I'm sure you all know that Australian exhibits in U.S. zoos tend to be bland, uninspiring "Walkaroo Kangabouts" with wallabies (always Bennett's), emus, sometimes kangaroos, maybe a walkthrough budgerigar or lorikeet aviary and, if you're lucky, a few reptiles or other birds. There are definitely Australian exhibits that go beyond this (my home zoo of Cleveland Metroparks is one example- along with Columbus, San Diego, etc.). Of course, there is the issue of most Australian animals not being able to be exported outside of Australia. Thoughts about how better, but realistic, Australian exhibits- especially in the U.S.- can be built and designed?
Reimagining Australian Exhibits in U.S. Zoos
- Thread starter CleZooMan
- Start date
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
Haha! I knew it would catch on!
Anyways, I think Australian exhibits need to not be so homogenized, much like African exhibits. I think Australian Adventures at the Living Desert is one of the better modern Australian exhibits in the US. Yeah, it doesn't have the flashiest lineup, but it sticks with the desert theming of the rest of the park by having species from the more arid parts of Australia.
I also think more Australia sections should have nocturnal sections (big surprise coming from me, I know
). Brookfield & LA have the right idea, so why don't more zoos do this? There's plenty of common species that could be displayed: Woylies, gliders (sugar & feather-tailed), Tawny Frogmouths, certain reptiles, & flying foxes (most likely non-Australian species as stand-ins), as well as echidnas and wombats.Haha! I knew it would catch on!
Anyways, I think Australian exhibits need to not be so homogenized, much like African exhibits. I think Australian Adventures at the Living Desert is one of the better modern Australian exhibits in the US. Yeah, it doesn't have the flashiest lineup, but it sticks with the desert theming of the rest of the park by having species from the more arid parts of Australia.
I also think more Australia sections should have nocturnal sections (big surprise coming from me, I know
I definitely agree! I forgot you were the one who came up with that phrase about Walkaroo Kangabouts. Australian Adventures at the Living Desert is one of the zoo exhibits I most want to see someday, especially for the Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies (all I ever see these days is Bennett's...) and the theming.
As for nocturnal houses, we can't forget Columbus' Roadhouse!!! It has feather-tailed gliders, tawny frogmouths, certain reptiles, wombats and some other nocturnal species (some are from Southeast Asia, however). There was some sort of bat with the feather-tailed gliders, but there isn't anymore- I believe it was some flying fox from Asia. Here is the species list for the Roadhouse as of May 2022: tawny frogmouth (2 exhibits), southern hairy-nosed wombat, halmahera gecko, binturong, Matschie's tree kangaroo, brush-tailed bettong (also outside with the koalas), Indian crested porcupine and feathertail glider. It formerly held the last tiger quolls in the US as well as banded palm civet and pygmy slow loris. Columbus' Australia exhibit stands out with koalas and especially Tasmanian devils.
Fort Wayne seems to have a decent Australian exhibit as well, but, after all, it was the zoo that removed echidnas and fruit bats for a stingray touch tank. Cleveland's Australian Adventure doesn't really fall into the Walkaroo Kangabout trap, but it could use Australian reptiles and other small animals (which it formerly had until about 2015) and maybe a couple more birds (currently kookaburra, a walk-through budgerigar/crested pigeon aviary, sulphur-crested cockatoo, emu and barn owl).
I hope there's more of a focus on more unusual Australian animals in the future instead of the same old Walkaroo Kangabouts at zoos, especially in the US, adding Australian exhibits! Time will tell, I guess...
I did 2 speculative/fantasy designs on that (one more realistic than the other). PM'd you those.
It really sounds to me like a lot of the problem is coming down more and more on the near impossibility of expanding populations or adding new species. I was optimistic for a while the Tasmanian devil population would expand until I was told they don't even breed here.
I am only familiar with three zoos' approaches - Lincoln Park, Brookfield, Milwaukee's former space and debatably Denver. Three of these zoos have spent considerable time without any dedicated Australia space, with Brookfield the most dedicated exception. Lincoln Park has never held a dedicated space. Milwaukee's exhibit was fairly simple and while I have a weird nostalgia for it I can't say it was necessarily a great exhibit nor did it have any unique species besides koala for some years. Denver is building a new exhibit. Brookfield's Australia House is a highlight to every visit and has rarities, but even that feels a hair lacking as there is a lack of carnivores and loss of the cassowary, in my opinion.
Red or Gray Kangaroo, emu and kookaburra seem to be guarantees, and Bennett's wallaby have become close to that. Cassowary, Flying Foxes and Tree Kangaroo are reasonable wants. Short-breaked echidna, koala, and multiple wombat species are rare, as are Tasmanian devils and dingo. The brush-tailed bettong I forget all about. I've read that Grey Short-Tailed Opossum is around in zoos but a lot of other especies are only held in one place. Tiger quoll are sadly gone. Platypus will almost certainly not become established in the United States, though if this did happen they could have become superstars. Not sure we've had bilby. Perenties are held in a few places but uncommon. Cape Barren Goose, Black swan and Australian pelicans are out there but I'm unsure of their holding populations. I'm missing plenty of possible species here, I'm sure. I'm skeptical anyone would start with saltwater crocodile here.
Personally, with only Brookfield as any kind of reasonable template, I think you could reasonably see four or five habitats represented -- deserts / dry forest, rainforest, grassland, reef and lakes - and a nocturnal section. I know a few zoos have had successful great barrier reef tanks, the rainforest works with tree kangaroo and cassowary, the nocturnal section can work for echidna, wombats and bats, the desert and dry forest could work for kookaburra, perentie, and others, and grassland for the standard kangaroo, wallaby and emu, maybe dingo in their own yard, and perhaps a freshwater area where black swan, pelican and platypus if possible could be kept, maybe saltwater crocodile. I am trying to avoid this sounding like a fantasy zoo, so let me cite precedent for some of these: Bronx keeps their tree kangaroo in JungleWorld, Brookfield has dry forest in the day room, grassland outdoors and a nocturnal section, and it's slipping my mind where a great barrier reef has been done but I know I have read of it here.
I am only familiar with three zoos' approaches - Lincoln Park, Brookfield, Milwaukee's former space and debatably Denver. Three of these zoos have spent considerable time without any dedicated Australia space, with Brookfield the most dedicated exception. Lincoln Park has never held a dedicated space. Milwaukee's exhibit was fairly simple and while I have a weird nostalgia for it I can't say it was necessarily a great exhibit nor did it have any unique species besides koala for some years. Denver is building a new exhibit. Brookfield's Australia House is a highlight to every visit and has rarities, but even that feels a hair lacking as there is a lack of carnivores and loss of the cassowary, in my opinion.
Red or Gray Kangaroo, emu and kookaburra seem to be guarantees, and Bennett's wallaby have become close to that. Cassowary, Flying Foxes and Tree Kangaroo are reasonable wants. Short-breaked echidna, koala, and multiple wombat species are rare, as are Tasmanian devils and dingo. The brush-tailed bettong I forget all about. I've read that Grey Short-Tailed Opossum is around in zoos but a lot of other especies are only held in one place. Tiger quoll are sadly gone. Platypus will almost certainly not become established in the United States, though if this did happen they could have become superstars. Not sure we've had bilby. Perenties are held in a few places but uncommon. Cape Barren Goose, Black swan and Australian pelicans are out there but I'm unsure of their holding populations. I'm missing plenty of possible species here, I'm sure. I'm skeptical anyone would start with saltwater crocodile here.
Personally, with only Brookfield as any kind of reasonable template, I think you could reasonably see four or five habitats represented -- deserts / dry forest, rainforest, grassland, reef and lakes - and a nocturnal section. I know a few zoos have had successful great barrier reef tanks, the rainforest works with tree kangaroo and cassowary, the nocturnal section can work for echidna, wombats and bats, the desert and dry forest could work for kookaburra, perentie, and others, and grassland for the standard kangaroo, wallaby and emu, maybe dingo in their own yard, and perhaps a freshwater area where black swan, pelican and platypus if possible could be kept, maybe saltwater crocodile. I am trying to avoid this sounding like a fantasy zoo, so let me cite precedent for some of these: Bronx keeps their tree kangaroo in JungleWorld, Brookfield has dry forest in the day room, grassland outdoors and a nocturnal section, and it's slipping my mind where a great barrier reef has been done but I know I have read of it here.
Truthfully, I think one of the big issues with Australian sections in zoos is that not many zoos are investing in the region. While I can name plenty of zoos who have invested in new African, Asian, or Neotropical complexes in recent years, I can only think of a few who have done the same with Australian complexes. Really, if zoos put as much effort into building Australian exhibits, we'd be having a much different conversation, but for now let's talk about the ones being built: most Australian exhibits being built don't focus on Australian wildlife as a whole, but are just focused on providing an exhibit for one common animal: the kangaroo. Granted, oftentimes these kangaroos are mixed with other macropods and/or emus, and perhaps a few aviaries are thrown in with cockatoos and kookaburras, but the focus of a good Australian habitat should be on much more than this, as there are other Australian species around in decent numbers, with one caveat: they aren't typically exhibited outdoors. Therefore, a good Australian complex should feature both indoor and outdoor sections. Outdoors, there can be a kangaroo/wallaby walk-through exhibit (I for one stand by these as being good exhibits when done correctly, they're popular with guests and allow a unique way of seeing the macropods), but try to incorporate at least one species other than red kangaroo and bennett's wallaby. Try to exhibit some of the rarer macropods, such as grey kangaroos, or parma, swamp, yellow-footed rock, and tammar wallabies. But, most of the Australian species can be housed in an indoor area, as the following are all well-represented in zoos:
- a number of Australian parrot species including eclectus parrots, multiple cockatoo species, etc.
- laughing kookaburras
- tawny frogmouths
- masked lapwing
- Australian wood ducks and spotted whistling ducks
- blue-faced honeyeaters
- green tree pythons
- woma pythons
- bearded dragons and frilled lizards
- carpet pythons
- fly river turtles and australian snake-necked turtles
- white's tree frogs
amongst other birds and herps also found in decent numbers in the region. This is what is necessary to develop a good Australian exhibit, ideally featuring at least one more small mammal if possible, such as koalas, or an underrepresented personal favorite: the little blue penguin!
Overall, however, rather than focus on Australia, I'd rather see zoos focus on habitats of Australasian wildlife, which in addition to those species above opens up some more options from nearby islands:
- Crowned Pigeons, Matschie's Tree Kangaroos, and Birds-of-Paradise of New Guinea
- Northern Brown Kiwi of New Zealand
- various fruit dove species
- northern sulawesi babirusa
and various other Australasian, but not Australian wildlife.
- a number of Australian parrot species including eclectus parrots, multiple cockatoo species, etc.
- laughing kookaburras
- tawny frogmouths
- masked lapwing
- Australian wood ducks and spotted whistling ducks
- blue-faced honeyeaters
- green tree pythons
- woma pythons
- bearded dragons and frilled lizards
- carpet pythons
- fly river turtles and australian snake-necked turtles
- white's tree frogs
amongst other birds and herps also found in decent numbers in the region. This is what is necessary to develop a good Australian exhibit, ideally featuring at least one more small mammal if possible, such as koalas, or an underrepresented personal favorite: the little blue penguin!
Overall, however, rather than focus on Australia, I'd rather see zoos focus on habitats of Australasian wildlife, which in addition to those species above opens up some more options from nearby islands:
- Crowned Pigeons, Matschie's Tree Kangaroos, and Birds-of-Paradise of New Guinea
- Northern Brown Kiwi of New Zealand
- various fruit dove species
- northern sulawesi babirusa
and various other Australasian, but not Australian wildlife.
Very very well said!!! I definitely agree with all your thoughts about Australia. As for Great Barrier Reef, I know the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo in Fort Wayne, IN, has a Great Barrier Reef tank... the Toledo Zoo did in 2013 as part of a temporary Australian exhibit called Wild Walkabout. I definitely agree with you about the habitats and how Australia should be more than just a generic "Outback" section. As for other possible species, what about lorikeets? They are often kept in zoos, as are budgerigars (more domestic, but still...). Sulphur-crested cockatoo and magpie goose also come to mind for Australian species. Tawny frogmouth is another fairly realistic species, too... I'd also like to see more wallabies than just Bennett's, but, unfortunately, Parma, swamp, tammar and yellow-footed rock are all much rarer in U.S. zoos than Bennett's. And what about wallaroo? I PM'd you some more ideas...
Hi Neil chace,
Very very well said! I definitely think there should be a focus on rarer macropods instead of just red kangaroos and Bennett's wallabies. My home zoo- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo- has their Wallaby Walkabout with Bennett's wallabies, red kangaroos, western gray kangaroos and wallaroos. They formerly had Parma and swamp wallabies as well. I love your ideas about birds and reptiles- what about lorikeets, budgerigars, cockatiels and/or Bourke's parrots? I know budgerigars and cockatiels are kind of "domestic" and quite a few zoos have budgerigars in their Australian areas or separate, but still. Cane toads- complete with information about how they were brought to Australia- should also be part of a good Australian area.
I also love your ideas about Australasian wildlife! And what about New Guinea Singing Dogs for New Guinea? The Tautphaus Park Zoo in Idaho Falls, Idaho, has a small New Guinea part of their Australia and New Guinea area. I believe the New Guinea area still has (it did at one time...) the singing dogs, metallic starling, Nicobar pigeon (despite not really being found in New Guinea) and green-naped pheasant-pigeon. Matschie's tree kangaroos are from New Guinea, but are often lumped together in an Australian area (as the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo does). I'd love to see Sulawesi macaques in an Australasian area, too, but I don't think there are too many holders of that species in the U.S... I know a few roadside zoos still have them.
Cheers,
CleZooMan
Spot on! I didn't realize gray kangaroos were that uncommon in zoos and didn't realize there were blue penguins in captivity.
Gray kangaroos aren't super rare in captivity, but not as common as red kangaroos and Bennett's wallabies. As for blue penguins in captivity, I know Cincinnati Zoo has them. Not sure about where else.
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
Louisville, Bronx, and Adventure Aquarium all have blue penguins, too.
Along with Birch Aquarium and Dallas World Aquarium.
It seems most zoos define their Australia exhibits with sand and stone. This is across the world rather than limited to the US.
I think it would take a large foundation population of some species to be spread and bred between the US and Europe for example, but the unique lifestyle and longevity of some species, plus their rarity in Australia stops this happening.
I don't think anyone has mentioned the Saltwater Crocodile yet-a massive conservation success, and something I'm sure could be exported as they regularly become problem animals.
Unfortunately a lot of the other problem animals the Australians would gladly export are all too common as they were introduced in the past and annihilated the native species. I'm sure if all the Cane Toads, feral cats and rabbits, rats and mice disappeared, they would be eternally grateful!
I think it would take a large foundation population of some species to be spread and bred between the US and Europe for example, but the unique lifestyle and longevity of some species, plus their rarity in Australia stops this happening.
I don't think anyone has mentioned the Saltwater Crocodile yet-a massive conservation success, and something I'm sure could be exported as they regularly become problem animals.
Unfortunately a lot of the other problem animals the Australians would gladly export are all too common as they were introduced in the past and annihilated the native species. I'm sure if all the Cane Toads, feral cats and rabbits, rats and mice disappeared, they would be eternally grateful!
Corangurilla
Well-Known Member
I was holding off on mentioning salties because I don’t think there are too many holders in the US. This is good information!
Does anybody know when the last time a saltwater crocodile was imported to the US?
Compared to the rest of the world, greys are not common as much as reds. From what I heard, the reason why greys are not commonly kept is that a big majority of the grey population are Eastern and Western hybrids. While I have heard of zoos still breeding their greys (Brookfield had a Western grey joey a while back) I would not be surprised if they are on the phase out block.
I thought that was already done frequently in the AZA based on Columbus Zoo as CleZooMan brought up and Brevard Zoo, while it has some macaws on sticks and turacos which may not fit in, they still have siamangs, Reeve's muntjac, babirusu, Visayan warty pig, which really make up for the small and predictable Australian collection. Also didn't Roger Williams Park Zoo used to have a Australasia section before it was converted to World of Adaptations?
Roger Williams did have an Australasian section. Personally, I feel that the area was better before the theme change, as back then there was the Kangaroos across the path, walk-through aviary, and chinese alligators. I don't know how frequent it is, as I'm only aware of a few facilities who do/did have Australasia habitats (Roger Williams, Columbus), or habitats themed more broadly on Islands that include Australian wildlife (Louisville). If it is more common, then I'm definitely glad that's the case!
Salties seem to be very rare in the US. The only place I've ever seen them is Reptile Gardens in South Dakota. Are freshwater crocodiles kept anywhere outside of Australia?
I also think an Australasian section of a zoo would be neat. Does that include Indonesia or just Papua New Guinea.
National Aquarium in Baltimore did or does have a freshwater crocodile, not sure which.
Australasia can take on multiple different definitions depending on how you define the zoogeographic zones. New Guinea and New Zealand are both part of Australasia, and most would consider the parts of Indonesia below Wallace's Line to be part of Australasia as well, if not more of Indonesia as well. Really it's up for debate exactly where Australasia stops and Indo-Malaysia begins, but a zoo exhibit designed after Australasia could be accurate and still contain wildlife from Indonesia and the Philippines.