Get busy at the zoo

Zoo visits should always be educational, and a recent visit to the Auckland Zoo certainly fitted the brief.
“Mum, the big tortoise is on the little tortoise,” exclaimed Mr 8, as we came across the Galapagos Tortoise exhibit. “What’s he doing to it?”
While I hesitated, quick-thinking Husband had the answer: “They’re mating,” he said casually.
“Mumma what’s mating?,” Miss 6 shrieked, as the bigger tortoise heavily climbed down from his, er, mount.
I was saved from answering, when a few other zoo-goers appeared on the scene.
“Sorry, you just missed it,” my son said triumphantly. “Those two tortoises were mating!”
The adults cracked up.
I thought we’d handled it well until Mr 8 sidled up to me later, and asked sheepishly: “Mumma, what exactly is mating anyway?”
Oh well, I guess we had to have the birds and the bees – or in this case, the Galapagos Tortoise conversation - sooner or later.

As our experience shows, there is always something happening at Auckland Zoo.

 

Over the winter holidays, we’d hoped to attend the zoo’s Snow Weekend, when snow was trucked in to give the animals an icy experience. However, a close encounter with flu of the porcine variety, put paid to that idea. Quarantine over, it was better late than never when we finally made our much-awaited visit.

 

I know zoos are sometimes controversial – no one likes to see an animal locked up or behind bars – but I’m a firm believer that they are necessary if we are to appreciate and learn about the animal world, and do our bit to conserve it. There are also breeding, research and rehabilitation programs that are invaluable.
And Auckland Zoo is one of the most progressive in the world, with more than 700 animals and 199 different species.
For example, Auckland Zoo is part of a kiwi rehabilitation programme called Operation Nest Egg. This involves taking kiwi eggs from the wild and hatching them in captivity, before reintroducing the bird into its original habitat. So far, more than 140 kiwi chicks have been raised!

And to Auckland Zoo’s credit, the surroundings are kept as natural as possible. There are bubbling streams and waterfalls, and lots of open space for the animals which need it. The grounds are spacious, without being daunting for little feet and legs.

Last time we were there, the Meerkat exhibit was closed, much to our disappointment. This time, the Meerkats were out and delighting the crowds. Mr 8 loved the tunnel, where you can crawl under their home and pop your head out in clear Perspex bubbles, for a close-up view of the funny creatures.
 

There are countless animals on display, and the giraffes, hippos, orang-utans, lions, and elephants all got plenty of attention. A highlight was feeding time for the otters, who showing off by swimming round and round after they’d had their fill, and the lemurs. (“I like to move it, move it” sang Miss 6.)

 

Come lunch time, dozens of couples and families took advantage of the spacious green grounds to enjoy picnics and packed lunches. We wished we’d done the same when we saw the selection available at Darwin’s Café. There were a selection of sandwiches for around $7, but they were of the same tired variety you can buy in supermarkets for less. There were lunch packs for kids for $9.95, but there was nothing to say what was in them. Hot meals included hot dogs, pies, noodles, chips, and onion rings.

In the end we agreed on snacks, with a view to eating something healthy and tasty when we got home. Even so, a couple of ice-blocks, two drinks, a cup of soggy chips, and three sausage rolls set us back $30. Ouch! Luckily, the $2.50 bottomless coffee or tea – from a machine used by athletes at the Beijing Olympics – is a bargain.



Apart from the hip-pocket pain, there was one sad part to our visit: seeing Janie the chimp, sitting alone in her cage. Janie is the last of four “tea-party” chimpanzees, imported from England to have tea with the tourists. As her companions have died, she is living out her years in captive comfort, with a prized mobile phone toy and lots of attention from carers to keep her company. Still, we couldn’t help but feel sad that such a majestic animal now lives alone (though I’m told she enjoys her regular human and animal visitors).

As for those tortoises? Apparently the mild weather and longer daylight hours have confused the randy reptiles into thinking it's mating season. The zoo’s tortoises are relatively young – between 35-40 years – so for a species that can live for up to 250 years, they’ve only just reached sexual maturity. Apparently, though the boys attempt to mate with the females, they don’t always get it right, and so far, haven’t actually fertilised any eggs. Even so, the kids haven’t given up hoping there will be lots of baby tortoises to visit on their next visit!

www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

Photos and story by Bronwyn Marquardt, August 2009