Auckland Zoo to welcome back tigers this summer after two-year absence

Tuesday, 20 April 2021

Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley explains the elephants will be moved overseas after all options were exhausted to develop a herd at the zoo. (First published in November 2020)

After two years with no tigers at Auckland Zoo, the large cats are expected to be reintroduced this summer.

In July 2019, the zoo announced it had made the decision to put down its last remaining Sumatran tiger, Berani, after efforts to treat him for health problems didn’t work.

Last week, the zoo also euthanised its elderly lions, Zulu and Malik, on welfare grounds.

This left the zoo, in Pt Chevalier, without any big cats.

Tigers will be reintroduced to Auckland Zoo this summer (file photo).

* Auckland Zoo's biggest renovation yet, which comes with a $58m price tag

* Auckland Zoo euthanises elderly male lions Zulu and Malik

Tigers will be able to move through bridges in their new habitat.

But after delays due to Covid-19, the zoo has confirmed tigers are expected to arrive this summer.

That is also when its new lowlands habitat for Sumatran tigers and Asian small-clawed otters is due to open.

“This habitat is part of our South East Asia Jungle Track development,” the zoo said in a statement.

Malik and Zulu were put down last week on welfare grounds, Auckland Zoo announced.

“Construction of this track, like so many other projects in New Zealand, was impacted by Covid-19 last year, but we remain on track this year, and the habitat is progressing very well.”

The zoo said it would also have lions again in future – but there is no set date yet.

While the zoo said both lions and tigers are hugely popular animals at the zoo, it did not believe their absence this year would affect visitor numbers.

With more than 1600 animals and 140 different species, the zoo said it remains an “inspirational place” for people to connect with nature.

“We have every confidence that people will continue to visit us just as they have been.”

Deciding to put down Zulu and Malik was an “extremely tough” call for the zoo – but it was the kindest, it said.

Once the zoo has confirmation of full post-mortem test results, which could take a couple of weeks, the lions will be “respectfully” buried or cremated away from the zoo at an animal crematorium.

Auckland Zoo said it will not be holding a memorial service for the cats. It has only ever held such a service for elephant Kashin, who died in 2009.

“Life and death is a natural and normal part of life at Auckland Zoo. As you can imagine with such a diversity of species, natural life spans vary greatly.

“What we have done is to invite our community to share their love for and fond memories of lions Zulu and Malik on our Facebook page, and we have received many lovely comments.”

Auckland Zoo opened its first phase of the $60 million South East Asia Jungle Track development in July 2020.

Funded by Auckland Council's long-term plan, the high canopy habitat allows the zoo's three orangutans and two siamangs to climb 25-metre-high aerial pathways and move as they would in the wild.

The rest of the jungle track, which would span one-fifth of the zoo when finished, will have a lake and wetlands as well as a lowlands habitat for Sumatran tigers and Asian small-clawed otters.

It will feature open-air bridges for the tigers to walk on.

A swamp forest will also be created to house Asian crocodiles and other reptiles and fish.