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Orana Wildlife Parks page community guidelines:
Our community guidelines aim to ensure that our page is inclusive and inviting for everyone. We want to encourage positive communication and sharing, if you have a great photo, video or question, please post it on our page. We do ask you to remember that this is a page for friends of the Park. We love engaging with our fellow anima
l lovers, and are open to everyone's comments and opinions. However, we ask you not to ruin the experience for our community by using inappropriate or offensive language, or by posting information that is factually incorrect or even violent in nature. If through your words or actions you demonstrate that you are clearly not a friend of Orana Wildlife Park and do not support our mission of education, conservation and recreation, and you deliberately create an environment which damages the community experience, then your comments will be deleted and you will be denied participation on this page. If you ever have any concerns that there are posts not in the keeping of this page, please send us a Facebook message or email us at [email protected] we will treat every contact with seriousness and confidentiality.
We'll just leave this here to make your vote easier... ✅Last day to vote!
Help Kākāriki karaka become Bird of the Year by voting here 👉 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz. Voting closes today (Sunday 15 September) at 5pm.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Forest & Bird RealNZ Team OFP: save NZ's orange-fronted parakeet
Today is the start of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Maori Language Week. This week we will be helping you to learn some of our animal species names in maori.
Today we have:
Tiger = taika
Giraffe = kakīroa
Zebra = hepapa
Monkey = makimaki
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY ❓ Parakeet offspring (like our beautiful kākāriki karaka chick) hatch completely naked; they have transparent skin that shows the developing pin feathers beneath. These form during the baby birds' first week. After one week, feathers begin to emerge and within five weeks, baby parakeets should be entirely feathered.
P.S. You can help kākāriki karaka become Bird of the Year by voting here 👉 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz! Voting closes Sunday 15 September at 5pm.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Forest & Bird RealNZ Team OFP: save NZ's orange-fronted parakeet
Moana Road is now sold in our gift shop 🛍️ Check out the huge range in store (no need to enter the Park to purchase souvenirs) and ensure you show your annual pass to save 10% 🙌
We love all of our native birds but there is one special parakeet close to our hearts, the Kākāriki karaka! Help them become Bird of the Year by voting here 👉 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz! Voting closes Sunday 15 September at 5pm.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Forest & Bird RealNZ Team OFP: save NZ's orange-fronted parakeet
Happy 18th Birthday to the lovely Whenua one of our delightful ring-tailed lemur 🎂
Is this a look of surprise or a look of shock that she is 18?😱
The average lifespan of a wild ring-tailed lemur is 18-20yrs, in captivity they can live to 30+ years of age.
Help make kākāriki karaka Bird of the Year! Vote now at 👉 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz and spread the word! Voting closes Sunday 15 September at 5pm.
The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary Forest & Bird RealNZ Christchurch Helicopters Ltd Team OFP: save NZ's orange-fronted parakeet
Conservation Week/Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa Tip #5. By keeping cats safe at home, you protect them from harm and help our precious native wildlife flourish.
To learn more about Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife visit our website https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/conservation/safe-cat-safe-wildlife/
💚💛🧡Meet this season’s fashion superstar and top contender for : the fabulous kākāriki karaka! This vibrant, cheerful parakeet from Canterbury is not just Aotearoa's rarest parakeet but also the ultimate style icon of the season. 💚💛🧡
With its dazzling green plumage and striking orange and yellow accents, the kākāriki karaka is making waves in both the bird world and the fashion scene. Embrace the bold hues of the kākāriki karaka and stand out in style.
Vote now at 👉 www.birdoftheyear.org.nz (link in bio) and spread the word! Let’s make kākāriki karaka Bird of the Year!
RealNZ Team OFP: save NZ's orange-fronted parakeet
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY x Conservation Week/Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa x Bird of the Year❓
Tip #4. Planting native trees and bushes will provide native fauna with food and/or shelter to help them flourish.
Our Jobs for Nature team are in the middle of another busy planting season, since the project started two years ago the team have planted over 14,000 stems. It has been wonderful to see the positive impact the plantings have had on the birds, reptiles and invertebrates found around the Park.
Did you know that Orana's grounds provide a natural habitat to over 30 species of birds? 18 of these are native/endemic, and many of which can be voted for in https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/
Conservation Week/Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa #3. Make a lizard friendly space in your garden. It is easy to make a safe space for native geckos and skinks in just a few easy steps.
Visit our website to learn how:
https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/conservation/conservation-at-home/
If you are luckily enough to spot a lizard in your garden, please ensure you don't pick it up and ensure you give them plenty of space so they feel safe being in your garden.
Bird of the Year voting has opened! If you are passionate about pāteke, keen on kākāriki karaka, wild on whio or you're just batty about birds, make your vote count and visit www.birdoftheyear.org.nz.
We are team kākāriki karaka! Aotearoa's rarest parakeet with less than 500 in the wild and Canterbury's own special species. This colourful character is limited to two alpine beech forest valleys in Canterbury, and Ōruawairua/Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds, and the The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary in Nelson.
Today is the start of Conservation Week/Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa, running from 2-8 September, the theme for this year is 'Take Action for Nature'. This week we will be sharing some easy tips on how you can take action for nature, to help our precious native fauna and flora flourish.
Tip #1 When you are visiting kea territory, ensure that you refrain from feeding them. Human food can be bad for kea and can make them sick. When people, equals food, kea have a high risk of car strike, and accidents as a result of kea searching for novel food around car parks and roads.
Have you heard of the https://keadatabase.nz/? This is a citizen science initiative, where anyone can log a kea sighting. This helps the Kea Sightings Project know what kea are getting up to and where they go.
You can even search for and log the kea at Orana, if you want to try for yourself search: v-3802.
A massive Happy Father's Day to all the amazing Father's and Father figures out there. Today we bring you our final Dad spotlight post for Bruce. Bruce our delightful porcupine, is paired with Kali, and they recently welcomed two adorable porcupettes.
For the first two weeks the porcupettes will suckle from the mother while the male defends their territory. He will then protect, groom and chaperone the young on foraging trips as they grow.
These are the first porcupine to be born at Orana since 2007.
Our little prickle (family or group of porcupine) are located next to the meerkat habitat (close to the main shuttle stop). As porcupine are nocturnal they can be tricky to spot, however as the porcupettes become more confident with their surroundings they will become easier to see. Porcupine have very sensitive ears so to give you the best opportunity to spot them ensure you are quiet when watching out for them.
Introducing today's super Dad, Paru one of our North Island brown kiwi.
Paru is an amazing Dad, not only does he incubate his own eggs but he is a wonderful foster Dad, incubating eggs from other kiwi. He is the father of 13 chicks, and has fostered almost as many.
Brown and little spotted kiwi eggs are only incubated by the male. Once laid, the female will leave the nest and the male will take over incubating the egg. The average time of incubation is 70-80 days. Early on he can leave the nest for most of the night, closer to the time of hatching he will stay on the egg for several days tucking himself around the egg tightly, during this time he will be sustained by fat reserves.
Orana is privileged to be part of the captive component of the kiwi recovery programme for this precious taonga species.
One of the best things you can do to help protect kiwi in the wild is by keeping your dog on a leash while visiting kiwi habitats.
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY ❓ There are more than 6,000 species of frogs worldwide. In New Zealand we have three native frog, and three introduced frog species.
📷: A green and golden bell frog. This species was introduced to New Zealand from Australia in the 1860's.
Who had snow at their house? ❄️ we didn’t get any but our team brought in some as enrichment for some of the animals.
🎥 Reggie demolishing his snowman.
❓FUN FACT FRIDAY ❓ Female North Island Brown Kiwi have two functional ovaries which is unusual in the bird-world. This means that they can have two eggs developing at the same time, usually around three weeks apart. The male kiwi will then incubate the two eggs until they hatch. Kiwi will lay a clutch of eggs 2-3 times a season.
Orana is privileged to be part of the captive component of the kiwi recovery programme. This breeding season (which is currently underway) we have four breeding pairs, two of which are new breeding recommendations, our team are excited for a busy season.
You can do your part to help kiwi in the wild by volunteering for a kiwi project, joining a trapping group and keeping your dog on a leash in kiwi and other native fauna habitats.
📷: One of our team candling a fertile kiwi egg.
Today is World Lizard Day and we are shining the spotlight on the Canterbury spotted skink, one of Aotearoa's rarest skinks. Sadly the Canterbury spotted skink was reclassified this year from Nationally Vulnerable to Nationally Critical – the last step before extinction!
Canterbury spotted skink’s main predators are mice, hedgehogs, weasels, rats, stoats, and cats. You can do your part to help ensure our native geckos and skinks are here for generations to come by creating safe habitats in your garden, keeping your cats indoors and trapping for pest species. If you want to learn more about how you can do this visit our website:
https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/conservation/conservation-at-home/
We are deeply grateful for the support we have received during this challenging time. Following media coverage this week, we are pleased to advise that an MPI rapid animal welfare assessment of Orana Wildlife Park's animals and its operation was completed. No matters of concern were identified (see story below).
We take all matters raised seriously and our gates remain open. We welcome additional reviews that are underway as a further level of assurance to the public and stakeholders. We look forward to seeing you at the Park soon.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350352692/no-evidence-neglect-orana-park
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY ❓ Like a zebra’s unique stripe pattern or a human’s fingerprint, no two African wild dogs have the same markings on their coat. Mottled with red, black, brown, white, and yellow patches of fur to help with camouflage.
To learn more about these amazing dogs head along to our African Wild dog presentation on Mondays or Thursdays.
Have the kids been spinning you in circles? Bring them out to Orana to burn off some energy and best of all they visit for FREE* until Sunday 21 July!
*Kids visit Orana FREE in the July school holidays 6-21 July 2024, Two FREE children per paying adult, additional children $12.50ea, T&C apply, see our website for more information https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/plan-your-visit/events/
.🦎Our last school holiday workshop is on tomorrow (Thursday 18 July). Join our team to learn how to make a lizard habitat or learn about tracking tunnels and how to make them for your garden 🦎
📆 Thursday 18 July
⏱ 2-2:30pm
📍 Meet inside Zoo School (F6 on the map)
✅ Open to all ages
💲 Workshop is FREE with general admission (Adult $39.50, Sen/Stu $33.50, Child(5-15yrs) FREE* T&C apply).
*Kids visit Orana FREE in the July school holidays 6-21 July 2024, Two FREE children per paying adult, additional children $12.50ea, T&C apply, see our website for more information https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/plan-your-visit/events/
Make the most of the holidays with kids visiting Orana for FREE*!
For more information or to book your tickets visit https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/plan-your-visit/events/
*Two children (5-15years) visit for FREE with each paying adult (including student and senior). Valid until21 July 2024. For full T&C's visit our website ⬆️
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY ❓ An emu egg can weigh up to 680 grams, which is the equivalent of about 12 chicken eggs!
📷Have you got the eye of the tiger and are keen to show your stripes as a wildlife photographer? Then enter your best wildlife snaps in Canterbury Museum’s ‘Amazing Animals’ photo competition.
The best pictures taken this year will be displayed at ‘Canterbury Museum at CoCA’ with prizes for in each age category. Visit Orana during the school holidays for inspiration and take some photos of our stunning animals, then submit your best shots. Plus all entries to ‘Amazing Animals’ will also be in a draw to win one of 5 family passes to Orana Wildlife Park. If you need even more inspiration, visit the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ exhibition at ‘Canterbury Museum at CoCA’ to see the world’s best animal photographs.
Visit the Canterbury Museum website for all the competition details: https://www.canterburymuseum.com/visit/whats-on/amazing-animals
793 McLeans Island Road
Christchurch
8051
| Monday | 10am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
| Friday | 10am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 5pm |
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Moana Road is now sold in our gift shop 🛍️ Check out the huge range in store (no need to enter the Park to purchase souvenirs) and ensure you show your annual pass to save 10% 🙌
A massive Happy Father's Day to all the amazing Father's and Father figures out there. Today we bring you our final Dad spotlight post for Bruce. Bruce our delightful porcupine, is paired with Kali, and they recently welcomed two adorable porcupettes. For the first two weeks the porcupettes will suckle from the mother while the male defends their territory. He will then protect, groom and chaperone the young on foraging trips as they grow. These are the first porcupine to be born at Orana since 2007. Our little prickle (family or group of porcupine) are located next to the meerkat habitat (close to the main shuttle stop). As porcupine are nocturnal they can be tricky to spot, however as the porcupettes become more confident with their surroundings they will become easier to see. Porcupine have very sensitive ears so to give you the best opportunity to spot them ensure you are quiet when watching out for them.
The animal world, just like the human world, has amazing dads. This Father’s Day we are celebrating four of our incredible animal dads. Each day leading up to Father's Day we will talk about some of our old and new dads and the role they play within their families. Today we would like to introduce you to Daffy, one of our beautiful kākāriki karaka, he is paired with Winnie. Together they have raised 52 chicks, most of which have been released to the wild. During the breeding months it is common for kākāriki karaka to breed 3 or 4 times in succession. Males play an important role in the nest, as they provide food for the female while she incubates the eggs, as well as taking care of the nestlings. kākāriki karaka are Aotearoa's rarest parakeet and a species native to Canterbury. Orana is proud to be part of the captive component of the recovery programme for this precious taonga species. You can help kākāriki karaka and other native fauna in your neighbourhood. Create tracking tunnels and start trapping predators on your property or join a local trapping group.
Who had snow at their house? ❄️ we didn’t get any but our team brought in some as enrichment for some of the animals. 🎥 Reggie demolishing his snowman.
Have the kids been spinning you in circles? Bring them out to Orana to burn off some energy and best of all they visit for FREE* until Sunday 21 July! *Kids visit Orana FREE in the July school holidays 6-21 July 2024, Two FREE children per paying adult, additional children $12.50ea, T&C apply, see our website for more information https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/plan-your-visit/events/
Happy 40th Birthday Utani 🎂 Katala and Tamu were quite excited for the cake, while Utani stayed back and enjoyed the peace without her pushy sisters interrupting 🤣 The beautifully decorated boxes contained their favourite treat lucerne hay. Utani is one of the oldest rhinos in Australasia and the oldest rhino in New Zealand.
💲💲Don’t miss our end of financial year sale 💲💲 Up to 50% off a wide range of stock! Plus annual pass holders save an additional 10%! Sale ends 30 June 2024, or while stocks last.
❓Fun Fact Friday X World Giraffe Day ❓ World Giraffe Day is celebrated on June 21 each year and is a day to celebrate the tallest animal on the longest night(or longest day for those in the Northern Hemisphere). Today is a day to create awareness and shed light on the challenges giraffe face in the wild. Sadly over the past 300 years giraffe have lost almost 90% of their habitat and their population has declined by around 30% in the last 35years. You can help support Orana and the Somali Giraffe Project when you purchase a Fahlo animal tracking bracelet from our gift shop 🥰 🎥: Kevin our not so little giraffe calf enjoying some tasty leaves. #worldgiraffeday #WGD #worldgiraffeday2024
It is National Volunteer Week (16-22June) 🥰 Our amazing volunteers contribute over 12,000 hours of service to the Park each year; helping out in the farmyard, driving our shuttle, assisting with grounds keeping work, taking part in our animal preservations and more! We are lucky to have such an incredible bunch of people to help the Park continue its amazing conservation and education work. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at the Park visit https://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/get-involved/volunteer/
Meet Waru! This wee guy recently arrived from National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa. He has been given a recommendation to be paired for breeding with one of our kiwi from last season Paddle. When Waru arrived the team gave him a check over to ensure he was doing well after his flight. He is a healthy young bird so we are excited what the future will bring for Waru and Paddle 🥰
Someone is trying to beat his brother to the best bugs 🐛 These logs provide natural enrichment for our meerkat mob to encourage natural behaviours.
❓FUN FACT FRIDAY❓Roosters prevent themselves from going deaf due to their loud crowing by tilting their head when they crow. This covers their ear canal which acts as a built in ear plug.
When that afternoon sun hits 🥰 The best time to see our prickly ladies is after the meerkat feed at 10:45am or late in the afternoon.
👑 The King(fisher) would like to announce that Orana is open all of King’s Birthday weekend, 10am-5pm (last entry by 4pm). Pre buy your tickets via our website (link in bio).
Happy World Parrot Day and this year is the 20th anniversary of WPD! Today we’re spotlighting the beautiful kākāriki karaka, Aotearoa’s rarest parakeet. Numbering less than 400 in the wild, our team are privileged to have been part of the recovery programme for this species since 2017 and have bred over 100 for release to the wild. You can help native species in the wild by planting native trees or joining a local trapping group. #worldparrotday #WPD24 *The two dates kākāriki karaka have been declared extinct are 1919 and 1965.
🚨 SALE ALERT 🚨 Stocktake clear-out, up to 50% off a wide range of items in our gift shop! Plus show your Orana annual pass for an extra 10% off 🙌
🎈Happy 21st Birthday Fataki 🎈 Fataki’s amazing keepers set up a delicious feast for the gorilla brothers today in celebration of Fataki’s birthday. There was an oat and carrot cake which Fataki devoured along with some coloured rice, rice noodles, a few special treats of dried apricot and currents and their favourite lucerne browse 🥰 🔊 Fataki was lucky enough to have a visiting school sing happy birthday to him 🎂
Reggie the Sumatran tiger showing off his agility and strength! While tigers aren’t the biggest or most powerful animal, they have many adaptations which enable them to take down prey up to twice their size! Their strong jaw, retractable claws and powerful muscles make them formidable apex predators.
❓ FUN FACT FRIDAY❓Because a lace monitors tongue is forked it can detect odours in the air from both sides of its head and figure out which direction the odour is coming from.
