did the dog cross the road twice?

It was chasing a boomerang!

Visit Auckland Zoo’s website for cool enrichment ideas to make your pet’s life healthier and happier.

21

getsnap

Take pictures like a pro!

Auckland Zoo is now offering photography workshops on-site.

Your subjects will be everything from plants, birds and reptiles, to big cats, rhino and hippo.

The three classes cater for beginners, young photographers, and intermediates. Half or full-day individual tuition is also available on request, and can be tailored to suit individual needs.

For all workshops, you’ll need to come with a basic knowledge of your digital camera (we recommend a DSLR), a fully charged battery and any other accessories you might have.

We also recommend you wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and dress for the weather!

Workshops begin in late April. For dates and details visit aucklandzoo.co.nz or phone 09 360 4700.

Learn how to use your digital camera like a pro and practice what you’ve learned out in the Zoo with tutors on hand for guidance and tips.

happy

If you love animals and photography, take pictures at Auckland Zoo and you could be in-to-win with Nikon! Whether shot with camera, phone or other mobile device, simply post your favourite animal photos from your visit to our Facebook page and caption “Nikon Zoo Snaps”.

Every month this year, we’ll be picking our favourite photo to win a nikon Coolpix camera. Full competition details and terms are on our Facebook page and website. Happy snapping!

Full-day Beginners (16 years+): $195* (20% discount if book Beginners AND Intermediate) Full-day Young Photographers (10-15yrs): $95* (10% discount if book more than one child) Full-day Intermediate (16 years+): $195* *Includes Zoo admission, morning tea and course notes

get snapping at auckland zoo and BE IN TO WIN

Experience remarkable

reptiles

1st Prize

Nikon D3200 Kit including 18-105mm VR Zoom Lens worth $1,699 plus a special Auckland Zoo behind-the-scenes experience for two people with renowned travel photographer Chris McLennan as your personal photography guide.

2nd Prize Nikon COOLPIX P520 worth $649

3rd Prize Nikon COOLPIX L320 worth $328

8 June – 28 July Visit fortomore information and terms and conditions.

Seeaucklandzoo.co.nz your map for details on how enter. For terms and conditions visit aucklandzoo.co.nz

AZOO0143 Nikon Snaps A0 Poster.indd 1

Meeting New Zealand’s tuatara up-close is like stepping back in time – over 225 million years! This ancient reptile’s lineage stretches back to the age of the dinosaurs. The tuatara is the only surviving member of the order called sphenodontia, and is unique to Aotearoa.

It’s just one of a number of remarkable reptiles you can meet up close during our behind-the-scenes Reptile Experience. Cold-blooded creatures you will also learn about include other New Zealand reptiles (geckos and skinks), as well as exotic species like the gigantic Galapagos tortoise.

Open to both adults and children, the Reptile Experience runs every Sunday at 11.45am until the end of May (the animals rest during winter) and then re-starts in September. It is limited to four people and also includes full-day entry and photos of your experience. Children must be six years or older, and all children under 15 years need to be accompanied by a paying adult.

For further details and to book, visit our website or phone 09 360 4700.

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31/05/13 2:55 PM

friendsof the Zoo news and offers for our members

Friends Martine Robertson and daughter Sophia (two-and-a-half) of Titirangi meet kunekune pig Neena and her keeper Hayley Paul following a training session.

devilishly

good

art competition

In celebration of our Tasmanian devils arriving, we’re inviting young Friends to send us some Tasmanian devil ‘Tas Art’ and be in to win!

Wednesday Walks 10am - 11am

If you’re free during the week, why not come and join us on our Wednesday walks. These animal-themed Friends strolls through the Zoo are fun and informative, perfect for a morning out with your toddlers or any home-schooled kids, and a great opportunity to meet other Friends.

We meet outside Darwin’s Café at 9:50am for a 10:00am start. No need to register, just show up!

As Friends, we also offer you other exclusives. These can range from animal encounters to talks by Zoo staff, activities like making behavioural enrichments for our animals, or checking out new facilities. Keep an eye out on our website and in the Friends e-newsletter for these special offers. We’ll also let you know whether you need to pre-book.

Coming up: Wednesday Walk – 30 April: Watch a training session with Brazilian agouti, Pico.

Explore your artistic side through this special Australian animal. Be as creative as you like, using any appropriate materials; paint, pencils, clay, crayons, felt pens, fabric, glitter or a combination of these – you choose.

It just needs to fit on an A4 page.

This competition is open to any Friends of the Zoo aged up to 15 years. Two winners will be chosen by the Zoo’s Tassie devil expert, Bruce Murdock. First place receives an $80 voucher to spend at the Zoo’s Watering Hole café, and the runnerup a Tasmanian devil soft toy from WildZone. Winning entries and others will be displayed at WildZone.

Competition closes Saturday 31 May. Drop your entries into the Zoo’s Information Centre or post to: Zoo Alive art competition, Auckland Zoo, Private Bag 78700, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1245.

Sailaway Thanks to our friends at Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum, Friends of the Zoo can now receive a 20% discount on Voyager Live harbour sailing tickets (adults and children). Choose from a short 15-minute trip on the SS Puke to a two-and-a-half hour sailing on the Waka Haunui or an adventurous full-day Breeze Gulf Experience.

When booking, simply mention you’re a Friends of the Zoo member and present your membership card to enjoy another great benefit of being a part of our family.

ZooAlive Autumn 2014

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Autumn TasMania April Holidays 18 April – 4 May / .30am – 5.30pm Join the ‘TasMania’ at Auckland Zoo these April holidays; we’re celebrating Tasmanian devils and Australia.

Come and say g’day to the recent Tasmanian devil arrivals and explore their new home.

There will be daily encounters, lots of games, puzzles and activities. Kids – you‘ll receive a free Tasmanian devil mask with an activity booklet to become an official Auckland Zoo ‘TasManiac’. Don’t miss the fun. By crikey, it’s gonna be a corker!

Mother’s day Baby loves disco 11 May / 9.30am – 5.30pm Auckland Zoo will be celebrating all mums this Mother’s Day – human and animal alike!

Show your mum the love by bringing her into the Zoo for a fabulous day that includes Baby Loves Disco from 10am – 1pm. This daytime dance party is guaranteed to get you and your little ones moving!

zoological Society of Auckland Seminars 1 & 22 May, 12 June, and 17 July 6.30pm – 8.00pm The Zoological Society offers great monthly seminars on conservation-related topics.

Subjects being covered in upcoming talks include veterinary care Tongan-style, primatology and anthropology –lessons from the field, and hands-on with big cats.

Seminars are held at the Zoo’s Grasslands theatre. Students $5, General Entry $10.

No bookings required.

celebration. Hear all about giraffes from our keepers at our giraffe encounter and compare how tall you are to a baby giraffe!

For full details about upcoming talks visit: www.zoologicalsociety.co.nz

July School Holidays

world environment day ‘Raise your voice, not the sea’ 5 June / 9.30am – 5.00pm Join Auckland Zoo in celebrating World Environment Day. There’ll be fun activities and opportunities for you and the family to discover more about what you can do to help reduce your impact on our natural world. If you’re coming by car, why not reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling with other family or friends.

elephant weekend 7 – 8 June / 9.30am – 5.00pm With our friends from ASB, we’re celebrating all that’s awesome about the elephant – one of our world’s most intelligent and beautiful animals. You can get along to elephant encounters, special elephant-themed story time sessions. Plus, there’ll be face-painting for the kids and lots of other fun activities.

world Giraffe day 21 June / 9.30am – 5.00pm Round up the kids and come and spend your Saturday discovering more about the world’s tallest land animal at this inaugural global

5 – 20 July / 9.30am – 5.00pm Bring the kids along to the Zoo for some exciting July holidays activities. Visit our website from mid-June for full details.

Normal Zoo admission prices apply. Friends of the Zoo free to events unless specified.

Last entry is .1pm for daytime events at Auckland Zoo.

Visit aucklandzoo.co.nz for full details on all these events.