Southland Museum and Art Gallery applications in the 1940’s to the Government to obtain live Tuatara were declined, but with persistence the Museum finally received a large male transferred from a zoo in 1961 named George.
In 1974 an outdoor “Tuatarium”, as it was called, was built at the Museum to house these common Tuatara Species, Sphenodon punctatus.
The 1990 Museum Pyramid redevelopment incorporated a 200 square meter enclosure to house this growing Tuatara population. This enclosure gave more control over climate extremes and provided visitors with optimum viewing opportunities to see live Tuatara.
In 2006 the Tuataruim roof was replaced with a special Plexiglass UVT acrylic that allows all wavelengths of light, including up to 80% Ultra Violet B emission, essential for Tuatara Vitamin D production which maintains good bone and egg quality. The Southland Museum and Art Gallery is the world’s leading captive centre for Tuatara starting with its first breeding success in 1984. |
