Our Mission

Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust was created in December 2008 to operate the Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary and ensure that the aims contained in the mission statement are achieved. The Trust aims are to:

Provide a home and rehabilitation for at risk exotic and native species. These include species displaced from circus, small zoo, or similar institution closure

Provide Educational opportunities for children and adults New Zealand wide. By providing an experience where individuals learn and interact with animals and birds in an environment that creates a greater understanding, empathy and ultimately a commitment to Animal Welfare and stewardship of the living environment around us – Conservation.

Playcentre have lunch with the ducklings

The Trust works closely with schools to meet curriculum requirements for class visits, and create support teaching materials to assist teacher and students meet learning outcomes. We run junior zoo keeper and cub courses to help children learn about the living world and career opportunities, and spend a large amount of time providing student practical work placements for UNITEC Zoo Keeper and Animal Care students, and Veterinary and Science University students. The visiting public is invited to participate in Wild Encounter educational talks twice daily where a keeper engages visitors with stories about the animals and birds, their conservation status, personalities and habitat and issues that affect their survival in the wild.

Recreational facility, the Trust is committed to provide an affordable day out for families for the greater Waikato and Auckland region, for tourists and visitors to our region from all over New Zealand, by providing a relaxed environment, with many picnic and BBQ areas.

Conservation – the Trust assist’s other Zoos with A.S.M.P* species programs by:

• Participating with a limited number of breeding programs (as resources allow)
• Holding single sex groups of A.S.M.P species to assist breeding programs.
• House and care for species that don’t fall under A.S.M.P umbrella e.g. common species to free up space in other zoos for breeding programs

*A.S.M.P Australasian Species Management Program

The Sanctuary actively facilitated the retirement of the last circus animals in New Zealand. In 2006 the sanctuary purchased the last 3 circus lions and rehabilitated them. These lions had spent 17 years living in a circus trailer travelling throughout New Zealand. In 2009 we negotiated the release of the African elephant Jumbo from the circus. The 37 year old African elephant has been responding well to her rehabilitation after spending 30 years living in the circus shackled. The remarkable transformation of the lions and elephant from the circus is impressive and many animals and birds have experienced similar once coming to the sanctuary.

These include monkeys and lemurs ousted from other social situations, native birds such as Kea, morepork and wood pigeon and a variety of species housed here so zoo’s have more space for conservation projects (bobcats, pigtail macaque, cotton topped tamarins).

The trust plans purchasing further land in the future and creating a sustainable native bush corridor over 70 acres with the help from the Department of Conservation and building a veterinary clinic and native bird rehabilitation hospital. The Sanctuary will provide educational and recreational opportunities for our communities into the future.

Aerial view of sanctuary and surrounds