Me and The Zoo

Growing Up in Hamilton in the 70's, Our school would go to the Hilldale Wildlife Park, today it's called the Hamilton Zoo. Mr and Mrs Powell who owned the Hilldale Wildlife Park, were wonderful people, who in-printed on me and everyone else the value of preserving our precious wildlife. Over the years I started to draw the animals which grew into a passion. My conservation efforts stem from my love of endangered wildlife . My focus is to bring it to the community's attention that we share this beautiful planet and not let our problems hinder their wildlife survival.

 

 

Stephen Stanley, Hamilton Zoo Manager holding a painting of Jaka a male Sumartran Tiger 2006.

In 1999 Hamilton Zoo acquired 3 white rhinos, it was a buzz i couldn't wait to draw and paint them . This is Zambesi, say Hi. "choice"

"Bully the Bison, was another favourite I drew he was Awesome, 1996.

"Molek" at the Auckland Zoo, 2016, image courtesy of the NZ Herald.

My Tiger Story

In 2003, I was granted access  to sketch the Tigers at the Hamilton Zoo. The Staff and Keepers would allow me  to see the tigers at the back of the enclosures and get quite close to them. I remember my first encounter with "Molek" the Sumatran Tigress . I was told to wait in the bushes on the edge of the enclosure, the keepers would call out to me, when they settle Molek down.  After 5 mins, I thought I heard the keeper calling out to me to come over, in fact it wasn't the keeper's voice at all. I walked around the corner and saw a very large angry tiger.  I fell over backwards by the force of her roar. I was completely paralysed, I was only a few meters away from her enclosure,  just the energy and power coming off her was unbelievable. The keepers were yelling at me to drop my camera tripod as it resembled a dart gun, and it was dramatising her. I ended up going home and having a large beer and a change of underwear. Iater on I was able to sketch her and visit on a regular basis, it was truly amazing,  In 2005 she was sent to Auckland Zoo, where she met with another tiger and raised a family. I continued to visit her at the Auckland Zoo when I could, however in 2018 she fell ill and passed away. 

Aroha mai my friend.

"Molek" 2004.

You can hear me "ROAR"

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Panda Painting for the Staff room, Hamilton  Zoo, 2004.