Auckland Zoo: 100 Years, 100 Stories

by Sarah Ell, Aja Pendergrast, Jane Healy

Over its 100 years, Auckland Zoo has evolved from its early days as a ‘living museum’ into a modern zoo that takes an active role in conserving wildlife in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.

Auckland Zoo: 100 Years, 100 Stories showcases the Zoo’s rich and colourful history: from its fraught origins in Onehunga (with complaints of roaring lions!) to its established home in Western Springs.

You’ll discover a diverse collection of captivating stories — personal accounts of former staff who lived within the Zoo grounds; unexpected animal adventures; stories behind beloved heritage features like Cedric the dragon; day-to-day life at the Zoo (how do you anesthetise a flamingo?); and insights into the groundbreaking conservation work by the Zoo and its partners.

366 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Sarah Ell is a journalist, writer and editor, and has published widely in the history, sailing and young adult fiction genres. As a journalist and subeditor, she has worked for the Auckland Star, Boating New Zealand and Trends. In 2003 When the War Came Home was shortlisted for the LIANZA Esther Glen Medal, and was a 2003 Storylines Notable Senior Fiction Book, while Talking to Adam was a 2006 Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction Book, and Sirocco a 2013 Storylines Notable Non-fiction Book. She collaborated with Mark Inglis on his memoir High Tech Legs on Everest, which was nominated for the non-fiction category of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and was a 2009 Storylines Notable Non-fiction Book. Sarah lives in Auckland with her husband and two young children.

Reviews

[Matt Akersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of stories. I was particularly interested in the research and vital breeding programs for endangered species happening at the Zoo. It was also a great trip down memory lane as I recalled many visits to the Zoo as a kid, seeing Kashin and Burma the elephants, Captain the cockatoo, Fudge and Faith the hippos, and the astonishing panda duo visit in 1988!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

From 1922 to 2022 the Auckland Zoo has gone from a set of cages for visitors to gape at to a cutting edge conservation site. The stories are told by the perspective of volunteers; workers; children of former workers. There are stories about the elephant who went walking ; the otter who swam around the Hauraki Gulf; the sculptor who made the dragon and the giraffe slide; the kiwi egg hatching incubator and the concerts at the rotunda.
Compiled of a hundred easy-read stories I would recommend this book for everyone over seven years old.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic insight of the History of Auckland Zoo

[Carol Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of essays about the history and activities of the Auckland Zoo.