Community
The beloved tuatara of Invercargill, including the famous Henry and his friends, are slated to move into a new residence in the popular Queens Park animal reserve.
This move is a key part of the city’s museum redevelopment project, known as Project 1225, which includes the demolition of the existing museum and the construction of a new one at the same site in Queens Park, as well as a new museum collection storage facility at Tisbury.
The relocation of the tuatara from their current habitat in the museum to a temporary site was necessitated in February, as the noise and vibrations caused by on-site geotechnical work could potentially harm these rare reptiles.
The upcoming enclosure, ensuring a continuation of the tuatara’s rich legacy in the area, will offer the inhabitants a suitable and secure living area. The 109m2 enclosure at Queens Park, located near the entrance to the playground car park, will bring the tuatara closer to the other fauna of the park.
Lee Butcher, Council’s Programme Director, commented on the importance of this new habitat for the ongoing connection between the tuatara and the generations of Southlanders who hold them dear. He added that he was thrilled to reveal that the Christchurch-based firm, Studio 4, had been selected to design this facility.
Butcher expressed his faith in Studio 4, referencing the impressive work they have already accomplished for Christchurch’s precious gorillas at the Great Ape Centre in Orana Park. He mentioned that an enclosure of this standard will likely be the first of its kind in the South Island, and possibly even in Aotearoa.
Studio 4 directors, Julian O’Sullivan and Matt Sloper, who had previously helped design and deliver the award-winning Te Rakiura Museum on Stewart Island, said they were excited to be part of this nationally significant project. They are eagerly anticipating the task of creating a safe and secure home for the tuatara, as well as an exciting visitor experience for the people of Invercargill and Southland.
Manager Parks Performance, Kate Gough, stressed the importance of providing animals with safe living spaces, adhering to animal husbandry guidelines, and she emphasized that this was a significant reason why Studio 4 was chosen for this project. She elaborated that the new enclosure would offer the best care for the tuatara and would replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible.
Gough expressed her excitement about Henry and his friends joining a part of Queens Park that families love, and she is eagerly awaiting their arrival at their new residence. The initial concept designs for this exciting new facility are expected to be available in July.