Australia Zoo Australia zoo
- Thread starter MARK
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well the zoo has just lost its biggest attraction so we will have to wait and see bout that...
I deliberately went to visit Australia Zoo on a day when Steve WASNT there , and I am sure that many other people who want to see the animals rather than the shows also would do likewise .
I figured that the fewer people at the zoo the day I visited would mean the longer time I could have a close encounter with a python .
I wouldnt knock Australia Zoo as a zoo -- so far so good -- but it has a heck of a long way to go before it gets into the big time league of the worlds greatest zoos , however you may want to classify them .
At the moment , I would say that Bronx , San Diego , Singapore , Sydney , Melbourne and even Auckland zoos are "better zoos"
But that is my own opinion and open to conjecture . How does one define a great zoo ?
Having said that , I can certainly see that there is a great potential , and they have the land and the $$$ and everybody in Australia and NZ ( and possibly further afield ) has heard of Steve Irwin . It is certainly very feasible that Australia Zoo can become a world great .
But that is in the future .
I certainly wish them all the best with their future goals and dreams .
I figured that the fewer people at the zoo the day I visited would mean the longer time I could have a close encounter with a python .
I wouldnt knock Australia Zoo as a zoo -- so far so good -- but it has a heck of a long way to go before it gets into the big time league of the worlds greatest zoos , however you may want to classify them .
At the moment , I would say that Bronx , San Diego , Singapore , Sydney , Melbourne and even Auckland zoos are "better zoos"
But that is my own opinion and open to conjecture . How does one define a great zoo ?
Having said that , I can certainly see that there is a great potential , and they have the land and the $$$ and everybody in Australia and NZ ( and possibly further afield ) has heard of Steve Irwin . It is certainly very feasible that Australia Zoo can become a world great .
But that is in the future .
I certainly wish them all the best with their future goals and dreams .
can i just disagree on a point too? as i do...i would guess, conservatively,that Australia Zoo is run along commercial lines more than any of the other major zoos in Australia, as they are all subsidised by their respective governments. in this day of economic rationalisation, govts want zoos to apy for themselves, hence the increasingly corporate operational structure and mechanisms, but Australia Zoo is a private zoo, independent of ongoing funding...go figure
I am sure that you would be right with that one , Glyn .
I only hope that the zoo will not get bogged down by the tragic death of Steve and try to continually promote HIM , but can promote wildlife issues more and more .
Auckland Zoo tries to use the major sponsors to the best of its benefit
I agree that Government agencies etc are trying to pay for themselves -- I dont like it , but what can we do ?
I only hope that the zoo will not get bogged down by the tragic death of Steve and try to continually promote HIM , but can promote wildlife issues more and more .
Auckland Zoo tries to use the major sponsors to the best of its benefit
I agree that Government agencies etc are trying to pay for themselves -- I dont like it , but what can we do ?
i have no idea what will happen to australia zoo to be honest. despite the fact that they have money they have still lost their number one most marketable asset. no sooner was steve dead than the rest of the extended irwin brigade was being heavily promoted - terri, bindi and wes, even steves dad reappeared on the scene.
but i don't think people will maintain that same facination for the irwins long term..
however, i think we'll find australia zoo remains a viable business - even if it does become increasingly more of a zoo and less of a irwin theme park.
because you can't have a theme park without a theme...
but i don't think people will maintain that same facination for the irwins long term..
however, i think we'll find australia zoo remains a viable business - even if it does become increasingly more of a zoo and less of a irwin theme park.
because you can't have a theme park without a theme...
If I am correct in understanding that Steve was not at the park THAT often in the latter part of his life , getting close and personal with salties , etc ...... then alot of people who visited the park with the sole purpose of seeing him would have been disappointed ( unless they made sure that he was going to be there when they would be )
When I went there , nobody was hunting for Steve Irwin . They were more interested in seeing the animals . If Steve happened to be there , that was a bonus . But I wonder if HE was the main attraction -- so what if his mugshot was everywhere ? Nobody appeared to be disappointed that he didnt turn up -- and I was glad that he didnt ( it would have attracted some crowds for the wrong purpose )
Although I did not care for his personal style and personality , I think he has done more for wildlife awareness than any other Australian have . ( I could be wrong there -- but I dont of any other more famous Australian wildlife advocate )
That is Australia Zoos strongest asset . Wildlife awareness .
There was only one Steve Irwin , and he has passed away .
Nobody in his family has the same charisma as he had .
If they try to copy that , they will fail
A zoo should be "animals first"
Lets hope that they concentrate on that as their main priority .
When I went there , nobody was hunting for Steve Irwin . They were more interested in seeing the animals . If Steve happened to be there , that was a bonus . But I wonder if HE was the main attraction -- so what if his mugshot was everywhere ? Nobody appeared to be disappointed that he didnt turn up -- and I was glad that he didnt ( it would have attracted some crowds for the wrong purpose )
Although I did not care for his personal style and personality , I think he has done more for wildlife awareness than any other Australian have . ( I could be wrong there -- but I dont of any other more famous Australian wildlife advocate )
That is Australia Zoos strongest asset . Wildlife awareness .
There was only one Steve Irwin , and he has passed away .
Nobody in his family has the same charisma as he had .
If they try to copy that , they will fail
A zoo should be "animals first"
Lets hope that they concentrate on that as their main priority .
hey nigel,
i think the fact that steve wasn't at the park irrelevent in a way.
people wanted to see steve irwins zoo becuse they watched the crocodile hunter tv shows. didn't matter that much taht he wasn't there, they would catch him later on the TV..
re-runs won't keep the steve irwin hype around forever. at a guess, i think the simple fact that people know he's dead is enough to turn many tourists off going to the zoo.
but brisbane doesn't no longer has a proper statutory zoo and australia zoo has been embraced as big queensland zoo.
i think thats what will keep it alive. not so much the steve irwin thing. though his name will always be synonymous with the zoo.
i don't really know though!
i think the fact that steve wasn't at the park irrelevent in a way.
people wanted to see steve irwins zoo becuse they watched the crocodile hunter tv shows. didn't matter that much taht he wasn't there, they would catch him later on the TV..
re-runs won't keep the steve irwin hype around forever. at a guess, i think the simple fact that people know he's dead is enough to turn many tourists off going to the zoo.
but brisbane doesn't no longer has a proper statutory zoo and australia zoo has been embraced as big queensland zoo.
i think thats what will keep it alive. not so much the steve irwin thing. though his name will always be synonymous with the zoo.
i don't really know though!
MARK
Well-Known Member
Pat I think you are right on the money here, as most people know we here in Queensland have never had a real major zoo, I think the location is good with lots of room to expand, I feel the more top exhibits they have the more the public will want to keep coming back plus the many people frm overseas that pass through the region.
MARK
Well-Known Member
With all the new exhibits that are planned for the zoo over the next few years such as the new Safari, Gorillas, Orangs, Managaser Islands, Alligator river and more should keep many people coming back, we could of done with a zoo in the Brisbane region years ago so I hope now we can make up for lossed time with the Deleopment of Australia zoo, It was stated in the papers the other day the staff numbers will go from 550 now to 1000 in the next five years and by 2015 to 2000, by the sounds of it they have big plans.
Giraffe headed to Australia Zoo from Perth:
Mapenzi off to a new life in Queensland : thewest.com.au
Mapenzi off to a new life in Queensland : thewest.com.au
It's been two years since this post was written and not one of these exhibits has been completed. The 'Madagascar Islands' is not due for completion until late 2009-early 2010 and i don't know what's going on with the 'African Safari'. The transfer of the giraffe from Perth Zoo is a good sign that there is progress being made, but when are the rhinos, cheetahs, tamarins, lemurs and now giraffe, going to come on to display?
It's been two years since this post was written and not one of these exhibits has been completed. The 'Madagascar Islands' is not due for completion until late 2009-early 2010 and i don't know what's going on with the 'African Safari'. The transfer of the giraffe from Perth Zoo is a good sign that there is progress being made, but when are the rhinos, cheetahs, tamarins, lemurs and now giraffe, going to come on to display?
At the rate that they are going there may not be any rhino.
Note that Mapenzi is a purbred Rothschilds female, a rare commodity here. Unfortunately all the pureblood male Rothschilds are very closely related to her. Australia Zoo has, or will have soon a male half breed Rothschilds. So their calves will be three quaters Rothschilds. Also unfortunately the pair are related, something that can't really be avoided.
That's the one I wa stalking about. His father is a Rothschilds born at Orana.