Darling Downs Zoo Darling Downs Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Zorro
- Start date
Luck!
I hope you have a good visit! Would love to see some photos after.
If you also have the chance, it would be good to know how the zebra herd's doing and whether there's been any more foals born recently.
Enjoy your visit @Abbey
I’d appreciate confirmation that the zoo has the following 1.6 baboons on site for my Australasian population list:
1.0 Gyasi (2014) born at Sydney Zoo
0.1 Mandy (2014) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Cruella (2016) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selma (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Isla (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selene (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Angelica (2020) born at Darling Downs Zoo
You’ve picked a good time to visit with a number of infants and juveniles across several species - including one of only three lion cubs born in the region in 2024.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
How could he have been born at Sydney Zoo in 2014 if Sydney Zoo only opened in 2019?
It must be a typo ie. he came from Sydney Zoo and was apart of their initial troop imported from Singapore.
Yes, it’s a typo. Gyasi was born 2014 at Singapore Zoo; then came to Darling Downs Zoo from Sydney Zoo.
G'day Abbey.
We will look forward to your visit. When you have a day and time locked in would you let me know on the zoo's admin email address and I will make sure that you and your family are looked after.
At my age I don't usually make plans that far ahead (!) but if I am around I will catch up to answer any questions.
Bless you Steve, that is very kind of you. We are certainly looking forward to coming along to the zoo - it was our first choice for the only free day of our trip. All being well, we will be there on 25th April and I will be sure to send an email with timings and so forth once we get closer. I wish you and your family well.
@Abby
I was just looking at a video (just over an hour long) on Youtube taken at the DDZ 3 weeks ago and was amazed how large the Aldabra Giant Tortoises are now compared to when they arrived, Its the largest group in the country now living in the new Tortoise exhibit which in itself is very large!,Enjoy your visit!
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I visited Darling Downs Zoo today and noted the following:
- the Javan Binturongs were mating for the first half an hour the zoo was open. They moved from nestbox to nestbox and eventually settled on the grass out in the open. Hopefully kits come as a result.
- an aviary has been established for Asiatic parrots; an Indian Ringneck and a flock of Alexandrine Parakeets. It is located between the Ruddy Shelduck and Sumatran Tiger.
- a pair of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos are now on-display in the row of aviaries near the entrance. They are housed with surplus Red-tailed Black Cockatoo juveniles due to be moved out to other facilities, a Malleefowl and Bush Stone-Curlews.
- the Chestnut Rail has been added to the aviary with the pheasants and Pink Cockatoo nearby.
- the Golden Lion Tamarins don’t seem to be on-show currently. Also, the aviary (Budgerigars, Cockatiels, Crimson-winged Parrots) near the leopards was empty.
- a Ring-tailed Lemur and Bolivian Squirrel Monkey have been mixed together while they await pairings. They were very bonded and interacted positively with grooming and resting together.
- there seems to be a new young Red Deer. It was hanging around with the melanistic Fallow Deer.
- Caesar, their lion cub is growing up quickly with his mane starting to develop and is housed in the first lion enclosure currently closest to the lemurs. I also enjoyed seeing their young Guanaco/Llama cria, tiny Capybara pup and Plains Zebra foal.
- Indian Star Tortoise was housed with Radiated Tortoise outdoors next to the Rhinoceros Iguana. I don’t think I have ever seen a star tortoise housed outdoors in an open-topped enclosure. They looked great in the sunshine.
- Wildlife was excellent today. An Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard was in front of the Common Marmoset which sent the marmosets into alarm as the lizard tried to squeeze its head into the enclosure. I further counted 50+ Zebra Finches and about 20+ Double-barred Finches with a lot of breeding activity near the Cheetah with the finches collecting grass for nesting material. Cockatiels were a nice treat as well as they flew among the Red-rumped Parrots as well and Plumed Whistling Ducks and an Australasian Grebe were seen as well.
That’s an unusual combination!
How many Ring-tailed lemur do Darling Downs Zoo have now?
Last I was aware it was 2.1.2:
1.0 King Julian
0.1 Zola
1.0 Reeve (November 2022)
0.0.1 Unnamed (October 2023)
0.0.1 Unnamed (November 2024)
Not sure if all are still alive/at the zoo and if so, I assume the younger two have been sexed and named by now.
Not sure. The male that was with the squirrel monkey is called Ven.
Was this the only foal you saw?
DDZ's three mares should've all produced foals in the last six or so months considering their last ones were all born late 2023/early 2024.
Ven was apart of DDZ's initial trio of Ring Tailed Lemurs - alongside King Julian and Zola. Good to know he's still alive and doing well.
There were older foals as well.
My family and I had the most spectacular day at Darling Downs Zoo on Friday. We were warmly and generously welcomed by Steve, his family and the zoo staff. Our expectations were high and they were still well and truly exceeded!
Here are some updates and observations:
Here are some updates and observations:
- Tulip the giraffe is currently pregnant and due shortly. There is also at least one pregnant zebra mare in the group in the front paddock (the original herd). We had confirmation from Steve of one pregnancy, although a number of the females were looking quite round. We saw two foals, although neither was particularly little, so may have missed the one @WhistlingKite24 mentioned.
- Female Sri Lankan leopards Maysha and Mila (mother and daughter) were housed in one exhibit with father (Ecko) in the other. They were reasonably active which was great to see.
- The coati import has been slightly delayed due to bureaucratic/paperwork issues, but at this stage they are due to arrive within the next couple of weeks. Some of the animals will be then transferred on to another zoo in the country after quarantining at DDZ.
- It was great to see Kamina the female pygmy hippo, especially seeing as I regularly visit her mother, Kamina, and younger sister Lololi at Taronga. It is hoped a mate for Kamina will be able to be imported by the end of the year, although additional facilities will need to be constructed to accommodate him. Eventually the hippos are intended to have access to the dam next door.
- Currently there is a group of five female baboons on display. The male and 1 or 2 additional females are held off-display behind the hyenas - this is to prevent breeding with the main troop of females so that none of them are pregnant or have young offspring when they are moved to the new exhibit. Building a large troop of baboons is a priority for DDZ, but the new exhibit will be developed as finances permit - other projects have cropped up in the meantime which have delayed the baboon developed. The transfers of baboons to other zoos recently were intended to give the existing group more space until they can move.
- The keeper talks in the morning form a de facto tour which essentially runs for 1.5 hours around most of the zoo's exotic species. I would highly recommend arriving at the zoo by 10:15 to appreciate all the talks. We missed the first couple but joined in from the giraffe and cheetak talks and they were excellent.
- As @WhistlingKite24 reported, Caesar (lion cub) is held on his own closest to the lemurs. In the other lion exhibit, his mother Sassy lives with females Buffy and Sahara, along with the white lion male Kwanza (who has thus far failed to breed). I didn't see Mal or any of the other white lions (not sure if they are off-display, transferred elsewhere or passed away).
- The baby capybara was tiny, cute and is a big hit for the zoo. Thanks to media coverage the zoo almost doubled their attendance over the recent Easter weekend. The day I attended had lovely zoo weather, but was quieter due to rain on the coast.
- The male cheetah Valiant was introduced to the female Leela for breeding, with the intention of also introducing him to the other female, Milele, shortly. Milele was on display while Valiant and Leela could be seen in the off-show yard. Another female is due to arrive shortly.
My family and I had the most spectacular day at Darling Downs Zoo on Friday. We were warmly and generously welcomed by Steve, his family and the zoo staff. Our expectations were high and they were still well and truly exceeded!
Here are some updates and observations:
- Tulip the giraffe is currently pregnant and due shortly. There is also at least one pregnant zebra mare in the group in the front paddock (the original herd). We had confirmation from Steve of one pregnancy, although a number of the females were looking quite round. We saw two foals, although neither was particularly little, so may have missed the one @WhistlingKite24 mentioned.
- Female Sri Lankan leopards Maysha and Mila (mother and daughter) were housed in one exhibit with father (Ecko) in the other. They were reasonably active which was great to see.
- The coati import has been slightly delayed due to bureaucratic/paperwork issues, but at this stage they are due to arrive within the next couple of weeks. Some of the animals will be then transferred on to another zoo in the country after quarantining at DDZ.
- It was great to see Kamina the female pygmy hippo, especially seeing as I regularly visit her mother, Kamina, and younger sister Lololi at Taronga. It is hoped a mate for Kamina will be able to be imported by the end of the year, although additional facilities will need to be constructed to accommodate him. Eventually the hippos are intended to have access to the dam next door.
- Currently there is a group of five female baboons on display. The male and 1 or 2 additional females are held off-display behind the hyenas - this is to prevent breeding with the main troop of females so that none of them are pregnant or have young offspring when they are moved to the new exhibit. Building a large troop of baboons is a priority for DDZ, but the new exhibit will be developed as finances permit - other projects have cropped up in the meantime which have delayed the baboon developed. The transfers of baboons to other zoos recently were intended to give the existing group more space until they can move.
- The keeper talks in the morning form a de facto tour which essentially runs for 1.5 hours around most of the zoo's exotic species. I would highly recommend arriving at the zoo by 10:15 to appreciate all the talks. We missed the first couple but joined in from the giraffe and cheetak talks and they were excellent.
- As @WhistlingKite24 reported, Caesar (lion cub) is held on his own closest to the lemurs. In the other lion exhibit, his mother Sassy lives with females Buffy and Sahara, along with the white lion male Kwanza (who has thus far failed to breed). I didn't see Mal or any of the other white lions (not sure if they are off-display, transferred elsewhere or passed away).
- The baby capybara was tiny, cute and is a big hit for the zoo. Thanks to media coverage the zoo almost doubled their attendance over the recent Easter weekend. The day I attended had lovely zoo weather, but was quieter due to rain on the coast.
- The male cheetah Valiant was introduced to the female Leela for breeding, with the intention of also introducing him to the other female, Milele, shortly. Milele was on display while Valiant and Leela could be seen in the off-show yard. Another female is due to arrive shortly.
Thanks for this comprehensive update @Abbey.
Darling Downs Zoo transferred 1.3 baboons to Tasmania Zoo; and 4.0 baboons to Amazement Farm and Fun Park, so I believe this leaves them with 1.6 baboons (the male off display would obviously be Gyasi; I don’t know which female is with him) :
1.0 Gyasi (2014) born at Sydney Zoo
0.1 Mandy (2014) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Cruella (2016) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selma (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Isla (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selene (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Angelica (2020) born at Darling Downs Zoo
I’m very excited about the Pygmy hippopotamus and Brown-nosed coati imports! Gorge, Mogo/Hunter Valley and Altina would be my guesses for receiving coati from the import.