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Butterfly Creek (zoo)

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Coordinates: 36°59′58″S 174°47′41″E / 36.9994°S 174.7947°E / -36.9994; 174.7947
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Butterfly Creek
Parthenos sylvia resting on an eastern water dragon at Butterfly Creek
Map
36°59′58″S 174°47′41″E / 36.9994°S 174.7947°E / -36.9994; 174.7947
Date opened2003
Location10 Tom Pearce Drive, Auckland Airport, Auckland, New Zealand
Land area8 acres
No. of species~60
MembershipsZoo and Aquarium Association
Websitewww.butterflycreek.co.nz

Butterfly Creek is a wildlife facility located adjacent to Auckland Airport, Auckland, New Zealand. Opening in 2003, the facility primarily exhibits exotic species, including a butterfly garden and two saltwater crocodiles, the only members of their species kept in New Zealand.

History

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Situated on approximately 8 acres (3.2 ha) of land, it was initially established as a walk-through butterfly garden (the butterfly house remaining the flagship attraction of the place) and has now expanded to having a number of both native and exotic animal species including two saltwater crocodiles (the only two of their species to be kept in New Zealand) named Goldie and Scar. These were brought from Australia in 2009 after initially being removed from the wild by wildlife authorities, after concerns for locals and livestock in the area. The park has become regarded as a secondary zoo for people living in the Auckland city region as-well as a tourist attraction for visiting domestic and international visitors due to its location near the airport. Another feature of the park stated to be a significant drawcard of visitation is lifelike replicas of extinct and mythical creatures such as the extinct moa bird of New Zealand, animatronic models of dinosaurs and models of some mythical creatures. These like the wildlife residence are exhibited throughout the gardens of the park.[1][2][3][4][5]

Wildlife exhibits

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Butterfly House
Crocodilians
Reptile Rooms
Exotic Mammals
Kiwi House
New Zealand Eels
Buttermilk Farm
Tropical Marine Aquarium
Tropical Freshwater Aquarium

Animatronic and replica statue exhibits

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Extinct Megafuna is represented at the park with a life-sized replica model of the now extinct North Island giant moa, one of the largest flightless-birds to ever exist and was a native to the islands of New Zealand until according to some sources was hunted into non-existence.

Dinosaur Kingdom is an exhibit at the park which includes a number of animatronic models of dinosaurs built to what the species life-sized body size dimensions would have been. The animatronic dinosaurs include replicas of the species: ankylosaurus, dilophosaurus, diplodocus, parasaurolophus, spinosaurus, stegosaurus, triceratops, tyrannosaurus rex and velociraptor.

Mythical Creatures is a similar pair of exhibits in the park which include models of fantasy creatures of myths and legends such as dragons, unicorns, mermaids, sea serpents, a kraken and also aliens.

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References

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  1. ^ Dionne Christian (13 December 2014). "Auckland Butterfly Creek: The Real Macaw". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  2. ^ Pamela Wade (August 14, 2022). "Butterfly Creek: Auckland's unusual combination of zoo, amusement park and conservation hub". Stuff (New Zealand). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  3. ^ Emily Ford (December 23, 2017). "Kiwi, otters, and eels to delight in new exhibit at Butterfly Creek". Stuff (New Zealand). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  4. ^ Unknown (January 16, 2014). "Dinosaurs come to Butterfly Creek". Stuff (New Zealand). Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  5. ^ Anna Bulkele (2014). "Critical placemaking : critical regionalism in an increasingly globalised world" (PDF). Unitec Institute of Technology New Zealand. Retrieved 3 Sep 2023.
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Official website

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