The Kroombit Tinkerfrogs are now reaching the second generation with a Currumbin-bred frog producing a clutch of eggs: Log in to Facebook | Facebook
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary News
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary have opened the first stage of its government-funded, multimillion-dollar Outback Springs - a new area that used to be an empty space in kangaroo country. Whilst including a range of farm animals mainly including rabbits, there are a range of new exhibits for wildlife - Perentie (haven't seen one at Currumbin in a long time), death adder, unspecified species of skink and a range of invertebrates - stick insects, leaf insects, giant mantis, scorpions, redback spiders, Christmas spiders, Australian tarantulas and St Andrew's Cross spiders: Outback Springs | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
I visited Currumbin today and was taken aback by all the changes that are taking place here. I ran out of time as I spent a lot of time exploring the new areas and exhibits – really impressed with everything:
- the new precinct ‘Outback Springs’ has opened within the kangaroo walkthrough and the whole area looks unrecognisable. There is the desert-themed area in the middle with new exhibits for Perentie and a mix of Cunningham’s Skink and Goldfield’s Shingleback. In the barn, there are the domestics - Flemish Giant and Dwarf Lop rabbits, guinea pigs, Nigerian Dwarf Goats and chickens. The invertebrates – mainly stick insects and spiders – will arrive next week and there are eight walled tanks with some furnishings already in place. The entire kangaroo/emu walkthrough has received a lot of landscaping work. Stage two which involves an incredibly large homestead venue for better dining options will open next year. Builders were installing the roof today. Photos are in the gallery.
- a new wetland aviary has been opened next to the crocodiles – a nice roomy exhibit with the colony of Grey-headed Flying-Foxes mixed with their Black-necked Stork.
- a new walkthrough enclosure has opened opposite this new bat aviary for the Brush-tailed Rock-Wallabies, Red-legged Pademelons and unseen Swamp Wallabies. A ramp system allows visitors to get excellent views of the rock-wallabies.
- a second new walkthrough enclosure opened near the dingoes for Swamp Wallabies and Cape Barren Geese in a bushland setting.
- the walkthrough enclosure for the Tammar Wallabies was closed.
- a new enclosure for Tasmanian Devils has been opened near the dingoes. This might have been around during my last visit but I only noticed it today.
- Sacred Kingfishers were not in the Forest Fringe Aviary and are no longer signed – there is still a pair of kingfishers in the entrance aviary.
- Brown Cuckoo-Dove and unseen Buff-banded Rail are now in the Land of the Parrots Aviary.
- Male Eclectus Parrots have been moved into the Lost Valley Aviary. The unusually-coloured Buff-banded Rail now has a fully white plumage instead of patches of white.
- a Green Tree Python is now in one of the terrariums opposite the Capybaras.
- at least two Australian Golden Whistlers are on-display in the conservation aviaries with the Hooded Robin, Little Lorikeets and nesting Black-throated Finches.
- both pairs of Wompoo Fruit-Doves were attending to patchy nests. Both Chiming Wedgebills were matching each other’s incredible calls in volume but differing pitches.
- Mary River Turtle, Pied Stilt and Brush Bronzewing are now in the Forest Fringe Aviary. The stilts haven’t been in this aviary for a few years now.
- there are now two exhibits for Spinifex Hopping-Mice replacing the former exhibit for the Woma/Black-headed Python. Greater Gliders are still there as well but Northern Brown Bandicoot is no longer signed.
- a Northern Death Adder and a colony of Green-and-Golden Bell Frogs are now on-display in Repturnal Den.
Diego, the park's Green Iguana has died at the age of 17. He had been at Currumbin for over a decade and lived in the first open-air exhibit in Lost Valley. No word on a replacement yet - reported on social media.
It has been announced that $15 million dollars of government funding has been secured to build the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Research and Training Precinct. It will provide laboratories, interactive interpretative centres for visitors and training spaces for university/TAFE students. The campus that will be at the zoo will be completed by 2026: Nurturing nature’s guardians at Currumbin Hospital Research and Training Precinct
Ori, a new female Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo has arrived from Healesville Sanctuary. The young female has already been introduced to male Torembi (born at Taronga) and are on-display together.
Fingers crossed they breed well together!.
Green Catbird is now in the large Lost Valley Aviary. I'm unsure if it's the individual that lived in the entrance aviary. It will be great to hear a catbird's iconic rainforest calls in the enormous space - shown in a video on social media.
It wasn't signed in the entrance aviary when I visited the other week so that would make sense.
Eight captive-bred Eastern Bristlebirds have been released in the Borders Ranges in New South Wales. A total of 23 bristlebirds have now been released in the past year.
The article provides an interesting overview of the historical captive population of Eastern Bristlebirds. Two chicks were collected in 2004 for David Fleay Wildlife Park and they started the program that was inherited by Currumbin in 2014. Currumbin received five birds from David Fleay WIldlife Park which were all inbred siblings from the initial two chicks collected with wild birds then collected from Central NSW to boost genetics: Bringing back the eastern bristlebird
The article provides an interesting overview of the historical captive population of Eastern Bristlebirds. Two chicks were collected in 2004 for David Fleay Wildlife Park and they started the program that was inherited by Currumbin in 2014. Currumbin received five birds from David Fleay WIldlife Park which were all inbred siblings from the initial two chicks collected with wild birds then collected from Central NSW to boost genetics: Bringing back the eastern bristlebird
Golden-shouldered Parrot has been added to the Conservation Aviaries at Currumbin. Hopefully more Queensland zoos add this endangered species which is endemic to our state - reported on social media.
Double-barred Finches have also arrived at Currumbin joining their Gouldian Finches, Black-throated Finches, Star Finches and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins - confirmed with a FB photography page.
A Short-beaked Echidna puggle hatched 12 months ago at Currumbin - reported on social media.
A few updates from Currumbin today. Overwhelming positive developments:
- Pacific Emerald Dove have been added to both Forest Fringe and Alex Griffiths aviary. Both pairs are nesting currently. Green Catbird was back in the entrance aviary.
- the pair of Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves in the Forest Fringe Aviary were nest building.
- White-lipped Tree-Frog have replaced Magnificent Tree-Frogs and Red-bellied Black-Snake has replaced Spotted Black Snake in the Repturnal Den.
- a pair of little Eastern Spinebills (new species) have been added to the Conservation Aviaries with the last Hooded Robin still hanging on, Little Lorikeets, Black-throated Finches and a new juvenile Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove. The spinebills were fantastic to watch with their hummingbird-like movements.
- Apostlebirds (new species) have been added to the Land of Parrots Aviary, being the perfect large-bodied passerine with the parrots. They have already bred in the aviary and the adults were taking turns on the mud nest.
- the new Golden-shouldered Parrot is in the last aviary in the Conservation Aviaries and the new very large flock of Double-barred Finches with the Orange-bellied Parrots were other new species (but already reported) since my last visit.
- the Golden Whistlers have moved in with the Wompoo Fruit-Doves in the Conservation Aviaries. Haven’t seen the fig-parrots in a few years now.
- Radiated Tortoises have moved on-display for the first time as well near the wildlife hospital, having free-range of the grass around the aviary-style enclosure for the alligator. The space seems temporary and they are mainly keeping the grass down with an off-display enclosure they have access to behind the lawn.
- no cassowary nor iguana in the front portion of Lost Valley currently made the area feel sparse.
- Australian King Parrots have been added to the Lost Valley Aviary.
- a Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby joey has emerged since my last visit and is venturing further away from the adults.
- Currumbin have bred Green Tree Pythons off-show with a pair on-loan from David Fleay Wildlife Park. Two pythons were successfully hatched and reared from last season. They continue breeding for the region and work towards refining their husbandry to improve the hatchling mortality rate.
- three Llamas and a flock of striking Silver-spangled Hamburg chickens have been added to the six Nigerian Dwarf Goats in Outback Springs. The goats are a relatively new breed to Australia, being imported in the 2010s initially, so where interesting to see despite being a domestic. They’d fit in with the many ‘African villages’ popping up at zoos.
- Giant Rainforest Mantis and Australian Tarantula have been added to the invert wall at Outback Springs.
- two Tasmanian Devils have recently arrived from Monarto and are in a revamped exhibit opposite the tinker frog nursery.
- all four of Currumbin’s male Ring-tailed Lemurs [2.0 Andro and Vintana from Perth arriving in 2017 and 2.0 Katta and Sunni from Dubbo arriving in 2018] have been mixed successfully in the Lost Valley Aviary after many years of social breakdown. Up until recently, they were displayed in alternating sibling pair but they were successfully reintroduced. If they remain cohesive, they hope to expand their lemur holdings.
Thank you for the update and wonderful photos! @WhistlingKite24
A few updates from Currumbin today. Overwhelming positive developments:
- Pacific Emerald Dove have been added to both Forest Fringe and Alex Griffiths aviary. Both pairs are nesting currently. Green Catbird was back in the entrance aviary.
- the pair of Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves in the Forest Fringe Aviary were nest building.
- White-lipped Tree-Frog have replaced Magnificent Tree-Frogs and Red-bellied Black-Snake has replaced Spotted Black Snake in the Repturnal Den.
- a pair of little Eastern Spinebills (new species) have been added to the Conservation Aviaries with the last Hooded Robin still hanging on, Little Lorikeets, Black-throated Finches and a new juvenile Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove. The spinebills were fantastic to watch with their hummingbird-like movements.
- Apostlebirds (new species) have been added to the Land of Parrots Aviary, being the perfect large-bodied passerine with the parrots. They have already bred in the aviary and the adults were taking turns on the mud nest.
- the new Golden-shouldered Parrot is in the last aviary in the Conservation Aviaries and the new very large flock of Double-barred Finches with the Orange-bellied Parrots were other new species (but already reported) since my last visit.
- the Golden Whistlers have moved in with the Wompoo Fruit-Doves in the Conservation Aviaries. Haven’t seen the fig-parrots in a few years now.
- Radiated Tortoises have moved on-display for the first time as well near the wildlife hospital, having free-range of the grass around the aviary-style enclosure for the alligator. The space seems temporary and they are mainly keeping the grass down with an off-display enclosure they have access to behind the lawn.
- no cassowary nor iguana in the front portion of Lost Valley currently made the area feel sparse.
- Australian King Parrots have been added to the Lost Valley Aviary.
- a Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby joey has emerged since my last visit and is venturing further away from the adults.
- Currumbin have bred Green Tree Pythons off-show with a pair on-loan from David Fleay Wildlife Park. Two pythons were successfully hatched and reared from last season. They continue breeding for the region and work towards refining their husbandry to improve the hatchling mortality rate.
- three Llamas and a flock of striking Silver-spangled Hamburg chickens have been added to the six Nigerian Dwarf Goats in Outback Springs. The goats are a relatively new breed to Australia, being imported in the 2010s initially, so where interesting to see despite being a domestic. They’d fit in with the many ‘African villages’ popping up at zoos.
- Giant Rainforest Mantis and Australian Tarantula have been added to the invert wall at Outback Springs.
- two Tasmanian Devils have recently arrived from Monarto and are in a revamped exhibit opposite the tinker frog nursery.
Highlights:
- all four of Currumbin’s male Ring-tailed Lemurs [2.0 Andro and Vintana from Perth arriving in 2017 and 2.0 Katta and Sunni from Dubbo arriving in 2018] have been mixed successfully in the Lost Valley Aviary after many years of social breakdown. Up until recently, they were displayed in alternating sibling pair but they were successfully reintroduced. If they remain cohesive, they hope to expand their lemur holdings.
Nice update!
Interesting that they have double Barr finch in the conservation aviary. There are other readily available finches that are threatened unless they are the northern Aus ones.
I wonder with the lemurs, if the social issues would fix with the addition of male lemurs. It seems that many zoos typically keep ring tails without issue in a bachelor group. Or whether they need to bring in some females to sort the males out.
Nigerian dwarf goats are small and adorable. They would make great additions to zoos farm yard sections.
Currumbin have reacquired Veiled Chameleon - reported on social media.
Zeya, a female Red Panda has arrived at Currumbin from Taronga Zoo - reported on social media.
Currumbin have opened a brand-new enclosure for their five Radiated Tortoises. The complex is named "Tortoise Village" and has a feature Dragon Tree and lots of interpretive signage about these animals that came via Hong Kong through illegal wildlife trafficking - reported on their FB page.
I visited Currumbin today and had a good day there. School holiday crowds were immense throughout the day and it was packed. Some observations among some news from today:
- the new enclosure for the five Radiated Tortoises – ‘Tortoise Village’ - was exceptional. It fills a middle section of the zoo that had previously remained empty for many years with wild waterfowl and empty ponds and where the old frog breeding centre was. The tortoise village begins with a small trail with new signage about their journey from Madagascar to Hong Kong to Australia. The exhibit has an indoor hut-like section with an outdoor yard framed by a rocky barrier at the back overlooking the river. Lots of excellent flash signage and a running documentary about these trafficked animals in the corner of the display as well. The tortoises made good use of the enclosure, entering and exiting the indoor and outdoor spaces as the temperature rose throughout the day. Photos are attached here:
- a pair of Green Tree Pythons have moved in with the Boyd’s Forest Dragon and Frilled Dragon in Repturnal Den allowing a huge floor-to-ceiling space for these pythons. The Australian Scrub Python that used to live with them was not seen. The former tree python enclosure in Lost Valley has a very showy Veiled Chameleon (returning species).
- a Stimson’s Python has replaced the Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko in the nocturnal section.
- more changes in Repturnal Den - Magnificent Tree-Frog has replaced Green and Golden Bell Frog while the Spotted Black Snake is back on show where the Red-bellied Black Snake once was.
- Central Bearded Dragon has been added with the Cunningham’s Skink and Shingleback in the outdoor lizard enclosure in Outback Springs.
- observations from the Conservation Aviaries; the male Golden Whistler has coloured up beautifully; Double-eyed Fig-Parrots were seen after years of no-show, Double-barred Finches are building numbers, Little Lorikeets attended to a nest hollow, Musk Lorikeet remained unseen; and the Chiming Wedgebill pair and Golden-shouldered Parrot were not on show and are no longer signed. The old female Hooded Robin is still kicking; she must be getting up there in years as one of the last ones of her kind in an Australian zoo.
- there seemed to be more parrots in Land of the Parrots aviary; I counted seven Princess Parrots among the Superb Parrots. One of them pulled on my shoelaces, nibbled my sock and chewed on my hat for a good 20 minutes while I took photos. Not shy at all. Apostlebirds are breeding well here and added great dimension to the ground along with the Buff-banded Rails that were particularly bold today.
- Peppermint Stick-Insect (new species) is now on-show in the invert wall in Outback Springs. The Crowned Stick-Insects have their own exhibit away from the mixed stick insect display as well now.