It has been a month since we returned from our South African safari adventure, and I thought it was time to get out with my camera again. After spending weeks processing thousands of safari images, a well-earned break behind the lens felt like the perfect way to recharge.
We headed to Wellington Zoo for a short visit to see which animals would be out and about on a cold, cloudy day. Arriving shortly after 11am, I was especially hopeful that we might see the snow leopards during our visit.
Gibbons in the Trees
Our first stop was the gibbon enclosure. The white female had tucked herself away inside their shelter, but the male was still active and seemed perfectly happy to have cameras pointed in his direction.
One of my favourite moments came when he hung effortlessly from a single hand while looking directly at us. It was a wonderful opportunity to capture both his strength and personality.
Spider Monkeys Watching the Visitors
The spider monkeys were next on our route, and several were active around the enclosure. One wandered down to the water’s edge for a drink, creating a beautiful reflection that immediately caught my attention.
Not long afterwards, I noticed three monkeys sitting together on a shelf, casually eating while observing the people below. They looked almost bored, as if they were hoping for a more entertaining group of humans. It was a reminder that while we watch animals at the zoo, they are often watching us just as closely.
Photographing Kea at Wellington Zoo
A short walk brought us to the kea aviary. This is one of the more challenging places for wildlife photography at Wellington Zoo because it can be difficult to avoid the enclosure netting and support structures.
Rather than fight against the environment, I chose to embrace it and focus on capturing the birds themselves. One kea stretched its wings directly in front of us, revealing the stunning colours hidden beneath. It is one of the reasons these intelligent alpine parrots are so fascinating to photograph.
A Rare Tiger Photography Opportunity
The tiger enclosure was next. We almost walked straight past because it is unusual to find a tiger positioned where a good photograph is possible. Then we spotted one right beside the viewing window.
Unfortunately, I had the wrong lens attached for such a close encounter, but that did not stop me from trying. The tiger had recently been fed and was busy cleaning up the last scraps of its meal. Despite the lens limitations, it was a fantastic opportunity to capture some intimate portraits.
Snow Leopard Photography Highlights
The snow leopard enclosure was just around the corner, and I was looking forward to sitting down for a short rest. Usually, there is not a great deal of activity there, making it a pleasant place to pause and watch. This visit proved to be very different.
One of the snow leopards was incredibly active and spent quite some time moving around the enclosure. Instead of sitting down, I found myself continuously photographing and following its movements. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our Wellington Zoo visit and provided some of the best wildlife photography opportunities of the day.
A Final Surprise from the Cotton-Top Tamarins
After enjoying such good luck with both the tiger and snow leopard, we decided to call it a day. There was still much more to see around the zoo, and I will explore those areas on a future visit.
As we were leaving, we passed the cotton-top tamarin enclosure. One of the tamarins suddenly appeared and stared directly at me. Naturally, I could not resist taking a few photographs.
I had perhaps five seconds to capture a couple of images before it disappeared back into the trees, but those brief moments were enough to end the visit on a high note.
Reflecting on Our Wellington Zoo Visit
We spent just over an hour at Wellington Zoo, but it was a very rewarding hour. From gibbons and spider monkeys to kea, tigers, snow leopards, and cotton-top tamarins, there was no shortage of photographic opportunities.
After weeks of editing safari images from South Africa, it was refreshing to get out with the camera again and enjoy a different kind of wildlife photography experience. Judging by the encounters we had, it certainly will not be long before I return for another visit.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.