Phillip Island Wildlife Park, A Review.

[Yoshistar888]

Phillip Island Wildlife Park is an immensley popular native animal park located just outside Cowes, Phillip Island. It has a very confusing layout as evidenced by this map so, i'll tackle it in sections.
The South, the North East, the North West and the Free Ranging areas.

This park has pinnioned birds, so I'll quickly explain my stance. Personally I really don't like pinioned birds, I think it's quite sad but if the deed is done, it's done, I don't carry on about it.

First I will talk about animals found in multiple sections and Free Range animals

Tasmanian Devil enclosures are decent, they consist of a couple pens with adequate hides and space, unfortunately this doesnt carry onto the rest of the enclosures.


Free Range.

The Wildlife park has two main free range areas as well as the general part of the wildlife park. In the wildlife park Swamp Wallabies and Red Necked Wallabies are most abundant, they are quite tame for free range animals and like human interaction. In the large 'burnt forest' area has Eastern Grey Kangaroos which are housed well in a nice wetland. Finally there is an open field for Emu's and Red Kangaroos, the Emu's are bullies, they gang up on tourists attempting to steal their bags of food and sometimes even attack them. Luckily despite their tough exterior they are sooks and will back off if you make yourself look large. There are also two aviarys in this section but the first, I doubt has captive birds, only wild birds despite the signage and the second is a new unsigned aviary with Little Pied Cormorants and Nankeen Night Herons. I've seen both these species wild on the grounds of the Wildlife park.

The free range swamp wallabies though, although they are cute, they pose a problem for other animals in the park jumping into other enclosures.



The 'South' encompansess the following areas.

Reptiles and Bats,
Grey butcherbird aviary
Koalas and Wallabies
Pelicans
'Sugar Glider'
Shelduck with Turtle
Blotched Blue Tongue
Pademelon
Echidnas.


Now i'll review each of these enclosures

Reptiles and Bats.

A medium-small sized reptile house with a bat enclosure on the outside, the reptile house, enclosure wise is quite mediocre with small exhibits that need to be upgraded for their inhabitants.
Species include a variety of Carpet Python subspecies, Black Headed Python, Woma, Olive Python, Spotted Python, Gippsland Water Dragon, Eastern Tiger Snake, Common Death Adder, Cunninghams Skink and Stimsons python.

The reptile house used to hold a juvenile Perentie as well as Collet's snake, according to Astrobird there is now a Mertens Water Monitor there.

The bat enclosure on the outside is appalling, it is dimly lit up and allows tons of daylight into the small enclosure which houses at least 30 Black Flying Foxes.

Aviarys

There are only two Aviaries in this part of the wildlife park, a small single species aviary containing Grey Butcherbirds and a small parrot aviary with a Rainbow Lorikeet, Turquoise Parrot and a Hybrid Superb Parrot, the parrot aviary was the old Tawny Frogmouth aviary.

Koalas and Wallabies.

Koalas are housed in decent enclosures on a boardwalk, some of the enclosures also contain Tammar Wallabies. There is also a small Pademelon enclosure near the entrance and a good sized Parma Wallaby enclosure.

The Back

This area contains waterfowl, which i'm uncertain if wild or not as well as Black Striped Wallabies, a species not found in other Australian zoos. There are two very sad parts to this area, firstly this area contains pinnioned pelicans, although this is common in Zoos such as Melbourne Zoo, the reason it's sad is not because of pinnioned pelicans in general, it's that literally 15 minutes away is the famous San Remo Pelican Feeding at midday where locals feed wild pelicans, it really doesn't make sense. The other sad part is the sugar glider enclosure which i'm pretty sure is empty as i've never seen the glider, the enclosure is filled with Red Back spiders and there was a cat ontop of the enclosure, absolutely horrible.

Miscelanious

There are three other enclosures in this area, a very small and poor enclosure with a single pinnioned Rajah Shelduck with a buddy in the form of an Eastern Long Necked Turtle. One time I saw a Swamp Wallaby jump in the enclosure so a turtle, duck, wallaby trio!

There is a very well done enclosure for Echidnas with plenty of burrowing space although it's exposed to the sunlight too much.

Finally an overcrowded exhibit with at least 50 Blotched Blue Tongue Lizards, I'm not kidding theres at least fifty in there.


I'll cover both Northern Parts to finish off the wildlife park next.

 

[Yoshistar888]

Phillip Island Wildlife Park is an immensley popular native animal park located just outside Cowes, Phillip Island. It has a very confusing layout as evidenced by this map so, i'll tackle it in sections.
The South, the North East, the North West and the Free Ranging areas.

This park has pinnioned birds, so I'll quickly explain my stance. Personally I really don't like pinioned birds, I think it's quite sad but if the deed is done, it's done, I don't carry on about it.

First I will talk about animals found in multiple sections and Free Range animals

Tasmanian Devil enclosures are decent, they consist of a couple pens with adequate hides and space, unfortunately this doesnt carry onto the rest of the enclosures.


Free Range.

The Wildlife park has two main free range areas as well as the general part of the wildlife park. In the wildlife park Swamp Wallabies and Red Necked Wallabies are most abundant, they are quite tame for free range animals and like human interaction. In the large 'burnt forest' area has Eastern Grey Kangaroos which are housed well in a nice wetland. Finally there is an open field for Emu's and Red Kangaroos, the Emu's are bullies, they gang up on tourists attempting to steal their bags of food and sometimes even attack them. Luckily despite their tough exterior they are sooks and will back off if you make yourself look large. There are also two aviarys in this section but the first, I doubt has captive birds, only wild birds despite the signage and the second is a new unsigned aviary with Little Pied Cormorants and Nankeen Night Herons. I've seen both these species wild on the grounds of the Wildlife park.

The free range swamp wallabies though, although they are cute, they pose a problem for other animals in the park jumping into other enclosures.



The 'South' encompansess the following areas.

Reptiles and Bats,
Grey butcherbird aviary
Koalas and Wallabies
Pelicans
'Sugar Glider'
Shelduck with Turtle
Blotched Blue Tongue
Pademelon
Echidnas.


Now i'll review each of these enclosures

Reptiles and Bats.

A medium-small sized reptile house with a bat enclosure on the outside, the reptile house, enclosure wise is quite mediocre with small exhibits that need to be upgraded for their inhabitants.
Species include a variety of Carpet Python subspecies, Black Headed Python, Woma, Olive Python, Spotted Python, Gippsland Water Dragon, Eastern Tiger Snake, Common Death Adder, Cunninghams Skink and Stimsons python.

The reptile house used to hold a juvenile Perentie as well as Collet's snake, according to Astrobird there is now a Mertens Water Monitor there.

The bat enclosure on the outside is appalling, it is dimly lit up and allows tons of daylight into the small enclosure which houses at least 30 Black Flying Foxes.

Aviarys

There are only two Aviaries in this part of the wildlife park, a small single species aviary containing Grey Butcherbirds and a small parrot aviary with a Rainbow Lorikeet, Turquoise Parrot and a Hybrid Superb Parrot, the parrot aviary was the old Tawny Frogmouth aviary.

Koalas and Wallabies.

Koalas are housed in decent enclosures on a boardwalk, some of the enclosures also contain Tammar Wallabies. There is also a small Pademelon enclosure near the entrance and a good sized Parma Wallaby enclosure.

The Back

This area contains waterfowl, which i'm uncertain if wild or not as well as Black Striped Wallabies, a species not found in other Australian zoos. There are two very sad parts to this area, firstly this area contains pinnioned pelicans, although this is common in Zoos such as Melbourne Zoo, the reason it's sad is not because of pinnioned pelicans in general, it's that literally 15 minutes away is the famous San Remo Pelican Feeding at midday where locals feed wild pelicans, it really doesn't make sense. The other sad part is the sugar glider enclosure which i'm pretty sure is empty as i've never seen the glider, the enclosure is filled with Red Back spiders and there was a cat ontop of the enclosure, absolutely horrible.

Miscelanious

There are three other enclosures in this area, a very small and poor enclosure with a single pinnioned Rajah Shelduck with a buddy in the form of an Eastern Long Necked Turtle. One time I saw a Swamp Wallaby jump in the enclosure so a turtle, duck, wallaby trio!

There is a very well done enclosure for Echidnas with plenty of burrowing space although it's exposed to the sunlight too much.

Finally an overcrowded exhibit with at least 50 Blotched Blue Tongue Lizards, I'm not kidding theres at least fifty in there.


I'll cover both Northern Parts to finish off the wildlife park next.

Part 2

The 'North'

North East

Cassowarys

There are a couple cassowary enclosures in this part of the Zoo, okay sized but with little to do. Safety wise this needs to be looked into, a Cassowary could easily kick through the wire damaging itself and visitors in the process, people also feed the cassowarys kangaroo pellets....

Birds of Prey, Owls and Frogmouths

The majority of the wildlife parks raptors are in the north west but there are plenty of owl enclosures in this part of the wildlife park. They are all poorly done with steel caging, and little if any room to fly. I don't remember the wildlife parks owls well but I do know they have Masked Owls and Sooty owls in this part.

The Tawny Frogmouth enclosure is still poor and while it's nowhere near as bad the old enclosure.

Finally the birds of prey, the enclosures are done like the owl enclosures and in this section there are Grey Goshawks and Peregine Falcons.

Other Birds

Other bird enclosures in this part of the park include a massive aviary for Australian King and Eclectus Parrots, a small aviary for Zebra Finches and Budgieragiers and a medium sized aviary with Whistling Ducks, Glossy Ibis and White Faced Herons.

Quolls

There are two well sized quoll enclosures although I cannot remember if they were Tiger or Eastern Quolls. There is also an abandoned aviary here where a brush turkey used to live.

North West

Parrots

All along in a row are a slew of cockatoo aviaries containing Yellow Tailed Black, Red Tailed Black, Major Mitchells, Gang Gang, Sulphur Crested, Galah, Long Billed Corella and Little Corella. I cannot remember which cockatoos were in what aviary.

Owls

Two owl exhibits side by side, again poorly done, this time Barn Owls and Barking Owls.

Birds Of Prey

Three aviaries total, two almost cylindrical aviaries, one containing a Wedge Tailed Eagle and the other a White Bellied Sea Eagle. The other aviary is woefully small, box shaped for Little Eagles and Black Breasted Buzzards.

Wombats

Common Wombat enclosure is done okay, although it leaves very few viewing opportunities, also inhabited by a pair of pinnioned Australian Shelducks.

Kookaburras and Stone Curlews

An unlikely mix, there are Bush Stone Curlews mixed in with Laughing Kookaburras in one enclosure and Blue Winged Kookaburras in another.

Other Birds

Two aviaries in this section are constantly changing, the first is a large topped aviary with Cattle Egrets and Black Shouldered Lapwings although both birds are numerous throughout the park as wild birds. There is an eastern rosella signed but I haven't seen it in half a decade.

The other aviary usually contains pigeons such as Crested Pigeon and Common Bronzewing.

Dingos

Most likely do not exist at the park anymore, a shame since it's a decent enclosure.

Wallaroo

The wildlife park has a lone Common Wallaroo in an open field.


That just about does it although there is one last subject i'd like to talk about.

Wild Birds

Although some of the Waterfowl and parrots may be escapees, this place is full of wild birds such as Superb Fairy Wrens, Willy Wagtails, Cape Barren Geese, Cattle Egret, Black Shouldered Lapwing, all sorts of ducks such as Shovelers, Wood ducks, grey teals, chestnut teals and black ducks and also Black Swans.

The rarest bird i've seen here was on my December 31st 2019 trip where I saw my lifer (and only) Pallid Cuckoo!

Otherwise that wraps up this review, hope you enjoyed it.

 

[MRJ]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. When I was young we had a holiday house on Phillip Island and a visit here was required every school holidays. I think is it the oldest private wildlife park in Victoria still in existence, so I might beg indulgence and give a little history.

I first remember it from the mid to late 60's and I am guessing that is when it was started. In those days it was called Kingston Gardens and was owned by a family called Johnson (or Johnston). It was quite small because at that time they were prohibited from displaying any animals native to Victoria. I remember they had red kangaroos because they were not regarded as Victorian at the time. They had to be acquired interstate though, and I remember being told the park could only import them by quoting the freedom of interstate trade provisions in the Constitution. Koalas were a no-no, however koalas were still very common on Phillip Island so they would just put a sign up under any tree containing a koala telling visitors to look up.

There were very few mammals, apart from the red kangaroos I can remember fallow deer, and some domestic animals. There were large pens containing some ducks, I remember rajah shelducks. In the north-east corner four aviaries containing typical avicultural species. They were not particularly big, I think about 4mx2m perhaps. Latter there was a larger aviary for cockatoos. Peafowl and guinea fowl were free range through the gardens.To add interest there was a collection of old farm machinery and a restored chicory kiln kids could climb around in those pre OH&S days. There was a small brick building which was the cafe and there was a concrete splash pool for young children nearby.

The Johnsons sold up in the early 1980's, and the new owners engaged David Hancocks to design a considerably larger park. The name was changed to Phillip Island Wildlife Park and it is this period that the current entry building dates from. Koalas were still a no-no so Hancocks made wombats the feature animal with a large walk-through. We still have a photo of my father holding a joey wombat.

The park changed hands (maybe a couple of time?) and new owners have ignored Hancocks master plan, planting exhibits randomly around the park. Koalas finally arrived at one point, and I remember an aviary for satin bowerbirds with a glass window. The brick cafe was turned into a reptile house. Perhaps the most bizarre new exhibit was a nocturnal house constructed in the old farm house. They simply opened up a window into each of the rooms from the central hallway. I think wire mesh rather than glass was used. It was not a very large house and I think there might have been only four rooms used. The exhibits however were therefore quite a bit larger than than most nocturnal house exhibits of the era. From memory there were sugar gliders, a brushtail possum, tawny frogmouths and an owl.

As an adult I would of course visit Phillip Island less frequently and the wildlife park less often also. I think the last time I visited was about 25 years ago.

 

[Yoshistar888]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. When I was young we had a holiday house on Phillip Island and a visit here was required every school holidays. I think is it the oldest private wildlife park in Victoria still in existence, so I might beg indulgence and give a little history.

I first remember it from the mid to late 60's and I am guessing that is when it was started. In those days it was called Kingston Gardens and was owned by a family called Johnson (or Johnston). It was quite small because at that time they were prohibited from displaying any animals native to Victoria. I remember they had red kangaroos because they were not regarded as Victorian at the time. They had to be acquired interstate though, and I remember being told the park could only import them by quoting the freedom of interstate trade provisions in the Constitution. Koalas were a no-no, however koalas were still very common on Phillip Island so they would just put a sign up under any tree containing a koala telling visitors to look up.

There were very few mammals, apart from the red kangaroos I can remember fallow deer, and some domestic animals. There were large pens containing some ducks, I remember rajah shelducks. In the north-east corner four aviaries containing typical avicultural species. They were not particularly big, I think about 4mx2m perhaps. Latter there was a larger aviary for cockatoos. Peafowl and guinea fowl were free range through the gardens.To add interest there was a collection of old farm machinery and a restored chicory kiln kids could climb around in those pre OH&S days. There was a small brick building which was the cafe and there was a concrete splash pool for young children nearby.

The Johnsons sold up in the early 1980's, and the new owners engaged David Hancocks to design a considerably larger park. The name was changed to Phillip Island Wildlife Park and it is this period that the current entry building dates from. Koalas were still a no-no so Hancocks made wombats the feature animal with a large walk-through. We still have a photo of my father holding a joey wombat.

The park changed hands (maybe a couple of time?) and new owners have ignored Hancocks master plan, planting exhibits randomly around the park. Koalas finally arrived at one point, and I remember an aviary for satin bowerbirds with a glass window. The brick cafe was turned into a reptile house. Perhaps the most bizarre new exhibit was a nocturnal house constructed in the old farm house. They simply opened up a window into each of the rooms from the central hallway. I think wire mesh rather than glass was used. It was not a very large house and I think there might have been only four rooms used. The exhibits however were therefore quite a bit larger than than most nocturnal house exhibits of the era. From memory there were sugar gliders, a brushtail possum, tawny frogmouths and an owl.

As an adult I would of course visit Phillip Island less frequently and the wildlife park less often also. I think the last time I visited was about 25 years ago.

Thanks for the insight into the parks history!

 

[Yoshistar888]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. When I was young we had a holiday house on Phillip Island and a visit here was required every school holidays. I think is it the oldest private wildlife park in Victoria still in existence, so I might beg indulgence and give a little history.

I first remember it from the mid to late 60's and I am guessing that is when it was started. In those days it was called Kingston Gardens and was owned by a family called Johnson (or Johnston). It was quite small because at that time they were prohibited from displaying any animals native to Victoria. I remember they had red kangaroos because they were not regarded as Victorian at the time. They had to be acquired interstate though, and I remember being told the park could only import them by quoting the freedom of interstate trade provisions in the Constitution. Koalas were a no-no, however koalas were still very common on Phillip Island so they would just put a sign up under any tree containing a koala telling visitors to look up.

There were very few mammals, apart from the red kangaroos I can remember fallow deer, and some domestic animals. There were large pens containing some ducks, I remember rajah shelducks. In the north-east corner four aviaries containing typical avicultural species. They were not particularly big, I think about 4mx2m perhaps. Latter there was a larger aviary for cockatoos. Peafowl and guinea fowl were free range through the gardens.To add interest there was a collection of old farm machinery and a restored chicory kiln kids could climb around in those pre OH&S days. There was a small brick building which was the cafe and there was a concrete splash pool for young children nearby.

The Johnsons sold up in the early 1980's, and the new owners engaged David Hancocks to design a considerably larger park. The name was changed to Phillip Island Wildlife Park and it is this period that the current entry building dates from. Koalas were still a no-no so Hancocks made wombats the feature animal with a large walk-through. We still have a photo of my father holding a joey wombat.

The park changed hands (maybe a couple of time?) and new owners have ignored Hancocks master plan, planting exhibits randomly around the park. Koalas finally arrived at one point, and I remember an aviary for satin bowerbirds with a glass window. The brick cafe was turned into a reptile house. Perhaps the most bizarre new exhibit was a nocturnal house constructed in the old farm house. They simply opened up a window into each of the rooms from the central hallway. I think wire mesh rather than glass was used. It was not a very large house and I think there might have been only four rooms used. The exhibits however were therefore quite a bit larger than than most nocturnal house exhibits of the era. From memory there were sugar gliders, a brushtail possum, tawny frogmouths and an owl.

As an adult I would of course visit Phillip Island less frequently and the wildlife park less often also. I think the last time I visited was about 25 years ago.

The 'sugar glider' exhibit is still in that farmhouse today!

 

[Astrobird]

This park is still closed due to covid restrictions, although their website says the staff are all still working fulltime. I'll be surprised if they're able to afford being closed during school holidays...
They should have at least 8 dingo's in the main dingo enclosure, plus another pair off display near the house