Hamilton Zoo

As I sit writing this, it rains outside. In the past two and a half weeks we have had 359 mm's, that's more than the yearly rainfall where we lived in Australia.

One of the preliminary postings I was going t o make on this blog was a brief introduction to Hamilton Zoo so all and sundry can see the environment I have been working in. Almost a year after arriving here, I have remembered this and so in a lame attempt to create ‘the bigger picture’ here is a short introduction to Hamilton Zoo. I have used a few figures of comparison to Adelaide and Monarto Zoos, for those who know or work there can use these as a comparison to augment the impression.Hamilton Zoo is a moderately new zoo. Started in 1969 (the year I was born) it was originally a game farm where birds such as pheasants were bred for release for hunting. Not a very pleasant beginning to the story. There were also numerous other bird displays as the owners were avid bird keepers. Eventually a few exotic mammals come in to the collection and there you have it, a Zoo. The Hamilton City Council stepped in during the 70’s to prop it up financially and when the Zoo faced financial ruin, the Council took it on board completely, rejuvenated it and has run it ever since. Now it is 25 hectares in size (Adelaide Zoo (AZ) 8 hectares, Monarto Zoo 1000+ hectares), holds approximately 450 animals (AZ 1800, MZ 400) of 95 species (AZ 200, MZ 40+). Unlike Adelaide Zoo though, the collection is not filled with little critters like fish or invertebrates or small birds, but larger species of mammals as well as numerous birds, especially waterfowl and parrots. It is just outside the city set among thickets of native and exotic vegetation on low undulating hills, peppered with lakes, stream and waterfalls. The zoo is involved heavily in native New Zealand conservation programs as well as being highly regarded for its success in breeding White Rhinoceros. The zoo is about to expand in size by about another 10 hectares, with the land already fenced off and ready to be developed. This area will become the new African section with the addition of Lions, amongst others. There will also be safari tent accommodation and educational facilities. One of the best things about Hamilton Zoo is the size of the enclosures. Nothing is being kept in tiny cages for the ease of the viewing public. The African section at the moment is a large field, which from different locations you can see herds of Zebras, Giraffe, Blackbuck, and Nilgai mixing with Ostriches and Guinea Fowl as they would naturally. There is walkthrough aviary which is the largest in the southern hemisphere and a series of lakes which are home to numerous waterfowl in a natural environment.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. (Albert Einstein)