Why Do Australian Zoos Lack Diversity?

[BerdNerd]

When I visited Sydney in late 2017- early 2018 for a week, I visited three zoos: Taronga Zoo, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, and Featherdale Wildlife Park. What I noticed about each one was that they mainly or only displayed native animals. Taronga Zoo had some exotic animals like giraffes, Featherdale had only animals native to Australia except for a few parrots and raptors, and WILD LIFE had exclusively native species. This is completely contrasted to North America, where zoos there keep mostly exotic animals, and native species like coyotes, moose, white-tailed deer, native songbirds, etc are pretty uncommon. I heard recently that birds from other parts of the world may bring disease to Australia if imported there, but does that apply to other animals? Also, why do most zoos in North America try to focus more on exotic species, instead of native ones?

 

[Yoshistar888]

When I visited Sydney in late 2017- early 2018 for a week, I visited three zoos: Taronga Zoo, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, and Featherdale Wildlife Park. What I noticed about each one was that they mainly or only displayed native animals. Taronga Zoo had some exotic animals like giraffes, Featherdale had only animals native to Australia except for a few parrots and raptors, and WILD LIFE had exclusively native species. This is completely contrasted to North America, where zoos there keep mostly exotic animals, and native species like coyotes, moose, white-tailed deer, native songbirds, etc are pretty uncommon. I heard recently that birds from other parts of the world may bring disease to Australia if imported there, but does that apply to other animals? Also, why do most zoos in North America try to focus more on exotic species, instead of native ones?

Some native only Zoos in Australia such as Healsville, Territory Wildlife Park, Moonlit, David Flaey, etc are great so don't count them out.

The reason Australia lacks in exotics are for these following reasons.

A: Extremely strict import laws even for zoos, bird imports are almost non existent, reptile and mammal imports are few and far between.

B: Poor management by most major zoos (particularly Melbourne) in the maintenence of exotic animal populations within zoos. If it wasn't for places such as DDZ, Alinta, Halls Gap and Tasmania Zoo, exotics would be in much worse shape.

C: Zoo's in Australia found out that visitors only care about enablers, thus enablers got more advertisation, more funding and more, this is the reason the meerkat-apocalyspe happened, zoos started breeding meerkats like crazy because the public loves them, they bred so much that in 2011 a Meerkat exhibit was built in the Royal Childrens Hospital, yup Meerkats in a hospital.

D: Villification of exotic reptiles, particuarly in Victoria and Queensland, exotic reptiles are shown at zoos but are generally villified. Reptile expos mandate government officials to be in present at expos to hand out flyers and 'educate the public' I won't be stating my stance on exotic reptile ownership in Australia but there is no reason for them to push it so hard, the law is in place prohibiting it, thats it, it doesnt need to be plastered at every single event.

 

[CheeseChameleon1945]

Some native only Zoos in Australia such as Healsville, Territory Wildlife Park, Moonlit, David Flaey, etc are great so don't count them out.

The reason Australia lacks in exotics are for these following reasons.

A: Extremely strict import laws even for zoos, bird imports are almost non existent, reptile and mammal imports are few and far between.

B: Poor management by most major zoos (particularly Melbourne) in the maintenence of exotic animal populations within zoos. If it wasn't for places such as DDZ, Alinta, Halls Gap and Tasmania Zoo, exotics would be in much worse shape.

C: Zoo's in Australia found out that visitors only care about enablers, thus enablers got more advertisation, more funding and more, this is the reason the meerkat-apocalyspe happened, zoos started breeding meerkats like crazy because the public loves them, they bred so much that in 2011 a Meerkat exhibit was built in the Royal Childrens Hospital, yup Meerkats in a hospital.

D: Villification of exotic reptiles, particuarly in Victoria and Queensland, exotic reptiles are shown at zoos but are generally villified. Reptile expos mandate government officials to be in present at expos to hand out flyers and 'educate the public' I won't be stating my stance on exotic reptile ownership in Australia but there is no reason for them to push it so hard, the law is in place prohibiting it, thats it, it doesnt need to be plastered at every single event.

Thanks for contributing, that is a lot of useful information. I was wondering the same thing! Thank you.

 

[RatioTile]

On a related note, why are the vast majority of Australian endemic mammals so seldomly exported to the rest of the world? Notable exceptions include many marsupials at Hamerton Zoo, the platypodes at San Diego Safari Park, and the quokkas at Saitama Children’s Zoo.

With the growing threats of bushfire and land clearing, it seems like it would make a lot of sense to introduce the rest of the world to many Australian endemic species and make insurance colonies, especially since many are cute (large eyes, fluffy).

 

[CGSwans]

As Yoshistar says, the problem is with exotics, not natives, and is due to a mix of government regulation and indifference, particularly from the big government-run zoos.

Melbourne in particular has been on a mission for the past decade or two to see how few species it can exhibit without losing visitation. Thanks to the government subsidy for children, the answer has proven to be “very few”.

 

[Zoofan15]

On a related note, why are the vast majority of Australian endemic mammals so seldomly exported to the rest of the world? Notable exceptions include many marsupials at Hamerton Zoo, the platypodes at San Diego Safari Park, and the quokkas at Saitama Children’s Zoo.

With the growing threats of bushfire and land clearing, it seems like it would make a lot of sense to introduce the rest of the world to many Australian endemic species and make insurance colonies, especially since many are cute (large eyes, fluffy).

The most obvious reason I can think of is that Australia wants to hold a monopoly on these species; and indeed would be wise to do so. The endemic Australian species that are commonplace and bordering on boring to Australians and New Zealanders are a source of intrigue and novelty to international visitors. As @Yoshistar888 said, we have little to compete with on the world stage with regard to exotics, so we need something to bring the visitors in. Without a point of difference, our zoos would just be little versions of other mainstream zoos around the world.

I agree with you re. insurance populations though. It especially makes sense for species like Tasmanian devils, where contagious facial tumour disease threatens to wipe out large populations. Having isolated insurance populations across the world seems like common sense; and should take priority over the point of difference reasoning that applies to other Australian species.

 

[Zorro]

Some native only Zoos in Australia such as Healsville, Territory Wildlife Park, Moonlit, David Flaey, etc are great so don't count them out.

The reason Australia lacks in exotics are for these following reasons.

A: Extremely strict import laws even for zoos, bird imports are almost non existent, reptile and mammal imports are few and far between.

B: Poor management by most major zoos (particularly Melbourne) in the maintenence of exotic animal populations within zoos. If it wasn't for places such as DDZ, Alinta, Halls Gap and Tasmania Zoo, exotics would be in much worse shape.

C: Zoo's in Australia found out that visitors only care about enablers, thus enablers got more advertisation, more funding and more, this is the reason the meerkat-apocalyspe happened, zoos started breeding meerkats like crazy because the public loves them, they bred so much that in 2011 a Meerkat exhibit was built in the Royal Childrens Hospital, yup Meerkats in a hospital.

D: Villification of exotic reptiles, particuarly in Victoria and Queensland, exotic reptiles are shown at zoos but are generally villified. Reptile expos mandate government officials to be in present at expos to hand out flyers and 'educate the public' I won't be stating my stance on exotic reptile ownership in Australia but there is no reason for them to push it so hard, the law is in place prohibiting it, thats it, it doesnt need to be plastered at every single event.

I am going to agree with all the points you made here but Taronga is about as bad as Melbourne and playing the same game, I believe at some point in time the regional zoos will start to show up the major zoos within the country who have the government funding they should be way out in front leading the way instead of falling behind more then ever!

 

[Yoshistar888]

I am going to agree with all the points you made here but Taronga is about as bad as Melbourne and playing the same game, I believe at some point in time the regional zoos will start to show up the major zoos within the country who have the government funding they should be way out in front leading the way instead of falling behind more then ever!

Taronga has a great native collection and a sizeable exotic bird collection and matches Melbourne on exotic mammals and exotic reptiles whereas Melbournes natives and birds......

 

[Zorro]

Taronga has a great native collection and a sizeable exotic bird collection and matches Melbourne on exotic mammals and exotic reptiles whereas Melbournes natives and birds......

I tend to agree but the exotic collection grows smaller perhaps less muti million dollar hotels and a better collection could help!

 

[LARTIS]

non oceanian zoos keep less native species because they r neither pushed by an artificial limitation nor do european or american zoos any where as many endangered endemic species australia and mew zealand have

personally i do not think it issue d be that less people would visit oceanian institutions since the majority of visitors should rather be from local community or the rest of the country
so in that case the restriction might have rather an emotional reason than a rational
normally if a species has a very low number the best place is allways the nearest park since their field to study d be literally next door and therefor i support the restriction in ewery other case not
i think we should share our natural vultural heritage and enable an equal quality of acces around the globe

 

[dinosauria]

I do think that Australian zoos might be a go-to-place for tourists because they're an easy guaranteed way to see some of the cool ones, and because Australia is famous for its relatively unconventional creatures.

I also think that invasive species would be an issue, because Australia is really sensitive about this stuff (which honestly I think is justified)

 

[Zorro]

non oceanian zoos keep less native species because they r neither pushed by an artificial limitation nor do european or american zoos any where as many endangered endemic species australia and mew zealand have

personally i do not think it issue d be that less people would visit oceanian institutions since the majority of visitors should rather be from local community or the rest of the country
so in that case the restriction might have rather an emotional reason than a rational
normally if a species has a very low number the best place is allways the nearest park since their field to study d be literally next door and therefor i support the restriction in ewery other case not
i think we should share our natural vultural heritage and enable an equal quality of acces around the globe

How does this address the concerns above

 

[LARTIS]

First of all because this is a thread where people r free to have an opinion and second the last sentence of literal the first post stated
Also, why do most zoos in North America try to focus more on exotic species, instead of native ones?

 

[Zorro]

First of all because this is a thread where people r free to have an opinion and second the last sentence of literal the first post stated
Also, why do most zoos in North America try to focus more on exotic species, instead of native ones?

I agree everyone is free to have their own opinion I just dont see your point to what has been stated on this subject

 

[Coelacanth18]

Also, why do most zoos in North America try to focus more on exotic species, instead of native ones?

Actually, native species are highlighted in most North American zoos; for some it is their sole or one of two primary focuses. Lots of zoos have black and brown bears, elk, bison, moose, mountain lions, gray and red wolves, coyotes, bobcats and lynx, foxes, beavers, prairie dogs, bald eagles, rehabbed raptors, burrowing owls, roadrunners, alligators, rattlesnakes... you get the idea.

That being said, most zoos also like to exhibit crowd favorites like primates, megafauna, and tropical birds - groups which the North American continent does not have in abundance. Visitors also like to see species in zoos that they would otherwise never get the chance to see in the wild.