Hello from Malta

MartinSt

MartinSt

Member
Hi all,

Recently I've been given charge of a local private collection and have been given the task of turning it into an operating establishment; or even if we remain closed to the public, to bring it up to all required standards, and beyond wherever I can (space is a limiting factor in Malta).

I've joined the forum to get a better understanding of zoo operations, visitor expectations (assuming we ever open to the public), and most importantly animal needs. I'm still coming to grips with everything that's under my care here; but so far I've catalogued well over 800 individual animals, a very large portion of them birds (90 or so of them just lovebirds!).

It's going to be an interesting journey, and I welcome you all to see it unfold. For those familiar with the park, I am aware of the many issues and public opinions of the place; I welcome constructive criticisms, however advice such as "tear the place down and send the animals elsewhere" is unsolicited.

- Martin
 
MartinSt said:
Hi all,

Recently I've been given charge of a local private collection and have been given the task of turning it into an operating establishment; or even if we remain closed to the public, to bring it up to all required standards, and beyond wherever I can (space is a limiting factor in Malta).

I've joined the forum to get a better understanding of zoo operations, visitor expectations (assuming we ever open to the public), and most importantly animal needs. I'm still coming to grips with everything that's under my care here; but so far I've catalogued well over 800 individual animals, a very large portion of them birds (90 or so of them just lovebirds!).

It's going to be an interesting journey, and I welcome you all to see it unfold. For those familiar with the park, I am aware of the many issues and public opinions of the place; I welcome constructive criticisms, however advice such as "tear the place down and send the animals elsewhere" is unsolicited.

- Martin
Click to expand...


Welcome to Zoo Chat

What species do you keep inside your Zoo?
 
MartinSt said:
Hi all,

Recently I've been given charge of a local private collection and have been given the task of turning it into an operating establishment; or even if we remain closed to the public, to bring it up to all required standards, and beyond wherever I can (space is a limiting factor in Malta).

I've joined the forum to get a better understanding of zoo operations, visitor expectations (assuming we ever open to the public), and most importantly animal needs. I'm still coming to grips with everything that's under my care here; but so far I've catalogued well over 800 individual animals, a very large portion of them birds (90 or so of them just lovebirds!).

It's going to be an interesting journey, and I welcome you all to see it unfold. For those familiar with the park, I am aware of the many issues and public opinions of the place; I welcome constructive criticisms, however advice such as "tear the place down and send the animals elsewhere" is unsolicited.

- Martin
Click to expand...
I’d love a species list, via private message if necessary
 
Welcome and good luck. Birds are always good attractions, also small mammals and nocturnal species, both of which require smaller areas to display.
 
Thanks everyone. To be fully honest I too am curious; thus far I've compiled the following (In certain cases, like the goats, cows, and horses, there would be multiple strains of different types, however for now I have them listed as generic)


White Cockatoo
Galah Cockatoo
Yellow Crested Cockatoo
Vasa Parrot
African Grey Parrot
Pigeon
Rainbow Lorikeet
Dusky Lorikeet
Derbyan Parakeet
Burrowing Parrot
Common Myna
Australian Ring-Neck
Chicken
Terrapin
Cockatiel
Big Pigeon
Quail
Budgerigar
Maltese Black Chicken
Fantail Pigeon
Frillback Pigeon
Roule Roule Partridge
Red Rump Parrot
Kookaburra
Barbary Dove
Bobwhite Quail
Zebra Finch
Common Pheasant
Ring-Neck Parakeet
Rock Dove
Pheasant
Guinea Fowl
Pheasant
Golden Pheasant
Hybrid Pheasant
Guinea Turaco
Emu
Violet Turaco
Diamond Dove
Eastern Rosella
Senegal Parrot
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Catalina Macaw
Red and Green Macaw
Chinese Painted Quail
Quail
Black Swan
White Swan
Pheasant
Great White Pelican
White Stork
Grey Crowned Crane
African Sacred Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill
Mallard
Guinea Fowl
Peacock
Mini Deer
Rock Doves
Straw Necked Ibis
Greater Flamingo
Japanese Crane
Demoiselle crane
Scarlet Ibis
Mini Deer
Ponies
Lovebird
Lesser Flamingo
Patagonian Mara
Sheep
Goat
African Spurred Tortoise
Bengal Tiger* (supposedly...)
Lion
Ostrich
Water Buffalo
Camel
Barbary Sheep
Barbary Ape
Baboon
Ring-Tail Lemur
Black Lemur
Pied Crow
Harris Hawk
Red Tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Donkey

This is an incomplete list, as I am still churning through all the accumulated paperwork, photographing the animals, adding them to the new database, figuring out which specimens are actually left, and which had passed away. There's been a managerial gap, and the paperwork is scattered around.


Terry Thomas said:
Welcome and good luck. Birds are always good attractions, also small mammals and nocturnal species, both of which require smaller areas to display.
Click to expand...

We have a massive underground vault area, which I have been eyeballing for future repile/nocturnal/aquatic displays. But at the moment the thought of adding anything new gives me a headache. First things first is ensuring the health and social needs of the current animals.

Physical health wise, we are doing fairly well, but a lot of social animals have lost their mates, or their numbers have dwindled over the years, and once the maintenance work is done, enclosure enrichment, and adding the needed animals to fill their social needs will be top priority before acquiring any new species.

We also have a massive stables, with around 150 of the animals horses/ponies/donkeys.

I think I'll start a thread in one of the other sub-forums to document the revitalization process, hopefully you'll all find it interesting.
 
You have quite the impressive collection :D
Do you aim to become part of a Zoo association (EAZA, WAZA etc.)?
 
MartinSt said:
Thanks everyone. To be fully honest I too am curious; thus far I've compiled the following (In certain cases, like the goats, cows, and horses, there would be multiple strains of different types, however for now I have them listed as generic)


White Cockatoo
Galah Cockatoo
Yellow Crested Cockatoo
Vasa Parrot
African Grey Parrot
Pigeon
Rainbow Lorikeet
Dusky Lorikeet
Derbyan Parakeet
Burrowing Parrot
Common Myna
Australian Ring-Neck
Chicken
Terrapin
Cockatiel
Big Pigeon
Quail
Budgerigar
Maltese Black Chicken
Fantail Pigeon
Frillback Pigeon
Roule Roule Partridge
Red Rump Parrot
Kookaburra
Barbary Dove
Bobwhite Quail
Zebra Finch
Common Pheasant
Ring-Neck Parakeet
Rock Dove
Pheasant
Guinea Fowl
Pheasant
Golden Pheasant
Hybrid Pheasant
Guinea Turaco
Emu
Violet Turaco
Diamond Dove
Eastern Rosella
Senegal Parrot
Blue and Yellow Macaw
Catalina Macaw
Red and Green Macaw
Chinese Painted Quail
Quail
Black Swan
White Swan
Pheasant
Great White Pelican
White Stork
Grey Crowned Crane
African Sacred Ibis
Eurasian Spoonbill
Mallard
Guinea Fowl
Peacock
Mini Deer
Rock Doves
Straw Necked Ibis
Greater Flamingo
Japanese Crane
Demoiselle crane
Scarlet Ibis
Mini Deer
Ponies
Lovebird
Lesser Flamingo
Patagonian Mara
Sheep
Goat
African Spurred Tortoise
Bengal Tiger* (supposedly...)
Lion
Ostrich
Water Buffalo
Camel
Barbary Sheep
Barbary Ape
Baboon
Ring-Tail Lemur
Black Lemur
Pied Crow
Harris Hawk
Red Tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Donkey

This is an incomplete list, as I am still churning through all the accumulated paperwork, photographing the animals, adding them to the new database, figuring out which specimens are actually left, and which had passed away. There's been a managerial gap, and the paperwork is scattered around.




We have a massive underground vault area, which I have been eyeballing for future repile/nocturnal/aquatic displays. But at the moment the thought of adding anything new gives me a headache. First things first is ensuring the health and social needs of the current animals.

Physical health wise, we are doing fairly well, but a lot of social animals have lost their mates, or their numbers have dwindled over the years, and once the maintenance work is done, enclosure enrichment, and adding the needed animals to fill their social needs will be top priority before acquiring any new species.

We also have a massive stables, with around 150 of the animals horses/ponies/donkeys.

I think I'll start a thread in one of the other sub-forums to document the revitalization process, hopefully you'll all find it interesting.
Click to expand...

This is a very Impressive Species collection for your private Zoo.
Thank you for providing us with a Species List.
 
Will provide a fuller list once I've sorted out more of the paperwork. It looks like we currently house around 1200 individuals, although about 770 of them are birds, and a decent amount are agricultural stock (sheep, goats, chickens etc.).

Bengal Tiger said:
Well, I wish you luck. Any conservation work you are doing? Do you plan on doing any in the future?
Click to expand...

Not much in any official regard at the moment. As mentioned I have taken over as curator/director just three weeks ago, and we are not even open to the public as the license was revoked several years ago after an incident involving a big cat. There is a lot of policies and groundworks to be put into place on an office level, and physical repairs and maintenance done to the enclosures before I can start focusing on conservation efforts beyond the park's own internal needs. We are one of the few places that breeds Maltese Black Chickens however; maybe not the most impressive conservation effort; but it's a start I suppose.
 
MartinSt said:
Will provide a fuller list once I've sorted out more of the paperwork. It looks like we currently house around 1200 individuals, although about 770 of them are birds, and a decent amount are agricultural stock (sheep, goats, chickens etc.).



Not much in any official regard at the moment. As mentioned I have taken over as curator/director just three weeks ago, and we are not even open to the public as the license was revoked several years ago after an incident involving a big cat. There is a lot of policies and groundworks to be put into place on an office level, and physical repairs and maintenance done to the enclosures before I can start focusing on conservation efforts beyond the park's own internal needs. We are one of the few places that breeds Maltese Black Chickens however; maybe not the most impressive conservation effort; but it's a start I suppose.
Click to expand...
I love domestics so for me this is really cool.
 
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