Darling Downs Zoo FUTURE PLANNING SURVEY

is Victoria crowned pigeon the choice because there is still one in the country and that somehow makes it easier (import-wise) or is that just the only one they have heard of? (:D)

There are 61 zoos in Europe with Victoria crowned pigeons: ZootierlisteHomepage
 
Chlidonias said:
is Victoria crowned pigeon the choice because there is still one in the country and that somehow makes it easier (import-wise) or is that just the only one they have heard of? (:D)

There are 61 zoos in Europe with Victoria crowned pigeons: ZootierlisteHomepage
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Still having one in the country doesn't make it any easier [or more difficult] to develop a new IRA. Historically this is a species that Australia has had strong links to. It is a large showy bird that is comparatively easy to house and thus ticks a few boxes for the DDZ and other regional zoos. It is also a useful complementary species for others such as New Guinea Ground Doves and Nicobars which still persist here.
 
I love chlidonias' rock hyrax's suggestion. I would love to see a toucan or two in australia. And more bongos and mandrills please. I'm still waiting for a huge mixed exhibit with bongos, mandrills and red river hogs.
 
hahaha. I know. I'll have to go back to the bronx. They had hogs and mandrill together years ago when I was there. Good luck with your plans but. I hope you get what you want.
 
Could vicuna be a possibility?, large numbers in Europe and I think Australia allows the import of alpaca etc?
 
kiang said:
Could vicuna be a possibility?, large numbers in Europe and I think Australia allows the import of alpaca etc?
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I doubt that there would be any interest in Vicuna. They, along with Guanaco, have been allowed to pretty much die out. I am not aware of any remaining Vicuna in this country.

There are a couple of Guanaco left and we are involved in an informal project to attempt to restore Guanaco by outcrossing a couple of males with suitable Llama and then breeding back. We wouldn't have the resources to take on Vicuna as well - even if any did turn up.
 
Direct Bovid imports will be a major help to the region I think, with Nyala and Bongo being priorities. Is there a chance of establishing Impala given how many zoos have been after them as "the gazelle"?

Is there anything happening with pigs at all? Warthogs or Red River Hogs, and a South-East Asian species would be a stunning addition to Australia. Is importation of these going to become possible? If so, it wouldn't hurt to grab a couple of new peccaries too, to reinvigorate the dwindling, inbred, stock.

And a couple of new Brazilian Tapirs if you've got the time :D
 
Some zoos have dropped off Bongo - there is not any broad based interest in them. Nyala are the current "pin-up" species.

There is still interest in Impala.

Can't see any pig imports any time soon.

We can import Tapirs but they are in very short supply globally. We have been trying for a couple of years for young animals.
 
Steve Robinson said:
Still having one in the country doesn't make it any easier [or more difficult] to develop a new IRA. Historically this is a species that Australia has had strong links to. It is a large showy bird that is comparatively easy to house and thus ticks a few boxes for the DDZ and other regional zoos. It is also a useful complementary species for others such as New Guinea Ground Doves and Nicobars which still persist here.
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I was actually meaning why Victoria crowned pigeon specifically instead of Scheepmaker's or blue crowned pigeon. However from looking on Zootierliste it seems like Victorias are the most common of the three anyway.

I find it interesting that the interest shown by ZAA in bird importation is for showy non-endangered species not already established in Australia - where is their concern for condors or Siamese firebacks or silver-eared mesias - species in dire need of new blood? I can foresee any bird importations going the same way as many of the mammal importations sadly.
 
Steve whatever you decide it all sounds very promising and exciting. I'm looking forward to my next visit and to see all the changes.
 
I know your temps there are more African, but in Australia I would love to see some more North American ungulate species like moose, musk ox, mountain goat & dalls sheep. I am a huge fan of American bison already in this country.

Also arctic fox & grey wolves might be a nice addition (ie I'd travel to see them).

Or smaller animals like otters, weasels or raccoons?
 
Oh, and for Australian animals, well Quokka's are such charming little animals.

And maybe the Eastern barred bandicoot for something a little different. :)
 
It would be cool to have flourishing flamingo population in Australian zoos. I think Australia has perfect weather for flamingos, much much better then most of Europe.

Flamingos rank second among all birds species in visitors surveys here, only after pinguins (Humbolts or Kings, not Little Blues). Are not difficult to keep or feed. Tolerate bad water quality and low temperatures (by -15C still outside here). Are higly immune to most serious infections. Long life expectancy and colonial lifestyle mean that flamingo breeding program with just a few participating zoos is viable long term, again perfect condition for Australia.

Sourcing from Europe - either from private breeders or zoos shouldnt be a problem. Greater flamingos are the most easily available now. But it depends also what you can import - adults or only eggs? Contact EAZA Ciconiiformes and Phoenicopteriformes TAG (Cathy King or Andrea Bracko), they run a monitoring and exchange database for flamingos kept in european zoos. Do also contact WWT Slimbridge (IUCN Flamingo Specialist Group chair), they sourced birds for Auckland previously.
 
I think it would be great to have some aardvarks in the county but sourcing them would probably be difficult and what about water buck or kudu, only a few of those left in the country. A large group of bongos would be an amazing sight.
 
And the result of the survey was;

"A big thankyou to all who participated in our survey. The results were quite clear cut.
The winners, by a country mile, were Meerkats.
In very clear second place were Giraffes.
After that comes a block of species including Leopard, Maned Wolf and Bear.
There was a bit of a gap to Hippo and Cheetah and then another gap to a whole group species who were neck and neck – Rhino, Otter, Giant Anteater, all the Monkey/Ape species and Flamingo. Penguins were next and some of the smaller species trailed the field. Reptiles didn’t rate too highly – Komodo Dragons were the most popular.
Not really surprising, but still disappointing, was the almost complete lack of interest in most ungulate species – apart from one vote for Bongo.
The biggest disappointment to us was the comparative lack of interest in Rhino. The world is losing Rhinos to poachers at the rate of one every couple of hours. They are now extinct in Mozambique and the death rate in the wild is greater than the birth rate. If this situation persists there will be no African Rhinos left in the wild in 20 years or so. Our zoo has been making plans to participate in the Zoo and Aquarium Association’s species management program for White Rhino, as well as The Australian Rhino Project, and had hoped that public support would be with us. We were very surprised to find that Rhinos had so little appeal to our Facebook followers".
 
kiang said:
And the result of the survey was;

"A big thankyou to all who participated in our survey. The results were quite clear cut.
The winners, by a country mile, were Meerkats.
In very clear second place were Giraffes.
After that comes a block of species including Leopard, Maned Wolf and Bear.
There was a bit of a gap to Hippo and Cheetah and then another gap to a whole group species who were neck and neck – Rhino, Otter, Giant Anteater, all the Monkey/Ape species and Flamingo. Penguins were next and some of the smaller species trailed the field. Reptiles didn’t rate too highly – Komodo Dragons were the most popular.
Not really surprising, but still disappointing, was the almost complete lack of interest in most ungulate species – apart from one vote for Bongo.
The biggest disappointment to us was the comparative lack of interest in Rhino. The world is losing Rhinos to poachers at the rate of one every couple of hours. They are now extinct in Mozambique and the death rate in the wild is greater than the birth rate. If this situation persists there will be no African Rhinos left in the wild in 20 years or so. Our zoo has been making plans to participate in the Zoo and Aquarium Association’s species management program for White Rhino, as well as The Australian Rhino Project, and had hoped that public support would be with us. We were very surprised to find that Rhinos had so little appeal to our Facebook followers".
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That said: even though the general public seems hell bent on some species it is the moral duty of every respectable zoo to showcase even the Small Brown Numbers that them Joe Public seems not to know and educate the masses as to the value of every bit of the Web of Life for Life as we know it.

I too would be interested what course of action and masterplanning the zoo now has in store for the immediate future. I would still say stick with the rhinos ... (and not out of any personal interest).
 
kiang said:
Has anything come of the survey?
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Sorry kiang - I have been a bit slack about posting lately.

Meerkats have arrived and have well and truly borne out the FB vote!

Construction for Giraffe has commenced.

Emperor Tamarins have arrived from two European zoos and are currently in quarantine here.

In other news, the DDZ was Animal Welfare Accredited by ZAA earlier in the year and the zoo celebrated it's 10th birthday in June.

Lots of milestones yet to come.

Thanks for enquiring.
 
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