Darling Downs Zoo Darling Downs Zoo News 2023
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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I believe @MRJ was as much saying that the public forum isn’t the place to discuss this/speculate. A price isn’t listed online for the zoo and therefore this information isn’t publicly available.
It’s ultimately a matter that concerns the owner of Darling Downs Zoo and those in a position to make an offer; so for now, this information is available on a need to know basis.
Darling Downs Zoo (Latest news update)
Its been some months since my last visit to the DDZ since I took time off from everything but am please to report the following.
Three imported Black and White Lemurs are currently in quarantine. They will be mixed and matched with DDZ's existing Ruffed's Lemurs and then shared through the ZAA program with another regional zoo.
One new Zebra filly foal and another mare is very heavily pregnant.
Two Sri Lankan Leopard cubs have been born are now over one month old and still off show at this time.
Lots of new babies for the Pygmy Marmosets, Red-Handed Marmosets and Cotton- Top Tamarins.
The Maned Wolves had bred again this year but unfortunately the pups did not survive.
The new Tortoise complex, is complete with air-conditioned rooms along with a truly huge outdoor paddock now being used for the zoos rather large Tortoise herd. One half of the complex is being used at the moment as temporarily house Balu the zoos rapidly growing Komodo Dragon until the new Komodo Kingdom is built. Fund raising for this is continuing. I must say I was caught a little off guard by the size increase of Balu since my last visit, He is truly huge, I expected some size increase but not to to this extent, Impressive!.
The outside low metal mesh fence was impressive and considering the total length of it would have been rather expensive. Some small Madagascan palms have been planted within the exhibit yards with metal tree guards.
The new young Komodo Dragon from the Australian reptile park is now living in Balu's former enclosure.
Renovations going on in the Tropical Reptile House to provide a new room for the zoos Yellow Anacondas and a new room for a "new" species.
The former home for the zoo's Aldabra tortoises and Rhino Iguanas is being modified with a glass wall down the centre of the exhibit so the zoo can house Rhino Iguanas one side and Green Iguanas on the other side.
Another completed new paddock area is still empty with the zoo waiting on government approval to use them for the Addax and other exotic ungulates.
Management confirmed that the DDZ is committed to importing Addax and several Bongo through the new Bovid IRA but said it was a slow process.
From the time I spent there on the day things seem to moving along at the same pace as normal there if not faster, part from the larger projects one can see lots of small refinements and improvements through out the zoo, there always something new to see.
Looking forward to visiting again soon.
Its been some months since my last visit to the DDZ since I took time off from everything but am please to report the following.
Three imported Black and White Lemurs are currently in quarantine. They will be mixed and matched with DDZ's existing Ruffed's Lemurs and then shared through the ZAA program with another regional zoo.
One new Zebra filly foal and another mare is very heavily pregnant.
Two Sri Lankan Leopard cubs have been born are now over one month old and still off show at this time.
Lots of new babies for the Pygmy Marmosets, Red-Handed Marmosets and Cotton- Top Tamarins.
The Maned Wolves had bred again this year but unfortunately the pups did not survive.
The new Tortoise complex, is complete with air-conditioned rooms along with a truly huge outdoor paddock now being used for the zoos rather large Tortoise herd. One half of the complex is being used at the moment as temporarily house Balu the zoos rapidly growing Komodo Dragon until the new Komodo Kingdom is built. Fund raising for this is continuing. I must say I was caught a little off guard by the size increase of Balu since my last visit, He is truly huge, I expected some size increase but not to to this extent, Impressive!.
The outside low metal mesh fence was impressive and considering the total length of it would have been rather expensive. Some small Madagascan palms have been planted within the exhibit yards with metal tree guards.
The new young Komodo Dragon from the Australian reptile park is now living in Balu's former enclosure.
Renovations going on in the Tropical Reptile House to provide a new room for the zoos Yellow Anacondas and a new room for a "new" species.
The former home for the zoo's Aldabra tortoises and Rhino Iguanas is being modified with a glass wall down the centre of the exhibit so the zoo can house Rhino Iguanas one side and Green Iguanas on the other side.
Another completed new paddock area is still empty with the zoo waiting on government approval to use them for the Addax and other exotic ungulates.
Management confirmed that the DDZ is committed to importing Addax and several Bongo through the new Bovid IRA but said it was a slow process.
From the time I spent there on the day things seem to moving along at the same pace as normal there if not faster, part from the larger projects one can see lots of small refinements and improvements through out the zoo, there always something new to see.
Looking forward to visiting again soon.
Thanks for the update.
That’s exciting news about the leopard cubs and the intention to import bongo in the future. Many zoos have struggled to build up sustainable herds due to holding small numbers and experiencing a succession of male births. Hopefully DDZ can secure at least 1.2 bongo in the initial import to give them the best possible chance of establishing a successful herd.
In the meantime, it’s good to hear the Grant’s zebra herd continues to thrive.
Agents get lots of tyre-kickers. It is part of the job.
I seem to recall about 11 Zebra I believe it was planned to have 2 herds there, they certainly have the room. The zoo has up graded all the zoo animals signs through out to a high standard they look quite nice.
One of the highlights I do look forward to when I get there is the amount and variety of wild birds seen around the zoo from lots of tiny finches and Wrens to cheeky Red Rumpled Parrots sealing food. Also the local Eagles cruising above the park, as can be seen in @WhistlingKite24 many wonderful photos.
Darling Downs Zoo should be proud of their success in breeding Grant’s zebra. It was exciting to hear of what has essentially been their return to the region, considering the region’s reproductive population would otherwise stand at a single mare housed at Hamilton Zoo.
I hope the second breeding herd at DDZ proves as successful as the first; and the small herd at ZooDoo transfers their colts to other facilities to found purebred herds at their zoos over time (fillies would ideally follow, as and when available).
It would help the population if even the odd one here and there was imported in Aust & NZ
That’s very true. Auckland Zoo’s import of a stallion in 1959 and a pregnant mare in 1963; followed by the import of two fillies in 1980 generated a thriving regional population that was sustainable for decades, only dying out in recent years due to hybridisation with generic stock.
A quick news update: Three Black and White Ruffed Lemurs imported from the UK have cleared their quarantine today.
They will be mixed and matched with the Lemurs currently at DDZ and an unrelated pair will be sent to a southern zoo and an unrelated trio will be kept back at DDZ. This is designed to kick start a breeding program at both zoos.
They will be mixed and matched with the Lemurs currently at DDZ and an unrelated pair will be sent to a southern zoo and an unrelated trio will be kept back at DDZ. This is designed to kick start a breeding program at both zoos.
That’s great news. There’s not been a huge number of black and white ruffed lemur births regionally and I had wondered if they were gradually being phased out ahead of the red ruffed imports. Good to know both species have a future in the region, especially with them being critically endangered.
I believe there's enough room and interest for both in the region I don't know why one would have to be sacrificed for the other!
Theoretically yes, but female ruffed lemurs are fiercely territorial; so unlike ring-tailed lemurs, they can’t be held in large groups. That straight away limits the number of placements; and since red ruffed and black and white ruffed can hybridise, I imagine most zoos will be holding one or the other.
Regionally speaking, I’ve come to expect a minimalist approach to the number of species, due in part to the small number of facilities. The ZAA manages one subspecies of tiger, one species of elephant, one species of bear, one species of tapir and one species of otter.
Since they are small animals its real easy to have an enclosure for each one without breaking the bank and considering the amount of zoos we now have in the region these days not much of a problem!
Is there plans to import red ruffed lemurs?
Regionally, yes there are.
Red ruffed lemurs were added to the live import list for Australia in November 2022. This followed an application that outlined plans to import two pairs initially, with the potential for further imports down the line.
Links to relevant documents are here:
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/comment/import-red-ruffed-lemur-2021
List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import Amendment (red ruffed lemur) Instrument 2022
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
What zoos have expressed interest in holding them?
I’m not aware of any Australian zoos that have publicly expressed an interest, but I note a number of the small zoos have demonstrated initiative in recent years e.g. the recent De Brazza’s import. With this in mind, it wouldn’t surprise me to see two or three of them collaborate.
Within New Zealand, Auckland Zoo has previously applied to import red ruffed lemur, De Brazza’s monkeys and white-faced saki.
https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP203982/APP203982-Application.pdf
Another Zebra foal was born last night at the DDZ and is a Filly.
Mother and foal are doing well.
That’s great news, especially combined with filly you mentioned being born at Darling Downs Zoo last month. Three Grant’s zebra mares have bred at Darling Downs Zoo in recent years, with the birth intervals suggesting Zavannah and Angel gave birth to the recent fillies (September 2023 and October 2023).
Zara gave birth in December 2022, so I’ll watch with interest to see if she gives birth again around January 2024.
Congratulations to Darling Downs Zoo!