Media release
3 December 2014

Wellington Zoo celebrates five years of The Nest Te Kōhanga

The Nest Te Kōhanga – Wellington Zoo's award-winning animal hospital and centre for native wildlife – turns five years old this month.

The building, which opened 9 December 2009, cost approximately $6 million to develop and was the largest and most ambitious project in the Zoo’s history. It was recognised as one of the best new wildlife exhibits in Australasia, winning the Best New Exhibit Award at the 2010 Regional Zoo and Aquarium Association Awards.

"The Nest Te Kōhanga has significantly enhanced the level of care we give our animals, and has added a new dimension to the visitor experience at the Zoo,” said Wellington Zoo Chief Executive Karen Fifield.

The facility contains seven rehabilitation rooms, a custom-built salt water pool, and state-of-the-art equipment – all of which enable the Zoo’s veterinary team to treat almost every Zoo animal, along with sick and injured native wildlife.

Each of the main treatment rooms in The Nest Te Kōhanga feature large viewing windows, offering visitors a unique first-hand look at the Zoo's veterinary team in action as they deliver first-class animal care.

“All daily animal check-ups and procedures are on display to visitors. Our staff provide expert step-by-step commentary, and visitors are able to ask them questions as they work,” added Ms Fifield.

“It’s been an amazing opportunity to engage our visitors with the work we do to care for our animals.”

“The Nest Te Kōhanga has created a really unique experience that offers visitors a deep connection with wild animals. Where else in the city can you see a Lion health check, a Tuatara tail surgery and a Sun Bear root canal?” said Dr Argilla, Veterinary Science Manager.

Since its opening, Wellington Zoo’s veterinary team has treated over 2,000 native wildlife patients brought in by the SPCA, the Department of Conservation, ZEALANDIA, and members of the local community – helping threatened native species and raising awareness of the challenges they face in their wild habitats.

“Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at Wellington Zoo, and Wellingtonians support this work by actively bringing in injured native animals to the Zoo – showing the widespread recognition of The Nest Te Kōhanga as a prominent centre for wildlife care,” said Dr Argilla.

Wellington Zoo developed The Nest Te Kōhanga with sustainability front of mind. In addition to recycled concrete making up 70% of the total usage, The Nest Te Kōhanga also features a rainwater recovery system, and solar water heating.

The Nest Te Kōhanga also plays a part in preparing New Zealand’s future wildlife vets. In partnership with Massey University, Wellington Zoo hosts four vets every year to complete their Wildlife and Zoo Medicine residency as part of their masterate course. Along with these residents, The Nest Te Kōhanga provides a learning base for veterinary nurses and undergraduate veterinary and biological sciences students.

THE NEST TE KŌHANGA’S MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS

o Wellington Zoo veterinarians performed a world-first surgery on Cara the Chimpanzee at The Nest Te Kōhanga in June 2010, curing a chronic ear infection that had spread into her inner ear and part of her skull. Because of the high complexity of the surgery, the veterinary team enlisted the expertise of ear, nose and throat specialist surgeon Dr Rebecca Garland and specialist veterinary surgeon Dr Andrew Worth. The surgery took just over five hours, and visitors were able to watch every minute of it.

o In April 2011 a Kākāpō chick fell ill and was transported from Whenua Hou/Codfish Island to Wellington Zoo for care. Named Stella by the Zoo staff, the little bird – one of only 131 Kākāpō in the world –was successfully treated at The Nest Te Kōhanga, and was able to be returned to the island.

o For three weeks in May 2011 The Nest Te Kōhanga was home to a critically endangered Chatham Island Taiko fledgling. The bird was sent to Wellington Zoo with poor waterproofing, which would have made floating impossible. After treatment and regular swimming in the Nest Te Kōhanga’s salt water pool, the chick was returned to Chatham Island. Over three years later she been spotted back there, and we have high hopes she’ll contribute to the breeding population for one of the world’s most endangered seabirds.

o Who could forget Happy Feet, the Emperor Penguin who captured the hearts of New Zealanders and fans worldwide? The Nest Te Kōhanga’s most famous patient was found on Peka Peka beach in June 2011, thousands of kilometres away from home, seriously ill from eating sand and sticks. The salt water pool was converted into an icy dwelling for two months, and the veterinary team successfully performed six surgical procedures on the Antarctic bird before assisting with his release back into the Southern Ocean.

o That same year, The Nest Te Kōhanga was inundated with more than 650 Broad-Billed Prions after a massive storm system out at sea blew them inland. Although this species of seabird do not tend to fare well in hospital and the mortality rate was high, the veterinary team were able to successfully release 8–10% of the rescued birds.

o Manukura the white Kiwi was brought to Wellington Zoo from Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre in October 2011, after she was found to be eating much less than usual. X-rays performed at The Nest Te Kōhanga showed that Manukura had swallowed two stones, one which was to be too large for her to pass naturally. Dr Lisa Argilla assisted specialist urologist Dr Rod Studd with a ground-breaking procedure at Otago Medical School Wellington, using a laser to substantially reduce the size of the stone so that it could be removed.

o An injured Tuatara found by a local member of the community outside ZEALANDIA’s fence spent several months in The Nest Te Kōhanga in 2014, after the veterinary team performed emergency surgery to amputate what was left of its badly injured tail. The reptile was successfully released back into the sanctuary after recovering at Wellington Zoo – and his tail had even started to grow back!

JOIN OUR VETS AT A NIGHT AT THE ZOO
Wednesday 9 December

Native animals make up at least 70% of The Nest Te Kōhanga’s patients. The cost of treating these precious New Zealand animals came to $212,000 last year alone.

With a menu created by renowned chef Martin Bosley, this fundraising event will celebrate the wonderful work of The Nest Te Kōhanga.

During the evening attendees will enjoy amazing food and drink from a menu designed by Martin, see our veterinary team in action caring for native patients, and an auction will be held – all in the one-of-a-kind setting of Wellington Zoo.

Tickets can be purchased at dashtickets.co.nz.

NESTIVAL CELEBRATION WEEKEND
Saturday 13–Sunday 14 December

Wellington Zoo will celebrate The Nest Te Kohanga’s 5th birthday with visitors during the Nestival celebration weekend – a family event spread over two days on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December.

The weekend festivities will include special vet-themed talks, entertainment, and games and activities where kids can get involved in the action and learn to be honorary vets for the day.

ENDS

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