Zoo’s ex-pats get special ambassadorial visit

Media release

16 November 2010

Zoo’s ex-pats get special ambassadorial visit

It isn’t every new British arrival that receives an official welcome from British High Commissioner Vicki Treadell CMG MVO. However, the latest new residents at Wellington Zoo are no ordinary arrivals.

On 5 September seven meerkats, five male and two female, arrived from three English zoos: London Zoo, Newquay Zoo and Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens. After completing their mandatory 30-day quarantine, they are now ready to enter their new shared enclosure with the Zoo’s two porcupines.

Wellington Zoo’s current meerkat population is being moved to Auckland Zoo and Brooklands Zoo in New Plymouth. The newly arrived meerkats will form part of an active breeding programme at Wellington Zoo.

The High Commissioner will also be meeting up with our new little family of pygmy marmosets, as proud new parents Machu and Picchu have their origins in England’s Banham Zoo. The pair gave birth to their first baby on 29 October 2010.

Karen Fifield, Wellington Zoo Chief Executive, said: “Our new meerkats are genetically very important for the species in New Zealand and Australia, so it is only fitting that they should receive a special welcome from our British High Commissioner.

“The new arrivals all seem very happy and playful, so we are all hopeful that we’ll have breeding success within the new group over the coming months. I’m sure Vicki will also enjoy meeting our new pygmy marmoset baby on her visit too, everyone else seems to!”

The High Commissioner , Vicki Treadell says she is equally looking forward to meeting the new additions to the zoo and says, “This is another example of the strong links between the UK and New Zealand.”

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