Zoo Staff
Find the latest news about our Auckland Zoo keepers and staff!
Would you like to learn how we care for animals, educate people about wildlife or design amazing habitats?
That’s just a snapshot of the important work that our kaimahi/staff get involved in every day.
Our incredible staff use the latest science to create animal diets, provide veterinary health care, design beautiful habitats that meet the needs of animals (and spaces for people too!), connect tamariki/children with nature, advocate for wildlife and wild places, ensure Zoo grounds and facilities are in tip-top shape, collect leafy vegetation from around Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to feed a variety of animals – and we even deliver food to orangutans by drone!
In these stories, we share the skills and passion of our staff and volunteers, celebrate their achievements and share important news.
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
Protecting Hamilton’s frogs from predatory tuatara!
One good fairy tern deserves another
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026
And that’s a wrap...2025!
Lending a hand to rear precious hoiho chicks
‘Nationally Critical’ skinks brought to the Zoo for safe-keeping
Searching for endangered awakōpaka skinks
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
Successful season for rare New Zealand fairy tern!
Conservationists are searching for native bats!
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025
Cobble skinks beat the odds and fly home
Conservationists join forces to care for precious penguins
Jez’s love of birds and words takes flight!
Keeper Emma shares her love for fur seal Orua
Elephant Burma arrives at new home in Australia
Welcoming two Tasmanian devils to Auckland!
Protecting pekapeka in Tāmaki Makaurau
Hari huritau Rukiya!
Caring for a dazzle of zebra!
Red pandas engage in health care training!
Conservation collaboration for the world’s smallest penguin!
Celebrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s endemic lizards
Burma’s new home progressing at pace
Emergency mahi underway for endemic skink on the brink
Flamingo chicks receive a health check!
Searching for the Ōkārito skink
Burma’s transport crate sessions a fun, enriching activity
Christine calls time on 44-year dream job
Sharing insights for the betterment of birds
Auckland Zoo and the Polynesian Ornithological Society achieve first …
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!
A dedication to conservation of 20+ years - meet Siân Buley
Celebrating Sonja – a passionate zookeeper and woman in science
Wild Heroes returns to your screens!
Boosting our support for the critically endangered Korowai gecko
We have an update on the tara iti chicks that hatched at the Zoo!
Two-week health check confirms sexes of Auckland Zoo’s new tiger cubs!
And that's a wrap...2023!
Breeding season kicks off again for tara iti!
Sumatran tiger Ramah enjoys a training session
Helping kākāpō on their sanctuary islands!
How do you safely health check a rhinoceros calf?
Zoo celebrates milestone for takahē
Zoos’ new shopping app empowers everyone to help wildlife
Auckland Zoo’s conservation fieldwork isn’t limited to Aotearoa New Zealand!
Beautiful barn owl chick is hand-reared at the Zoo
Keeping the lace monitors fit and healthy!
Hari Huritau ki a koe Burma!
An enriching feed for the Zoo's spider monkey troop!
Auckland Zoo’s tigers Zayana and Ramah reunited for mating
Orangutan Daya takes to the trees!
The Science of Animal Care : South East Asia Jungle Track
Conserving the Cayman Islands iconic 'blue dinosaurs'
How we care for the Zoo's clever devils!
Sumatran rangers helping their communities live in harmony with wildlife
Celebrating two rare New Zealand skinks - grand and Otago!
Conservation monitoring for Duvaucel's geckos
Amazing news for orphaned kererū!
Ultrasound reveals ultra good news for tiger Zayana
Auckland Zoo and The Polynesian Ornithological Society team up to save rare …
Auckland Zoo helps release a visiting kekeno (NZ fur seal) back to the wild
More giant wētā have been released in the Bay of Islands!
Protecting livestock and livelihoods in Sumatra
Conserving Kea in Matukituki Valley
Success in our intensive management programme for tara iti …
Zoo's big cats enjoy super-sized meals!
Protecting precious hoiho from a deadly disease
Rearing a kororā (little penguin) chick
Rescued kāhu takes flight at Auckland Zoo!
And that's a wrap...2022!
Celebrating 100 Years as Auckland's Zoo
Joining forces to boost numbers of a rare New Zealand bird
Sunda gharial crocodiles arrive at Auckland Zoo!
Meet the Zoo's month-old rhino calf Amali!
Zoo’s hottest new habitat will transport you to the tropics!
‘Wild Heroes’ - Auckland Zoo on screen!
Meet 11-week-old orangutan baby Bahmi!
Elephant Anjalee arrives safely at new zoo home
Exciting news for tara iti - one of New Zealand's rarest birds
A kiwi egg and surprise kiwi chick collection!
Back from the Brink – Sheltering New Zealand’s Endangered Pakake
We're asking Kiwis to watch out for marine life this summer
We’re excited to share Bornean orangutan Melur is pregnant!
Andrew discusses Burma and Anjalee's move to new homes
High five for Galápagos tortoise hatchlings!
Breeding Tiny Giants – Galápagos Tortoises
From winemaker to zookeeper, Toby is living the dream
Introducing Auckland Zoo's three beautiful female lions!
Anjalee and Burma will soon move to their new zoo homes in Australia
Celebrating Rukiya's 20th Birthday!
We have special news to share this World Rhino Day!
Searching a Remote Island for a Giant Rare Insect
Our Zoo volunteers are ‘sew’ amazing!
Controlling Pests a Win for New Zealand's Wildlife
World Ranger Day - Celebrating the work of the Sumatran Ranger Project
Zoo vet nurse lends her skills for little spotted kiwi
Science-based Animal Care at work
We’re creating a wētā future for this New Zealand taonga!
Browsing Auckland for an Enriching Diet
Utilising new technologies for Conservation Fieldwork!
Wētāpunga - The God of Ugly Things
The Northern Striped Gecko – Studying a Cryptic Taonga
Auckland Zoo confirms new homes for elephants in leading Australian zoos
Zoo makes kindest call for elderly lions
Look for this incredible hawk on your next visit!
Working together to conserve New Zealand's fairy tern
Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises
Conservation research on-going for the rare Alborn skink
Care for Auckland Zoo's flamingo chicks & contribute to conservation!
We’ve some exciting news to share – a flamingo chick has hatched at the zoo!
And that's a wrap...2020!
Let’s all be kaitiaki of our wildlife and wild places this summer
Flight school - connecting people to wildlife
Surveying for the elusive pūweto
Auckland Zoo orangutans now living the high life!
Progressing our enriching habitat for tigers
We're returning wētāpunga to the Bay of Islands after a 180-year absence!
Auckland Zoo and Motuihe Trust team up to help rare forest giant
Back from Extinction – Monitoring the Endangered Takahē
Auckland Zoo announces decision to move elephants
We’re caring for nine fairy tern eggs at Auckland Zoo!
Five precious pāteke ducklings are destined for wild release!
We're giving you a sneak peek at our wallaby joey!
We've just hatched five nationally threatened kākāriki!
We've successfully hand-reared golden lion tamarin twins!
Two more precious kiwi have safely hatched at the zoo!
We've just had our first kiwi chick hatch this breeding season!
Check-up for lion Zulu
Around the world in 20 years with a dedicated Zoo Vet Nurse – Meet Mikaylie
Our Kiwis are looking after two soon-to-be-hatched kiwi!
Searching for the elusive Muriwai gecko
Great news for New Zealand's native taonga!
Bianca creates an enriching meal for our meerkat mob!
It's World Rhino Day - a day to celebrate and raise awareness for the world’s …
Sick green sea turtle rescued from Muriwai Beach
Our four-week-old rhino calf has a new name - Nyah!
Your support means more to us now, than ever before
Golden lion tamarin twins thriving under expert care
Andrew engages our Asian elephant girls with play!
Kākāpō - an inspirational taonga we’re privileged to help
A TREEmendous event for conservation-based learning!
'Meat' our African lions!
Critical fieldwork for New Zealand's northern striped gecko!
A return trip to find the rare rāpoka
Ashleigh tell us about New Zealand's kākā and tīeke!
Inspiring Aotearoa’s tamariki
Happy World Giraffe Day!
Spending time with the sea cow
