Yep I saw that little guy
Australia Zoo Australia Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
A 1.1 pair of Sacred Kingfishers have been introduced into the walkthrough aviary at Australia Zoo. This is a species that used to be housed in the aviary so this marks its return to the collection.
Source: Australia Zoo’s YouTube
Source: Australia Zoo’s YouTube
Wes Mannion leaves Australia Zoo
Steve Irwin's best friend Wes Mannion quietly leaves directorship of Australia Zoo | Daily Mail Online
Steve Irwin's best friend Wes Mannion quietly leaves directorship of Australia Zoo | Daily Mail Online
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
What extra bad decisions have been made since 2020? I thought most decisions since Steve died have been bad
He left in July 2020 and hasn’t participated in any decision making beyond that date. I agree with people’s opinions the zoo has declined since Steve’s death - but like @Swanson02, haven’t noticed any significant decline post mid-2020.
Recent developments include the elephants going on display and the crocodile/alligator exhibits - which would have been planned towards the end of Wes’ employment at the zoo. We need to give it another couple of years to see what progress (or lack of progress) the zoo will make under the current management - though if the accomodation was of their design, I’m not impressed so far.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Crocodile Hunter Lodge, Princess Lasagne Baby, the cancellation of a bull elephant for breeding, the renaming of the Aviary and Reptile House to be named after the Irwins, the new crocodile enclosures (their main addition for 2020) still not technically being completed with one enclosure remaining overgrown and vacant, etc. And yeah, since Steve died the zoo has been getting progressively worse, but it seemed at least to me like post-COVID it began doing so faster than it was pre-COVID, which now makes more sense.
They’ve been naming their animals ridiculous names for years but their bizarre alliance with Paris Hilton can indeed be attributed to the decision making of current management.
You’ve also reminded me their recent stint in marketing cryptocurrency.
There always seems a lot of hype but not much substance, not really much of a surprise here
The real test will be to see if they follow through on importing a Sumatran bull elephant. They apparently have no plans to do so in the next five years, which is disappointing given there was plans to import two bulls soon after the arrival of the cows - and now this has been reduced to one bull.
With regards to their Sumatran tiger breeding programme, their breeding female is now post reproductive, so the zoo will have to decide whether to acquire unrelated tigers to breed with her offspring - or cease breeding for the foreseeable. This may be as much dependent on whether they can transfer out some of the surplus younger tigers as they’ll be limited space wise.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Oh yes, I tried to block that one out of my mind, but that's definitely also something that was (even for Australia Zoo's already abysmal standards) out-of-left-field. Another thing I just remembered, the special line of Australia Zoo branded merch for Bindi's kid. Definitely not as bad as the cryptocurrency thing, but that going hand-in-hand with the renaming of the Aviary seems like something Wes wouldn't have done, but is right up the alley of the current zoo director.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
They marketed what now?
Edit: NFTs…. not just cryptocurrency, NFTs….
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Australia Zoo NFTs. That 'Traits' section is still the best screenshot I think I've ever taken, just how astronomically out of touch and thoughtless it is. Also, NFTs are purchased via cryptocurrencies, and they are both 'minted' through the same process, so are comparable levels of environmentally harmful.
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Tricoart
Well-Known Member
I believe the correct term is "Honouring Steve's Legacy"At the end of the day I guess it all comes back to the saying of.......Keeping the dream alive?
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Aus Zoo Visit 15/11/22
Colours for sections taken from the most recent map, which will be referred to quite a bit. Also, bare with me here, there's a lot more construction than I expected so it's gonna be a long one.
Pink Section (Entrance/Main Zoo)
- What looks to be a building/second walkway of some kind is being constructed to the left of the current Cassowary walkway, behind the Binturong enclosure.
- The long 'under construction' enclosure in the Crocodile Environmental Park seems to have finally commenced it's renovation.
- As you can see here, foliage has been trimmed down, the pool's been partially drained, and new plants have been planted.
- The Laughing Frog splashpad is closed for maintenance.
Purple Section (Wombats, Aviaries & Reptile House)
- The first Wombat enclosure is being renovated/overhauled, with most plants being ripped out & multiple diggers on site for earth moving.
Yellow Section (Wetlands)
- The main Emu enclosure has been split in two by a black fence, and what's assumedly a small pond has been added to each half.
Orange Section (Africa, Asia, & Bindi's Island)
- A new children's playground has been added to Bindi's Island, named 'Camp Grace'.
Colours for sections taken from the most recent map, which will be referred to quite a bit. Also, bare with me here, there's a lot more construction than I expected so it's gonna be a long one.
Pink Section (Entrance/Main Zoo)
- What looks to be a building/second walkway of some kind is being constructed to the left of the current Cassowary walkway, behind the Binturong enclosure.
- The long 'under construction' enclosure in the Crocodile Environmental Park seems to have finally commenced it's renovation.
- As you can see here, foliage has been trimmed down, the pool's been partially drained, and new plants have been planted.
- The Laughing Frog splashpad is closed for maintenance.
Purple Section (Wombats, Aviaries & Reptile House)
- The first Wombat enclosure is being renovated/overhauled, with most plants being ripped out & multiple diggers on site for earth moving.
Yellow Section (Wetlands)
- The main Emu enclosure has been split in two by a black fence, and what's assumedly a small pond has been added to each half.
Orange Section (Africa, Asia, & Bindi's Island)
- A new children's playground has been added to Bindi's Island, named 'Camp Grace'.
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Tricoart
Well-Known Member
cont.
- Main news (in my opinion), is that it seems there's a 2nd on-display elephant yard being constructed next to the original Elephantasia. Fingers crossed that this is eventually used to separate males and females, and not just as an extension of the main enclosure.
- Main news (in my opinion), is that it seems there's a 2nd on-display elephant yard being constructed next to the original Elephantasia. Fingers crossed that this is eventually used to separate males and females, and not just as an extension of the main enclosure.
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Any progress is good news. I believe the elephant display area is 13 acres so I can't see this just being an extension unless they need to seperate the 4 cows. If this was for a bull the fencing would be way more heavy duty than the fencing in the display area used by the cows. Also one would expect to see some night housing barn. It's interesting as there is ample off display areas around the cow barn and yards to the north.
Tricoart
Well-Known Member
Yeah, what I meant to say instead of 'extension' is a second yard, but used to separate the 4 females they have currently into groups of 2. It does seem more than likely that that's it's purpose, seeing as the most I've seen in the enclosure at a time was 2, but I can dream.
What are the two groupings?