Wildlife Parks

 New Zealand Pigeon (commonly called Wood pigeon). 

These are big (50 cm tall) fruit eating birds. We hear these pigeons more often than see them when we are hiking-  their wings make a very distinctive "wooshing" sound when they fly.

 Springboks- I finally know what the South African Rugby team is named after!

 Feeding the New Zealand Longfin eels at Willowbank. It was very sad to hear someone had come in and aimlessly killed a fair number of them. They are as endangered than the Great Spotted Kiwi but unfortunately they are not protected so there will be no repercussions for the killers. They also only breed once (migrating all the way to Tonga)- at the end of their lifetimes.

White faced heron. He/she was pretty aggressive!

There are two wildlife parks close to Christchurch. We managed to visit both over the Christmas holidays.
Willowbank Wildlife park has primarily native species. It is in a beautiful natural setting with a creek running through. You can feed the birds and the wild eels and of course some farm animals.
Orana Wildlife park has exotic animals from around the world- mostly from the African Savannah. (It felt like the Savannah on Friday when we went too- 28 degrees and not much wind or shade!)
Both parks have Great Spotted Kiwis of course- but since they are nocturnal, their enclosures are dark and photos aren't allowed.