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NEWS FROM THE ZOO
Here's the latest goings on at Franklin Zoo  Tommy, our cute otter, is soon to be joined by another friendly otter named Paddles. Read about it in our August Zoo Diary. |
Zoo Diary January 2008
A new year has arrived bringing fresh goals to be achieved and new challenges. Unlike many businesses and institutions that wind down over the holiday period, zoos face their busiest time with regard to visitor numbers.We extend a big welcome to Jamie, Hamish, Yvonne and Roshan who were successful in gaining practical work placements at Franklin Zoo to fulfil this requirement of the Unitec Wild Animal Captive management course. Three of the students are moving to the Franklin area from as far afield as Dunedin and Napier. This year there were sixteen applicants for placement but our resources only allow for us to take four. Some were able to get placements in other zoos but it was very disappointing for a number of applicants. We have a commitment to the zoo industry to provide opportunities for the highest quality applicants to strengthen the skill base both here in New Zealand and to those who will use the qualification throughout the world.
As mentioned last month, we have a waiting list of animals who will be finding a new home at Franklin Zoo. Our immediate priority is two female cotton-topped tamarins that have come from New Plymouth after in-fighting in their group. They are getting a brand new home next to the capuchin and spider monkeys in the area that we are now developing as the South American rainforest zone. The tamarins will be housed in a 3.5 metre high spacious enclosure complete with sub-tropical vegetation such as bromeliads which are hosts to insect life that these little monkeys love to catch and feed on.
We have also completed an extensive planting programme in the area that will be the open range habitat for the capuchin and spider monkeys. Many thanks go to the Y.T.T (Grown Yesterday for you Today to cherish Tomorrow) which donated many of the plants and a truck and digger for the placement of six mature palm trees. Thanks also to a group of students from Pukekohe High School who assisted with the planting. Visitors will now get a good idea of what the new monkey habitat will be like. We will be fundraising throughout the year to complete this exciting project through the Franklin Wildlife Charitable Trust.
There are still some places available in the Zoo Cubs and Junior Zoo Keeper courses during January.
We look forward to your visit over the summer months.
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| Zelda, our zebra |
| Zelda, our zebra, loves a chat with zoo visitors. Zebra stripes are unique and help camouflage them and keep safe. There are three types of zebras Grevys, Grants and Burchells. Zelda is a Burchells zebra which means she has shadow stripes. If you look closely youll see there are black stripes and with lighter stripes between. It also means her legs are mostly white as only the Grants zebra has stripes all the way down to the hooves. |
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