


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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Auckland Zoo champions the vital work of Wildlife Rangers
by Aja Pendergrast

Auckland Zoo calls on community to help keep sea turtles safe
by Jane Healy

Auckland Zoo’s journey to make plastic-free a reality!
by Aja Pendergrast

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

Searching for the Ecuadorian dwarf boa
by Aja Pendergrast

Zoo births a boost for skink on the brink
by Jane Healy

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

Innovative drone project takes flight to protect Costa Rica’s sea turtles
by Fraser Harvey

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

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

This penguin was rescued from the bus lane of the Harbour Bridge!
by Priscilla Northe

One good fairy tern deserves another
by Aja Pendergrast

Critically endangered Fijian iguanas released onto island paradise
by Richard Gibson

Using eDNA to uncover the secret lives of dugong in Malaysia
by Fraser Harvey

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

Lending a hand to rear precious hoiho chicks
by Aja Pendergrast

Zoo farewells much-loved elderly fur seal Ōrua
by Jane Healy

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

Plastic in turtle a timely reminder to care for our moana
by Jane Healy

Latest birth great news for a rare taonga
by Jane Healy

Zoo plea – please forego fireworks this Guy Fawkes
by Jane Healy

We can all help to protect precious penguins at the beach!
by Aja Pendergrast

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

Helping to rediscover an ‘extinct’ echidna!
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

Be part of the plastic pollution solution
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

Wild Heroes returns with exciting new series
by Jane Healy

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

Join us in drinking to a better future!
by Jane Healy

Great teamwork for kororā
by Jane Healy

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

Critical support for our Sumatran colleagues after devastating floods
by Jane Healy

And that's a wrap...2024!
by Aja Pendergrast

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

Introducing Wiri and Wayana!
by Jane Healy

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

Protecting pekapeka in Tāmaki Makaurau
by Aja Pendergrast

Devils arrive for important mission Down Under
by Jane Healy

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

Celebrate orangutans and shop with PalmOil Scan app
by Jane Healy

Celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s endemic lizards
by Aja Pendergrast

Supporting efforts to save the world’s tiniest turtle
by Jane Healy

Zoos and Minecraft Education team up to create ‘Eco Detectives’!

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

We’re celebrating our partners’ amazing mahi for tigers
by Jane Healy

Critically ill wild fur seal highlights environmental challenges
by Jane Healy

Apes vs Monkeys - can you tell them apart?
by Priscilla Northe

Zoo supports hurricane-hit Caribbean conservationists
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

Auckland Zoo and the Polynesian Ornithological Society achieve first …
by Jane Healy

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

Shop with PalmOil Scan this Christmas and help wildlife!
by Jane Healy
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

New Haven for Sumatran orangutans
by Jane Healy

Zoos’ new shopping app empowers everyone to help wildlife
by Jane Healy

Auckland Zoo’s conservation fieldwork isn’t limited to Aotearoa New Zealand!
by Aja Pendergrast

Protect wildlife and your pets this Guy Fawkes
by Jane Healy

Beautiful barn owl chick is hand-reared at the Zoo
by Priscilla Northe