Orana Wildlife Park
Thursday, October 27th, 2005Today, I went to Orana Wildlife Park. Orana Wildlife Park is operated by the Orana Wildlife Trust. The park is set on 80 hectares of park-like grounds. Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand’s largest wildlife and conservation centre and only open range zoo.
The Park had been developed as an open range sanctuary for endangered animals, providing them with enclosures as close to their natural habitat as possible. Streams, moats and banks are used as barriers to allow visitors the opportunity to see the animals in a natural manner. Over 400 animals from 70 different species are displayed.
The name Orana is the Maori word for welcome or place of refuge. Orana Wildlife Park is internationally recognised for its involvement in captive breeding programmes for endangered exotic animals, as well as research relating to New Zealand’s own rare fauna.