Australia Zoo australia zoo growing pains

MRJ said:
That is the difference between a government owned zoo and a commercial zoo. Both might want to build, say, a $10 million savannah exhibit.

The commercial zoo has to look at the proposition and ask the question will the new exhibit produce enough additional income to:
  • Pay the loan back
  • Pay the interest on the loan
  • Cover the running costs
  • Provide additional income above that to make the risk worthwhile.
The government zoo can go to the government and request a grant for the exhibit on grounds such as the exhibit:
  • Increases community pride
  • Provides educational opportunities
  • Will increase visitor satisfaction
  • Will attract tourists
  • Will improve animal welfare
  • Is "world leading".
Obviously the barriers to new exhibits are much higher for a commercial zoo. Yes, a new exhibit may give the zoo a boost but it would have to be quite a boost to justify something like the Auckland Zoo exhibits. Maybe the owners of the Australia Zoo are happy with the income it is producing now and if most visitors are happy, they may see no need to proceed with new exhibits currently.
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This is a great (and much appreciated) explanation that’s impossible to argue with. I think most of us are just frustrated with Australia Zoo’s lack of progress in recent years given it’s potential.

Prior to Steve’s death, they made phenomenal strides and now seem to have stagnated for several obvious reasons.

The one thing I was most excited for was the creation of geographical precincts and the end result has been so underwhelming. Although we understand the limitations, it’s hard not to look at Bindi’s Island and instead envisage a colony of orangutans traversing high ropes too and from it across the water (as well as many other exciting additions to their collection).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Who is driving (and obviously revelling in) this over commercialisation of Australia Zoo?

I always thought Irwin was a great ambassador for wildlife, just I detest the personality cult the zoo seems to have become. Anyone feel the same?
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The zoo’s owned by Terri Irwin, with Wes Mannion as director.

The zoo have always excelled in visitor interaction (on my visit there was an encounter/ambassador animal at every point and turn), but the commercialisation was rampant and something I’m not used to seeing at other Australasian zoos.

I fully agree and personally wish the zoo would focus first and foremost on the zoological concepts it was founded on. Some of the recent phases of development make me feel they’ve lost sight of this.
 
@Zoofan15 Yeah to be completely honest the ultra commercial feel of Australia Zoo over the last ten years has made me hardcore cringe. I feel for Bindi and Rob in terms of they were born into the world as famous by who their Dad was (and I liked Steve Irwin alot, even if he was super hammed up on camera he loved animals and cared deeply for them so was extremely sad when he died); but I have heard through the grape-vine that Terri is not very nice (but have big respect for the work she's done with animals including in Oregon before she met Steve).
 
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steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15 Yeah to be completely honest the ultra commercial feel of Australia Zoo over the last ten years has made me hardcore cringe. I feel for Bindi and Rob in terms of they were born into the world as famous by who their Dad was (and I liked Steve Irwin alot, even if he was super hammed up on camera he loved animals and cared deeply for them so was extremely sad when he died); but I have heard through the grape-vine that Terri is not very nice (but have big respect for the work she's done with animals including in Oregon before she met Steve).
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I also think it’d be nice to see Bindi and Robert recognised as their own entities rather than (particularly Robert) being compared to Steve at every point and turn. Steve was a legend and a role model for boys around the globe, but time has passed since his tragic death and moving forward is more progressive than the zoo clinging to his image and promoting it as the home of the Crocodile Hunter.
 
Like, the loss of a family member sucks, but maybe the best way to go about it isn't to go on talk shows or make social media posts/videos at any given moment explaining how much you miss them. Also would be a bad idea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the thing they so painstakingly created by writing a 3rd party book about it's creation (with near to no actual insight on said creation) and selling it for $100 dollars each, making 4 slightly different cheap plastic figurines of said dead family member, smiling and posing for pictures with them and selling them for $20 bucks a pop, or exploiting their catchphrase and likeness into '50 Years of Crikey' shirts, hats, mugs, tea towels, magnets, etc. No wonder Bob Irwin doesn't want anything to do with them, or accept any of the money they make from dressing up and parading around his sons 15+ year old corpse.
 
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Tricoart said:
Like, the loss of a family member sucks, but maybe the best way to go about it isn't to go on talk shows or make social media posts/videos at any given moment explaining how much you miss them. Also would be a bad idea to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the thing they so painstakingly created by writing a 3rd party book about it's creation (with near to no actual insight on said creation) and selling it for $100 dollars each, making 4 slightly different cheap plastic figurines of said dead family member, smiling and posing for pictures with them and selling them for $20 bucks a pop, or exploiting their catchphrase and likeness into '50 Years of Crikey' shirts, hats, mugs, tea towels, magnets, etc. No wonder Bob Irwin doesn't want anything to do with them, or accept any of the money they make from dressing up and parading around his sons 15+ year old corpse.
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There are so many ways to honour his memory:

- A statue in the zoo
- Naming a national park after him
- Creating a scholarship for research study
- Planting a tree (or forest) in his memory
- An annual memorial day

Some of these they’ve done, but that’s where it should end. I agree merchandising of Steve borders on distasteful.
 
Zoofan15 said:
There are so many ways to honour his memory:

- A statue in the zoo
- Naming a national park after him
- Creating a scholarship for research study
- Planting a tree (or forest) in his memory
- An annual memorial day

Some of these they’ve done, but that’s where it should end. I agree merchandising of Steve borders on distasteful.
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When I think about the best way to honour the actual Irwin family's work, I immediately think of Wildlife HQ. What they've done is just put a nice sign up on the wall to your side when entering their Reptile Barn, dedicating the building itself to Bob Irwin, with a few paragraphs about the genuine things he has achieved for the betterment of Australian reptiles (plus a little about how that same sentiment carried down into Steve). No 'Bob Irwin Way', no 'Home of the Crocodile Hunter', no 'Honouring _____'s legacy' slogan plastered on everything they do, and his gasping face isn't on all billboards within a 10 mile radius of the zoo. It's just a plain and respectful sign, dedicated to the work that the man has done, and the things he has achieved in the field.
 
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@Tricoart About 7 or 8 years ago watched a tv episode of one of the shows that Bindi was the star in and was filmed at the zoo (I think it was like a zookeeper for a day sort of show with some members of the public starring in it, think Terri Irwin might have financed the show can't remember) but as we were watching it my sister and I kept saying things like ''this poor poor kid, she's never had a moment of her life outside the spotlight, it's all her and her brother have ever known'' (not to mention losing their Dad at such young ages, never a nice time to lose a parent obviously but they were both so little when Steve died), but we respect that Bindi and Rob have the same love of animals as Steve did, our frustration was only directed towards our suspicions that Terri has franchised her kids a fair bit and also most likely the Australian (and some International) media hasn't really allowed Bindi or Rob to have much of a private life over the last fifteen years (approx'). I obviously do not know them of course so it's all just based on what have read and seen on camera.
 
steveroberts said:
@Tricoart About 7 or 8 years ago watched a tv episode of one of the shows that Bindi was the star in and was filmed at the zoo (I think it was like a zookeeper for a day sort of show with some members of the public starring in it, think Terri Irwin might have financed the show can't remember) but as we were watching it my sister and I kept saying things like ''this poor poor kid, she's never had a moment of her life outside the spotlight, it's all her and her brother have ever known'' (not to mention losing their Dad at such young ages, never a nice time to lose a parent obviously but they were both so little when Steve died), but we respect that Bindi and Rob have the same love of animals as Steve did, our frustration was only directed towards our suspicions that Terri has franchised her kids a fair bit and also most likely the Australian (and some International) media hasn't really allowed Bindi or Rob to have much of a private life over the last fifteen years (approx'). I obviously do not know them of course so it's all just based on what have read and seen on camera.
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The international market certainly laps up the Irwin’s and the Australian catchphrases/stereotypes. Even prior to Steve’s death, they were equally as popular in the USA are they are in Australia.

I’ve always felt bad for Bindi and Robert having every birthday in the spotlight. I remember one birthday they filmed Robert’s reaction to the present he was receiving. He probably thought he was getting a car or something, but nope - a giant dinosaur statue for every kid that came through the gates to climb over. He seemed pleased with it (either that or he’s the world’s greatest living actor); but perhaps what he really wanted was a new iPhone and a day off.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The international market certainly laps up the Irwin’s and the Australian catchphrases/stereotypes. Even prior to Steve’s death, they were equally as popular in the USA are they are in Australia.

I’ve always felt bad for Bindi and Robert having every birthday in the spotlight. I remember one birthday they filmed Robert’s reaction to the present he was receiving. He probably thought he was getting a car or something, but nope - a giant dinosaur statue for every kid that came through the gates to climb over. He seemed pleased with it (either that or he’s the world’s greatest living actor); but perhaps what he really wanted was a new iPhone and a day off.
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Errrr, I makes me fall asleep now. No disrespect to our Crikey friend Steve ..., but the joke has gone stale. They need to redirect and redraft their future perspective, it has never been good to keep holding on to the past.

I am glad with the tortoise diversity at AZ. I wonder for how many of the rare species they plan to breed. It is not just the Indian stars, but equally the elongated that ... are the most. commonly confiscated tortoise in Monduriki in Myanmar and elsewhere (consequently viewed as very much endangered.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Errrr, I makes me fall asleep now. No disrespect to our Crikey friend Steve ..., but the joke has gone stale. They need to redirect and redraft their future perspective, it has never been good to keep holding on to the past.

I am glad with the tortoise diversity at AZ. I wonder for how many of the rare species they plan to breed. It is not just the Indian stars, but equally the elongated that ... are the most. commonly confiscated tortoise in Monduriki in Myanmar and elsewhere (consequently viewed as very much endangered.
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I agree they would do well to refocus
 
Zorro said:
I agree they would do well to refocus
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Australia Zoo need a clear sense of direction. They need to assess what they’re doing well versus what needs to change.

What’s Working Well:

The Sumatran tiger exhibit is excellent. Their facilities have allowed them to manage multiple adult tigers, import from Indonesia and breed multiple litters. It remains one of their best assets.

The crocodile and alligator exhibits are of a high quality. They’re what people come to Australia Zoo to see and they’re not disappointed. These species are a central component to the zoo’s heritage and a major drawcard.

They have a decent reptile collection displayed in an attractive reptile house. They have many unique reptiles and amphibians (poison dart frogs and the such like).

What Needs to Change:

Can the commercialisation. Selling zoo merchandise is fine, but there’s no need to overdo it. Selling Robert’s photography is acceptable; selling Steve Irwin figurines and novelty pencils isn’t.

Follow through on promises. Import a Sumatran elephant bull and don’t cancel imports of cows the week before they leave.

Improve the African collection - giraffe, rhinos, regulation zebra. Why not Grant’s zebra? Why not Addax? Why don’t the Cheetah have an exhibit over a decade later?

Scrap Bindi’s Island. Australia Zoo isn’t a theme park so can the gimmicks (including glamping) and redirect that focus on conservation and education. Bindi’s Island teaches guests nothing about geography given the melting spot of species it habits.

New exotic species. Once a regular addition to the zoo, now they’ve stagnated. A great ape species, baboons, bongo etc.

I appreciate a lot of the changes listed here rely on money (which the zoo may be short of), but any attempt to implement them would be a start imo.
 
Zoofan15 said:
With the borders opened up, they’ll be anxious not to waste any time capitalising on the international market (which will be the main source of bookings for this accomodation).

I wish they were this proactive across other areas of the zoo! Namely Sumatran elephant bulls and Cheetah exhibits.
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I am not holding my breath for bull elephants or a cheetah exhibit it may never happen
 
Zorro said:
I am not holding my breath for bull elephants or a cheetah exhibit it may never happen
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I used to hope for cheetahs, but it's been so long now, and when I inquired about it to a keeper they said any plans are gone and they're just trying to offload them for breeding. I'll only really believe Australia Zoo is doing something once I see it in the flesh.
 
Zorro said:
I am not holding my breath for bull elephants or a cheetah exhibit it may never happen
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A lot of zoos throw out statements and promise many things that never happen. Australia are one of the main culprits of this. It's a shame for most of us zoochatters who clearly are awaiting eagerly for such an arrival or change!
 
Tricoart said:
I used to hope for cheetahs, but it's been so long now, and when I inquired about it to a keeper they said any plans are gone and they're just trying to offload them for breeding. I'll only really believe Australia Zoo is doing something once I see it in the flesh.
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That’s disappointing. Even if they didn’t want to breed, it wouldn’t be difficult to build a simple exhibit and house a pair of bachelor males. If they sourced handraised Cheetah, they could be walked around the zoo and do encounters etc.

They could otherwise be used in the daily shows at the Crocoseum. I saw Sumatran tigers in this presentation when I visited and it was exciting to see them demonstrating behaviours etc.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
That’s disappointing. Even if they didn’t want to breed, it wouldn’t be difficult to build a simple exhibit and house a pair of bachelor males. If they sourced handraised Cheetah, they could be walked around the zoo and do encounters etc.
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They had some off display previously but I believe those individuals specifically have now died.

It would be great if they could import some handraised cheetah, and use them for encounters similar to what Auckland does with theirs. They would be quite an attraction, especially for the type of crowd Australia Zoo pulls.
 
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