Last week I visited Altina and was impressed by their expansion into new species.
At the start of the tour we were divided into 3 groups about 16 people and each went with a different guide. These groups walk to the close exhibits and the guide does a talk on each species.
We started with the Meerkats. There are 2 enclosures, a larger one at the front with 4 Meerkats and another behind it with 2. Meerkats were given a treat to get the foraging along the glass front.
Tasmanian Devils were next. There are 4 enclosures and treats were thrown into the front 2 enclosures to get them out foraging. Altina is now part of the breeding program.
Next we saw the Wombats which were sleeping in their dens which were visable in the viewing area.
The Black Capped Capuchin are a very recent arrivals and 2 sat up the back on their nest boxes. The other one was moving about. There was 2 large enclosures.
There were 3 common Marmoset enclosures. I think the first had 2 males, the second a family group and the third a pair with their triplets.
Lastly we went to the Crocodiles and Alligators. The 2 Alligators have been there a few years and are a good size. The guide told us they are only allowed one sex as there is a chance if they escaped they could survive in the Murrumbidgee River which runs through the property.
There are now 5 Freshwater Crocodiles as one was recently found illegally held in a local town and Altina staff were called to remove it.
The last was the Saltwater Crocodile which was very aggressive when fed.
Beside all these enclosures is a pond with Magpie Geese, Cape Barren Geese, Domestic Geese, Swans and assorted ducks.
After that tour each group got on their respective horse pulled cart. We were last and our horse was called "Lucky" because he is the worst horse and we would be lucky if we made it back.
The tour goes past the Fallow a Red Deer first. Almost all animals came up to the fence as they were fed as the first cart arrived.
Next was the Blackbuck, followed by Rusa Deer, Barbry Sheep and Hog Deer.
Then we went past WaterBuffalo and Bison before seeing the Waterbucks.
I will split the reprot here in caseI lose what I have already typed.
At the start of the tour we were divided into 3 groups about 16 people and each went with a different guide. These groups walk to the close exhibits and the guide does a talk on each species.
We started with the Meerkats. There are 2 enclosures, a larger one at the front with 4 Meerkats and another behind it with 2. Meerkats were given a treat to get the foraging along the glass front.
Tasmanian Devils were next. There are 4 enclosures and treats were thrown into the front 2 enclosures to get them out foraging. Altina is now part of the breeding program.
Next we saw the Wombats which were sleeping in their dens which were visable in the viewing area.
The Black Capped Capuchin are a very recent arrivals and 2 sat up the back on their nest boxes. The other one was moving about. There was 2 large enclosures.
There were 3 common Marmoset enclosures. I think the first had 2 males, the second a family group and the third a pair with their triplets.
Lastly we went to the Crocodiles and Alligators. The 2 Alligators have been there a few years and are a good size. The guide told us they are only allowed one sex as there is a chance if they escaped they could survive in the Murrumbidgee River which runs through the property.
There are now 5 Freshwater Crocodiles as one was recently found illegally held in a local town and Altina staff were called to remove it.
The last was the Saltwater Crocodile which was very aggressive when fed.
Beside all these enclosures is a pond with Magpie Geese, Cape Barren Geese, Domestic Geese, Swans and assorted ducks.
After that tour each group got on their respective horse pulled cart. We were last and our horse was called "Lucky" because he is the worst horse and we would be lucky if we made it back.
The tour goes past the Fallow a Red Deer first. Almost all animals came up to the fence as they were fed as the first cart arrived.
Next was the Blackbuck, followed by Rusa Deer, Barbry Sheep and Hog Deer.
Then we went past WaterBuffalo and Bison before seeing the Waterbucks.
I will split the reprot here in caseI lose what I have already typed.
