Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve staff going without pay so lions don't go hungry

i find it hard to believe she has somewhere to take the all animals, the current keepers certainly are not aware of her plans! crating the likes of the hippos & rhino would take ages, it was previously attempted with one of the common hippos & took months of training to no avail!
Tony Greenwood did visit her & he does have 'links' to Bali so Steve may be right there! could be out of the frying pan into the fire with that one but as long as they are away from Elaine things should look up!!
She led her staff to believe Mauritz was coming to help turn the facility around but if he was sent by ZAA she clearly knew she was closing it, she allowed new staff to move across the country to start knowing it was only months away to closing. She obviously cares as much about people as she does animals!
 
Would they really send all the animals to Bali though? Certainly the lions and certain other species I can imagine going, but wouldn't ZAA be pretty keen to retain a few of the species in Australia (hippos, rhino, siamang, serval, etc?). There seem to be quite a few zoos keen to add siamang and servals (for example) to their collections, and those sepcies would be pretty straightforward to rehome.
 
The Rhino, Hippos, Lions, Lemurs, Spider Monkeys, Bears, Macaques, some Tigers etc were not part of any ZAA program and she can do what she likes with them - although in some cases that will require the consent of previous owners.

The Cheetah, Otters, Siamang, Servals and any animals that came to the zoo via the ASMP will have to be rehomed on the recommendation of the various Species Coordinators.
 
BTW - I only mentioned Bali as a possibility. I have no more knowledge than anyone else has.

It has been said that many of the animals are going "offshore". I guess that could also mean Tasmania or New Zealand or, indeed, elswhere in Indonesia;)
 
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Steve Robinson said:
The Rhino, Hippos, Lions, Lemurs, Spider Monkeys, Bears, Macaques, some Tigers etc were not part of any ZAA program and she can do what she likes with them - although in some cases that will require the consent of previous owners.

The Cheetah, Otters, Siamang, Servals and any animals that came to the zoo via the ASMP will have to be rehomed on the recommendation of the various Species Coordinators.
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Thanks for that Steve, I wasn't sure what sort of "jurisdiction" the ZAA had at this place, so that clarifies things. Presumably some of the smaller regional zoos (Altina, Halls Gap, Symbio, etc) will be more than happy to receive some of the ASMP species.

In the case of the non-ASMP animals, would it be reasonable to assume they will go to the highest bidder? For argument's sake, I imagine that if ZAA was concerned about some of them being sent overseas (to Bali or elsewhere) then they could probably manage to prevent their export? I'm not saying they would or should, but I think they would be disappointed if certain animals (e.g. the hippos (especially pygmies) and maybe rhinos) were lost from the region.
 
The zoo industry, through it's representative body [ZAA], is well positioned to assist with the placement of animals in the case of a closure of a zoo - member or otherwise. However, ZAA doesn't have "jurisdiction" as such. Certainly the ASMP specimens will have to be placed according to the recommendation of the relevant species management coordinator. Shambala does not own those animals.

In the case of the non-ASMP species those animals will, I believe, go to the highest bidder. Reading between the lines, I think that deal has already been done. Sadly, our country will lose some very valuable animals - valuable in the species sense as well as the financial sense.

We will all, individuals as well as Association, regret the loss of those animals from this country but there is nothing that, individually or collectively, we can do about this. They are Elaine Harrison's property.
 
this is the realtor's blurb:
http://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/House/QLD/Kuranda/?adid=2010119529

AUCTION – The Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve Must Be
Sold.

This privately owned Zoo known as ‘Shambala Animal Kingdom’ formerly the ‘Cairns Wildlife Safari’ is to be sold at Auction on the 15th December 2012.

Important: Forget any previous pricing or suggestion of price expectations – a very competitive reserve will be set to ensure this property sells at Auction

A truly unique freehold property located and accessed directly from the Kennedy Highway – the busy highway that links Cairns with Mareeba and the Atherton Tablelands. Straight line distances being 22 km West of Cairns, 11 km South west of Kuranda town centre and 18 km north east of the Mareeba town centre.

The property encompasses two (2) titles which are improved with a large residential dwelling, managers quarters, various buildings to house animals, administration/quarantine building, souvenir shop, two (2) dining facilities, numerous enclosures, workshops, pathways, car parking areas, substantial fencing to enclosures in addition to three (3) large dams constructed for various animals.

The freehold properties are as detailed below;
• Lot 21 on SP 171157: 38.15 hectares (94.27 acres)
• Lot 22 on RP 850124: 15.01 hectares (37.09 acres)

The Zoo facilities are located mostly upon lot 21 and the properties are to be sold together at Auction. The site is zoned ‘Rural B – Special Tourist Facility’ under the current Tablelands Regional Council Town Planning Scheme. The use of the property as a wildlife park is a legal use under this zoning.

The park is currently fully operational and if a buyers intention is to continue running the property as a ‘Wildlife Safari Reserve’ discussions should be entered into regarding the animals, plant and equipment, fixtures and fittings and inclusions immediately.

Currently the park is the only place in Far North Queensland where you can visit critically endangered animals. The parks exotic animals include the largest pride of Lions in Australasia in addition to Tigers, Rhino, Hippos, cheetah, Bears, Monkeys and more.

The park is now presented in an excellent condition after much hard work and capital expenditure. The animals are now under extremely good management and are incredibly healthy and well looked after. This has been the sellers only objective since she has owned the property and the park is now set up perfectly to continue trading well into the future. There is an enormous potential here to grow and make this a successful venture.

In addition to the current wildlife operations there is a development application before the Tablelands Regional Council for a 30 person luxury lodge and for 13 x two (2 ) person cabins on the property.

This is without doubt the most exciting tourism based opportunity available today for sale. This property is totally unique and has had an enormous amount of money spent on its improvements and a massive amount of time and care dedicated to its resident animals.

The Sellers overriding concern is for the parks resident animals. Should a buyer not be found immediately who shows the skills, desire and care to be able to continue the operations as they are now - then the animals will be relocated to overseas reserves and the property will be sold as is where is as land and improvements.

The seller is devastated to have to sell this property - however she will be setting a very genuine reserve price to ensure it does sell on the 15th December if not before. Again if there is an interest to continue the park as a ‘Wildlife Safari Reserve’ you need to contact the agent immediately.
Click to expand...

the auction is set for 15 December
 
simbalion said:
Such good friends, with such integrity, but don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!!!!!
Click to expand...

By all means, given your position within the park please correct any factual errors and put our minds at ease as to what Shambhala plans to do with the animals?
 
simbalion said:
Such good friends, with such integrity, but don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!!!!!
Click to expand...

Another your wrong, but I wont tell post. Why do you bother and why wont you tell the true story if this one is wrong. :confused:
 
I was just looking for updates on Shambala and came across their new website:

Shambala Animal Kingdom

As opposed to the old site it is by far a more appealing and appropriate site, aside from "pigmy hippo" on the animals page. I feel it was definitely something that needed redoing, the timing seems a little off though. I'm assuming it was published within the last month or so since I last searched up shambala otherwise I expect I would have noticed it previously, but it also may have been there all year :)

Does anyone have any updates on the upcoming auction and/or animals?

Cheers,
Daniel
 
that new site is a million times better than their old one, which frankly was rubbish. I don't like how when you click on the animal links it just gives you a photo and no information, but otherwise it looks really nice. (I only had a very quick browse of it, so no in-depth analysis :D)
 
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