Saving native species at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery

Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery has had a successful past three months since its opening, with a range of visitors already engaging with the centre’s interactive experiences.

A range of visitors - from seniors to primary school students - have all been involved with the on-site education programs that run throughout the
week at the centre.

“The education side is important too, so the more messaging we can get out there the better.” Chris says.

One-way vision windows are built in so visitors can look at rehabilitating birds, while ensuring the birds don’t get used to having crowds of humans around
for when they get released back into the wild.

More renovations are underway after feedback that those in wheelchairs and small children struggled to see the critters from the windows.

Massey’s Wildbase Hospital had been operating for years before they realised a bigger clinic to help rehabilitate their animals to a healthy state was required.

“The reason why The Wildbase Recovery is here is because of the development of the Wildbase Hospital,” said the centre manager Chris Smith.

The Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery clinic has only just created new interactive experiences over the past few months, with the aim to not only rehabilitate animals but also educate the public on conservation.

Nearly 200 native Whio (blue ducks) have been bred and released from
the centre.

The population of this endemic specie is under 3000; getting the native species back into their environment is one of the main purposes of the facility.

Chris had many conservation projects before landing his role at Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery, where he now works on the operations and front of house experience for the visitors.