Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo is working to constantly upgrade and improve its zoo environment for the animals it houses and to improve the experience of those who visit also.  The challenges it faces are unusual, and it is a privilege to be able to work with the Zoo in responding to these oftentimes unique briefs.

The small-clawed Asian otters have had to acclimatise to life in Wellington.  Although they love to be warm and to sun themselves on their stony waterside loungers the weather in Wellington is not always conducive to sunning.  While the stony sunning spot was able to be heated from below, the otter house was not providing an optimal level of comfort and shelter. 

It is now!  The otters have a warm and secure house where the public are also able to view them from the path outside.  We have learned about these highly social animals who often keep favourite rocks, and who are surprisingly good at escaping if given an opportunity.  

The giraffes have long been a favourite of visitors to the Wellington Zoo.  They have a need for space and like the otters warmth is a constant consideration for these graceful creatures in our cooler climate.

The current giraffe house doesn’t provide for some of the needs of the animals and the keepers have had to modify their practices due to the limitations of the space.  The improved giraffe house will have a warmer interior with insulated walls, and open spaces.  Giraffes are social animals and in the wild they rely on their vision for their safety.  The giraffe house will be more connected internally, and will have more space to accommodate the equipment required by the keepers to look after these over-height inhabitants.

Rest assured, the upgraded house will still provide a jugular window, allowing the keepers to ensure their charges are fit and healthy, and a viewing platform allowing all of us to marvel at the long purple tongues that reach for food from the hands of lucky visitors.