Darling Downs Zoo Darling Downs
- Thread starter Zoo_Boy
- Start date
G'day Jo and Ben,
Looks like the visitation figures will jump up this year!
You will both be very welcome - I'm looking forward to regaling you with tall tales and true!
All Zoobeaters are very welcome but I do fear that MARK may have painted a very rosy picture of us. We are a work in progress and probably always will be. We are very aware of our many deficiencies and so ask you not to expect perfection here when you visit. By the same token we would solicit your frank assessments of our progress to date and will take on board any suggestions you may have.
And for today's good news!!
Our stance on the opening hour's beat up that we have been fighting since last November has been completely vindicated. The Queensland public service today informed us in writing that this was no longer an issue and that our opening hours can remain the same as they have always been.
The Minister has also appointed a Regional Director as a go-between to try to work through the issues that we have with some members of his Department. We have requested an independent review of our zoo, a public apology from a senior public servant who told lies about us in the local newspaper and, from hereon in, a level playing field with all the other zoos in Queensland - all seven of 'em! And particularly, prompt processing of our applications for new species. We have some outstanding applications going back to 2004 - and they call this the Smart State!!!!!
After six months of time wasting banging our head against the public service brick wall we will now have more time to proceed with our ARAZPA application. Happy days!
Our stance on the opening hour's beat up that we have been fighting since last November has been completely vindicated. The Queensland public service today informed us in writing that this was no longer an issue and that our opening hours can remain the same as they have always been.
The Minister has also appointed a Regional Director as a go-between to try to work through the issues that we have with some members of his Department. We have requested an independent review of our zoo, a public apology from a senior public servant who told lies about us in the local newspaper and, from hereon in, a level playing field with all the other zoos in Queensland - all seven of 'em! And particularly, prompt processing of our applications for new species. We have some outstanding applications going back to 2004 - and they call this the Smart State!!!!!
After six months of time wasting banging our head against the public service brick wall we will now have more time to proceed with our ARAZPA application. Happy days!
dragon(ele)nerd
Well-Known Member
Congratulations Steve or in chinese 祝贺
fantastic news Steve. looking forward to a bright future for your smart little establishment.
the Australian zoo community will benefit greatly from your ARAZPA membership and participation in PMP when your zoo reaches that stage.
i wish your zoo a vibrant and viable future.
the Australian zoo community will benefit greatly from your ARAZPA membership and participation in PMP when your zoo reaches that stage.
i wish your zoo a vibrant and viable future.
Thanks guys - much appreciated.
dragon(ele)nerd
Well-Known Member
Either way if they are your favourite animals or not i wish you to have a very pleasent career.
Thanks Ben. If we can past the public service negativity we have the potential here to build this into one of the better regional zoos in Australia.
What has left us totally underwhelmed, and with a sour taste in our mouths, is that this decision takes us BACK to where we were six months ago - we have wasted six months of our lives, resources, energy and time on a meaningless battle that should never have happened.
We can only move forward from here!
No glyn - very proudly, stand on your own two feet, Aussie private enterprise!
Our current stalled applications are mainly for a variety of exotic reptiles for our newly constructed Tropical Reptile House and our African precinct.
"Realistic dreams" can only be realised if we are eventually successful in our application to join ARAZPA.
However, we would expect to be able to offer spaces to a variety of species covered by our collection plan. Certainly we could place Red Pandas, Small-clawed Otters etc. We would also be keen to offer spaces to species struggling for a bit of support from the Region's zoos. Maned Wolf, Snow Leopard, Fishing Cat etc come to mind here. However, at the moment Maned Wolf are banned in Queensland so we won't be seeing them here any time soon.
Sumatran Tigers are a different kettle of fish. We have a wonderful tiger facility here but at the current rate of recommended breeding of this species compared with the current level of demand for Sumatrans I don't think there will be any available in my lifetime. Generics it will have to be I'm afraid.
Good on you Stevo, as I said before, mate, you are living the dream!
As regards tigers; ISIS shows a regional population of 19 male and 15 female Sumatrans.(The world population is around 200 in total.)
ISIS shows the "non-Sumatran" tiger population in the region as 10 males and 6 females, but I suppose that only ARAZPA zoos report to ISIS. I therefore assume that there are quite a few "generic" tigers in Australia which are not included in ISIS figures?
As regards tigers; ISIS shows a regional population of 19 male and 15 female Sumatrans.(The world population is around 200 in total.)
ISIS shows the "non-Sumatran" tiger population in the region as 10 males and 6 females, but I suppose that only ARAZPA zoos report to ISIS. I therefore assume that there are quite a few "generic" tigers in Australia which are not included in ISIS figures?