


Conservation News
Get the latest wildlife conservation science news with Auckland Zoo!
Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at Auckland Zoo – and we love to share optimistic stories of wildlife conservation, environment restoration and community action!
Our zookeepers and veterinarians take part in conservation projects around Aotearoa New Zealand, many that support the work of our strategic partners at the Department of Conservation.
This mahi includes carrying out annual health checks for takahē and kākāpō, our research into the incubation parameters of kiwi eggs, or breeding thousands of wētāpunga (a giant native cricket!) for release onto predator-free islands in the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Islands.
We conserve wildlife even further afield through our global conservation partnerships. This involves support for rangers that protect, monitor and conserve animals such as orangutans, tigers and elephants in Sumatra, red panda in Nepal and lions and giraffes in Africa.
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Zoo vets head to remote islands to care for kākāpō!
by Aja Pendergrast

Hand-rearing a just-hatched kākāpō chick
by Aja Pendergrast

We’re helping to conserve these beautiful alpine parrots!
by Aja Pendergrast

Ongoing mahi to protect native bats
by Aja Pendergrast

Wild Heroes returns with action-packed fourth series!
by Jane Healy

Hatch-assisting a kākāpō is a career highlight for Mikaylie!
by Aja Pendergrast

Kiwi hatched on Christmas returns to its island home
by Aja Pendergrast

A bumper kākāpō breeding season
by Aja Pendergrast

Protecting Hamilton’s frogs from predatory tuatara!
by Aja Pendergrast

Great news for green sea turtles rehabbed and released!
by Aja Pendergrast

One good fairy tern deserves another
by Aja Pendergrast

And that’s a wrap...2025!
by Aja Pendergrast

Lending a hand to rear precious hoiho chicks
by Aja Pendergrast

A 94kg challenge – our heaviest wild sea turtle patient yet!
by Priscilla Northe

Latest birth great news for a rare taonga
by Jane Healy

Rescued toroa returned to ocean home
by Jane Healy

Sea turtle recovering after flipper surgery
by Priscilla Northe

Vote tarāpunga/red-billed gull for Bird of the Year!
by Jane Healy

Kiwi incubating smart eggs for science
by Aja Pendergrast

‘Nationally Critical’ skinks brought to the Zoo for safe-keeping
by Aja Pendergrast

Caring for Archey’s frogs!
by Aja Pendergrast

Positive progress for this wild green sea turtle!
by Priscilla Northe

Rare alpine skinks born at Auckland Zoo
by Jane Healy

Winning outcome for critically ill wetlands bird
by Jane Healy

Wildlife rangers, the planet’s unsung heroes!
by Aja Pendergrast

Rare wetlands patient makes remarkable recovery
by Jane Healy

Searching for endangered awakōpaka skinks
by Aja Pendergrast

Vet team perform complex sea turtle surgery
by Priscilla Northe

Thousands of wētāpunga hatch at Auckland Zoo
by Priscilla Northe

We’re helping to protect kea in the Matukituki Valley!
by Aja Pendergrast

Sea turtles return to wild
by Jane Healy

Wild kiwi chick is in recovery
by Priscilla Northe

Successful season for rare New Zealand fairy tern!
by Aja Pendergrast

16 wild kororā admitted in 32 days
by Priscilla Northe

Conservationists are searching for native bats!
by Aja Pendergrast

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025

Cobble skinks beat the odds and fly home
by Jane Healy

Conservationists join forces to care for precious penguins
by Aja Pendergrast

Keeper Emma shares her love for fur seal Orua
by Jane Healy

A wave of sea turtles arriving at Auckland Zoo
by Priscilla Northe
Celebrate nature and whānau not fireworks this Guy Fawkes
by Jane Healy

How do conservationists replicate how kiwi incubate their eggs?
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo and Department of Conservation sign new strategic partnership
by Jane Healy

Protecting pekapeka in Tāmaki Makaurau
by Aja Pendergrast

Kākāpō Tīwai recently had a short stay at the Zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast

Conservation collaboration for the world’s smallest penguin!
by Aja Pendergrast

A triumphant recovery for this southern giant petrel!
by Priscilla Northe

Critically ill sea turtle given second chance at life
by Jane Healy

Celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s endemic lizards
by Aja Pendergrast

We love lending a hand to care for precious kākāpō!
by Aja Pendergrast

Critically ill wild fur seal highlights environmental challenges
by Jane Healy

The best news for this wild dotterel patient!
by Aja Pendergrast

Albatross brought into the Zoo in need of urgent attention
by Aja Pendergrast

Remarkable road to recovery for Hawksbill turtle Hine Kopenu
by Jane Healy

Emergency mahi underway for endemic skink on the brink
by Jane Healy

Unique advocacy role for sea krait at Auckland Zoo
by Jane Healy

Searching for the Ōkārito skink
by Aja Pendergrast

Giant kōkopu - our pick for Fish of the Year 2024!
by Priscilla Northe

A champion for the conservation of cryptic taonga
by Aja Pendergrast
Great news as Zoo-reared tara iti have taken to the skies!
by Aja Pendergrast

Exciting study underway for the rare Northern striped gecko!
by Aja Pendergrast

A dedication to conservation of 20+ years - meet Siân Buley
by Aja Pendergrast

Celebrating Sonja – a passionate zookeeper and woman in science
by Jane Healy

Wild Heroes returns to your screens!
by Jane Healy

Boosting our support for the critically endangered Korowai gecko
by Aja Pendergrast

We have an update on the tara iti chicks that hatched at the Zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast

And that's a wrap...2023!
by Aja Pendergrast

Breeding season kicks off again for tara iti!
by Aja Pendergrast
Conserving vulnerable hoiho chicks
by Aja Pendergrast

Zoo vet team care for endangered Hawksbill turtle
by Priscilla Northe

Helping kākāpō on their sanctuary islands!
by Aja Pendergrast

Zoo celebrates milestone for takahē
by Jane Healy

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori: sharing pūrākau and whakataukī for three endemic manu
by Aja Pendergrast

Success in recent sea lion pup count!
by Priscilla Northe

Celebrating two rare New Zealand skinks - grand and Otago!
by Aja Pendergrast
More giant wētā have been released in the Bay of Islands!
by Aja Pendergrast

Conserving Kea in Matukituki Valley
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo and DOC join forces to help critically ill matuku-hūrepo
by Jane Healy

Auckland Zoo marks Endangered Species Day with announcement of conservation …
by Jane Healy

Dogs helping frogs!
by Jane Healy

Success in our intensive management programme for tara iti …
by Aja Pendergrast

Zoo celebrates milestone for Kapitia skinks

Protecting precious hoiho from a deadly disease
by Aja Pendergrast

Caring for kākāpō affected with cloacitis
by Aja Pendergrast

Joining forces to boost numbers of a rare New Zealand bird
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo’s new partner helping to grow our conservation mahi
by Jane Healy

Success for wild kororā (little penguin) patient
by Priscilla Northe

Creating an ectotherm experience in the Waitākere Ranges!
by Aja Pendergrast

‘Wild Heroes’ - Auckland Zoo on screen!
by Jane Healy

Wild tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) patient now thriving in Omaha
by Aja Pendergrast

Conservationists rejoice with the release of three rescued sea turtles
by Aja Pendergrast

Sea turtle injured by fish hooks on the road to recovery
by Aja Pendergrast

Exciting news for tara iti - one of New Zealand's rarest birds
by Aja Pendergrast

A kiwi egg and surprise kiwi chick collection!
by Jane Healy

Injured kiwi receives treatment for dog bite
by Rebecca Reid

Vet team swing into action for sick kākāpō
by Jane Healy

Back from the Brink – Sheltering New Zealand’s Endangered Pakake
by Rebecca Reid

We're asking Kiwis to watch out for marine life this summer
by Aja Pendergrast

Protect wildlife and loved ones this Guy Fawkes
by Jane Healy

Veterinary care for wild New Zealand dotterel chick

Sea turtle gets second chance at life
by Jane Healy

Kākāpō patients Bunker and Bravo return home!
by Aja Pendergrast

Searching a Remote Island for a Giant Rare Insect
by Abbie Wakelin

Together we’re helping some of world’s most endangered amphibians
by Jane Healy

Studying our Connections with Animals and the Planet
by Rebecca Reid

Wild penguin patients recover at Auckland Zoo's Vet Hospital
by Aja Pendergrast

Kākāpō patient Vori returns home!
by Aja Pendergrast

Great news for a little penguin rescue Paku!
by Aja Pendergrast

Controlling Pests a Win for New Zealand's Wildlife
by Aja Pendergrast

Vet Hospital stint for a black petrel patient
by Rebecca Reid

Zoo vet nurse lends her skills for little spotted kiwi
by Rebecca Reid

We’re creating a wētā future for this New Zealand taonga!
by Aja Pendergrast

Kākāpō bravest of patients with personality plus
by Jane Healy

Great news for this wild takahē patient!
by Aja Pendergrast

Utilising new technologies for Conservation Fieldwork!
by Aja Pendergrast

Exciting news for Zoo's rough geckos
by Aja Pendergrast

Wētāpunga - The God of Ugly Things
by Rebecca Reid

The Northern Striped Gecko – Studying a Cryptic Taonga
by Rebecca Reid

Using science to understand the habits of rare New Zealand lizards
by Aja Pendergrast

Working together to conserve New Zealand's fairy tern
by Aja Pendergrast

Small, rare and enigmatic - the Pollen Island moth
by Ben Goodwin

Zoo announces grants in honour of champion of amphibian conservation
by Jane Healy

Conservation research on-going for the rare Alborn skink
by Aja Pendergrast

Getting your Ducks in a Row: Helping pāteke come home to Te Henga wetland
by Asia Martusia King

We just love it when special Kiwis get to meet!
by Aja Pendergrast

Two more wins for Team Turtle!
by Aja Pendergrast

Injured pāteke gets second chance at life
by Jane Healy

And that's a wrap...2020!
by Aja Pendergrast

Surveying for the elusive pūweto
by Aja Pendergrast

We're returning wētāpunga to the Bay of Islands after a 180-year absence!
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo and Motuihe Trust team up to help rare forest giant
by Jane Healy

Back from Extinction – Monitoring the Endangered Takahē
by Rebecca Reid

More healthy kiwi chicks have hatched at Auckland Zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast

A beachfront home and a new name for this rare native skink!
by Aja Pendergrast

We’re caring for nine fairy tern eggs at Auckland Zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast

Five precious pāteke ducklings are destined for wild release!
by Aja Pendergrast

How do you X-ray a longfin eel?
by Aja Pendergrast

We've just hatched five nationally threatened kākāriki!
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo wants government to move on fireworks sales ban
by Jane Healy

Two more precious kiwi have safely hatched at the zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast

We've just had our first kiwi chick hatch this breeding season!
by Aja Pendergrast

Our Kiwis are looking after two soon-to-be-hatched kiwi!
by Aja Pendergrast

Searching for the elusive Muriwai gecko
by Martha Brooke

Great news for New Zealand's native taonga!

Wildlife-loving students raise funds for Auckland Zoo's Vet Hospital!
by Aja Pendergrast

Sick green sea turtle rescued from Muriwai Beach
by Aja Pendergrast

Your support means more to us now, than ever before

Kākāpō - an inspirational taonga we’re privileged to help
by Jane Healy
Helping keep native fauna and flora populations high and pest populations low
by Martha Brooke

This World Lizard Day we're celebrating wins for Aotearoa’s skinks!
by Aja Pendergrast

Team effort for injured fur seal pup
by Jane Healy

Aotearoa's buzzing! Meet our endemic mosquitoes
by Aja Pendergrast & Ben Goodwin

Critical fieldwork for New Zealand's northern striped gecko!
by Aja Pendergrast
A tremendous effort to save a tiny sea turtle
by Rebecca Reid
We have a new VIP patient at the Auckland Zoo Vet Hospital!
by Rebecca Reid
A return trip to find the rare rāpoka
by Martha Brooke
Ashleigh tell us about New Zealand's kākā and tīeke!
by Aja Pendergrast

We catch up with ectotherm keeper Ben!

Back from the Brink – 11 Inspirational Stories where Conservation is Key!
by Rebecca Reid
Under lockdown, our vital conservation work continues!
by Aja Pendergrast
Coordinating fieldwork conservation at Auckland Zoo
by Derryn Jakobi
Conserving the Archey's frog - a rare Aotearoa amphibian
by Aja Pendergrast
Helping to bring the cobble skink back from the brink
by Martha Brooke

Your Zoo visits help kiwi through Operation Nest Egg!
by Natalie Clark

Coordinating conservation in Aotearoa and around the world
by Michelle Whybrow
Waving goodbye to whio!
by Aja Pendergrast
Vet team cares for an injured Salvin’s mollymawk
by Aja Pendergrast
Endangered sea turtle released back into the ocean!
by Aja Pendergrast
Celebrate #WorldWildlifeDay with Auckland Zoo!
by Aja Pendergrast
We welcome six extremely rare skinks to the Auckland Zoo whānau!
by Aja Pendergrast