Darling Downs Zoo is one of Queensland’s largest regional zoos and is located two hours from Brisbane. The zoo itself is divided into four main geographical zones; Australia, South-east Asia, Africa and South America. The zoo generally groups their animals in accordance to this geographical layout however there are exceptions. In recent times, the zoo has been increasingly and consistently adding new species to diversify and broaden their mammal, bird and reptile collections. Several of the species below represent the only place you can see them in a Queensland zoo and the zoo(in my opinion) is a refreshing change from the often limited and repetitive nature of exotic animal collections here in Australia.
Like the other species lists I have made for my other local zoos – Wildlife HQ and Australia Zoo – this species list will be improved and updated based on future visits to have a working resource that responds to the zoo's growth and development over the coming years. For those who aren’t familiar with the zoo, I have written up a brief timeline to outline Darling Downs Zoo’s key events and milestones over the years to better provide context for this species list I will post below.
2012: Black-capped Capuchin arrived, the zoo’s first White Lion was born, Pygmy Marmoset [0.6 from Perth Zoo] arrived
2013: Rhinoceros Iguana arrived, the zoo’s first Serval arrived, a new waterfowl habitat was opened for the zoo’s pelicans, swans and native ducks, ten Aldabra Giant Tortoises were imported from Mauritius – they arrived between the ages of 3 to 5
2014: ten (5.5) Zebras were imported from USA – all of them arrived under the age of seven months.
2015: 1.2 White Lion cubs were born in January, Mahogany Glider [0.2 from Gold Coast] and Bilby [1.1] arrived, Queensland’s first Meerkats arrived, Emperor Tamarin arrived [1.1 imported from Belfast and Jersey], Capybara arrived [3.0 from Adelaide Zoo]
2016: a new waterbird aviary was constructed, Common Wombat and Emperor Tamarin bred at the zoo for the first time, two species of exotic rodent arrived in 2016: Patagonian Mara [4.0 from Adelaide] and Brazilian Agouti [2.2 imported from USA – which first bred soon after arrival], Giraffe arrived [0.2 from Australia Zoo, followed by 1.0 from Dubbo], a second import of Aldabra Giant Tortoises occurred [0.0.22 from Mauritius]
2017: Cheetah arrived [3.1 from Hamerton Zoo, UK], Siamang arrived [2.1 from Adelaide Zoo], two Queensland firsts occurred in 2017 – the first ever Addax (November) and Zebra (September) were born in the state
2018: the zoo announced the importation of Red-handed Tamarins in March [3.3] which later bred during the year, the first female Zebra at the zoo was born, the zoo bred Australian Grass Owl for the first time, Pygmy Hippopotamus arrived [0.1 from Taronga Zoo]
2019: Cape Porcupine arrived [0.1 from Perth Zoo who was joined by a sibling], 0.2 Servals arrived from Hunter Valley Zoo, Emperor Tamarins bred for the third time, the zoo bred Short-beaked Echidna for the first time
2020: construction commenced for the Sri Lankan leopard enclosures, Maned Wolves arrived [1.1 from Altina Wildlife Park], Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys arrived [3.0], Komodo Dragon arrived [1.0 from Prague via Adelaide Zoo], a pair of Golden Lion Tamarins arrived, five Radiated Tortoises were added to the zoo’s existing group from a joint import, the zoo successfully bred Giraffe and Rhinoceros Iguana for the first time, a male Sumatran Tiger arrived from Tasmania Zoo
Note: The zoo seems to be in the process of reshuffling some of their species at the moment (especially the carnivores) so I am sure there will be further moves and adjustments to accommodate new arrivals.
* = species was signed either on the map or at the enclosure but wasn’t seen
Map to follow along:
New Entry Development/Toilets (December 2020):
Like the other species lists I have made for my other local zoos – Wildlife HQ and Australia Zoo – this species list will be improved and updated based on future visits to have a working resource that responds to the zoo's growth and development over the coming years. For those who aren’t familiar with the zoo, I have written up a brief timeline to outline Darling Downs Zoo’s key events and milestones over the years to better provide context for this species list I will post below.
2012: Black-capped Capuchin arrived, the zoo’s first White Lion was born, Pygmy Marmoset [0.6 from Perth Zoo] arrived
2013: Rhinoceros Iguana arrived, the zoo’s first Serval arrived, a new waterfowl habitat was opened for the zoo’s pelicans, swans and native ducks, ten Aldabra Giant Tortoises were imported from Mauritius – they arrived between the ages of 3 to 5
2014: ten (5.5) Zebras were imported from USA – all of them arrived under the age of seven months.
2015: 1.2 White Lion cubs were born in January, Mahogany Glider [0.2 from Gold Coast] and Bilby [1.1] arrived, Queensland’s first Meerkats arrived, Emperor Tamarin arrived [1.1 imported from Belfast and Jersey], Capybara arrived [3.0 from Adelaide Zoo]
2016: a new waterbird aviary was constructed, Common Wombat and Emperor Tamarin bred at the zoo for the first time, two species of exotic rodent arrived in 2016: Patagonian Mara [4.0 from Adelaide] and Brazilian Agouti [2.2 imported from USA – which first bred soon after arrival], Giraffe arrived [0.2 from Australia Zoo, followed by 1.0 from Dubbo], a second import of Aldabra Giant Tortoises occurred [0.0.22 from Mauritius]
2017: Cheetah arrived [3.1 from Hamerton Zoo, UK], Siamang arrived [2.1 from Adelaide Zoo], two Queensland firsts occurred in 2017 – the first ever Addax (November) and Zebra (September) were born in the state
2018: the zoo announced the importation of Red-handed Tamarins in March [3.3] which later bred during the year, the first female Zebra at the zoo was born, the zoo bred Australian Grass Owl for the first time, Pygmy Hippopotamus arrived [0.1 from Taronga Zoo]
2019: Cape Porcupine arrived [0.1 from Perth Zoo who was joined by a sibling], 0.2 Servals arrived from Hunter Valley Zoo, Emperor Tamarins bred for the third time, the zoo bred Short-beaked Echidna for the first time
2020: construction commenced for the Sri Lankan leopard enclosures, Maned Wolves arrived [1.1 from Altina Wildlife Park], Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys arrived [3.0], Komodo Dragon arrived [1.0 from Prague via Adelaide Zoo], a pair of Golden Lion Tamarins arrived, five Radiated Tortoises were added to the zoo’s existing group from a joint import, the zoo successfully bred Giraffe and Rhinoceros Iguana for the first time, a male Sumatran Tiger arrived from Tasmania Zoo
Note: The zoo seems to be in the process of reshuffling some of their species at the moment (especially the carnivores) so I am sure there will be further moves and adjustments to accommodate new arrivals.
* = species was signed either on the map or at the enclosure but wasn’t seen
Map to follow along:
New Entry Development/Toilets (December 2020):
