headkeeper
Member
So has anyone been yet? what do we think? Does it rival other free range parks? tell us all about it: pros and cons etc.
Australia Zoo Australia Zoo's Africa
- Thread starter headkeeper
- Start date
It's not really "free range" as such - it's just a very large enclosure with Southern White Rhino, Giraffe, and Zebra in together, plus another separate enclosure for Cheetah.
I haven't visited it yet - only seen what's on their website.
I haven't visited it yet - only seen what's on their website.
Animal man
Hi guys, visited the new Africa display yesterday. As a regular visitor and fan of Australia Zoo I was disappointed! It seems they rushed to get it open for the holidays, it just seemed unfinished and not up to the zoo s usual standard! Beautiful Rhino baby and lovely giraffes and zebras. But just one large open enclosure no interaction and cheetahs walked in separate area. Take your binoculars if you want to see animals up close.(if they fit some I m sure Terri will make them coin operated $2 for sure!)
Does nt link up with rest of the zoo and flows badly with Madagascar island looking a long way from finished! I truly hope they stop trying to make money and get back to providing an animal experience that Steve did with such ease and value!!! Such a shame it just seems to be money driven and less educational than ever? The food is the worst I ve ever had and extremely expensive! Management have lost direction without the Croc Hunter s vision.
Hi guys, visited the new Africa display yesterday. As a regular visitor and fan of Australia Zoo I was disappointed! It seems they rushed to get it open for the holidays, it just seemed unfinished and not up to the zoo s usual standard! Beautiful Rhino baby and lovely giraffes and zebras. But just one large open enclosure no interaction and cheetahs walked in separate area. Take your binoculars if you want to see animals up close.(if they fit some I m sure Terri will make them coin operated $2 for sure!)
Does nt link up with rest of the zoo and flows badly with Madagascar island looking a long way from finished! I truly hope they stop trying to make money and get back to providing an animal experience that Steve did with such ease and value!!! Such a shame it just seems to be money driven and less educational than ever? The food is the worst I ve ever had and extremely expensive! Management have lost direction without the Croc Hunter s vision.
Oh, I didn't know that. So that means after these females arrive Australia Zoo will have 1.4.
Thanks Kelvin, that's the info I was after.
Any chance of lions
MountainBongo
Well-Known Member
This has to be one of the most disappointing African exhibits in a zoos history. No primates, antelope, birds (land or free flight); only 4 very mainstream animals. Very, very geared towards getting money and not towards education. No cool, new animals that the average visitor wouldn't have seen before. Can they at least put an impala or crowned crane in the exhibit?
I assume you don't know the constraints that Australian zoos work within.
Impala or crowned cranes wouldn't be "at least" species here. They would be hop-on-a-plane-go-see-'em species.
I'm no fan of Australia Zoo but to add to and clarify CGSwans' comments, there are no cranes, hornbills, storks (other than brolga and black-necked stork) and only one flamingo in Australia. Basically leaves you with guinea fowl. Exotic birds cannot be imported into Australia due to strict biosecurity regulations. For the same reason, there are very few antelope species available to Australian zoos - and from savannah areas basically only eland and waterbuck.
You have a point with primates though.
following on from the last two comments, for birds as well as the domestic guineafowl noted by Shirokuma you could add Egyptian geese and ostrich (the last one should be an obvious inclusion for them to make, one would think). There are a lot of African waxbills, weavers and small parrots available but I can't imagine Australia Zoo being interested in including aviaries for such birds.
For mammals there are few other "large animal" options although common hippo would be nice in a separate enclosure. For large animals which could be mixed with the current hooved stock you've really only got eland and waterbuck. (Addax and scimitar-horned oryx are in substantial numbers in Australia but wouldn't fit the savannah theme, although I doubt that would concern Australia Zoo).
Other African mammals which could be available for them would be lion (seems obvious), and some primates (basically Hamadryas baboons and chimps, maybe colobus).
All in all, for an Australian zoo creating an African savannah exhibit rhino, giraffe, zebra and cheetah is a good set. It is really just missing lions, with an antelope and ostrich to round it out.
For mammals there are few other "large animal" options although common hippo would be nice in a separate enclosure. For large animals which could be mixed with the current hooved stock you've really only got eland and waterbuck. (Addax and scimitar-horned oryx are in substantial numbers in Australia but wouldn't fit the savannah theme, although I doubt that would concern Australia Zoo).
Other African mammals which could be available for them would be lion (seems obvious), and some primates (basically Hamadryas baboons and chimps, maybe colobus).
All in all, for an Australian zoo creating an African savannah exhibit rhino, giraffe, zebra and cheetah is a good set. It is really just missing lions, with an antelope and ostrich to round it out.