Sadly the two male kittens have passed.
After falling unwell, the trio were transferred to Werribee to receive better care a week ago. The female (Zuri) remains there in stable condition.
Reported on socials.
Halls Gap Zoo Halls Gap Zoo
- Thread starter LOU
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After falling unwell, the trio were transferred to Werribee to receive better care a week ago. The female (Zuri) remains there in stable condition.
Reported on socials.
That's bad luck to loose two of them, good to see the female is still ok. I wonder what could of caused them to go downhill.
A communal illness is a strong possibility given the entire litter we’re afflicted by something the female appears to be recovering from. The kittens had otherwise survived the neonate stage, which has the highest mortality rate across all life stages of this species.
Fingers crossed the female pulls through! There’s not been a lot of Serval births in recent years.
'liked' for thanks for letting us know man, thats really awful for them god hope they survive and the zoo grounds are untouched by the fire.
Last night there was a cool change and some rain over Halls Gap. This morning the fire warning for Halls Gap has changed from “Emergency Warning - Seek Shelter” to ”Watch and Act - unsafe to return”. So, the situation is still serious but some improvement.
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dylan downward
Well-Known Member
This evening the threat level around Halls Gap has been further reduced to "Watch and Act - threat reduced - monitor conditions" which is very good news.
It should be noted that the fire has burnt about a third of the Grampians National Park, more than 70,000 acres (28,000 ha) of prime wildlife habitat.
The ecology down there has taken a beating. It wasn't that long ago that it burned out before. At the current rate well see our national parks empty of species if they don't actively trying to control the fires when they are smaller/do more for fire prevention.
Hopefully the zoo didnt sustain any damage!.
That is an excellent point. Fires are becoming increasingly frequent, and animal populations will be finding it harder to recover over shorter periods. This may well lead to extinctions, for instance the greater glider is particularly vulnerable.
There is no mention of damage on their social media, and from maps I have seen I doubt the fire ever got close enough.
That's a bit simplistic! National Parks are about the whole eco-system.
It could be argued that the soil, water and vegetation in a National Park are as important as the animal population. So, you still need the park to re-establish the conditions needed for the eventual return of the animals.
And, while you are waiting for the animals to return the park, it is an integral part of the planet's lungs.
It could be argued that the soil, water and vegetation in a National Park are as important as the animal population. So, you still need the park to re-establish the conditions needed for the eventual return of the animals.
And, while you are waiting for the animals to return the park, it is an integral part of the planet's lungs.
It is simplistic, but it is also an undertone that is held by some, that would rather see national park land be converted and developed for what ever reason.
Im not sure about you guys, but if you look online especially in anti green groups. There is definently that notion that seems to have sprung up in Australia in recent years. Which is quite sad.
It's good to hear that the fire didn't get close to the zoo. That would be a rather large releif for the owners. Especially after seeing mogo scrape by a few years ago.
Im not sure about you guys, but if you look online especially in anti green groups. There is definently that notion that seems to have sprung up in Australia in recent years. Which is quite sad.
It's good to hear that the fire didn't get close to the zoo. That would be a rather large releif for the owners. Especially after seeing mogo scrape by a few years ago.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
I'd controversially argue all the farmland that was burnt adjacent to the national park should be compulsorily acquired and added to the gazetted park... And that dingos should be returned to the park and fully protected under law across the state. Remove the BS "wild dog" defence when farmer's slaughter them.
I agree, there were some papers out the last few years that may see how we treat dingoes differ. One meta analysis, found that dingoes don't mix with domestic all that much. With the common line of though being that most wild dogs were mostly domestic. This one study looking at dingo genetics from dingoes across the east coast. Found the average purity was around 88 to 89% with most 'wild dogs' being over 90% dingo or pure blood.
Hopefully that will see them protected!. It's also good to know dingoes are not as lost as they once were.
Two Wapiti fawns have been born along with a Quokka joey at Halls Gap - reported on their FB page.
Halls Gap Zoo have welcomed three new Himalayan Tahr to join their existing two older males as reported on their FB page. I don’t know whether the new Tahr are male, female or a combination of both nor do I know where they have come from.
I’d assume they came from Altina, who are the only other holder of Himalayan tahr in Australia.
Since Halls Gap had two males prior to their arrival, I’d additionally assume they received a further three males to create a larger bachelor herd (with Altina retaining a breeding herd).
They had 3 male Thar on my last visit, but 2 were obviously castrated and looked like females.