The Zoo was a New Zealand observational documentary series, made by Greenstone TV, that followed the lives of Auckland Zoo's animals and zookeepers. The series explored the new arrivals and births of Auckland Zoo, to the fights, illnesses and mating rituals, how the animals are fed and how they live. The series' production crew were based full-time at the zoo, but the series also followed zookeepers overseas on zoo-related trips. The Zoo returned to New Zealand's TV One in 2013 for its 13th and final season. In the UK, it aired on Animal Planet.

Zoo staff

Season 12 staff stars

Main staff stars

Former staff stars

Zoo keepers who have previously starred on the show.

Animals

Current animal stars (series 12)

Former animal stars

Seasons

Season 1 (1999)

The premiere season of The Zoo.

2004

This season premiered on TV2 on Sunday 5 September.

Season 8 (2006)

Season 9 (2007)

Season 10 (2008)

This series aired on TV2.

Season 11 (2010)

Season 12 (2012)

Premiered on Sunday 29 July 2012. Currently airs on TV One at 7pm on Sundays.

Specials

Zoo Babies (2002)

This 1-hour The Zoo special takes a look at pregnancy, birth and infancy at Auckland Zoo. Explores the successes and failures of trying to breed giraffes, lions, orang-utans, tigers, pink flamingos and the native New Zealand tuatara.

Zoo Babies 2: Raising Baby Iwani (2005)

The story of Baby Iwani, the siamang gibbon, who was rejected by his mother and 'adopted' by zookeeper Christine Tintinger. This 60-minute special leads up to the day Christine has to give him back to Mum.

Spin-off series

Two By Two At The Zoo (2005)

Two By Two At The Zoo is a series made up of ten episodes of specials from The Zoo series. Two By Two At The Zoo explores Auckland Zoo's favourite animals and the keepers who care for them.

Episodes

Trent's Wildcat Adventures (2006)

Popular Auckland Zoo zookeeper Trent Barclay has a passion for wild cats. In this series of ten episodes, Trent travels to South Africa to encounter wild cats up close and personal in their natural African habitat.

The Zoo: This Is Your Life (2008)

The Zoo spin-off series, The Zoo: This Is Your Life, celebrates five special Auckland Zoo animals. The series follows Indra the orangutan, Kashin the elephant, Kura the lioness, Zabulu the giraffe and Kito the rhino. It features archive video footage and photos, and interviews current and former keepers. All stories feature highs and lows including births and traumatic deaths, stressful journeys, life-threatening illness and daring escapes.

Episodes

DVD releases

Awards

Qantas Media Awards

NZ TV Awards

TV Guide 'Best on the Box'