Chinese Fire-Bellied Newts, Golden Bell Frogs, Red-Eared Slider Turtles, Brown Shaver Chickens, Blue-Tongued Skinks, Jersey Wooly Rabbits, long-haired guinea pigs, albino rats and pet mice make up just some of the residents of the recently-relaunched Te Puna Kararehe – Animal Behaviour and Husbandry Centre, now housed in its newly refurbished unit at B155-156.
The name Te Puna Kararehe reflects the animal care, husbandry, research, welfare and behaviour teaching that goes on at the centre throughout the year.
Students who are studying for the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care, the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Companion Animals), the Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare) and the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Veterinary Nursing Assistant), all work with animals at the centre as part of their study. The Canine Behaviour and Training space conveniently sits alongside the animal buildings and are included in the new centre.
Laura Harvey, Academic Leader – Animal Health, says students gain invaluable hands-on experience from their animal husbandry and welfare work at the centre, which involves feeding, cleaning, exercising and administering medication. There is also a dedicated research space for project work.
“The new centre gives us a much greater opportunity to implement best practice protocol,” said Laura. “We’re already starting to implement these changes which will benefit both students and animals.”
The centre’s expanded facilities include a large enclosure for the chickens and ducks, outdoor pens for the rabbits and temperature-controlled tanks for the turtles, newts, water dragons and skinks. It’s hoped that the centre can introduce some rare species of lizards later in the year.
Della, one of the resident long-haired guinea pigs, and several of the Brown Shaver chickens will star in a feature on animal behaviour due to screen on Fanimals on TV2 in early April.
You can read about Fanimals visit to Unitec in our Nest post – Children’s show ‘Fanimals’ filmed in new Unitec animal unit (12 December 2018).
This is great. Is it possible to purchase some fresh eggs?
Free-range eggs available on campus, from our beautiful USAU flock.
Collect your eggs from Building 155.
50c per egg (max 12 pp)
Available Mon, Weds, Fri
Between 8am and 11am.
First in, first served