The four females are currently off-display in their huge off-display paddock. The zoo were meant to put them on-display in Easter 2020 but they have since delayed it.
Thanks! I hope to do this style of species list for a few other zoos in my area.
Australia Zoo Australia Zoo Species List
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
Is it odd that Australia Zoo does not exhibit platypus? That seems like it would be a huge draw for their tourism-centered business model.
I was very surprised when I found out they don't keep them.
Jake1508
Well-Known Member
They did have a platypus in the early 80’s to 90’s when a local farmer dug up his dam and they released him later.
It was barely a zoo then, just a 4-acre reptile park. You'd think a place named Australia Zoo, especially one with worldwide name recognition, would try to exhibit one of the most well-known Australian species, and one that is nearly non-existent outside of the country.
I am also surprised since they get many international visitors there!
They are easy to obtain here in Queensland and yes you are dreaming if you expect them to get the above species you mention!
There are yards and a barn off exhibit which can be seen on Google maps, two open yards to the right of the barn and one huge wooded area just north of the barn, lots of room for them also there are around three dams just south of this area which I guess they use for a dip!
1) I wish I had the answer to that but they have been off-display for a little while now. First the zoo said they would be going on-display in Easter 2020, then mid-2020 and now 2021. They do visitor encounters with the elephants where guests can go off-display to meet them for a sizeable amount of money.
2 +3) Their future on-display elephant exhibit is pictured above in the relevant section of this species list. It is the same original enclosure but I believe they have since added a new shade area. There were no signs of additional new construction on my visit two days ago.
To be totally honest, it could be a marketing strategy more than anything else, Australia zoo relies largely on international tourists to make up its visitor base, due to the Irwin’s following from their tv shows etc. by putting them on display once the international borders reopen might give them a better “boom” period with a “new species” on display compared to displaying them now.
It’s also worth a mention too that their entire African section was living at the zoo off-display for years (Cheetahs still are) before the zoo built their exhibits, but they still offered encounters with all the species in that time as well.
It’s also worth a mention too that their entire African section was living at the zoo off-display for years (Cheetahs still are) before the zoo built their exhibits, but they still offered encounters with all the species in that time as well.
Or Tree Kangaroos and other of the rarer natives!
@WhistlingKite24 AND Riley: Thank you very much for your reply and the information.
Changes to Australia Zoo Species List (Update 1)
This update aims to reflect the changes I saw on my visit to Australia Zoo on 20th November 2020 and 23rd December 2020. The additions, losses and developments reflect differences to the original species list I created with the aim of creating a regularly updated resource. Just a reminder that the losses do not necessarily represent the departure of the species from the zoo’s overall collection; they could have moved off-display or have been well-hidden. The changes represent a visitor’s perspective of the on display collection.
Additions:
*Red-browed Finches (Neochmia temporalis) have been added into the Rainforest Aviary. There are now three species of finches in this particular aviary. Chestnut-breasted Mannikins (Lonchura castaneothorax) were also sighted recently for the first time in this aviary but this does change its listing on the original species list as it was already included as a signed but not seen species. A closer look at the updated signage in the rainforest aviary also reveals that Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) is also signed but is a species that has yet to be seen at the zoo. It will be added as a recent publication corroborate its arrival. A pair of Red-collared Lorikeets (Trichoglossus rubritorquis) are also on-display in the rainforest aviary. This is not a completely new addition for the list as the species is used in the free flight bird show.
*a Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) is back on-display in its usual enclosure in the Crocoseum. It now lives in a mixed exhibit with two Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus).
*a bachelor group of Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius) is now on-display in a renovated enclosure in the Reptile House [the former enclosure of the Black Tiger Snake].
Losses:
*Black Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus humpreysi) is no longer on-display due to the addition of the poison dart frogs in the reptile house. This doesn’t change the original species list as the species is still represented by an Eastern Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus scutatus) located in the neighbouring enclosure.
Changes/Developments:
*The previously unidentified species of turtle on Bindi’s Island has been identified as juvenile Saw-shelled Turtles (Myuchelys latisternum). They share the enclosure with other juvenile native turtles – Kreft’s Turtle and Brisbane River Turtle. All three types are displayed in the main turtle enclosure as well, along with Broad-shelled River Turtle.
*The echidna enclosure near the otters at the front of the zoo is currently empty. The species is still on-display elsewhere within the zoo.
Updated Species List (accurate as of 23rd December 2020)
By my count, there are approximately 81 exhibits with 98 species seen which is an increase of four species. Please note this does not include the species that are currently off-display or the species that are used as educational animals (which cannot be used currently due to COVID). If we break this down further, we get the following results:
This update aims to reflect the changes I saw on my visit to Australia Zoo on 20th November 2020 and 23rd December 2020. The additions, losses and developments reflect differences to the original species list I created with the aim of creating a regularly updated resource. Just a reminder that the losses do not necessarily represent the departure of the species from the zoo’s overall collection; they could have moved off-display or have been well-hidden. The changes represent a visitor’s perspective of the on display collection.
Additions:
*Red-browed Finches (Neochmia temporalis) have been added into the Rainforest Aviary. There are now three species of finches in this particular aviary. Chestnut-breasted Mannikins (Lonchura castaneothorax) were also sighted recently for the first time in this aviary but this does change its listing on the original species list as it was already included as a signed but not seen species. A closer look at the updated signage in the rainforest aviary also reveals that Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) is also signed but is a species that has yet to be seen at the zoo. It will be added as a recent publication corroborate its arrival. A pair of Red-collared Lorikeets (Trichoglossus rubritorquis) are also on-display in the rainforest aviary. This is not a completely new addition for the list as the species is used in the free flight bird show.
*a Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) is back on-display in its usual enclosure in the Crocoseum. It now lives in a mixed exhibit with two Burmese Pythons (Python bivittatus).
*a bachelor group of Dyeing Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates tinctorius) is now on-display in a renovated enclosure in the Reptile House [the former enclosure of the Black Tiger Snake].
Losses:
*Black Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus humpreysi) is no longer on-display due to the addition of the poison dart frogs in the reptile house. This doesn’t change the original species list as the species is still represented by an Eastern Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus scutatus) located in the neighbouring enclosure.
Changes/Developments:
*The previously unidentified species of turtle on Bindi’s Island has been identified as juvenile Saw-shelled Turtles (Myuchelys latisternum). They share the enclosure with other juvenile native turtles – Kreft’s Turtle and Brisbane River Turtle. All three types are displayed in the main turtle enclosure as well, along with Broad-shelled River Turtle.
*The echidna enclosure near the otters at the front of the zoo is currently empty. The species is still on-display elsewhere within the zoo.
Updated Species List (accurate as of 23rd December 2020)
By my count, there are approximately 81 exhibits with 98 species seen which is an increase of four species. Please note this does not include the species that are currently off-display or the species that are used as educational animals (which cannot be used currently due to COVID). If we break this down further, we get the following results:
*21 species of mammal (10 exotic species; 11 native species)
Exotics: Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Southern White Rhinoceros, Ring-tailed Lemur, Binturong, Asian Small-clawed Otter, Meerkat, Red Panda, Tiger, Cheetah,
Natives: Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmanian Devil, Koala, Common Wombat, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Dingo
*35 species of bird (4 exotic species; 31 native species)
Exotics: Helmeted Guineafowl, Scarlet Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Green-winged Macaw
Natives: Emu, Southern Cassowary, Magpie Goose, Radjah Shelduck, Glossy Ibis, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Bush Stone Curlew, Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Wonga Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Galah, Eclectus Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-collared Lorikeet, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Sacred Kingfisher, Noisy Pitta (signed but not seen), Regent Honeyeater, Superb Fairywren, Gouldian Finch, Red-browed Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
*38 species of reptile (14 exotic species; 24 native species)
Exotics: American Alligator, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Indian Star Tortoise, Rhinoceros Iguana, Fijian Crested Iguana, Veiled Chameleon, Gila Monster, Komodo Dragon, Burmese Python, Reticulated Python, Boa Constrictor, Corn Snake, King Cobra, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Natives: Saltwater Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile, Krefft's Turtle, Mary River Turtle, Broad-shelled River Turtle, Saw-shelled Turtle, Merten's Water Monitor, Cunningham's Skink, Eastern Water Dragon, Eastern Bearded Dragon (signed but not seen), Eastern Bluetongue, Shingleback, Land Mullet, Black-headed Python, Woma Python, Australian Scrub Python, Green Tree Python, Western Brown Snake, King Brown Snake, Tiger Snake, Eastern Brown Snake, Common Death Adder, Taipan, Inland Taipan
*2 species of amphibian (1 exotic species; 1 native species)
Exotics: Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Natives: White-lipped Tree Frog
* 2 species of fish (2 native species)
Natives: Crimson-spotted Rainbowfish, Purple-spotted Gudgeon
Exotics: Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Southern White Rhinoceros, Ring-tailed Lemur, Binturong, Asian Small-clawed Otter, Meerkat, Red Panda, Tiger, Cheetah,
Natives: Short-beaked Echidna, Tasmanian Devil, Koala, Common Wombat, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Dingo
*35 species of bird (4 exotic species; 31 native species)
Exotics: Helmeted Guineafowl, Scarlet Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Green-winged Macaw
Natives: Emu, Southern Cassowary, Magpie Goose, Radjah Shelduck, Glossy Ibis, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Bush Stone Curlew, Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Pacific Emerald Dove, Wonga Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Galah, Eclectus Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-collared Lorikeet, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Sacred Kingfisher, Noisy Pitta (signed but not seen), Regent Honeyeater, Superb Fairywren, Gouldian Finch, Red-browed Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
*38 species of reptile (14 exotic species; 24 native species)
Exotics: American Alligator, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Indian Star Tortoise, Rhinoceros Iguana, Fijian Crested Iguana, Veiled Chameleon, Gila Monster, Komodo Dragon, Burmese Python, Reticulated Python, Boa Constrictor, Corn Snake, King Cobra, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
Natives: Saltwater Crocodile, Freshwater Crocodile, Krefft's Turtle, Mary River Turtle, Broad-shelled River Turtle, Saw-shelled Turtle, Merten's Water Monitor, Cunningham's Skink, Eastern Water Dragon, Eastern Bearded Dragon (signed but not seen), Eastern Bluetongue, Shingleback, Land Mullet, Black-headed Python, Woma Python, Australian Scrub Python, Green Tree Python, Western Brown Snake, King Brown Snake, Tiger Snake, Eastern Brown Snake, Common Death Adder, Taipan, Inland Taipan
*2 species of amphibian (1 exotic species; 1 native species)
Exotics: Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Natives: White-lipped Tree Frog
* 2 species of fish (2 native species)
Natives: Crimson-spotted Rainbowfish, Purple-spotted Gudgeon
Very good article; well done.
@WhistlingKite24 I am surprised that they have not added a few more reptile/Frog exhibits within the reptile house as its quite a large building, The middle area has lots of open space that could be used. 
At almost 20 species, I think the reptile house is currently looking very good compared to past years. A few years ago it exclusively housed native snakes in rather tired-looking exhibits (some of which were too small for their occupants I thought) but the addition of the exotic reptiles and frogs has really boosted the overall collection. Gila monsters, chameleons, rattlesnakes, corn snakes, crested iguanas, star tortoises, two species of frogs and a king cobra have all been added to this display space in the past five years or so. If only their exotic mammal collection would grow as rapidly....@WhistlingKite24 I am surprised that they have not added a few more reptile/Frog exhibits within the reptile house as its quite a large building, The middle area has lots of open space that could be used.
In this saying this, they could certainly add onto to this original reptile house as there is empty space within the display area of the building (as you mention) and also along the walls near the wombats which could certainly accommodate more terrariums - perhaps a dedicated amphibian/small lizard space.
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I have not been there for a while not at least since they have had the exotic reptiles included. I recall the centre line of the building was just a large open space which could as you say accommodate quite a few terrariums. I also agree in regards to liking to see their exotic mammal collection grow more perhaps young Bob will expand the collection when a little older!
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I recently found out that Australia Zoo did keep Platypus for a few years in relatively recent times. Two males arrived from Taronga circa 2006 and were named Adam and Ted. By 2007, they also had a male called Trey and by 2008, only Ted was mentioned. Not sure sure what became of their last one nor the large off-display platypus holding spaces which could hold multiple males. The plan in 2006 was to build a mixed exhibit with both echidnas and platypus. This quickly changed as the zoo's existing echidna exhibit opened in November 2006 without the platypus.
Source: Australia Zoo Animal Diaries 2004-2008
When one considers the huge amount of overseas visitors that go there one would believe show casing Platypus would have been a priority long ago