Animal News
The latest animal news at Auckland Zoo
Do you love wildlife? We do too!
Here we share stories about animals at Auckland Zoo, our on the ground conservation fieldwork for Aotearoa New Zealand native and endemic species, and our global partnerships to ensure the survival of animals from around the world.
Learn how our zookeepers and veterinary hospital team breed endangered birds and lizards for release, create behaviourally enriching meals for lions and tigers, and treat animals like honu/sea turtles and kororā /little penguins that are found injured on our coastlines.
Auckland Zoo farewells much-loved giraffe Rukiya
Zoo vets head to remote islands to care for kākāpō!
Hand-rearing a just-hatched kākāpō chick
We’re helping to conserve these beautiful alpine parrots!
Zoo births a boost for skink on the brink
Ongoing mahi to protect native bats
Wild Heroes returns with action-packed fourth series!
Hatch-assisting a kākāpō is a career highlight for Mikaylie!
Kiwi hatched on Christmas returns to its island home
A bumper kākāpō breeding season
Protecting Hamilton’s frogs from predatory tuatara!
Great news for green sea turtles rehabbed and released!
This penguin was rescued from the bus lane of the Harbour Bridge!
One good fairy tern deserves another
And that’s a wrap...2025!
Lending a hand to rear precious hoiho chicks
Zoo farewells much-loved elderly fur seal Ōrua
A 94kg challenge – our heaviest wild sea turtle patient yet!
Latest birth great news for a rare taonga
Zoo plea – please forego fireworks this Guy Fawkes
We can all help to protect precious penguins at the beach!
Rescued toroa returned to ocean home
Sea turtle recovering after flipper surgery
Vote tarāpunga/red-billed gull for Bird of the Year!
Kiwi incubating smart eggs for science
‘Nationally Critical’ skinks brought to the Zoo for safe-keeping
Caring for Archey’s frogs!
Positive progress for this wild green sea turtle!
Rare alpine skinks born at Auckland Zoo
Winning outcome for critically ill wetlands bird
Wildlife rangers, the planet’s unsung heroes!
Rare wetlands patient makes remarkable recovery
Searching for endangered awakōpaka skinks
Vet team perform complex sea turtle surgery
Vet team makes kindest call for critically injured albatross
Thousands of wētāpunga hatch at Auckland Zoo
Wild Heroes returns with exciting new series
We’re helping to protect kea in the Matukituki Valley!
Sea turtles return to wild
Wild kiwi chick is in recovery
Successful season for rare New Zealand fairy tern!
16 wild kororā admitted in 32 days
Great teamwork for kororā
Conservationists are searching for native bats!
Cobble skinks beat the odds and fly home
And that's a wrap...2024!
Conservationists join forces to care for precious penguins
Keeper Emma shares her love for fur seal Orua
A wave of sea turtles arriving at Auckland Zoo
Celebrate nature and whānau not fireworks this Guy Fawkes
How do conservationists replicate how kiwi incubate their eggs?
Auckland Zoo and Department of Conservation sign new strategic partnership
Protecting pekapeka in Tāmaki Makaurau
Hari huritau Rukiya!
Kākāpō Tīwai recently had a short stay at the Zoo!
Conservation collaboration for the world’s smallest penguin!
A triumphant recovery for this southern giant petrel!
Critically ill sea turtle given second chance at life
Celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s endemic lizards
We love lending a hand to care for precious kākāpō!
Puka, olive, feijoa, and guava for giraffe please!
Critically ill wild fur seal highlights environmental challenges
The best news for this wild dotterel patient!
Super travel trailer supports giraffe Jabali’s smooth move to Hamilton
Albatross brought into the Zoo in need of urgent attention
Remarkable road to recovery for Hawksbill turtle Hine Kopenu
Emergency mahi underway for endemic skink on the brink
Unique advocacy role for sea krait at Auckland Zoo
Searching for the Ōkārito skink
Giant kōkopu - our pick for Fish of the Year 2024!
A champion for the conservation of cryptic taonga
Great news as Zoo-reared tara iti have taken to the skies!
Exciting study underway for the rare Northern striped gecko!
Wild Heroes returns to your screens!
Meet Auckland Zoo's two week old giraffe calf!
Boosting our support for the critically endangered Korowai gecko
We have an update on the tara iti chicks that hatched at the Zoo!
Auckland Zoo giraffe Kiraka gives birth to a healthy 6-foot calf
And that's a wrap...2023!
Breeding season kicks off again for tara iti!
Conserving vulnerable hoiho chicks
Zoo vet team care for endangered Hawksbill turtle
Helping kākāpō on their sanctuary islands!
Pregnant giraffe Kiraka expecting soon!
Zoo celebrates milestone for takahē
Protect wildlife and your pets this Guy Fawkes
Beautiful barn owl chick is hand-reared at the Zoo
Zoo vet team care for injured olive ridley sea turtle
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori: sharing pūrākau and whakataukī for three endemic manu
Success in recent sea lion pup count!
Celebrating two rare New Zealand skinks - grand and Otago!
Conservation monitoring for Duvaucel's geckos
Amazing news for orphaned kererū!
Auckland Zoo helps release a visiting kekeno (NZ fur seal) back to the wild
Zoo celebrates the hatch of two healthy kororā / little penguins!
More giant wētā have been released in the Bay of Islands!
Conserving Kea in Matukituki Valley
Auckland Zoo and DOC join forces to help critically ill matuku-hūrepo
Auckland Zoo marks Endangered Species Day with announcement of conservation …
Dogs helping frogs!
Success in our intensive management programme for tara iti …
Zoo celebrates milestone for Kapitia skinks
Protecting precious hoiho from a deadly disease
Rearing a kororā (little penguin) chick
Caring for kākāpō affected with cloacitis
Rescued kāhu takes flight at Auckland Zoo!
PSA: Great news – Te Wao Nui is open for visiting!
And that's a wrap...2022!
Joining forces to boost numbers of a rare New Zealand bird
Success for wild kororā (little penguin) patient
Creating an ectotherm experience in the Waitākere Ranges!
‘Wild Heroes’ - Auckland Zoo on screen!
Wild tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) patient now thriving in Omaha
Zoo celebrates the hatching of a kororā / little penguin
Auckland Zoo celebrates birth of giraffe calf
Giraffe Kiraka is pregnant and due to give birth soon!
Conservationists rejoice with the release of three rescued sea turtles
Sea turtle injured by fish hooks on the road to recovery
Exciting news for tara iti - one of New Zealand's rarest birds
A kiwi egg and surprise kiwi chick collection!
Injured kiwi receives treatment for dog bite
Vet team swing into action for sick kākāpō
And that's a wrap...2021!
Back from the Brink – Sheltering New Zealand’s Endangered Pakake
We're asking Kiwis to watch out for marine life this summer
Veterinary care for wild New Zealand dotterel chick
Sea turtle gets second chance at life
Celebrating Rukiya's 20th Birthday!
Kākāpō patients Bunker and Bravo return home!
Rā whānau (Happy Birthday) Te Wao Nui!
Searching a Remote Island for a Giant Rare Insect
Together we’re helping some of world’s most endangered amphibians
