Australia Zoo New exhibits for Australia Zoo
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I can see what look like both Asian and an African elephant in the enclosure photos.
What elephants do they currently hold?
Do they plan to concentrate on one or other species, get a bull and(hopefully) breed them, or is it just a 'display only with older animals' type situation?
What elephants do they currently hold?
Do they plan to concentrate on one or other species, get a bull and(hopefully) breed them, or is it just a 'display only with older animals' type situation?
Sorry, I see first part of my question has been answered on previous page.
But 2nd part is still valid as far as the future is concerned....
I have no idea if they want to breed in the future, but for now it`s only exhibiting old females with no possibility of breeding. The 3 females are much too old to breed, and the elephant enclosure is not equipped for a bull, you can argue if the fence is safe for females... it`s probably ok for these 3 old ex-circus girls who are managed in direct contact with keepers never far, though. To house a bull the Australia Zoo needed to fence in a 2nd yard.
And there are no bulls availible in Australia and no females in breeding age, so they needed to import young elephants from Asia, with all the problems... and no one knows if the asian countries will issue more expert permits after all the fuss about the Thei elephants for Melbourne and Taronga.
Many open questions and even if the Irwin`s want to breed elephants, it is far from sure that it will actually happen.
And there are no bulls availible in Australia and no females in breeding age, so they needed to import young elephants from Asia, with all the problems... and no one knows if the asian countries will issue more expert permits after all the fuss about the Thei elephants for Melbourne and Taronga.
Many open questions and even if the Irwin`s want to breed elephants, it is far from sure that it will actually happen.
Australia Zoo have spent millions upon millions of dollars on developing an elephant exhibit for 3 very healthy but 'on their way out' non-breeders. theyve also indicated, repeatedly, their long-term commitment to the regional breeding program. so go figure!!!
in the future i think we will see Australia Zoo importing new animals as they realise what should be a key role in the management strategy for the species...
in the future i think we will see Australia Zoo importing new animals as they realise what should be a key role in the management strategy for the species...
I agree with glyn that the Australia will most likely try to import new elephants. But I am pretty sure that they did not spend millions of dollars on the elephant enclosure - there is no barn, and the fencing is very simple. The only thing that cost some money is the pool and the fake trees...
Bullens Elephants
Firstly with elephants the enclosure barriers trength rarely has much to do with keeping them in. it is a mental thing. It depends on the elephants training and enclosures as it grows up and lives it's life. I'm not saying an angry elephant wouldn't break through the barrier but I have seen mahouts using a piece of string to tie the elephants to trees. they are very sensitive so this slight tension when they move makes them think they are being held by chains... (elephants in asia usually always have a chain around one leg anyway). As these girls grew up in the circus and on an open property on the outskirts of sydney they might even be able to be kept in by a fence no bigger than a single wire. This is how most circuses keep in their animals and alot of the time the "hot wire" isn't even turned on. As for the breeding program, or housing elephants. I would say they will atleast try to get more into the country. There may be another joint import with another Australian Zoo. The bullens own the elephants not Australia zoo, i believe on a contract basis so if he really wanted to he could pack them up and take them home. Australia Zoo wouldn't have spent so much money on an exhibit only to have it become empty.
Firstly with elephants the enclosure barriers trength rarely has much to do with keeping them in. it is a mental thing. It depends on the elephants training and enclosures as it grows up and lives it's life. I'm not saying an angry elephant wouldn't break through the barrier but I have seen mahouts using a piece of string to tie the elephants to trees. they are very sensitive so this slight tension when they move makes them think they are being held by chains... (elephants in asia usually always have a chain around one leg anyway). As these girls grew up in the circus and on an open property on the outskirts of sydney they might even be able to be kept in by a fence no bigger than a single wire. This is how most circuses keep in their animals and alot of the time the "hot wire" isn't even turned on. As for the breeding program, or housing elephants. I would say they will atleast try to get more into the country. There may be another joint import with another Australian Zoo. The bullens own the elephants not Australia zoo, i believe on a contract basis so if he really wanted to he could pack them up and take them home. Australia Zoo wouldn't have spent so much money on an exhibit only to have it become empty.
yass - no doubt the australia zoo elephant enclosure cost a fraction of what melbourne and taronga zoos spent - however, whilst i australia zoo is certainly got an aweful lot more money than most private zoos, i suspect terri irwin isn't half as loaded as some people might expect. the exhibit does indeed have a barn and it would have been a big investment for the zoo. they certinaly intend on becoming part of the regional breeding program for asian elephants, and the other zoos include them as such, but teh big question is "where will they get more elephants?". importing isn't going to be easy at all, especially if they anaimals come from thailand and not a zoo. and what zoo will give up breeding age elephants? my guess is its not going to be easy especially not for a private zoo.
secondly, as the melbourne keeper explained to me on this very topic.. australia zoo will have to invest in building bull facilities with bull-proof fences, something they currently dont have (noor need to). even if they did, he mentioned some concern about sending a bull to a zoo that has not staff experinced with bulls, who have to be managed much more professionally.
i suspect it hasn't gotten any easier without steve irwin around. i could almost imagine an trade with another zoo overseas for elephants taking place whilst he was alive. sadly, i just don't think neither terri nor bindi and going to be able to live upto the marketing power-housing he was able to achieve.
where will australia zoo get more elephants from? they are probably asking themselves the same question!!
secondly, as the melbourne keeper explained to me on this very topic.. australia zoo will have to invest in building bull facilities with bull-proof fences, something they currently dont have (noor need to). even if they did, he mentioned some concern about sending a bull to a zoo that has not staff experinced with bulls, who have to be managed much more professionally.
i suspect it hasn't gotten any easier without steve irwin around. i could almost imagine an trade with another zoo overseas for elephants taking place whilst he was alive. sadly, i just don't think neither terri nor bindi and going to be able to live upto the marketing power-housing he was able to achieve.
where will australia zoo get more elephants from? they are probably asking themselves the same question!!
Australia Zoos head elephant keeper does have experience with bulls. As far as I know he grew up with one. It will also not be that hard for the zoo to get elephant keepers. that is a job many people are willing to move overseas to do. Australia zoo is doing very well financially alot better than public zoos. I'd estimate atleast $50,000,000 through the gates then there is retail, Food and beverage (which is the primary source of income for the majority of zoos and wildlife parks), special tours, royalties from current and past documentaries. It will be a long time before Australia Zoo will have to start worrying about how they are going to pay for anything. Now that Taronga and melobourne did get their elephants it makes it easier for any other zoo to import these animals. The only thing that will be able to stop future imports is if the government place an outright ban on importing elephants fullstop. Why? With the two city zoos and I stress city zoos arguments for import any zoo that has similar facilities or can better those facilities (example larger space like Aust. Zoos off exhibit area) Then if that zoos permit is denied by the government that opens them up for legal action against the federal government. a case which I'm sure a rich private zoo will win.
but when aust zoo get them , i feel there will beless oposition, when they build supplementary facilities, they will the best in the world. there is 30 acres out abck of zoo where the 3 girls sepnd some f there time, with a huge lake. the zoo will do the best they can, i mean look at the supp tiger facilities!
Australia Zoo certainly does have plans to join the regional breeding program. While Steve's untimely death may have effected the immediacy and taken away a bit of political clout which may slow the process down, it is still on the agenda.
I was there in May and the keepers were saying that they wish to incorporate the bullen's girls with the new elephants over a lengthy period, so that any new elephants will be able to learn from example in relation to behaviours.
Considering the Bullens girls are all around 50, it would suggest that it would happen sooner rather than later.
I was there in May and the keepers were saying that they wish to incorporate the bullen's girls with the new elephants over a lengthy period, so that any new elephants will be able to learn from example in relation to behaviours.
Considering the Bullens girls are all around 50, it would suggest that it would happen sooner rather than later.
so far the zoo hasn't applied for import with the department of environment and heritage. at least its not published on the web. that could mean they are years and years off.
if a zoo imported elephants from another zoo - there would be very little outlets for legal opposition. australia zoo forged excellent relationships with a number of zoos such as singapore, which is apparently working alongside our zoos. however giving up a breedng age elephant - particuarly a breeding cow is a pretty big ask. not saying it couldn't happen, but with the US zoos battling population decline and the european program probably looking after itself primarily also, it may leave little options for them in aquiring asian elephants. certainly, i imagine that australia zoo would be rightly very wary about going through what our other zoos did.
if a zoo imported elephants from another zoo - there would be very little outlets for legal opposition. australia zoo forged excellent relationships with a number of zoos such as singapore, which is apparently working alongside our zoos. however giving up a breedng age elephant - particuarly a breeding cow is a pretty big ask. not saying it couldn't happen, but with the US zoos battling population decline and the european program probably looking after itself primarily also, it may leave little options for them in aquiring asian elephants. certainly, i imagine that australia zoo would be rightly very wary about going through what our other zoos did.
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You're quite right about the close ties between us and Australia Zoo. Keeper exchanges will be commencing by the end of the year. Steve was very keen on learning ele and primate husbandry and i'm pretty sure Singapore has/will commit some animals to Australia Zoo.
We don't have any intention to export any of our 8 female eles, but our 6 year old bull will need a new home eventually. We could probably help secure eles from Indonesia, but the problem with that is subspecies difference. Indonesian zoos hold mostly E.m.sumatranus. Another option would be Malaysian zoos.
We don't have any intention to export any of our 8 female eles, but our 6 year old bull will need a new home eventually. We could probably help secure eles from Indonesia, but the problem with that is subspecies difference. Indonesian zoos hold mostly E.m.sumatranus. Another option would be Malaysian zoos.
That is very much the same scenario as at Jersey Zoo after Gerald Durrell died. He was the big fundraiser with the books and TV etc and without him they floundered for money. In the last few years they've really struggled and have done a lot of 'rebranding' and marketing to try and get fully back on course.
Steve Irwin I found acutely embarassing to watch on the TV as I didn't appreciate his 'full-on' approach and 'wrangling' techniques... (sorry you Aussie fans, I appreciate he's a national hero). Anyway, there's no denying his draw-power and his Zoo will no doubt suffer from his premature demise.
no offence taken. of my personal experience about 9 in 10 were embarassed by him and the rest were from queensland....
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