I visited Mansfield Zoo on 11.01.2023. I arrived just before the gates opened at 10am. The property is entered via a long tree-lined driveway, with Bison and Water Buffalo grazing on either side of the road. Both herds had young calves.
Water Buffalo
There was a small gravel carpark, and ticket sales were at a table on the verandah of an old farmhouse. My ticket cost $20.
I was given a map which included lots of the individual animals names. Probably not appropriate at a large public zoo, but it’s nice at these smaller parks to make it more personal, especially when some of the animals are hands on.
Entering through the gate, the first exhibit is an aviary with Galah and Little Corella.
Galah and Little Corella aviary
Then an enclosure for Common Marmoset. The mesh makes them a little difficult to view, but it’s spacious and works for the animals.
Common Marmoset enclosure
I decided to do the outside paddocks first as the day was going to be hot, then I could check out the smaller, shadier exhibits in the middle of the zoo later. The first paddock held a flighty group of Blackbuck.
Blackbuck paddock
Blackbuck
The big paddocks at the back are on a scenic hillside and Mansfield Zoo feels more like a farm than a zoo for the most part which I quite enjoyed. The first paddock held spotted and black Fallow Deer, as well as some beautiful Domestic Horses. If it were me, I would feature the horses more, especially if they are purebred.
Fallow Deer and horse paddock
Fallow Deer fawn
Fallow Deer
Fallow Deer
The second paddock held Fallow Deer and one Arabian Camel. There was an adjoining paddock with a second camel.
Camel paddocks
Arabian Camel
There was an enclosure that was signed for alligator, but looked empty. I don’t think Mansfield’s cold winters would work for an outdoor crocodilian exhibit.
There is a farm dam with an island which was home to Domestic Chicken. The dam has plenty of wild birds, including a nesting pair of Australasian Grebe.
Dam
Nesting wild Australasian Grebe
Within the grounds there were free-ranging Alpaca, Fallow Deer, Sambar, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Helmeted Guineafowl, Domestic Duck and Indian Peafowl. Upon entry I was offered a $2.50 feed bucket. I opted not to get one because I had my camera and didn’t want to juggle both, but all the kids had buckets and were having the time of their lives feeding the deer.
Free-range Alpaca
Free-range Fallow Deer
On the hillside, there was a paddock for Llama.
Llama
Next was an exhibit for Maned Wolf. I did see one as she moved from one shelter to another but that was it. Even though they are an impressive species, it is understandable why they don’t work as a crowd-pleasing display animal, they are too elusive. The maned wolf at Mansfield are Quinta and Delta, two females born at Altina in 2019 and transferred to Mansfield in 2021.
Maned Wolf enclosure
Maned Wolf
TBC...
Water Buffalo
There was a small gravel carpark, and ticket sales were at a table on the verandah of an old farmhouse. My ticket cost $20.
I was given a map which included lots of the individual animals names. Probably not appropriate at a large public zoo, but it’s nice at these smaller parks to make it more personal, especially when some of the animals are hands on.
Entering through the gate, the first exhibit is an aviary with Galah and Little Corella.
Galah and Little Corella aviary
Then an enclosure for Common Marmoset. The mesh makes them a little difficult to view, but it’s spacious and works for the animals.
Common Marmoset enclosure
I decided to do the outside paddocks first as the day was going to be hot, then I could check out the smaller, shadier exhibits in the middle of the zoo later. The first paddock held a flighty group of Blackbuck.
Blackbuck paddock
Blackbuck
The big paddocks at the back are on a scenic hillside and Mansfield Zoo feels more like a farm than a zoo for the most part which I quite enjoyed. The first paddock held spotted and black Fallow Deer, as well as some beautiful Domestic Horses. If it were me, I would feature the horses more, especially if they are purebred.
Fallow Deer and horse paddock
Fallow Deer fawn
Fallow Deer
Fallow Deer
The second paddock held Fallow Deer and one Arabian Camel. There was an adjoining paddock with a second camel.
Camel paddocks
Arabian Camel
There was an enclosure that was signed for alligator, but looked empty. I don’t think Mansfield’s cold winters would work for an outdoor crocodilian exhibit.
There is a farm dam with an island which was home to Domestic Chicken. The dam has plenty of wild birds, including a nesting pair of Australasian Grebe.
Dam
Nesting wild Australasian Grebe
Within the grounds there were free-ranging Alpaca, Fallow Deer, Sambar, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Helmeted Guineafowl, Domestic Duck and Indian Peafowl. Upon entry I was offered a $2.50 feed bucket. I opted not to get one because I had my camera and didn’t want to juggle both, but all the kids had buckets and were having the time of their lives feeding the deer.
Free-range Alpaca
Free-range Fallow Deer
On the hillside, there was a paddock for Llama.
Llama
Next was an exhibit for Maned Wolf. I did see one as she moved from one shelter to another but that was it. Even though they are an impressive species, it is understandable why they don’t work as a crowd-pleasing display animal, they are too elusive. The maned wolf at Mansfield are Quinta and Delta, two females born at Altina in 2019 and transferred to Mansfield in 2021.
Maned Wolf enclosure
Maned Wolf
TBC...
