Bringing the tropics to you

The Swamp Forest is part of the Zoo’s $60 million South East Asia Jungle Track - the most ambitious project in its 99-year history as part of a #FutureZoo renewals programme being funded through Auckland Council’s long-term plan.

As a visitor, you’ll certainly feel immersed. Our swamp forest in the tropical dome will be a balmy 28 degrees year-round, and harvested rainwater will irrigate all the plants as well as feed the special misting and rain systems – which means, yes, you could get rained on in this tropical world!

The Habitat

The Swamp Forest habitat- a large transparent climate-controlled tropical dome will open next year and be home to Sunda Gharial Crcocodiles, Turtles, Tortoises and a variety of fish species. It will mimic the hot and humid climate of an Indonesian swamp forest for Sunda gharial and other reptile and fish species. This unique habitat and the species that will live here, will be entirely new for Auckland Zoo.

Being made out of Ethylene Tetrafluroethylene it will act as a insulating blanket to help keep the habitats temparature and because it is highly transparent it allows for plenty of sunlight to ensure our animals and plants get the critical ultra-violet rays they need.

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The Tropical Pools

All of the tropical dome’s pool areas are now beautifully shaped and sculptured. This includes the over-hangs and beach areas where the sunda gharial crocodiles will be able to enjoy hauling themselves up onto.

There are three large crocodile pools (each of a 5m radius) that are interconnected with shallower beach areas. For great management and flexibility each pool can be either linked or separated via the control of drop-in gates.
Beach areas, to be landscaped over the next four months, will range from sandy and swampy to rocky and muddy – reflective of the environments they’d experience in the wild.