Grand Karaihe Zoo

Grand Karaihe Zoo
The Grand Zoo
Mzanzi Giraffes with Takutaiwhero in the background
Founder	Ihaīa Hapuku-Williams
Owned by	Association of Malaio Ozeros Nations
Managed by	Ihu Hapuku-Williams
Visitors	4,137,522 (in 2021)
Species	472
Designation	Zoological Park
Website	grandkaraihezoo.org

The Grand Karaihe Zoo is a a Zoological Park located in the Onekawan city of Utara on the island of Motunui on the western coastline. Officially opened on 1 January 2000; from the outset it was intended to be a major hub for global zoological, conservation research and education. Currently the Zoo is spread over 270 acres, ranking it as one of the largest zoos in the world. It houses over 400 species from across the planet; with an estimated 11,700 individual animals.

It is managed on behalf of the Association of Malaio Ozeros Nations by the Roera Pūtaiao Kararehe Porihanga of Ngāti Onekawa-Nukanoa and is funded through a mix of ticket sales, merchandise, donations and financial support from AMON. Drawing on the significant institutional expertise of theRoera Pūtaiao Kararehe Porihanga and AMON; it has gone on too be a leader in a number of conservation programs and initiatives, including success in the breeding and releasing of a number of species, including the Bayar tiger, Shambhalan elephant, Malaiao Savanna elephant and Pouakai.

History

Origins

The Roera Pūtaiao Kararehe Porihanga (English: Royal Zoological Society) of Ngāti Onekawa-Nukanoa during the 1980s was in a state of decline. The rise of the Assoication of Malaio Ozeros Nations and it's ever increasing membership and support of conservation and environmental issues had sidelined the organisation. Once the academic hub for zoological study in Ngāti Onekawa-Nukanoa; membership had declined steadily for several decades and had by this point reached its lowest ebb since it's inception in 1905. This, alongside it's fading influence and prominence had caused significant concerns amongst it's most senior members.

Ihaīa Hapuku-Williams was the son and grandson of zoologists, with his mother [INSERTNAME] Williams having been an instrumental figure in the Great Elephant Rescue during the Second Monsoon War in the late 1940s. Despite its contributions to zoological study; it's membership had fallen to less then 50 active individuals by 1985. Ihaīa Hapuku-Williams was voted President in 1985, and had decided at that point it was time for it to refocus it's efforts. It was during 1985 that the planning for the 'greatest zoo on the planet" would commence.

Exhibits & Attractions

The Grand Karaihe Zoo has 472 species and animals from every inhabited continent. As a result the Zoo is mostly laid out in a geographic fashion, with notable deviations in the large aviary, reptile house and insect house.

The Great Ozeros

The Great Ozeros is the single largest section of the zoo, and houses species from across from Malaiao, eastern Scipia and southern Ochran. It includes a number of the most popular exhibits in the zoo and has the largest amount of species.

Cute & Cuddly

One of the largest indoor walkthrough tropical exhibits in the world, Cute & Cuddly is home to an extensive range of marsupials, bats and monkey species. This includes (but is not limited too) the Sugar glider, Tiger quoll, Northern quoll, Tree kangaroo, Black flying fox, Tarsius, Eastern pulaui langur and Western pulaui langur. The first official visitors were Toa II Nukanoa, Pania Nukanoa and Moana Nukanoa when they were children.

Lords of the Arboreal

The Lords of the Arboreal is home the the Grand Karaihe Zoos Mawas exhibit. One of the most recent additions to the zoo, it currently houses Adikara, Lestari and Utami. Featuring an extensive range of both built and natural climbing areas and an small creek; it is hoped that they will contribute to the conservation of the Mawas as part of an breeding program. This has been hampered by Adikara bullish personality and the relative timidness of of Lestari and Utami.

Last Sovereigns of Nahkari

The Last Sovereigns of Nahkari is home to the critically endangered Nahkari tiger residents of the zoo. Ujang and Nyai are the captive-born offspring and were introduced to the zoo in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Previously it housed solely Anang, who was not able to bred due to high chance he carried genes that were connected to infertility and heart conditions and passed away in 2011.

Ujang and Nyai welcomed their first cubs, two girls named Saodah and Diah in 2016 and there has been two litters since, for an additional two boys and three girls.

Solitary Giants

Birhan rhino mother and calf

The Birhan rhino is one of the most endangered animals in the zoo. Suffering from poaching, deforestation and a slow reproductive cycle; the Birhan rhino is one of the zoos priorities in it's conservation efforts. The current inhabitant is Odah, a young adult female.