Sorry it’s taken so long to post this, I’ve been busy getting back into the swing of things after my holiday.
I visited Tasmania Zoo on 18/09/2024, and this will be my mini “review/news update” (nothing on the scale of
@WhistlingKite24 reviews). I’ll at some point also upload all my pictures from my trip, most of which consist of exhibit layouts.
Part 1 – Thoughts
Tasmania Zoo is a wonderful little zoo situated in a green valley tucked away in the hills outside of Launceston. Unfortunately, I visited on a day when the weather was anything but pleasant. It was 8 degrees, chilly, rainy, and very windy, which meant many of the tropical species were understandably hiding away in their dens. Despite this, I still managed to witness some animals that I hadn’t seen before, including a Sri Lankan Leopard and De Brazza’s monkey.
However, the weather did energize the cold-adapted species, The Tasmanian Devils were particularly active, darting around their enclosures and even letting out some of their characteristic screams. The Snow Leopard, Sikari, was also in her element, dragging a carcass up to a perch in the rain. Nepalese Red Pandas were seen climbing all over their exhibit, while the Fairy Penguins were zipping through the water. This got me thinking - Tassie Zoo could benefit from acquiring more cold-adapted species. American Bison, Japanese macaques, Himalayan Tahr, Barbary Sheep, some seals, or maybe even Polar Bear could be great additions to their collection, especially given the area's cooler climate.
- Sikari up on her perch
Tasmania Zoo has a somewhat utilitarian approach to its enclosures. The exhibits are very functional, and the use of shipping containers as animal back-of-house facilities is quite clever, cost-efficient, and charming. While some might criticize the lack of intricate theming or immersive environments, I believe there’s beauty in simplicity. I’d rather see a zoo focus on quality animal care and suitable enclosures than flashy adventure playgrounds or elaborate themes (ahem! Adelaide and Melbourne). It’s all about showcasing the animals, and Tasmania Zoo delivers in that respect. Tassies displays are much more enclosures rather than exhibits imo.
- The Maned Wolf enclosure is an example of Tassies charming Utilitarianism
- Tasmanian Devil enclosure
- Serval enclosure
- The Tufted Capuchin Island is potentially the most stylized and themed (spot the faux-croc) enclosure at the zoo
One nice touch was a faux exhibit dedicated to the extinct Tasmanian Tiger, which was a respectful homage to the island's lost apex predator. However, not everything was perfect. I wasn’t impressed with the Snow Leopard exhibit. It had no foliage at all, leaving the young female Sikari, quite exposed to the elements. Although she’s clearly adapted to cold climates, I think a little more shelter or vegetation could enhance her welfare and make the enclosure more attractive. Otherwise, it's just a pile of rocks.
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- Snow Leopard enclosure
Another aspect I felt was lacking was the ungulates, especially as coming from a farm I enjoy seeing large herding herbivores more than any other animals at a zoo. Transporting larger animals over to Tas on the ferry is understandably difficult, but the zoo’s two zebra and three giraffes seemed somewhat out of place. Despite having expansive exhibits, they looked a bit sad and lonely, especially considering the lack of any other hoofstock.
- Two lonely Plains Zebra.
On a more positive note, the zoo map (accessible on the zoo website), I liked the aerial shot and it was incredibly easy to use, with a simple numbering system that made navigating the zoo a breeze. I also didn’t notice many repeated exhibits, which is always a good sign. There were a few duplicate enclosures for Tasmanian Devils, but considering they’re the island's stars, it’s completely justifiable. I also counted five empty enclosures, three of which were under construction. One oddity I couldn’t help but notice was the large gorilla statue sitting atop the entrance and visitor centre. Given that Tasmania Zoo doesn’t house any gorillas or great apes, it seemed like an odd choice. There are plenty of other species they could have highlighted instead!
- Tasmania Zoo Entrance
All in all, Tasmania Zoo is a charming, no-frills zoo with a solid focus on animal care. Despite the weather, I enjoyed my visit and look forward to seeing how the zoo evolves in the future.
Part 1 – News/Speculation
During my visit, I got to speak to one young keeper and the reception lady who sold us our tickets on the way out (it was a quiet day so we could have a long chat). Both were helpfulish but the keeper was a little reticent, she later revealed she also helped run the zoo's social media (common for a small zoo) and kept referring me to follow Tassies social media for any news or updates. She did however clue me into two pieces of news (she wouldn't confirm directly annoyingly). I asked her about enclosures numbered 28 and 18 on the map both of which were experiencing the zoos majority of construction and she confirmed
- Tasmania Zoo plans on receiving Spotted Hyena for enclosure 18 (still under construction)
- Tasmania Zoo will be receiving an animal with a nocturnal viewing den (most likely a Cape Porcupine IMO) for enclosure 28 (this previously housed crocodile). The only other species I could think of would be Bilbies? Furthermore, 18 was much more complete than enclosure 28.
Tasmania Zoo - future Hyena enclosure? (number 18 on the map)
- Signage in the internal section of the former crocodile exhibit (number 28 on map)
The reception staff member provided an additional 2 pieces of information
- Tasmania Zoo plans on acquiring a second Sri Lankan Leopard (I assume for breeding purposes though unconfirmed). As evident the Sri Lankan leopard enclosure has a secondary similarly sized enclosure in the back. This isn't present in the Lion, Tiger, or Snow Leopard exhibits. So I assume this would be for breeding?
- Tasmania Zoo seems to have no current plans for their aging tigers though both the reception lady and keeper seemed confident the species wouldn't be leaving the zoo.
- Sri Lankan Leopard exhibit with two additional smaller exhibits featured behind
Apologies for any typos, feel free to ask questions
