Australia Zoo Australia Zoo News 2022

[Zoofan15]

So cringey that they still capitalise on Steve Irwin's ''Crickey'' expression. Have to hand it to them though would be the most financially successful private zoo in Australia by probably a fair stretch (most googled zoo in Australia worldwide, even ahead of Taronga and Melbourne); so hope they continue to accomodate for new species in conservation plight (just wish they'd put ''Crickey'' to bed, kinda feels like they're just milking it now).

I honestly don’t understand why they need to capitalise off Steve’s fame when the family (especially the kids) are achieving things in their own right. There’s nothing wrong with honouring Steve’s memory, but the continued merchandising etc. is a step too far imo.

Steve was admired for his passion and conservation work, not a bunch of tired stereotypes and catchphrases.

 

[Zorro]

I honestly don’t understand why they need to capitalise off Steve’s fame when the family (especially the kids) are achieving things in their own right. There’s nothing wrong with honouring Steve’s memory, but the continued merchandising etc. is a step too far imo.

Steve was admired for his passion and conservation work, not a bunch of tired stereotypes and catchphrases.

It was Steves claim to fame that kicked off AZ in a big way from the once former small reptile park to what it was to become. I guess the family see that the link to fame is the key to success especially to the overseas visitors. I believe that they will keep the fame link as long as possible as its seen as a winner.
I believe the zoo has fallen very short of the original plans along with the once planned 3 stages and mention of in the past of wanting the world largest gorilla exhibit and the addition of Orangs ect.

 

[Always_Amity]

The giraffe transfers are nothing new. They’ve never retained Australia zoo bred offspring as sons would clash with Forrest; and daughters would inbreed with Forrest. They’ve had a backlog to clear with Covid, so it’s purely circumstantial they’ve had a mass exodus of giraffes out of the place.

I agree with you the past two or three years have been encouraging with regards to developments. They’ve surely taken note - not just of the main zoos in the region, but small zoos like Wildlife HQ who are one of their nearest facilities and made great strides despite having a fraction of the resources.

Australia Zoo was a great zoo in Steve’s day, but no zoo can afford to stay still if they want to remain great. It’s a constantly evolving industry and they need to constantly up their game and strive to improve.

That does make sense. I completely forgot covid effected transfers and stuff lol.
On that same note it's not long now before Kingston and Carrie move out. At this point they're pretty much the same size as their mothers, and I know for a fact they've had both Caballe and Inyeti paired with DJ during their cycles as far back as August 2020. Australia Zoo's always moved their calves on to other facilities to just keep the trio of adult females and one breeding male (exactly the same as they've now got with Giraffe, I'm now realising)

 

[Zoofan15]

On that same note it's not long now before Kingston and Carrie move out. At this point they're pretty much the same size as their mothers, and I know for a fact they've had both Caballe and Inyeti paired with DJ during their cycles as far back as August 2020.

Kingston and Carrie have gone already! Kingston was transferred to Halls Gap Zoo; while Carrie was transferred to Monarto Safari Park.

 

[Always_Amity]

Kingston and Carrie have gone already! Kingston was transferred to Halls Gap Zoo; while Carrie was transferred to Monarto Safari Park.

Woah, when did that happen!?

 

[Zoofan15]

Woah, when did that happen!?

Kingston transferred to Halls Gap Zoo in September 2022.

Carrie transferred to Monarto Safari Park in October 2022.

 

[Zorro]

I am a little hopeful that with some pretty notable changes/additions these past few years (Elephants and the new croc area, addition of Komodos and Free Flight Jabiru to the show, breeding cassowaries and red pandas, refurbishing the aviary, attempting to breed King Cobras and Komodos, plus a few new smaller species like Radiated and Elongated Tortoises, even the new Koala area) that the zoo might be on an upwards trend after years of being pretty stagnant.
I'm certainly not holding my breath for it, but it could be a sign they're going to pick up the pace and actually going to pick up the pace and start properly holding it's own as a big-name zoo and not falling back on the fact a few celebrities live there.
If we're getting real speculative, the past year or so they've moved the majority of their giraffe herd to other facilities, going from like 12 to just Forest, 3 breeding females and the two youngest calves of said females in a matter of months. The savannah looks really empty now, but if could - maybe - be a sign they intend to get something else to fill the space, like ostrich or some Antelope. I'd very much be surprised if they do, but they've almost had more growth the past 2-3 years alone than they've had since Steve died, so if there'd be any time for them to do it, it'd be now.

The addition of Komodo dragons is nothing new to the zoo. The only real large effort were the import of the elephants but lacking a needed bull?.
I believe the new Koala area might be a rehash of an existing one. As for the adding of 2 new tortoise species yes nice but so has some of the small zoos in the country.
From the reports from the media a few years ago about a proposed railway station bringing in visitors to the zoo and having 3 levels of accomodation including a 5 star hotel to over look the African savanna exhibit has not happened, Also even if this did eventuate would the guests be ok with just seeing 2 zebra, 3 or 4 rhino and some Giraffe?. Would overseas visitors expect to see lions, apes/monkeys and even antelopes for their visit?

 

[Jambo]

Also even if this did eventuate would the guests be ok with just seeing 2 zebra, 3 or 4 rhino and some Giraffe?.

Australia do expect to grow their bachelor group of zebras if they can. There’s definitely the individuals for this within the region at the moment.

 

[Zorro]

Australia do expect to grow their bachelor group of zebras if they can. There’s definitely the individuals for this within the region at the moment.

As far as I am aware there has never been more than 3 there since the exhibit opened

 

[Zoofan15]

Australia do expect to grow their bachelor group of zebras if they can. There’s definitely the individuals for this within the region at the moment.

As far as I am aware there has never been more than 3 there since the exhibit opened

Long term, I’d be surprised if their bachelor herd exceeded four or five stallions. Though they have the space, there’s no guarantee older stallions will be able to assimilate into the herd or that the herd will remain cohesive long term.

Ideally the bachelor herd would follow the natural social order where colts join the herd at around two years of age and then transition into a breeding herd a few years later. Unfortunately the demand for stallions isn’t there - so castrating them may be used to assist with cohesion long term.

 

[Jambo]

As far as I am aware there has never been more than 3 there since the exhibit opened

Yes they’ve only ever held six males: the three from Werrribee, Zambezi from Canberra, Lucas from Canberra as well and Spartacus from Darling Downs.

Right now they only have Lucas and Spartacus, and I was told over email that the intention is to grow this group by adding at least a few more individuals within the coming years. There’s plenty of colts who’ll need to be moved on in the coming years; and not all will be required in breeding situations.

Long term, I’d be surprised if their bachelor herd exceeded four or five stallions. Though they have the space, there’s no guarantee older stallions will be able to assimilate into the herd or that the herd will remain cohesive long term.

Ideally the bachelor herd would follow the natural social order where colts join the herd at around two years of age and then transition into a breeding herd a few years later. Unfortunately the demand for stallions isn’t there - so castrating them may be used to assist with cohesion long term.

Castration is used for all the colts sent into bachelor groups. The idea behind it being they’ll be able to coexist long term, no matter the ages ect. Unfortunately this means there’s no opportunity for those males to then be moved into breeding groups afterwards - meaning most new stallions are young colts (only one or two years old).

 

[Zoofan15]

Castration is used for all the colts sent into bachelor groups. The idea behind it being they’ll be able to coexist long term, no matter the ages ect. Unfortunately this means there’s no opportunity for those males to then be moved into breeding groups afterwards - meaning most new stallions are young colts (only one or two years old).

That’s interesting. It doesn’t appear castration is done at Gibb’s Farm (at least not to all colts), as Carlo was sent there for a few years before returning as Auckland Zoo’s breeding stallion.

It makes sense to castrate colts though. Aside from contributing to a more cohesive herd, it’s not difficult to project which colts will be needed in the region as future breeding stallions and which won’t. Most breeding stallions are covering multiple mares and sire offspring in the double digits over a decade long tenure.

 

[Zorro]

That’s interesting. It doesn’t appear castration is done at Gibb’s Farm (at least not to all colts), as Carlo was sent there for a few years before returning as Auckland Zoo’s breeding stallion.

It makes sense to castrate colts though. Aside from contributing to a more cohesive herd, it’s not difficult to project which colts will be needed in the region as future breeding stallions and which won’t. Most breeding stallions are covering multiple mares and sire offspring in the double digits over a decade long tenure.

So if another zoo holding Zebra in the region needs a different male and a change in bloodlines these animals are off the radar and utter useless for anyones else's breeding program.

 

[Jambo]

So if another zoo holding Zebra in the region needs a different male and a change in bloodlines these animals are off the radar and utter useless for anyones else's breeding program.

Exactly, which is a problem I’ve noticed whilst researching the regions population. When a zoo needs a new stallion they can only a) get one from another facility or b) get a young colt.

That’s interesting. It doesn’t appear castration is done at Gibb’s Farm (at least not to all colts), as Carlo was sent there for a few years before returning as Auckland Zoo’s breeding stallion.

It makes sense to castrate colts though. Aside from contributing to a more cohesive herd, it’s not difficult to project which colts will be needed in the region as future breeding stallions and which won’t. Most breeding stallions are covering multiple mares and sire offspring in the double digits over a decade long tenure.

It may be that the zoos that elect to castrate their males are the ones who have them in mixed species exhibits.

The castrating of a lot of young colts means we have a lot of our current zebras descended from only a select few stallions.