It is a rescue animal - has been there since early 2021 although it had apparently escaped everyone's notice.
Healesville Sanctuary Healesville Sanctuary News
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
should it be included in the "Native Mammals in Australian Zoos" thread?
Already listed in the thread.
Dingo pair arrive:
From socials:
Two gorgeous Dingo pups, who were separately found injured and alone in regional Victoria, are now enjoying their safe new home together at Healesville Sanctuary.
Jedda and Walt were both treated at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre before the decision was made that they would stay at the Sanctuary.
“These two dingo pups would not have survived out in the wild due to their medical conditions and not being with a family group at such a young age,” Healesville Sanctuary's Life Sciences Manager, Falk, explains. “Having them together at the Sanctuary is a great welfare outcome as they will bond like they would in a wild group.”
The duo have been enjoying some privacy as they've grown and recovered, but are now happily settling into their new bushland habitat. As their confidence grows, visitors may be able to see them while on the Dingo Country track at Healesville Sanctuary.
From socials:
Two gorgeous Dingo pups, who were separately found injured and alone in regional Victoria, are now enjoying their safe new home together at Healesville Sanctuary.
Jedda and Walt were both treated at the Australian Wildlife Health Centre before the decision was made that they would stay at the Sanctuary.
“These two dingo pups would not have survived out in the wild due to their medical conditions and not being with a family group at such a young age,” Healesville Sanctuary's Life Sciences Manager, Falk, explains. “Having them together at the Sanctuary is a great welfare outcome as they will bond like they would in a wild group.”
The duo have been enjoying some privacy as they've grown and recovered, but are now happily settling into their new bushland habitat. As their confidence grows, visitors may be able to see them while on the Dingo Country track at Healesville Sanctuary.
Interesting they’ve scrapped it. Wonder what that means for all the birds that have previously participated in it.We went today an the Bird show appears to be having a hiatus. Was scrubbed off the maps and the laminated maps in the office.
Also, when did the platpus talk stop being in the theatre? was just outside the exhibit today, with zero platapus
The Platypus talk was still there as of last year, so it’s a recent move; perhaps only temporarily if they’re doing something with the theatre.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
The bird show was basically the only good thing about Healesville, weird to hear it’s completely scrapped. I’m hoping it isnt
So the mountain pygmy possums, long-footed potoroos, eastern quolls and Leadbeater's possums aren't good?
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
All species I can see at other places, aside from the leadbeater’s. Not exactly worth driving several hours for, as opposed to the bird show which was actually captivating and enjoyable. Don’t dislike Healesville, but certainly now have no reason to visit
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
As a Melbournian, many of the listed species are not able to be seen anywhere else close to the city. I love the "Land of Parrots" aviary. Tree Kangaroo to my understanding aren't held at either Werribee or Melbourne.
Spirits of the Sky not running is a blow, but it isn't the only reason to visit.
Spirits of the Sky not running is a blow, but it isn't the only reason to visit.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
It’s not that it doesn’t have points of difference, but it doesn’t have a drawcard to me. If I really wanted to see a native animal I’d just go to the closer Melbourne. The aforementioned species are great for conservation, hence why I donate, but they do not make good display animals whatsoever. The aviary is good, but I annually visit other zoos in Australia that have similar collections
Clearly not a fan of native species despite many of them needing more conservation that many of the exotics held across the country. But that’s a controversial topic to get into another day haha.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
As stated I donate but don’t find them interesting as display animals. Not exactly controversial I don’t think
The controversial part was more so that from a conservation standpoint it is more important to have Leadbeater’s Possum, Spotted Tree Frog and Greater Bilby than it is to have Lions, Tigers, Reticulated Pythons, Tapirs etc. but that argument usually ends in a mess so that’s all I’ll say hahaha
It’s a complex topic. Australia is home to unique fauna that zoo’s collectively have a responsibility to conserve - and indeed, amazing and commendable conservation work is done.
Like @PaddyRickMFZ, my personal preference is to see exotic species (which I find more interesting); but I can’t deny Zoos Victoria (in particular Healesville) play an essential role in conserving these species to a far greater extent than we could hope to do as a region for the exotic species.
The complexity is partly attributed to the fact the exotic species are regarded as more enabling by the general public and ultimately which will attract the greatest number of paying customers, indirectly supporting the zoo’s conservation work with native species.
I’ve never visited Healesville, but have seen footage of what looked like an impressive bird show; and would agree with accounts from others who have, that this is the highlight from the visitor perspective.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Ah I see. I thought you were saying my lack of interest in observing native animals is controversial
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
I think a new large aviary with a flock of critically endangered Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos would be amazing. (There are a couple newly homed in the great flight aviary at MZ).
I lived for several years in Edenhope in the West Wimmera and would frequently walk a bush track up above Lake Wallace where you could reliably see flocks of RTBC at around 4pm. They are utterly gorgeous, looking spectacular when in flight, and have (what I describe as) the most melodious screech of all cockatoos.
Healesville would be perfect to house and breed this critically endangered (and gorgeous) bird!
**Clarification**
I am speaking South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) which has only an estimated 500-1000 left, and is only found in South-eastern SA - South-western Victoria.
I lived for several years in Edenhope in the West Wimmera and would frequently walk a bush track up above Lake Wallace where you could reliably see flocks of RTBC at around 4pm. They are utterly gorgeous, looking spectacular when in flight, and have (what I describe as) the most melodious screech of all cockatoos.
Healesville would be perfect to house and breed this critically endangered (and gorgeous) bird!
**Clarification**
I am speaking South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) which has only an estimated 500-1000 left, and is only found in South-eastern SA - South-western Victoria.
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The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
I also think Healesville should make a large Tasmanian Devil enclosure where you walk underground and see the inside of their burrows (like the wombats at MZ) and also have a couple of viewing spots where you pop up from underground to have a 360 degree interval view of their enclosure.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
And of all the Zoos Vic's zoos, Healesville Sanctuary would possibly be the best to start a Night Tour at. So many of our species are technically nocturnal and would be FAR better viewed at night when active.