By Liam Gilroy
An exciting new nature section called Te Wao Nui has recently opened at Auckland Zoo. The new section houses many native insects, plants, birds and reptiles and since the opening on Sunday 11th of September, has proved to be a popular attraction.
The idea for this part of the zoo was first thrown around 15 years ago, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the zoo finalised its plans to construct this native enclosure.
Te Wao Nui cost over 16 million dollars to build and at 3.2 hectares in size the nature section takes up one-fifth of the zoo. The new area took one year to construct and has over 100 species of new plants and over 60 native species, including long-fin eel, blue duck, brown kiwi and jewelled gecko.
Almost all the animals and insects inside the new Ta Wao Nui have come from other breeding programs at other zoos around New Zealand. The ones that Auckland Zoo has not been able to collect from other zoos they have sourced from the wild with the help of the Department of Conservation (DOC).
One of the animals that have been introduced with the help of DOC is the Archey’s frog which is very rare and primitive creature. DOC is hoping to bolster the population of Archey’s through a breeding programme that is being led by a British expert in frog-breeding.
The Te Wao Nui section is staffed by ten people - eight specialists and two team leaders. There are also people who will take tours and give talks about the various native animals.
The Te Wao Nui section features a forest section where you can take a board-walk up to the canopy section of the forest.
There are also a lot of native birds that have been introduced into this part of the zoo - most of these native birds are getting used to people being around them and are becoming friendlier.
There is also a reptile section where you can view skink, tuataras and other lizards in one enclosure, along with a nocturnal and insect section. An underwater section features native animals like the long-fin eel. Here you can see this native eel swimming around and being fed, which is as close to the real thing as possible!
Before the new nature section was developed, Auckland Zoo had only six animals which could not be seen at other zoos in New Zealand, however this number has now increased to over 60 different animals, such as the short-tailed bat. Auckland Zoo wants to continue introducing new animals but first off they are hoping to allow the new animals time to settle into their new home.
If you ever go and visit the Auckland Zoo, the Te Wao Nui section with its wetas, long finned eels and many other wonderful animals will certainly be wonderful to see.
