The Weka Walk exhibit at Hamilton Zoo received industry acclaim last night when the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia announced the winners of its annual awards. Hamilton Zoo delegates were among a number of key players in the zoo and aquarium industry who attended the gala awards dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour last night.
The Zoo and Aquarium Association Awards recognise innovative initiatives in the zoo and aquarium industry, outstanding conservation activities, zoo and aquarium exhibit designs, as well as the top education and in situ conservation activities of 2010 – 2011.
Hamilton Zoo’s Weka Walk Exhibit took out the Exhibit Award in the Large Institution, Small Scale Development Category. The exhibit is the result of over ten years of planning by Hamilton Zoo staff and the exhibit surrounds a variety of existing exhibits with a fence and allow native weka to walk amongst the public and around the other enclosures.
The Weka Walk leads into a stunning FreeFlight Aviary (FFA) and encompasses several enclosures featuring native species. These include Antipodes Island parakeet, kaka, banded rail, Hochstetter’s frog, native lizards, owls, brown teal, kakariki and kea.
The Weka Walk exhibit displays weka and now blue duck in an area of native bush with a stream system. The enclosure is 2500m², with an extra 250m² to hold a breeding pair or any birds that may require separation. The weka is a flightless rail about the size of a chicken. The North Island weka is listed as vulnerable and found in only a few isolated populations. It is a bold and inquisitive bird, known for its loud call and cheeky nature.
Zoo and Aquarium Association Vice President, Karen Fifield, congratulated Hamilton Zoo on leading the industry in exhibit design:
“Congratulations Hamilton Zoo...These awards recognise the outstanding achievements within our industry over the past 12 months. Our regional zoos and aquariums are playing a vital role in protecting wildlife for the future –wildlife that is rapidly depleting, largely due to human intervention.
“We not only work behind the scenes in conservation, husbandry and research, but our zoos and aquaria also play a vital role in educating the community about the steps they can take to ensure the future biodiversity of our natural environments and the wildlife we share our planet with.”
Martin Phillips, Executive Director of the Zoo and Aquarium Association said; “The exhibits, innovations, and campaigns awarded tonight provide a vital link between people and wildlife. These visitor experiences are a powerful tool to inspire the next generation of conservationists.
Zoos and aquariums are the caretakers of our future. For many species they represent the last hope for survival with habitat destruction, logging and increased urbanisation destroying forests faster than they can be protected.”
The Zoo and Aquarium Association Awards were created seven years ago to encourage member zoos and aquaria to attain higher achievements for wildlife on behalf of the community. The members come from throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Oceania.
Other award winners included Sea World for their Penguin Encounter Exhibit, Zoos Victoria and Melbourne Zoo for their Don’t Palm Us Off campaign, and Taronga Conservation Society Australia for their Regent Honyeater Release and Habitat Reconstruction project.
Symbio Wildlife Park received recognition for their ‘Sumatran Tiger’ exhibit. Zoos Victoria and Healesville Sanctuary received a new award this year - the Innovation Award which went to their ‘Wipe for Wildlife’ campaign which encourages families to switch to recycled toilet as a step toward protecting biodiversity.
The Association Award for Professional Excellence was bestowed upon Cairns Tropical Zoo’s Michael O’Brien for his tireless commitment and dedication to the Association membership over his 25 year career.
A full list of award winners can be found on the Zoo and Aquarium Association website www.zooaquarium.org.au
Did you know that polar bears have black skin?
