Wellington Zoo was opened in 1906[1] by the late Prime Minister Richard Seddon after he was given a young lion – later named King Dick – by the Bostock and Wombwell's Circus.

However, in June 2003. the zoo became a charitable trust and is now governed by a board of six trustees, with the Wellington City Council as the principal source of funds.

The two animals were tracked down overnight and eventually killed after advancing aggressively toward police and a group of circus performers who were attempting to contain Josephine with a net.

[6] There was considerable public outrage at the killing of the animals particularly as Josephine had already been shot with two tranquilizer darts.

That same year, Sally's two sons, nine-year-old Mahinga, and five-year-old Bahati died following illnesses.

[5] Bahati had developed pneumonia and, for a time before his death, was also looked after by the adult Intensive Care doctors from nearby Wellington Hospital.

In May 2001, arrangements were made for the Malayan sun bear Madu to be sent to the National Zoo in Australia, however, he died following surgery on a broken tooth.

[18] In September 2001, giraffe Tisa gave birth to her second surviving offspring, a female named Rukiya.

[25] In September 2012, Wellington Zoo opened a new enclosure for their Malayan sun bears, Sean and Sasa.

[26] The zoo is currently awaiting the arrival of a new male sun bear for breeding with Sasa.

[27] Sean died in December 2018 aged 22, however Sasa his daughter remains a well-loved resident at the zoo.

[30] In February 2019, the zoo decided to euthanize all of their four baboons, after a breakdown in their social structure which meant they were injuring themselves by fighting and were suffering from anxiety.

[31] Tahi the one-legged brown kiwi, famous for 15 years at the zoo, died in June 2021.

It works cooperatively with other zoos around the world through studbook keepers, who are responsible for maintaining relevant data on a particular species within a programme to ensure genetic diversity.

The Kererū Discovery Project is a cooperative effort with Zealandia: Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Te Papa and Pukaha (Mount Bruce).

The skinks are considered locally extinct in the Wellington region and the zoo currently cares for 1/6th of the entire surviving population.

The Nest – Te Kōhanga animal hospital allows the public to watch the wildlife vets at work, narrating as they handle check-ups and surgeries and answering questions through an incorporated intercom system.

More will be unfolding over the next few years, including the Asia Precinct and The Roost native bird care and breeding facility.

[42] Meet the Locals He Tuku Aroa opened in 2015 as a collaboration between landscape architects Isthmus Group[43] and the Zoo.

It is a series of zones simulating a journey from the sea to the mountains with stops along the way at farmland and native forest and is dedicated to local fauna and conservation.

In 2006 zookeeper Bob Bennett was mauled by two lions, Malaik and Zulu, when an unlocked gate allowed them entry into the area where he was laying out their food.