Australia Zoo Australia Zoo News 2022

[Zoofan15]

I'm suprised Robert is happy with this...he seems the most sensible of the three, and is much like his father.

If Steve was still alive, I don't think he would allow this sort of thing.

Princess Lasagne baby...cmon now; zero effort was put into that name. I would be shocked if the actual keepers called her that though; it's likely they have another household name for her.

It’s quite possible Robert was unhappy with this name but was too polite to say anything. Or perhaps he did and was outvoted.

A nickname for this giraffe:

At this point I’m thinking we should all have a nickname for this giraffe. They’re a long lived species and the current mood suggests we’re all sick of the existing name on Day One. I doubt anyone (especially @WhistlingKite24 who will be updating the regional giraffe population list annually) will relish having to use it for the next 20 years.

I propose Barika. If there’s sufficient support for this name (and more importantly it doesn’t contravene any forum rules), I’d be in favour of using this as nickname from this point in.

 

[Tricoart]

I'm suprised Robert is happy with this...he seems the most sensible of the three, and is much like his father.

If Steve was still alive, I don't think he would allow this sort of thing.

Princess Lasagne baby...cmon now; zero effort was put into that name. I would be shocked if the actual keepers called her that though; it's likely they have another household name for her.

While that is undoubtedly true that Robert's like his father, I view that as less of "he's the most sensible" and more that "that's what he's been reinforced to act like his whole life". All that's known of him is that he acts like his dad, so despite being a frontrunner in some of the recent stuff the zoo has done (NFT's, 'Crocodile Hunter' Lodge), he does so in such a way that he's 'like his dad', to not tarnish that view.

I propose Barika. If there’s sufficient support for this name (and more importantly it doesn’t contravene any forum rules), I’d be in favour of using this as nickname from this point in.

+1 to that, I think it's a great name.

 

[Jambo]

While that is undoubtedly true that Robert's like his father, I view that as less of "he's the most sensible" and more that "that's what he's been reinforced to act like his whole life". All that's known of him is that he acts like his dad, so despite being a frontrunner in some of the recent stuff the zoo has done (NFT's, 'Crocodile Hunter' Lodge), he does so in such a way that he's 'like his dad', to not tarnish that view.

I'll put it as simply as, if Robert had a choice, he'd likely change the name. I can see him going for a simple name (like Fiona for example), but that's better than you know what.

I propose Barika. If there’s sufficient support for this name (and more importantly it doesn’t contravene any forum rules), I’d be in favour of using this as nickname from this point in.

I think that's a great choice, but then again most of Australia Zoo's Giraffes could be renamed; but just for this absolutely horrible name, I agree. Barika's a brilliant name, and I think maybe we should use it, alongside the other name in brackets of course; if we don't want to write the entire name, PLB is easier, especially for those who are doing research or are fairly new to the site and so will be able to identify the giraffe.

 

[Riley]

I feel as much we may all not be fans of the name, just creating a new name to refer to it as or to nickname it will just be confusing for all involved. PLB as an abbreviation would work fine, but I don’t see the point in renaming a giraffe a new African name, it’ll just creating confusion and make any discussions about the giraffe hard to follow and unable to be used by new people

 

[Zoofan15]

I feel as much we may all not be fans of the name, just creating a new name to refer to it as or to nickname it will just be confusing for all involved. PLB as an abbreviation would work fine, but I don’t see the point in renaming a giraffe a new African name, it’ll just creating confusion and make any discussions about the giraffe hard to follow and unable to be used by new people

I’m also fine with PLB. I suppose given the number of giraffes in our regional population it’s rare to have a discussion on any particular individual outside of a passing mention it’s given birth or died - so it’s not as bigger issue as it appears. While they certainly do have their individual character quirks, they’re not a species that we tend to form a deep association with in the way we do elephants and great apes.

Still hoping it’s transferred and renamed though. It’s hard to imagine any other zoo keeping it as a name. The female founders of Australia Zoo’s herd were renamed by the zoo.

 

[Always_Amity]

Honestly I don't hate the rest of the giraffe names (and names in general) at Australia Zoo. At this point, the place is less of a zoo and more of a theme park, especially in the type of guests it pulls in. For those type of guests, it's probably easier for them to connect to animals given basic human names than more complex ones that half of them probably couldn't pronounce. Take some of their Rhinos, for example. Kingston and Carrie vs Caballe and Inyeti. The latter are obviously the better names, but to random members of the public (who are probably visiting just for a chance to see the celebrities that happen to inhabit the place) the former are probably easier to remember, and thus easier to connect to. Their giraffes have very classic, pretty easy to remember 'people names', Penny, Sally and Rosie are their breeding females, and most of their calves also stick to that same basic 'people name' concept.
But Princess Lasagne Baby is just too much. Hell, any of those words alone, Princess or Lasagne or Baby wouldn't of been good names, but they'd of been pretty standard for the zoo. All together it's just baffling.
One thing I want to know though is the thought process of Paris to come up with that specific name. What was going on in her head to pick Princess Lasagne Baby.

 

[Jambo]

Honestly I don't hate the rest of the giraffe names (and names in general) at Australia Zoo. At this point, the place is less of a zoo and more of a theme park, especially in the type of guests it pulls in. For those type of guests, it's probably easier for them to connect to animals given basic human names than more complex ones that half of them probably couldn't pronounce. Take some of their Rhinos, for example. Kingston and Carrie vs Caballe and Inyeti. The latter are obviously the better names, but to random members of the public (who are probably visiting just for a chance to see the celebrities that happen to inhabit the place) the former are probably easier to remember, and thus easier to connect to. Their giraffes have very classic, pretty easy to remember 'people names', Penny, Sally and Rosie are their breeding females, and most of their calves also stick to that same basic 'people name' concept.
But Princess Lasagne Baby is just too much. Hell, any of those words alone, Princess or Lasagne or Baby wouldn't of been good names, but they'd of been pretty standard for the zoo. All together it's just baffling.
One thing I want to know though is the thought process of Paris to come up with that specific name. What was going on in her head to pick Princess Lasagne Baby.

I'm assuming Paris naming the giraffe was linked to her starring in an Australia Zoo Uber Eats ad, which is set in their African Savannah.

Honestly, the Irwins only allowed Paris to name the giraffe to help with the advertising campaign. Only yesterday I saw a whole billboard of Paris and the baby giraffe in Melbourne's CBD.

It's bizarre yes, but as i've said, I doubt any of the Irwins, let alone the keepers, will be calling that baby giraffe- you know what.

 

[Zoofan15]

One thing I want to know though is the thought process of Paris to come up with that specific name. What was going on in her head to pick Princess Lasagne Baby.

I’ve looked up the names of her many Chihuahuas and rather than name them Mexican names, she unsurprisingly named them Princess Paris Jr, Baby Luv and Diamond Baby among others. Baby seems to be a reoccurring theme and I suspect Lasagne was for the benefit of referencing the Uber Eats commercials.

Clearly she was given free reign to name this giraffe. In the past, Bindi assisted a little kid in naming a tiger Reginald and frankly I wish she’d assisted Paris in this naming debacle. I was no fan of Reginald at the time, but by comparison, it borders on tolerable.

 

[Jambo]

I’ve looked up the names of her many Chihuahuas and rather than name them Mexican names, she unsurprisingly named them Princess Paris Jr, Baby Luv and Diamond Baby among others. Baby seems to be a reoccurring theme and I suspect Lasagne was for the benefit of referencing the Uber Eats commercials.

I guess we can see where she got her inspiration from then.

Funny the Irwins didn't do this research before letting her name a baby giraffe.

 

[Zoofan15]

I guess we can see where she got her inspiration from then.

Funny the Irwins didn't do this research before letting her name a baby giraffe.

Previously Australia Zoo have allocated naming rights to the highest bidder via auction and given zero guidance on how to name the animal. Somebody naming a Sumatran tiger Singha was a stroke of luck; and Bashi was similarly named a pleasant sounding Japanese name. Others haven’t been so lucky.

Rather than bid in an auction, Paris leant her name and celebrity status to the zoo which they were clearly grateful for. A very unlikely alliance imo. Paris Hilton is the opposite of Steve Irwin, who’s image defines the zoo in its current state.

 

[Jambo]

Paris Hilton advertises NFT's too so I think we can see where Australia Zoo got that idea from..

 

[Tricoart]

At this point, the place is less of a zoo and more of a theme park

I know what you mean by this, but being invested in that industry as well, forgive me for speaking my piece for a moment.

It's not Australia Zoo that's 'more of a theme park', nor is it that being so should be viewed as a bad thing. Worldwide, it's becoming increasingly common for large-budget zoos to incorporate 'theme park' elements (e.g. themed 'lands', sightlines, even rides themselves). That's just the way the industry is going, as a means to incorporate education in more subtle and meaningful way that's much more impactful to guests than a little infographic or a zookeeper talk.

And despite the 'recent' change, just comparing any subset of amusement park to any subset of zoo has always had a near-direct comparison. For example, large-budget 'destination' zoos can easily be compared to actual 'theme parks', regional zoos to regional parks (like a Six Flags), kids/petting zoos to family entertainment centres (or FEC's), and roadside/travelling zoos to carnivals and fairs.

The intention of a theme park is the same intention as large-budget zoos (or, at least, what it should be), to immerse visitors into a given storyline in a way that is tasteful and intricate. Theme parks know better than to call an attraction or roaming character in an African section 'Deborah' just because it's a name that people would recognize, and so do (most) large-budget zoos.

That sort of behaviour would be expected from a lower-budget or regional zoo, which, for the sake of my comparison, is akin to a Six Flags park. That's why I've said for as long as I can remember that Australia Zoo is in the unique position of behaving like a regional (or even 'roadside') zoo, but with the budget and notoriety of a 'destination' zoo. It attempts to put effort into these immersive themed experiences, and go toe-to-toe with industry greats like Taronga, but still ends up naming it's inhabitants 'Sally' or the dreadful 'Princess Lasagne Baby', their accommodation 'Crocodile Hunter Lodge', and their aviary after the owner's granddaughter.

 

[Zoofan15]

I know what you mean by this, but being invested in that industry as well, forgive me for speaking my piece for a moment.

It's not Australia Zoo that's 'more of a theme park', nor is it that being so should be viewed as a bad thing. Worldwide, it's becoming increasingly common for large-budget zoos to incorporate 'theme park' elements (e.g. themed 'lands', sightlines, even rides themselves). That's just the way the industry is going, as a means to incorporate education in more subtle and meaningful way that's much more impactful to guests than a little infographic or a zookeeper talk.

And despite the 'recent' change, just comparing any subset of amusement park to any subset of zoo has always had a near-direct comparison. For example, large-budget 'destination' zoos can easily be compared to actual 'theme parks', regional zoos to regional parks (like a Six Flags), kids/petting zoos to family entertainment centres (or FEC's), and roadside/travelling zoos to carnivals and fairs.

The intention of a theme park is the same intention as large-budget zoos (or, at least, what it should be), to immerse visitors into a given storyline in a way that is tasteful and intricate. Theme parks know better than to call an attraction or roaming character in an African section 'Deborah' just because it's a name that people would recognize, and so do (most) large-budget zoos.

That sort of behaviour would be expected from a lower-budget or regional zoo, which, for the sake of my comparison, is akin to a Six Flags park. That's why I've said for as long as I can remember that Australia Zoo is in the unique position of behaving like a regional (or even 'roadside') zoo, but with the budget and notoriety of a 'destination' zoo. It attempts to put effort into these immersive themed experiences, and go toe-to-toe with industry greats like Taronga, but still ends up naming it's inhabitants 'Sally' or the dreadful 'Princess Lasagne Baby', their accommodation 'Crocodile Hunter Lodge', and their aviary after the owner's granddaughter.

I believe the Irwin’s naming things after themselves - Bindi’s Island, Robert’s Reptile House etc. is their attempt to maintain the family owned and operated ethos of the zoo; as well as leaving their legacy. It’s a well intentioned idea that comes off as cringeable imo - especially given that Bindi and Robert are adults. You have treehouses and pirate ships with your name on it when you’re five years old.

Sometimes there’s better ways to leave a legacy. George Mottershead’s legacy was to create a zoo without bars and revolutionise the zoo industry. He didn’t go around naming buildings “George’s Giraffe House” and the such like.

Similarly, we never had this nonsense in Steve’s day. He set about actively contributing to conservation and building a world class zoo - designing many of the exhibits himself (like the Tiger Temple and the Crocoseum). His actions were what made him great and what he continues to be remembered for.

 

[Zorro]

I believe the Irwin’s naming things after themselves - Bindi’s Island, Robert’s Reptile House etc. is their attempt to maintain the family owned and operated ethos of the zoo; as well as leaving their legacy. It’s a well intentioned idea that comes off as cringeable imo - especially given that Bindi and Robert are adults. You have treehouses and pirate ships with your name on it when you’re five years old.

Sometimes there’s better ways to leave a legacy. George Mottershead’s legacy was to create a zoo without bars and revolutionise the zoo industry. He didn’t go around naming buildings “George’s Giraffe House” and the such like.

Similarly, we never had this nonsense in Steve’s day. He set about actively contributing to conservation and building a world class zoo - designing many of the exhibits himself (like the Tiger Temple and the Crocoseum) himself. His actions are what made him great and what he continues to be remembered for.

Very well said. Also one can see some of the comments which have been left on their social media sites asking why they don’t have lions and monkeys etc to see they are unlikely to be compete against zoos like Taronga. It appears the place is trying to get by with the bare minimum as in the case of the African plains exhibit with its 2 zebra and not even one ostrich in sight

 

[Zoofan15]

Very well said. Also one can see some of the comments which have been left on their social media sites asking why they don’t have lions and monkeys etc to see they are unlikely to be compete against zoos like Taronga. It appears the place is trying to get by with the bare minimum as in the case of the African plains exhibit with its 2 zebra and not even one ostrich in sight

Australia Zoo in Steve’s day saw the zoo progressing with new exhibits added every year - the Crocoseum in 2002, elephants in 2003, tigers in 2004, orangutans and gorillas coming 2006 etc.

Changes are exciting and new species are the drawcards that keep the visitors coming back. I appreciate no zoo can grow exponentially, but Australia Zoo’s progress has significantly slowed to the point where they’re being overtaken by smaller regional zoos like Mogo and DDZ.

 

[Zorro]

Australia Zoo in Steve’s day saw the zoo progressing with new exhibits added every year - the Crocoseum in 2002, elephants in 2003, tigers in 2004, orangutans and gorillas coming 2006 etc.

Changes are exciting and new species are the drawcards that keep the visitors coming back. I appreciate no zoo can grow exponentially, but Australia Zoo’s progress has significantly slowed to the point where they’re being overtaken by smaller regional zoos like Mogo and DDZ.

There is not even a reference that I know of the zoos past plans for gorillas or Orangs the zoos website in the past mentioned they wanted to build the world’s largest gorilla exhibit all now just a forgotten memory

 

[Zoofan15]

There is not even a reference that I know of the zoos past plans for gorillas or Orangs the zoos website in the past mentioned they wanted to build the world’s largest gorilla exhibit all now just a forgotten memory

You’re right. There was a billboard up at the time that said “Gorilla and Orangutan Island - Coming 2006.” A news article dated 2007 mentioned them digging out a moat for an island to house gorillas; but then it all went quiet for a number of years. Then in 2014, it opened as Bindi’s Island.

It’d be interesting to know what Steve had in mind for the orangutans. Likely a free-range concept like at Singapore Zoo, which may today have even extended beyond the island with aerial ropes leading across the moat and throughout the rest of the Asian precinct. It surely would have been a sight to behold.

 

[Always_Amity]

I appreciate no zoo can grow exponentially, but Australia Zoo’s progress has significantly slowed to the point where they’re being overtaken by smaller regional zoos like Mogo and DDZ.

Wildlife HQ just around the corner from Australia Zoo has it beat in almost every way. They're getting new species seemingly every other month, and it's not just the same basic natives either. The Sun bear, Maned Wolves, Servals and Painted Dogs are enough to make it a standout without even mentioning their extensive primate collection. Spider Monkeys, Siamangs, Baboons, Tamarins and Marmosets, Lemurs, and Gibbons on the way. Australia Zoo just has ring tailed lemur. The only major addition to Australia Zoo in the past few years are the elephants. And yeah, that's a big addition, but when the zoo next door is constantly adding species and growing, it looks lackluster in comparison.
It's honestly just disappointing. I've got a yearly pass, and visit regularly, and knowing how simple it would be to improve it. Even something as simple as moving some animals around. The South East Asia area, for example, has all of four species (and one of those are the Elongated Tortoises that I've yet to even see). They have Small Clawed otters, Binturongs and Komodo Dragons at the front of the zoo, which is almost entirely native species. Please, just move them to Asia. Put native Monitors in the Komodo enclosure, renovate the Otters to have a Platypus, and fix up the Binturongs for a Tree Kangaroo.

 

[Tricoart]

I believe the Irwin’s naming things after themselves - Bindi’s Island, Robert’s Reptile House etc. is their attempt to maintain the family owned and operated ethos of the zoo; as well as leaving their legacy

I very much agree, they clearly do so in an attempt to showcase the zoo as family-owned. I guess I could have made it clearer in my original post, but that behaviour is partially why I say it operates more similarly to a 'regional/roadside' zoo than a 'destination' zoo. At a certain point, one at which Australia Zoo has outgrown, the popularity of a facility, and the amount of 'callbacks' it holds, makes these things seem tacky and disrespectful rather than respectful and wholesome.

Wildlife HQ just around the corner from Australia Zoo has it beat in almost every way.

I think Wildlife HQ has many great examples as to how to properly honor those who have aided/constructed the zoo as well, without it being tacky or disrespectful. I'll always bring up the prime example of it's Reptile Barn, in which they just have a nice wall dedicating it to Bob Irwin as a result of the great work he has done for native reptiles. To be fair, that is for a smaller budget facility, and if it were to be larger or more 'expensive', some people would likely end up seeing that as more of an oversight/waste of space than a respectful homage, but I'd view those people as incorrect nonetheless.

To directly compare that to Australia Zoo, their reptile building is now called "Robert's Reptile House", which is directly next to "Grace's Bird Garden", of which is just a short walk from "Bindi's Island", that you get to by walking a bit further past the (now unoperational) "Bindi's Pony Trails", which in itself is found by taking a right at the statue of the Irwin family after entering the zoo you've found by following the 5+ road signs of Steve Irwin, going past 2 alligator enclosures adorned with further signs of Steve Irwin, past "Crikey Cafe", the wall designated for that one time Bindi Irwin was on Dancing with the Stars, that one time Robert Irwin was on a talk show, the 'Crocodile Hunter's Story' wall, the multiple walls with newspaper clippings about the Irwins, the 'Robert Irwin Photography' store, the multiple retail stores with more Irwin-decorated merchandising than you could ever imagine... I don't think I need to go on further.

 

[Always_Amity]

To directly compare that to Australia Zoo, their reptile building is now called "Robert's Reptile House", which is directly next to "Grace's Bird Garden", of which is just a short walk from "Bindi's Island", that you get to by walking a bit further past the (now unoperational) "Bindi's Pony Trails", which in itself is found by taking a right at the statue of the Irwin family after entering the zoo you've found by following the 5+ road signs of Steve Irwin, going past 2 alligator enclosures adorned with further signs of Steve Irwin, past "Crikey Cafe", the wall designated for that one time Bindi Irwin was on Dancing with the Stars, that one time Robert Irwin was on a talk show, the 'Crocodile Hunter's Story' wall, the multiple walls with newspaper clippings about the Irwins, the 'Robert Irwin Photography' store, the multiple retail stores with more Irwin-decorated merchandising than you could ever imagine... I don't think I need to go on further.

They've got a new statue too. Next to the new alligator exhibit (the one by the Tassie Devils) is a statue of Terri holding a gator that was - according to the sign for it - put in for her 30th anniversary at the zoo