 HomeNewsEventsZoo Cubs & Junior Zoo KeepersWish ListOur SponsorsMeet Our Animals |
| 83 Ridge Rd RD4 Tuakau New Zealand T 09 236 8686 |
| ©2006-2008 Franklin Zoo Web by Wallop |
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. |
Open Air Lion Enclosure Opens
Franklin Zoo has introduced its three ex-circus lions Eddie, Gypsy and Queenie into a new open air habitat. After living in the circus for 17 years, the zoo has provided a home for the lions, now 18, to retire.It's great to see the lions in their large new habitat. After walking the perimeter, the lions began rolling in the grass and within half an hour were playing together. We were surprised to see how the lions took it all in their stride. Introducing them into the habitat was a long time in the planning so we were excited to see them happy and inquisitive. They displayed good natural lion behaviours, hiding in the long grass and stalking each other.
The zoo plans to integrate Eddie, Gypsy and Queenie with the zoo's other lions, Jade and Ruby so they can all live together in the new habitat. Jade and Ruby have lived at the zoo for 14 years.
Eddie, Gypsy and Queenie have been living next to Jade and Ruby for the past year to ensure they are familiar with each other before living together. They will take turns spending time in the habitat before being introduced to each other.
Gypsy is 80% blind and relies on her sister Queenie for guidance in new situations. She needs to be familiar with the habitat before they are all introduced.
 |
| Pigtail macaque monkeys |
| Dirk and Carol are well adapted to the environment with hard patches on their bottoms to make sitting in branches more comfortable, and cheek pouches for storing food. When they get fed, they put as much food in their cheek pouches as can fit so they can eat it later at their leisure. They use their eyebrows to communicate so if you watch them they pull some very cute faces. |
| ...read more stories |
