Would you set up a zoo in Australia?

[CGSwans]

With all of the difficulties sourcing animals, if you were looking to open a zoo would you be willing to do it in Australia (or New Zealand)? Or would you feel the need to move to a country where there are viable populations of a reasonable number of species?

There are a number of markets where small or even larger zoos could set up in this country, but which are currently not served by zoos. The Hunter Valley and Central Coast, outer Western Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast and even Townsville are all regions where a market almost certainly exists for a wildlife attraction. What any potential owner lacks is reasonable access to animals. I suspect there is almost a negative feedback loop going on here where the small size of the ARAZPA region in terms of species and places for species actively discourages the growth of the industry, due to prohibitive quarantine and small populations within ARAZPA making surpluses very rare.

If you are/were Australian and had a) the money to invest and b) the opportunity to do it outside Australia, what would you do?

 

[jay]

I would just like to say that while South East Queensland does not have a Melbourne/Taronga like Govt. run big zoo it isn't short of animal attractions. In Brisbane itself we have Alma Park and Lone Pine.
Gold Coast has Seaworld, Dreamworld, Fleays and Currumbin.There is The Australia Zoo and Undwerwater World on the Sunshine Coast and a very special place at Toowoomba

 

[CGSwans]

I would just like to say that while South East Queensland does not have a Melbourne/Taronga like Govt. run big zoo it isn't short of animal attractions. In Brisbane itself we have Alma Park and Lone Pine.
Gold Coast has Seaworld, Dreamworld, Fleays and Currumbin.There is The Australia Zoo and Undwerwater World on the Sunshine Coast and a very special place at Toowoomba

I'm aware of all of them, and have been to a couple. But that's not really the point... more relevant is whether the market has space for more, especially a traditional 'zoo' which, I would suggest, only Alma Park, Australia Zoo and Darling Downs attempt to be. And the answer to that, I feel, is currently 'yes'.

Anyway, not really relevant to the thread topic itself.

 

[PAT]

Regional Victoria definatly has the oppurtunity for another animal attraction and I can think of three towns that could have one that don't. Bendigo, Shepparton and Echuca/Moama, although Echuca is pretty close to Kyabram. When we have visitors from other countries we still have to take them to Kyabram to see any native animals.

And to answer your question I think Australia could support quite a few Adelaide/Perth sized attractions because native species in themselves can fill Healesville and Currumbin and then just add an african and asian themed area following this recipe.

-One big cat (tiger/lion)
-Mixed ungulate paddock (Harder for Africa then Asia but still possible)
-One mixed aviary
-One small carnivore (otter/meerkat)
-Extras could include sun bears, wild dogs, orang-utans,chimps etc.

And even some of the smaller zoos have imported animals recently e.g. Altina importing maned wolves and Halls Gap Zoo wants to import pygmy marmoset.

 

[Steve Robinson]

There are a number of markets where small or even larger zoos could set up in this country, but which are currently not served by zoos. The Hunter Valley and Central Coast, outer Western Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast and even Townsville are all regions where a market almost certainly exists for a wildlife attraction.

The Hunter Valley is served by the rapidly improving Hunter Valley Zoo which has exciting plans for it's future. Also, Billabong at Port Macquarie and the Reptile Park at Gosford are not too far away.

Central Coast - Australian Reptile Park.

Outer western Sydney is where TWPZ was originally intended to be built until the then Member for Dubbo called in some political favours. If you can afford the land it might be a possibility. There's enough potential customers out there although it is a price-sensitive market.

Brisbane and Gold Coast - market saturated.

Townsville - maybe, but Billabong Sanctuary still a big drawcard despite recent neglect.

What about Hervey Bay?

 

[brad09]

i think that tasmania has got the potential for a adelaide/perth type zoo. As there are mostly native animal parks there at the monment, with a few smaller parks keeping exotic animals. There would also be the option to keep more cooler climate animals as there climate would allow that or that to be done more effectivly.

 

[jay]

i think that tasmania has got the potential for a adelaide/perth type zoo. As there are mostly native animal parks there at the monment, with a few smaller parks keeping exotic animals. There would also be the option to keep more cooler climate animals as there climate would allow that or that to be done more effectivly.

I'm pretty sure that one Tasmanian Premier or anoher has said that he didn't want Tasmania to have a traditional zoo. No idea why.

 

[jay]

Brisbane and Gold Coast - market saturated.

Agree, which is what I was trying to point out in my previous post. Lots of places in the area to see native and exotic fauna. Also i think Auistralia zoo is setting itself up to be the main exotic animal attraction in the region. Alma Park is built out and cannot realistically expand in size.

Townsville - maybe, but Billabong Sanctuary still a big drawcard despite recent neglect.

What about Hervey Bay?

There is a bird Park on the way to Hervey bay, currently up for sale, that has a Queensland Zoo licence. A new owner could conceviably turn inot much more.

Finally I really think there is a place in Australia for a zoo that specialises in primates, canines and felines. With imagination and flair it could be a showcase for these taxon. So long as it doesn't limit itself to just the standard species but really shocases the wide variety within these groups.
I would also like to see a place that just doesn't have the usual one pair of tigers or a 1 pride of lions. That would help with spaces for extra animals.

 

[jay]

I also see that you are saying 'outside of Australli' so I don't really see the point of the thread. Most places outside of Australia would already be occupied wouldn't they?

 

[CGSwans]

The point of the thread ISN'T where new zoos would or wouldn't work, and I am disappointed that has become the focus. That's been discussed before on other threads. The point was whether the limitations of the industry are such in this country that you would prefer to set up overseas as opposed to here.

 

[jay]

My inial reaction , well yes, given all the restrictions, definately overseas. Then I think well the potential challenge of creating something special and different here using more limited resources would really give a creative person a challenge. Steve might disagree though.

 

[phoenix]

not in a billion years!

firstly, i couldn't afford to build the sort of zoo that would interest me. secondly, it would take decades of trust building to acquire the sorts of animals i would want. thirdly, my interest in zoos goes in waves. i lose interest periodically for long periods and then gain interest again. overall, my interest is diminishing - especially as i watch mainstream zoos around the world move off in a different direction from where i want them too. and then there is the headache of having to deal with authorities unfamiliar with zoos and a regional zoo association that ultimately hasn't got much going for it.

purchasing a pre- existing park or collection is a slightly different story.

but overall - i still personally think far too big to be stimulated by operating a small zoo. and i'm not going to waste a lifetime just to get my hands on a few elephants...

 

[Steve Robinson]

The point of the thread ISN'T where new zoos would or wouldn't work, and I am disappointed that has become the focus. That's been discussed before on other threads. The point was whether the limitations of the industry are such in this country that you would prefer to set up overseas as opposed to here.

Why jump out of the frying pan into the fire?

I don't understand the "run away" mentality. Sure, I can find much to criticise here with the way our government regulates zoos, for example. My approach is to stand and fight. In the short term it doesn't win me any friends but, long term, we are now seeing the dividends.

Similarly, with our zoo association, people in the industry whinge and bitch about it. A couple of times in the past few years people have talked about setting up an alternative one. Why? We've already got the basis for a very good association. If you're not entirely happy with it, join it and try to effect changes from within.

We live in the greatest country on earth. Don't believe me? Then travel around a few others and you'll soon see how lucky we are. But our country won't stay that way if we run away from the problems.

Stand and fight CGSwans and you'll be amazed at the number of people who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. I was!

 

[Chlidonias]

We live in the greatest country on earth. Don't believe me? Then travel around a few others and you'll soon see how lucky we are.

actually New Zealand's the greatest country on earth. Australia is second

 

[Steve Robinson]

actually New Zealand's the greatest country on earth. Australia is second

I've lived in both - can we call it a draw?

 

[animal kid]

It is very interesting to hear everyones opinions about this i would also like to no what plans/goals would your zoo follow?

If i had the monei would set up a zoo i australia but i wouldn't be pressured into following the guidelines set be the 'big' zoos just because it is easier for them if everyone has their species i would also probably set up in victoria as there are quite a few towns that could have a zoo.
but i wouldn't follow PAT's idea for a small zoo, i would at first get australian animals and then move into easily acquirable exotics like parrots, bison, deer and others but after building a strong base i would move into a new direction of becoming a world class zoo with fantastic new ideas and directions with conservation being incredibly important aswell as educating people and eventually focusing on highly endangered animals and eventually(hopefully) getting animals like orangutans, snow leopards, african wild dogs and hopefully importing new genes and species into australia. well thats what i would do!

 

[CGSwans]

Steve - I love the sentiment. But my concern is that the local
zoo industry has a terrible long-term forecast unless things change, probably within 10 years.

Australians have accepted a zoo industry with only 80 or so exotic mammal species, and no more than about 50 in any one institution.

They may even embrace an industry with only the 45 or so species that it's intended to keep.

The thing is - the more research I do, the less convinced I am that Australia can/will support even that many. Lou's list of primate species was disheartening. Most ungulates are on their last legs. It's doubtful that there will ever be a surplus of any great ape species, elephants or hippopotamus species. And no realistic way of going it alone.

Maybe Im just having a bad day. But zoos in Australia - without both regulatory and cultural change, seem like a dead end at the moment.

Why jump out of the frying pan into the fire?

I don't understand the "run away" mentality. Sure, I can find much to criticise here with the way our government regulates zoos, for example. My approach is to stand and fight. In the short term it doesn't win me any friends but, long term, we are now seeing the dividends.

Similarly, with our zoo association, people in the industry whinge and bitch about it. A couple of times in the past few years people have talked about setting up an alternative one. Why? We've already got the basis for a very good association. If you're not entirely happy with it, join it and try to effect changes from within.

We live in the greatest country on earth. Don't believe me? Then travel around a few others and you'll soon see how lucky we are. But our country won't stay that way if we run away from the problems.

Stand and fight CGSwans and you'll be amazed at the number of people who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. I was!

 

[Electus Parrot]

I don't think in Australia we would be able to build a proper 'zoo' like adelaide, taronga, melbourne or perth. All four are proper zoos and have species that they can only a cquire due to their status among zoos. Another zoo like these would take many years of sourcing animals but also these zoos are well trusted and trust from zoos like that takes many years to build up and they wouldn't give animals such as orangutans to any zoo or park in Australia. If restictions and import bans were not a problem then it would be possible but now, currently it is not.

 

[phoenix]

actually, whilst i don't foresee it happening again soon, in recent years MANY big drawcard species have been offered for sale. this includes:

asian elephants
river hippos
pygmy hippos
white rhino
chimpanzee
various monkeys
brown bears
lions
tigers
cheetah

 

[Steve Robinson]

actually, whilst i don't foresee it happening again soon, in recent years MANY big drawcard species have been offered for sale. this includes:

asian elephants
river hippos
pygmy hippos
white rhino
chimpanzee
various monkeys
brown bears
lions
tigers
cheetah

We MAY see a list like this available again sooner than you think!