Media release

9 July 2013

Zoo achieves record visitation

Auckland Zoo has attracted a record number of visitors over the past year – welcoming over 716,000 local and overseas people through its gates.

The 2012-2013 result exceeds its previous year’s record and includes a 30 per cent increase in overseas visitors.

“We’re delighted with this record result, which comes in the same year we’ve celebrated our 90th anniversary, and seen many great things achieved for our visitors and for wildlife,” says Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken.

“Particularly exciting has been the world-first partnership we’ve developed with Rotoroa Island Trust to establish a wildlife sanctuary on this Hauraki Gulf island, and the unique schools programme that’s going to see a whole generation of kids directly involved in the island’s ecological restoration.

“By coming to the Zoo, our visitors play a key role in enabling us to grow our efforts to conserve wildlife in the wild. In the past year, through the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund, over $340,000 has helped further vital efforts to save endangered wildlife and habitats – here in New Zealand and around the world. This has included skilled zookeepers and veterinary staff contributing over 3000 hours of conservation fieldwork for our unique native species in 27 locations throughout New Zealand,” says Mr Wilcken.

Along with record visitation, Auckland Zoo’s growing team of volunteers have contributed a record 36,000+ volunteer hours to the Zoo.

“There is a great generosity of spirit in the Auckland community and we are enormously grateful to those who volunteer to get involved with the Zoo and help us in our work for wildlife,” says Mr Wilcken.

ENDS

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