Marineland, Napier

Marineland of New Zealand

Marineland's logo.
Entrance on Marine Parade.
Date opened	29 January 1965
Location	Marine Parade, Napier, New Zealand
Coordinates	39°29′41″S 176°55′09″E / 39.494662°S 176.919161°E / -39.494662; 176.919161Coordinates: 39°29′41″S 176°55′09″E / 39.494662°S 176.919161°E / -39.494662; 176.919161
Number of animals	20+
Number of species	7+
Major exhibits	Common Dolphin, Californian Sea Lions, New Zealand Fur Seals
Website	http://www.marineland.co.nz/

Marineland of New Zealand is a marine mammal park in Napier, New Zealand. The park opened in 1965 and closed to the public in 2008. It has had several species of native marine wildlife, including the common dolphin, the New Zealand fur seal, little blue penguin and gannets. Marineland also has California sea lions, a sulphur crested cockatoo, otters and more.

History

1960s

The main tank at Marineland which was completed in January 1965.

The history of Marineland began in 1964 when an Auckland architectural firm was commissioned by Napier City under mayor Peter Tait to design an aquarium and dolphin pool.^[1] In late January 1965 Marineland caught its first common dolphin, Daphne, and the facility opened two days later. In 1969 two dolphins died when vandals broke in and fed them nails.

By the end of the 1960s the site had exhibited dusky dolphins, Californian sea lions, leopard seals and New Zealand fur seals.

1970s

The year 1970 saw bottlenose dolphins and weddell seals welcomed to the site. In 1976 four small clawed otters arrived from Melbourne Zoo. A year later the current General Manager, Gary Macdonald was appointed.

1980s

A new grandstand was built and Marineland saw yellow-eyed penguins and little blue penguins lay eggs for the first time including some successful hatchings.

1990s

A New Zealand Lotteries Commission grant was given for a new Marine Education Centre in 1991 and one year later a "Swim With Dolphins" programme began. In 1996 vandals broke in to the site for a second time. Redevelopments of many areas and accommodations for animals at the site took place.

2000s

Closes to the public in September 2008 when Kelly the last remaining dolphin dies.^[2]

2010s

Marineland is transferred to National Aquarium of New Zealand. ^[2]

Animals

Kelly the common dolphin performing a spinning trick during a show

A male Californian sea lion during a performance

Kelly the dolphin performing

• Common Dolphin
  • Kelly - She arrived on 13 December 1974, died on 11 September 2008. Early findings indicate cause of death may be due to stomach cancer as per this report. He death triggered the closure of Maineland
  • Shona - Arrived on 13 December 1974, died on 7 April 2006 due to old age.
• California sea lion: Where housed in pools totaling over 600,000 litres. They are used in daily shows along with the dolphins.
  • Rosey - She was born at Marineland in 1984 and is a fully mature breeding female. Has now died.
  • Makea - Born on 15 December 1990 and is a fully trained show animal.
  • Cody - Makea's younger sister, born on 17 December 1991. Has now died.
  • Trinity (born at M. Napier on 17 December 1997. He was successfully hand raised by the staff after being rejected by his mother.
  • Orion - Born at M.Napier on 22 December 1997 and will be trained to be a show animal.
  • Dakota - Youngest female sea lion who was born on 12 December 2004. She is now weaned, and in training for our daily shows.
  • Rufus - The newest addition to Marineland's sea lion family. He was born on 22 December 2004. He has also been weaned and has begun his show training.
• New Zealand Fur Seal: Had either been brought in sick or injured, or have been bred from animals brought to the park sick and injured.
  • Angel - Brought into Marineland on 12 June 1991. He is now retired from the shows, but participates in the Marine Animal Encounter Tours. Angel died on the 27 July 2009.
  • Primrose - She was born at Marineland on 28 December 1992. She is retired from shows and is a mature breeding female.
  • Bart - He was born at Marineland on 7 January 1997. He is in training as a show animal.
  • Monty - She was sent to Marineland on 9 August 1999 for recovery. She is now used in shows.
  • Molly - She was brought to Marineland on 20 June 2000. She is now used in shows.
  • Mr. Bo Jangles - Is the son of Primrose and Angel. He was born on 26 December 2003. He made his show debut on Marineland's 40th Anniversary and is continuing his training.
  • Pania - She was born 16 December 2007 to Primrose. Sired by Angel.
  • Ollie - Born to Primrose. Sired by Angel. Does most of the seal photos.
  • Iha - Marinelands latest addition. She does most of the swim with the seal encounters.

• Little Blue Penguins: There is a breeding colony of little blue penguins established from sick and injured birds.

• Australasian Gannet: Marineland's gannet colony has also been built up from sick and injured animals. They are free to fly away but have formed their own colony and choose to stay in the park.

• Sulphur Crested Cockatoo: Called "Bobby". Bobby came to Marineland when the park first did the pirate shows in 1988.

References

1. ^ "Marineland celebrates its 40th anniversary" (PDF). Inside Tourism. 21 January 2005. http://www.insidetourism.co.nz/images/IT530.pdf. Retrieved 6 November 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Media Release 10 December 2010". Marineland of New Zealand. http://www.marineland.co.nz/. Retrieved 19 September 2011. 

External links

• Marineland of New Zealand