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$3.5m from council purrs for Wellington Zoo snow leopards

Wednesday, 11 April 2018

Wellington City Council, which owns Wellington Zoo, has set aside $3.5m in its draft Long-Term Plan to house a pair snow leopards, which will come from a zoo in the United States.
Wellington City Council, which owns Wellington Zoo, has set aside $3.5m in its draft Long-Term Plan to house a pair snow leopards, which will come from a zoo in the United States.

A plan to bring snow leopards to Wellington is back on the agenda – and this time it has funding.

The endangered big cats have been on Wellington Zoo's wishlist for years but plans were delayed by money issues.

Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield said the zoo would fundraise and make up for 25 per cent of the costs for all zoo projects in the council
Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield said the zoo would fundraise and make up for 25 per cent of the costs for all zoo projects in the council's 10-year plan.

Wellington City Council, which owns the zoo, has now set aside about $3.5 million in its draft 2018-28 Long-Term Plan (LTP) to rehome a pair from a zoo in the United States within roughly two years.

Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield said the zoo would fundraise 25 per cent of the costs for all its LTP projects.

An artist
An artist's impression, from 2015, of what the new snow leopard enclosure at Wellington Zoo could look like.

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$5m has been earmarked for the expansion of the cheetah and lion habitats, which required new housing and viewing arrangements.
$5m has been earmarked for the expansion of the cheetah and lion habitats, which required new housing and viewing arrangements.

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Wellington Zoo
Wellington Zoo's Sumatran tiger, Bashii, is genetically the most important male tiger in captivity, outside Indonesia, because his parents were born in the wild.

The snow leopards would complete the zoo's Asia precinct and would be one of the final pieces in its 10-year capital programme.

'They are my favourite cats. They live in high areas in the Himalayas and have feet the size of dinner plates,' she said.

Wellington Zoo is working towards introducing Senja to Bashii to start breeding the pair.
Wellington Zoo is working towards introducing Senja to Bashii to start breeding the pair.

The zoo did not plan to breed the cats.

'As the only zoo in New Zealand with snow leopards, we would be part of the international commitment to protect this species.'

The zoos business plan says future capital investment would ensure the zoo remained leading edge and the acquisition of animals such as snow leopards would allow it tell a global conversation story.
The zoos business plan says future capital investment would ensure the zoo remained leading edge and the acquisition of animals such as snow leopards would allow it tell a global conversation story.

She believed the New Zealand climate would not be an issue for the cats, which had been bred in a US zoo.

International research cited in zoo documents showed big cats were the biggest draw card for visitors.

The funds have been pegged for years two, three and four of the 10-year plan.

A further $5m had been earmarked for expansion of the cheetah and lion habitats towards the end of the plan.

They required newer housing and viewing arrangements and the work would complete the Africa precinct.

The upgrade would mean the male and female lions could go on display together.

The zoo was also keen to build eco, overnight stay options in the area.

In total, the LTP sets out about $10m for zoo renewals and $10m for zoo upgrades over ten years.

Future capital investment would ensure the zoo remained at the leading edge and the acquisition of animals such as snow leopards would allow it tell a global conversation story, which would drive action for the environment, the zoo's plan says.

'We see our capital investment and asset planning as a response to the community expectations of a progressive and professional zoo and to create ongoing resilience for one of the city's most iconic places.'

In the meantime, the zoo has started working on a plan to breed its Sumatran tigers, Senja and Bashii.

'We could see cubs at the end of next year, but it could be longer.'

Genetically, Bashii was the most important male tiger in human care outside Indonesia because his parents were born in the wild.

The zoo's upgrade wishlist extended beyond the council's 10-year plan and Fifield said it was important to let the owners know what would be needed ahead of time.

It would like a $5.5m upgrade of the welcome plaza, which was unsuitable for growth in visitor numbers, and $2m for the replacement of the Archibald centre venue, which the zoo said would reduce ratepayer burden by assisting with revenue.