๐ฏSplashing into fun! ๐
Check out this adorable video of our tiger cubs, Mayang and Andalas, having a blast in the water! ๐ฆ These playful siblings love to cool off and enjoy some water playtime.
But did you know that tigers are one of the few big cats that actually like water? Unlike their feline cousins, tigers are powerful swimmers and often seek out rivers and lakes to bathe, hunt, and cool down. In the wild, water provides tigers with a great way to regulate their body temperature and relax.
๐พDiscover the playful side of our meerkat Pemba as he explores one of his enrichment toys, designed to keep his mind and body active. Enrichment is an essential part of our animals' daily lives, providing mental stimulation and promoting natural behaviours. Don't miss the chance to watch Pemba in action during your next visit to Hamilton Zoo!
๐พ Strolling with spikesโจ
Watch as our zookeepers take two of our cape porcupines for a stroll around the zoo! This exciting outing is all about training and enrichment for the porcupines, helping them stay active and engaged in their environment.
Enrichment activities like these stimulate the animalsโ natural behaviours, promote physical fitness, and encourage curiosity, helping them lead healthier, happier lives. During their walk, our porcupines even visited the nearby ring-tailed lemurs, who always love to check out their curious friends!
Next time you are at Hamilton Zoo you might just catch a glimpse of this magic moment in action! These walks are not scheduled, so be sure to listen out for any announcements over the PA system.
Have you visited our adorable tiger cubs, Mayang and Andalas, yet? ๐ฏ As you can see in this video, they've grown quite a bit and are full of energy! These playful cubs love chasing their mum, Kirana, around and exploring their surroundings.
Don't miss out on the chance to see them in action and witness their playful antics firsthand. Plan your visit to Hamilton Zoo today and make some unforgettable memories with our tiger whaanau!
At Hamilton Zoo, we're more than just a home for our resident animalsโwe're a lifeline for native wildlife in need. Our dedicated vet team works hard to provide expert care to injured wild animals, specializing in native species that require unique and highly skilled treatment. Supporting our local wildlife is crucial, and weโre proud to play a part in their recovery and return to the wild.
Watch our latest video to see the incredible work being done behind the scenes and learn how weโre making a difference for the animals in our community.
If you find a native animal that is injured, contact the Department of Conservation's emergency number 0800 362 468. They will tell you what to do next. If you're unsure whether an animal is native, still give DOC a call.
Thank you for being a part of Conservation Week with us. Your support and awareness are vital in helping us protect and nurture the wildlife that makes our world so special. Remember that every action counts! How are you contributing to conservation efforts?
In recognition of Conservation Week 2nd - 8th September, weโre excited to share updates all this week showcasing our conservation efforts at Hamilton Zoo! Weโre eager to show you how we contribute to wildlife protection and would love to hear how youโre making a difference too.
At Hamilton Zoo, we're proud to play a vital role in conservation through the Breed for Release programme for New Zealand Kฤkฤ. By breeding these beautiful birds in the free-flight aviary, we help bolster their numbers in the wild, ensuring they can thrive despite threats like predators and pests. Curious to see how itโs done? Watch this video to learn more!
And hereโs what you can do to help:
๐ฟ Trap predators on your property: Introduced predators like rats, stoats, and possums pose a significant threat to native birds. Setting up predator traps on your property can help reduce their numbers and protect wildlife in your area.
๐ฟ Plant native flowering trees: Native trees provide essential food and habitat for New Zealandโs unique bird species. By planting locally native trees, youโre creating a natural haven that supports local wildlife year-round.
๐ฟ Hang water baths: Offering a clean water source in your garden can attract birds and help them stay hydrated, especially during the hot summer months. Make sure to regularly clean and refill the water to prevent the spread of disease.
๐ฟ Leave areas of leaf litter around your garden: Leaf litter creates a microhabitat for insects and invertebrates, which are a crucial food source for many bird species. By allowing some parts of your garden to remain untidy, youโre helping to sustain a healthy ecosystem for native wildlife.
Letโs work together to make a difference! Share your conservation efforts with us, and letโs inspire others to take action.
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
Hamilton Zoo Silent Auction
๐ Celebrate and fundraise with Hamilton Zoo for World Chimpanzee Day!๐
To celebrate World Chimpanzee Day on 14th July, Hamilton Zoo is excited to host a silent auction and raffle to raise vital funds for the Jane Goodall Institute Australia (JGIA) Africa Program โ Musee Vivant Redevelopment Project.
๐๏ธ Raffle Extravaganza! ๐๏ธ
Come to Hamilton Zoo on July 14th and enter our raffle! We have TWO incredible prizes waiting for you! Tickets are just $5 each or 5 for $20. The raffle kicks off at 9:30 am, with winners announced at 3 pm on the same day.
๐ผ๏ธ Silent Auction ๐ผ๏ธ
You can bid online on stunning artworks donated by these amazing artists: Rachael Robinson Art Drawn To Nature Art for Wildlife by Sonja WildArt by Kelly Unofficial: Jenny Stringer's art room and Carrie Laithwaite (craftymorepork on instagram). The auction runs for a week, so get your bids in quick!
View the auction here: https://www.32auctions.com/organizations/120893/auctions/165832
๐ Thanks to our generous supporters!
- The Framing Workshop: For framing the artworks. Discover them at www.theframingworkshop.co.nz.
- Emma Lewisham: Thank you for the luxurious skincare pack!
- Rimu Gully: Grateful for the sustainable NZ-made products!
Your participation helps protect and support these incredible creatures. Learn more and donate at janegoodall.org.au/burundi
Jane Goodall Institute Australia Jane Goodall Institute NZ Chapter
Video credit: Isobelle Harris
๐ Volume on to hear Kirana chuffing to her cubs, Mayang and Andalas.
Chuffing is a vocalisation that some cats use to communicate with each other, often showing their happiness or used as a friendly greeting ๐
The girls and mum are out on an almost daily basis now - playing, sleeping and eating outside.
If they're not in plain sight, look closely for a glimpse of orange amongst the bamboo as this is one of their favourite spots ๐งก
Come say hello this weekend, make sure to tag us in your photos and videos!
Hamilton Zoo is open daily 9:30am - 4:30pm, last admission 3:30pm.
๐น Keeper Bailey
That mid-week feeling ๐บ
Let us know what you would caption this video and be in to win!
Keeper Nicky captured these smooth moves from one of our tortoise boys during 'bath-time' ๐น
Leave your best caption idea in the comments and be in with a chance to win day passes to Hamilton Zoo!
Terms & conditions:
Winner may pick either 2x Adult Day Passes OR 1x Family Day Pass
One entry to the draw, per caption comment.
One winner will be drawn on Wednesday 10 April.
The winner will be contacted via private message on the social media platform on which they entered.
A new winner will be drawn if the winner cannot be reached within 72hrs.
Only the person who originally entered the competition can be awarded the prize.
Prize cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash.
Everybody's favourite Tiger twins are up to mischief! ๐งก๐พ
These cheeky cubs love playfighting at the moment - whether it's each other or mum, it doesn't matter, they even go after their own tails!
Kirana certainly has got her paws full with these two ๐
Visit this weekend and see them for yourself!
Hamilton Zoo is open daily 9:30am - 4:30pm, last admission 3:30pm.
๐น Keeper Emma
๐ฆ๐ It's Zahra's fourth birthday today! ๐๐ฆ
We thought we'd celebrate by sharing some of our favourite clips of her as a baby.
Her keepers describe her as sassy and independent with a bright and bubbly personality, she does what she wants to!
She is an all-around happy rhino who is very playful, sweet, and has a definite cheeky side.
Though she's still the 'baby' of the group - weighing just 50kg at birth, Zahra has grown over 30x in size over the last four years, now weighing in at just under 1,600kg!