Australia Zoo Australia Zoo News 2021

WhistlingKite24 said:
I don't know what these claims of exhibit expansion are based off but I have been visiting Australia Zoo regularly across the past three years and haven't noticed any changes to the elephant exhibit whatsoever. More shade might have been added since but major works have not been completed as far as I can tell: [Future Sumatran Elephant Enclosure - ZooChat, Future Sumatran Elephant Enclosure - ZooChat, Future Sumatran Elephant Enclosure - ZooChat]
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Thats no surprise. There has been no major work that I am aware of for quite a while. The only major thing happening was the importation of the four elephant cows. One of the things I really dont like about the place is the large amount of hype over not really much of anything :rolleyes:. I wont even mention the ten year plan to complete all 3 stages but years later still only at stage one. ;)
 
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Zorro said:
Thats no surprise. There has been no major work that I am aware of for quite a while. The only major happening was the importation of the four elephant cows. One of the things I really dont like about the place is the large amount of hype over not really much of anything :rolleyes:. I wont even mention the ten year plan to complete all 3 stages but years later still only at stage one. ;)
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The new crocodile exhibits were impressive, but remain their only decent new exhibits for over a decade.

It’s a shame the North American precinct never came to anything. Given Terri’s background, she surely would have had some good concepts for this.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The new crocodile exhibits were impressive, but remain their only decent new exhibits for over a decade.

It’s a shame the North American precinct never came to anything. Given Terri’s background, she surely would have had some good concepts for this.
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Is it really any surprise the North American precinct never happened?. Whole animal groups are missing with no Monkeys, Apes or Antelopes :(
 
Zorro said:
Is it really any surprise the North American precinct never happened?. Whole animal groups are missing with no Monkeys, Apes or Antelopes :(
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Theoretically a decent North American precinct could be formed with *just* Grizzly bear, American black bear, Grey wolf, Puma, Bobcat, Wolverine, Moose, American beaver, North American river otter, North American porcupine, North American bison, White-tailed deer and California sea lion; but given there’s no import standards for most of those (or the support of a regional breeding programme), it’s near impossible in practice.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Theoretically a decent North American precinct could be formed with *just* Grizzly bear, American black bear, Grey wolf, Puma, Bobcat, Wolverine, Moose, American beaver, North American river otter, North American porcupine, North American bison, White-tailed deer and California sea lion; but given there’s no import standards for most of those (or the support of a regional breeding programme), it’s near impossible in practice.
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Correct. And for those very reasons I would have been more that surprised if it ever got off the ground, a fact which one would of thought they would have known about when doing the park planning in the first place. :rolleyes:
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
A few bits and pieces from the zoo’s magazine publication:

*one of the Australia Zoo’s American Alligators recently turned 91 years old. Alison, an old female arrived from David Fleay Wildlife Park (if I remember correctly) in 1987 and has been at the zoo ever since.

*note on Sumatran elephants: “elephants have settled in well and love roaming around the bush out the back of the zoo, as well as eating lots of tasty coconuts. Construction on Australia Zoo’s world-class Elephantasia continues; we want it to be absolutely perfect. The elephants will have access to multiple areas over hundreds of acres to play, swim and roam. We can’t wait to share this exhibit with you.”

*Australia Zoo are now in the process of trying to breed their Komodo Dragons. The article mentions that they will most likely use male Naga, who lives at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park, to pair with their female Indah. Introductions with their original male Gilli were not as successful.
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I somehow forgot to post the most interesting piece of news from their magazine...the zoo recently took in an endangered White-throated Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula). She was not able to be released due to blindness and was sent to Alexandra Park Zoo to be paired with the only other individual (a male) of this species in captivity. They hope to set up a captive population.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
I somehow forgot to post the most interesting piece of news from their magazine...the zoo recently took in an endangered White-throated Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula). She was not able to be released due to blindness and was sent to Alexandra Park Zoo to be paired with the only other individual (a male) of this species in captivity. They hope to set up a captive population.
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Nice one.
 
They’ve built a new elephant barn behind the existing enclosure and the plan was to walk the elephants to their enclosure along the road behind the paddock, but the elephants get too distracted by the birds and other wildlife in the zoo so theyre now building a raceway.
 
Riley said:
They’ve built a new elephant barn behind the existing enclosure and the plan was to walk the elephants to their enclosure along the road behind the paddock, but the elephants get too distracted by the birds and other wildlife in the zoo so theyre now building a raceway.
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The elephant barn and yards have been completed for quite some time. The two main holding yards and the much larger bush block on the northern side. I dont know how they are going to keep a bull/s there with only the one barn even if it is fenced off from the other half of the barn. Unless the current satellite maps are out of date it does not show any shade sails or any other type of shade in the two holding yards.

I believe if they built a connecting barn off the current elephant exhibit area could be the solution. Since they are getting an extra 5th cow now from Auckland zoo and perhaps one or two import bulls they are in need of more night housing!
 
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Not to be cynical here, but part of me wonders whether their decision to import Burma (a middle aged, non reproductive cow) indicates Australia Zoo have no plans to import bulls and begin a breeding herd.

Taking Burma on humanitarian grounds is all well and good; but the fact remains that none of the three zoos focussed on breeding have put their hands up to take Burma. From a management perspective, she’ll take up a place that could be occupied by a future calf.

Maybe it’s not Australia Zoo’s intention to breed - but merely to provide good facilities for their females and any other surplus cows that become available. Could Permai be their next acquisition?
 
Zoofan15 said:
Not to be cynical here, but part of me wonders whether their decision to import Burma (a middle aged, non reproductive cow) indicates Australia Zoo have no plans to import bulls and begin a breeding herd.

Taking Burma on humanitarian grounds is all well and good; but the fact remains that none of the three zoos focussed on breeding have put their hands up to take Burma. From a management perspective, she’ll take up a place that could be occupied by a future calf.

Maybe it’s not Australia Zoo’s intention to breed - but merely to provide good facilities for their females and any other surplus cows that become available. Could Permai be their next acquisition?
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I believe it has been stated by the media they were imported to take part in a breeding program and could have been one of the conditions they were allowed to be imported in the first place?
 
Zorro said:
I believe it has been stated by the media they were imported to take part in a breeding program and could have been one of the conditions they were allowed to be imported in the first place?
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The media at the time (especially coverage in Indonesia) referred to Australia Zoo as ‘borrowing’ the elephants. I suspect this is similar to the term we use of ‘loaning’ animals via coordinated breeding programmes, where the loan can even be permanent. It merely denotes the animals are not bought, sold or owned by any one zoo.

That said, it’s possible they’ve been leased - with Indonesia having the power to recall them after the loan expires; but more likely they would continue to extend it. All parties would be aware it’s unlikely Indonesia would go to the expense of shipping them back to a country full of these animals.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The media at the time (especially coverage in Indonesia) referred to Australia Zoo as ‘borrowing’ the elephants. I suspect this is similar to the term we use of ‘loaning’ animals via coordinated breeding programmes, where the loan can even be permanent. It merely denotes the animals are not bought, sold or owned by any one zoo.

That said, it’s possible they’ve been leased - with Indonesia having the power to recall them after the loan expires; but more likely they would continue to extend it. All parties would be aware it’s unlikely Indonesia would go to the expense of shipping them back to a country full of these animals.
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Dispite what was said at the time by the media I believe AZ would of payed a huge amount of money to import them. I would say the chance of them returning would be the same as winning the Lotto! ;)
 
Zorro said:
Dispite what was said at the time by the media I believe AZ would of payed a huge amount of money to import them. I would say the chance of them returning would be the same as winning the Lotto! ;)
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I know they also contribute a ton of money to conservation projects in Indonesia, so this may have stood them in good stead. Let’s not forget that in 2007 they imported the first Sumatran tigers out of Indonesia in decades. This was a notable achievement and a huge benefit to the breeding programme.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I know they also contribute a ton of money to conservation projects in Indonesia, so this may have stood them in good stead. Let’s not forget that in 2007 they imported the first Sumatran tigers out of Indonesia in decades. This was a notable achievement and a huge benefit to the breeding programme.
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Correct :)
 
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