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Hamilton Zoo

Hamilton Zoo Logo

Click here to visit Hamilton Zoo's website

My family and I visited Hamilton Zoo in April 2006 and were really impressed with its good facilities, friendliness of staff and the way they balance the needs of their animals with the needs and desires of visitors to the zoo.

I was privileged to receive a special tour on the day I visited, including the opportunity to photograph some of the cats for my website.  Many thanks to Hamilton Zoo, Kees Poortman and Kelly Stroud for the photos on this page.  The following wild cats are housed at the zoo:

Sumatran Tigers

Tiger

Jaka (meaning 'Handsome Boy' in a southern Sumatran language) is pictured above.

Male born in Wellington Zoo on 10 January 2000.  Because he is a brother to Mencari and Molek, Jaka is never allowed in the same area as the two girls.  Inbreeding between siblings can result in deformed cubs and at the very least dilutes genetic diversity in captive populations.

Mencari (pronounced Men-Jar-ee, meaning 'Prowl' in a Sumatran language)

Female born in Wellington Zoo on 10 January 2000, sister to Jaka and Molek

Molek (meaning 'Elegant' in a Sumatran language)

Female born in Wellington Zoo on 10 January 2000, sister to Jaka and Mencari

 

Cheetahs

Cheetah

Temba (an African name) 

A female born 1 April 1999 and hand-raised, Temba has a pleasant personality and is very laid back about reproducing.  In fact she has shown no interest in the resident male cheetah, Kaitoa, despite being housed next to each other occasionally.

Temba's half-brother Mwandi (born 21/05/2000) was imported from Africa with her, but because of the close relationship, he was exchanged for Kaitoa.  Mwandi has since fathered a litter of four cubs in Orana Park (in 2004/2005).

Kaitoa (meaning 'Fearless Warrior' in a New Zealand Maori language, but also 'Tuckshop' in some circles!) is pictured above, revealing a torn-off left ear.

A male born in 1997, Kaitoa does not have much interaction with humans and, like most of the animals at Hamilton Zoo, is encouraged to enjoy a lifestyle as similar to the wild as possible.  … More

 

Bobcats

Bobcat

Sikanni (a Native American Indian name)

A male born  in 2001

Kakisa (a Native American Indian name)

A female born in 2001

 

Leopard Cat

Leopard Cat

Ree (pronounced Ray)

A female born in the Melbourne Zoo in 1990, this little lady is housed off-exhibit at present due to her age.  She will be 16 this year and considering that 15 is the average lifespan of leopard cats in captivity, she is doing very well!  Leopard cats are generally not considered in danger of extinction and so there is little encouragement for zoos to keep them.  There is no breeding programme for them in Oceania at present and very few zoos have them (Hamilton Zoo is the only one I am currently aware of). 

It was thus a special opportunity for me to see the leopard cat up close and photograph her.  This animal, along with the various sub-species of wildcat is considered one of the closest relatives of the domestic feline, felis catus.  It is even said that the domestic breed 'Bengal' originated from the cross-breeding of a leopard cat and a house cat.

 

Golden Cat

Golden Cat

Ho-tan (pronounced Hoe-tarn)

Male born 26 July 2004, this regal-looking cat is one of the more highly-strung species.  Often not taking to captivity well, the golden cat can be irritable and reclusive. While Ho-tan often 'hides' in the corners of his enclosure, he does sometimes take an interest in visitors and allow himself to be photographed. 

Ho-tan the golden cat  Ho-tan the golden cat

 

Hamilton Zoo Wild Cat News

Hamilton Zoo Wild Cat Images

Hamilton Zoo Wild Cat Videos

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