While I don’t doubt the international tourists will lap this up, I’d much prefer to see exhibits for new species. They’re Australia’s only main zoo to lack a great ape.
Australia Zoo Australia Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
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While I don’t doubt the international tourists will lap this up, I’d much prefer to see exhibits for new species. They’re Australia’s only main zoo to lack a great ape.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Yeah, it seems like they are just trying to go for a much more scaled-down, budget version of Taronga's Wildlife Retreat, and putting their branding all over it to get more tourists enticed. Which IG is okay, and it might still turn out decently, but I'd have much preferred if they went with the old Animal Kingdom-like plans, and withheld from the usual cheesy names like 'Crocodile Hunter Lodge', 'Warrior Cafe', etc.
I agree this sort of thing only compounds the hyper-commercialised reputation the zoo has gained since Steve’s death. Terri’s marketing skills were complimented perfectly by Steve’s passion for wildlife and conservation and gave the zoo a real sense of direction. One can only wonder what the zoo might have been today.
Australia Zoo (and Terri) have done several great things of late - namely the crocodile and alligator exhibits and the elephant import; but it’d be great to see more of that and less commercialisation, less lodges/glamping, less kitsch (cringeble frog statues) and less dumb names (animals and buildings).
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
My thoughts exactly. I thought the zoo might've been headed in a better direction with the revamped CEP area and the Elephants (with both not being heavily Irwinised), but then they did Grace's Bird Garden, Robert's Reptile House, and now this. There are ways that you can respectfully honour the Irwin's work, but it seems the only people who aren't doing that are the Irwins themselves.
“Robert’s Reptile House” sounds cringeable. From everything I’ve heard and seen, Robert’s every bit as passionate about wildlife as his father and also very interested in the Science aspect of the zoo. I’m sure he’d have preferred to have had input on the design of the reptile house and the chance to name the building with a damn site more creative flair than someone sticking his name on it like a child’s treehouse.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
At least they didn't make a 'Robert's Island' for his treehouse to be on.
I laughed out loud at that one. It appears you have to be born into the Irwin family to have a complex named after you - as we’re yet to see anything named after Terri or Chandler.
The name Chandler means ‘candle maker’, so combined with alliteration (as in Robert’s Reptile House), I could otherwise envisage ‘Chandler’s Candlelit Dinner Restaurant.’
A group of Radiated Tortoises recently arrived at Australia Zoo which represent a new species for the collection. They are currently in quarantine but will be going on display soon. They join the Aldabra Giant, Indian Star and Elongated Tortoises that are already at the zoo. Australia Zoo is also now one of six Queensland zoos to house this delightful species. Email response from the zoo:
"We have just recently received a group of Radiated tortoises into our collection however they are still in Quarantine at this time. Once they complete quarantine they will move out onto display somewhere in the Zoo - be sure to keep your eyes peeled!"
"We have just recently received a group of Radiated tortoises into our collection however they are still in Quarantine at this time. Once they complete quarantine they will move out onto display somewhere in the Zoo - be sure to keep your eyes peeled!"
Australia Zoo have announced that the Crocodile Hunter Lodge will be opening very soon as accomodation for visitors. They will be accepting bookings from June of this year: Log into Facebook | Facebook
With the borders opened up, they’ll be anxious not to waste any time capitalising on the international market (which will be the main source of bookings for this accomodation).
I wish they were this proactive across other areas of the zoo! Namely Sumatran elephant bulls and Cheetah exhibits.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
While that is true, I thought it very Australia Zoo to soft open it/delay opening until they can have a big ceremony chocked full of Irwin marketing, and there'd be no better day to do that than on Steve Irwin Day itself.
The zoo is launching an NFT project, which if you ask me, should be one of the last kind of projects a zoo should take on.
Wildlife conservatory Australia Zoo announces NFT project with Algorand
Wildlife conservatory Australia Zoo announces NFT project with Algorand
WHAT. Friggin horrendous.
I am losing track of what this place is about
It frustrates me when so much effort is dedicated to these extra-curricular projects. Perhaps they’re needed to support the upkeep of the zoo, but it’d be good to see it reinvested back into the zoo through regular imports and new exhibits - something that’s been lacking over the last 10-15 years.
But a new reptile species has been added recently
But a new reptile species has been added recently
Versus the progress made in the early 2000's - Sumatran tiger, Cheetah, Indian elephant, the Crocoseum, plans for gorillas and orangutans.
The most notable mammal acquisition of late has been the Sumatran elephants, following a decade of few new species. I'll concede the alligator and croc habitats are amazing though.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
What one? The only thing I know they've done reptile-wise is make better crocodilian enclosures and get rid of their perentie in favour of komodo dragon breeding.But a new reptile species has been added recently
I believe they just got some star tortoises
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