NEW ZEALAND

Natureland Zoo's walk-through aviary provides a natural environment for a variety of Australian bird species. Most of our native birds face similar problems which include competition for their food, introduced mammalian predators and the destruction of their habitat.

AFRICA

Africa used to be called the Dark Continent because so much of it remained mysterious to Europeans. Many strange and wonderful animals came out of Africa to be paraded in the zoological gardens of Europe. The first giraffe in London created an uproar with many people refusing to believe that such an animal could exist, despite the evidence of their own eyes.

Modern anthropologists believe that humans first evolved in Africa, so at a very basic level we are kin to the wonderful diversity of large mammals that used to roam the interior. Tragically, human population pressure and poorly controlled commercial exploitation have led to the extinction of many African animals and many others are still coming under increasing threat.

AUSTRALIA

Australia is the dry continent and many of the animals inhabiting its arid interior have adapted to cope with the conditions. Because Australia has initiated its own programs for endangered animals, Natureland Zo maintains only a few common species for display and educational purposes.

Australia is New Zealand's nearest neighbour and the prevailing winds often bring wildlife vagrants here. Amongst the birds, the white-faced heron, the spur-winged plover and the royal spoonbill have all made New Zealand their home within the past 50 years.

SOUTH AMERICA

South America probably holds the bulk of the Earth's biodiversity. The Amazon Basin's biological riches are only just beginning to be appreciated, at a time when the destruction of the rainforest continues at an alarming rate.

Partly because a rainforest habitat would be difficult and expensive to reproduce, South American fauna do not figure prominently in our collection.
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