WOW that is impressive especially for a private regional zoo!
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Darling Downs Zoo Darling Downs Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Zorro
- Start date
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
What's the current top 10?
Not guaranteeing this is 100% accurate because it’s drawn from multiple sources with different levels of currency.
1. Darling Downs (34)
=2. Altina, Tasmania (33)
4. National Zoo and Aquarium (30)
=5. Adelaide, Hunter Valley, Perth (27)
=8. Dubbo, Mogo (26)
10. Wildlife HQ (24)
=11. Halls Gap, Taronga (23)
=13. Melbourne, Monarto (22)
=15. Sydney Zoo, Werribee (20)
It would be interesting to properly research this, as I have a similar list but had Altina at number one (with 35), whilst Tasmania only had 29 from my count. The rest seems relatively accurate - but nonetheless, I'd be keen to see the specific species listed at each facility (perhaps in a separate thread), if you have the time.
scallywag2024
Well-Known Member
What are you classing as exotic though… like is llama / deer an exotic? Cause some people keep these privately as pets.
regardless of mammals Darling Downs Zoo has an amazing collection and probably has the biggest private exotic collection total with birds and reptiles also!! They have the most incredible Aldabra Giant Tortoise exhibit… they also have many species held by no other Queensland zoo… They really are incredible!!
regardless of mammals Darling Downs Zoo has an amazing collection and probably has the biggest private exotic collection total with birds and reptiles also!! They have the most incredible Aldabra Giant Tortoise exhibit… they also have many species held by no other Queensland zoo… They really are incredible!!
For me personally, I wasn't counting domestics (so no to Llama). But yes for deer. I was essentially basing my criteria off the 'Exotic Mammals of Australia' thread, which also doesn't list domestic animals.
It makes sense to use the Exotic Mammals of Australia as the criteria as there’s many species that are subjective and will cause confusion - namely deer, camels, dingo and llama/alpaca.
scallywag2024
Well-Known Member
It’s just if you include deer… some zoos like Altina has every (or most) deer species you can keep privately as a pet technically - fallow, red, Rusa, sambar, elk, hog and chital… 7 species of deer. It’s ok… I was just curious… I
Mean bison, banteng and water buffalo would be in the same category. Side note there is now some sika deer in captivity in Australia in private hands, I believe… elk numbers are low and most are hybridised
Mean bison, banteng and water buffalo would be in the same category. Side note there is now some sika deer in captivity in Australia in private hands, I believe… elk numbers are low and most are hybridised
Thanks @Zorro. Slight correction - we are a Best of Queensland Experience.
As a team we're very happy to be recognised.
With most of our zoos still have not acted opon imports while the remaining animals age by the day!
Your quite right the collection is impressive and I agree the Giant Tortoise exhibit is excellent and the largest that I have seen anywhere
Birth updates at the Darling Downs Zoo
Births include many Blackbuck, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (with more pairs sitting on eggs), Greater Bilbies, 2 African lion cubs, Red Kangaroo joeys, Agile Wallaby joeys, Emperor Tamarin's, another LIama aria and a Giraffe calf.
Births include many Blackbuck, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (with more pairs sitting on eggs), Greater Bilbies, 2 African lion cubs, Red Kangaroo joeys, Agile Wallaby joeys, Emperor Tamarin's, another LIama aria and a Giraffe calf.
That’s fantastic news!
I assume the parents of the lion cubs are Mal and Msichana? It sounds like Mal (a proven breeder); and Msichana (a younger female) offered better prospects that Kwanza and the trio of females turning 14 in October.
1.0 Mal (02/07/2014) Unknown x Unknown
0.1 Msichana (13/01/2015) Shaka x Shenzi
scallywag2024
Well-Known Member
Wow!!! That’s awesome news… looks like it might be time for a visit
Your first visit?
Zoo Tour Australia
Active Member
Are the coatis on display yet?
They are likely to still be in quarantine!
Lion Cub Update
Darling Downs Zoo have shared an update on the twin lion cubs, whose birth was originally reported by @Zorro.
The cubs turned one month old yesterday (May 12) and surprisingly the sire was Kwanza, who was reported to have been held with these three females by @Patrick Keegan from his visit in January:
1.0 Kwanza (12/11/2012) Shaka x Shenzi
0.1 Sahara (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
0.1 Buffy (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
0.1 Sassy (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
The cubs are tawny phenotype, but carry white genes from their sire.
Sassy previously produced a cub in August 2024, so given their age and the fact her sisters have never bred, she stood the best chance of conceiving; but it would be interesting to know if Kwanza had some luck with one of her sisters.
Darling Downs Zoo have shared an update on the twin lion cubs, whose birth was originally reported by @Zorro.
The cubs turned one month old yesterday (May 12) and surprisingly the sire was Kwanza, who was reported to have been held with these three females by @Patrick Keegan from his visit in January:
1.0 Kwanza (12/11/2012) Shaka x Shenzi
0.1 Sahara (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
0.1 Buffy (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
0.1 Sassy (10/10/2011) Fred x Dalila
The cubs are tawny phenotype, but carry white genes from their sire.
Sassy previously produced a cub in August 2024, so given their age and the fact her sisters have never bred, she stood the best chance of conceiving; but it would be interesting to know if Kwanza had some luck with one of her sisters.