Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles in Australian Zoos

[WhistlingKite24]

-Radiated Tortoise Astrochelys radiata - Adelaide Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Darling Downs Zoo, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Mogo Zoo, Perth Zoo, Snakes Down Under, Wildlife HQ

Australia Zoo recently received a group of Radiated Tortoises. They are the sixth zoo in Queensland to house this species - confirmed via email and their magazine publication.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Shoalhaven Zoo now have an albino Reticulated Python on-display in their reptile house: Log into Facebook | Facebook

A gimmick mutant reprile is hardly a joy for a zoo troupe.

 

[Jambo]

-Aldabran Giant Tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea - Adelaide Zoo, Australia Zoo, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Darling Downs Zoo, Gorge Wildlife Park, Melbourne Zoo, Shoalhaven Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Wild Cat Conservation Centre

Central Coast Zoo has received at least three Aldabran Tortoises- confirmed on their Facebook page.

They are the tenth holder of this species in Australia.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

-Aldabran Giant Tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea - Adelaide Zoo, Australia Zoo, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Darling Downs Zoo, Gorge Wildlife Park, Melbourne Zoo, Shoalhaven Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Wild Cat Conservation Centre

-Radiated Tortoise Astrochelys radiata - Adelaide Zoo, Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Darling Downs Zoo, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Mogo Zoo, Perth Zoo, Snakes Down Under, Wildlife HQ

Monarto Safari Park now have both Radiated and Aldabra Giant Tortoise at the park joining their existing Leopard Tortoises - confirmed via email. The giant tortoises actually arrived today coincidently on the same day I sent my query about their current tortoises.

 

[Zoofan15]

Tuatara import:

Tuatara have arrived in Australia with 0.3 imported from the UK by the Australian Reptile Park, with 0.1 from this group to be sent to Taronga Zoo post quarantine.

 

[Superspanger]

Did not see any Tuatara at Australian Reptile Park 2 September 2022.

 

[Zoofan15]

Did not see any Tuatara at Australian Reptile Park 2 September 2022.

They won’t be on display until the Christmas holidays according to their website: World's Most Unique Reptile Has Arrived | Australian Reptile Park

During their off-display quarantine period, Park staff will be busy building a brand-new exhibit to showcase the Tuatara to visitors of the Australian Reptile Park with the exhibit projected to be complete by the 2022 Christmas holidays.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Teiidae:

-Argentine Black and White Tegu Salvator merianae [previously identified by the park as Black Tegu Tupinambis teguixin] - Australian Reptile Park (one animal)

Like the loss of the last rhea, I can also confirm the death of the last Argentine Black and White Tegu in an Australasian zoo. It was confirmed through email that it died of old age recently at the Australian Reptile Park.

 

[JM01]

Marineland Melanesia has a small female American Alligator named Ally

 

[WhistlingKite24]

-Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii - Australia Zoo, Australian Reptile Park, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Wild Cat Conservation Centre

Wildlife HQ have announced the arrival of four Alligator Snapping Turtle hatchlings, presumably some of the individuals bred at the Wild Cat Conservation Centre recently: Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

[WhistlingKite24]

A few pieces of news posted in other threads - Darling Downs Zoo has Indian Star Tortoise and Wildlife HQ recently received Ball Python.

 

[steveroberts]

@WhistlingKite24

Excellent as always to see imo the two most exciting zoos in Qld expand their exotic reptiles more and more as time goes on (and of course mammals and birds but just for a focus moment).

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii - Australia Zoo, Australian Reptile Park, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Wild Cat Conservation Centre, Wildlife HQ

According to a recent video, an Alligator Snapping Turtle is now in the aquarium at Sydney Zoo: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

[HayBrand]

Sydney Zoo has confirmed that the new turtle shown in a previous video is an Alligator Snapping Turtle 登录 Facebook

 

[WhistlingKite24]

A few changes noted from my visit to Taronga last week and follow-up emails to confirm these changes. Green Iguana and Philippine Sailfin Dragon are both no longer part of the zoo's collection. The Golden Coin Turtle will remain off-show until the new reptile house opens next year and notably, the Tuatara that was imported from Chester Zoo is now on-display but not seen as it was well-hidden.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

-Fijian Crested Iguana Brachylophus vitiensis - Australia Zoo, Australian Reptile Park, Gorge Wildlife Park, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Melbourne Zoo, Taronga Zoo, Wildlife HQ

-Common Iguana Iguana iguana - Australian Reptile Park, Cooberrie Park, Crocodylus Park, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Darling Downs Zoo,D'Aguilar Wildlife, Gorge Wildlife Park, Halls Gap Zoo, National Zoo, Shoalhaven Zoo, Wildlife HQ

According to a 2022 summary, Billabong Zoo in Port Macquarie acquired both Green Iguana and Fijian Crested Iguana throughout the year: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

[WhistlingKite24]

-Double-crested Basilisk Basiliscus plumifrons - Melbourne Zoo, Taronga Zoo (one male)

Three juvenile Plumed Basilisks are now at Wildlife HQ. It should also be pointed out that Taronga had a few juvenile basilisks on show as of last month rather than the single adult male: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

[WhistlingKite24]

-New Guinea Crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae - Crocodylus Park, Malcolm Douglas Wilderness Park

Very unexpected news. Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville has received a New Guinea Crocodile that arrived from Marineland Melanesia, Green Island: Queensland wildlife park welcomes its fourth species of crocodile

 

[Chlidonias]

Very unexpected news. Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville has received a New Guinea Crocodile that arrived from Marineland Melanesia, Green Island: Queensland wildlife park welcomes its fourth species of crocodile

I'm guessing their four "species of crocodile" must be including American Alligator?

 

[JM01]

Why are there so few exotic Amphibians in Australian Zoos? The diversity of amphibians in Australian Zoos in general is pretty crap, most places just have Green Tree Frogs or nothing at all.