I remember a few years ago that they did announce on tv with the then state government that they had picked out an area of land for an open range zoo for Perth. As I can remember the then state government lost the state election so the idea was sunk with it with the pledged money. Another open range zoos would of been good for larger species not just for Perth Zoo itself but as a extra holder of large open range species such as hippos and rhinos ect. I am sure there would still be something about this proposed project on the net still.
Perth Zoo Tricia the elephant
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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I remember this too.
I believe at the time they only went through reviewed planning and environmental risks and opportunities associated with the potential use of the proposed site. It was located in the Avon Valley.
The plan was to use 700 hectares of land to display elephants, bears, lions, pygmy hippopotamuses, baboons, giraffes and Australian animals.
That’s right. There’s an article about it here:
Perth’s open-range zoo is cancelled
Mr Barnett’s plan was to use 700ha of land vested with the Department of Parks and Wildlife in the embankments of the Avon Valley to display elephants, bears, lions, pygmy hippopotamuses, baboons, giraffes and Australian animals.
It was going to cost up to $200 million and take five to 10 years to get off the ground.
In addition to holding large animals, it would also allow the zoo to breed several species that they don’t have room to breed at the city. Apparently they decided to cease breeding Malayan sun bears due to the lack of space. The move of species like elephants and rhinoceros to the open range site would have allowed each respective site to specialise - with Perth holding medium to small species; as well as bachelor herds of larger species.
@Zoofan15 @Zorro @Jambo
The time is ripe for a private zoo on the scale of DD, Altina, Nat', Wildlife HQ to be established within an hour or two's driving distance from Perth. It would be appreciated by the residents of Perth and nearby rural hubs plus would be an asset in partnering with PZ (as opposed to a rivalry like Taronga and Sydney Zoo) on species programs, could accommodate some of the species that Perth no longer wishes to focus on (Sun Bears for example) as well as being an opportunity to have some species return to WA such as Pygmy Hippos, Chimpanzees, Vervet Monkeys, Maned Wolves and Leopards or Cheetahs perhaps just to name a few (as well as new species like Bison and American Alligators to name a possible two). I know that Ranger Red has his park near Perth but that is set up as a focus on Aussie wildlife which is great, but I think another (exotic species holder) zoo albeit private and smaller would be fantastic for the near-to-Perth region, and wish financial backers would jump on the opportunity asap.
The time is ripe for a private zoo on the scale of DD, Altina, Nat', Wildlife HQ to be established within an hour or two's driving distance from Perth. It would be appreciated by the residents of Perth and nearby rural hubs plus would be an asset in partnering with PZ (as opposed to a rivalry like Taronga and Sydney Zoo) on species programs, could accommodate some of the species that Perth no longer wishes to focus on (Sun Bears for example) as well as being an opportunity to have some species return to WA such as Pygmy Hippos, Chimpanzees, Vervet Monkeys, Maned Wolves and Leopards or Cheetahs perhaps just to name a few (as well as new species like Bison and American Alligators to name a possible two). I know that Ranger Red has his park near Perth but that is set up as a focus on Aussie wildlife which is great, but I think another (exotic species holder) zoo albeit private and smaller would be fantastic for the near-to-Perth region, and wish financial backers would jump on the opportunity asap.
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Perhaps one of the States billionaires could step up as a gift to the public of Western Australia
That’s a great idea. Western Australia is lacking in zoos (notably an open range zoo) and Perth would greatly benefit from having an open range zoo to work alongside as Taronga, Melbourne and Adelaide Zoo do.
It would be preferable to see them operate under the umbrella of Perth Zoo - a rivalry (as we’ve seen with Taronga/Sydney) benefits no one.
Perth could focus on the rainforest biomes - South East Asia, South Asia and Central Africa; while the open range zoo focussed on the plains biomes of South Asia, North America and Africa.
If the land could be set aside at least for now perhaps funding could be found later?
Sourcing land should definitely be the priority. Generally speaking, land only increases in value. Infrastructure including exhibits can be built as and when funding allows; with guest facilities built as the final step. Dubbo operated (with animals) for at least a year prior to opening.
Totally.
Waroona (-32.807790, 115.757466) comes to mind as its less than 2 hours from the northernmost
suburbs of Perth and less than 2 hours from the Busselton/Margaret River region which has a lot of residents whom some of may appreciate a zoo within (reasonable) driving distance (and Bunbury and Mandurah both are even closer which have big populations too).
(Waroona is actually a farmland locality, Prestons Beach next door is the closest 'town' but thought as land would be the issue and just off the highway would probably be better so long as there's enough distance for the animals not to be disturbed by car noises)
Waroona (-32.807790, 115.757466) comes to mind as its less than 2 hours from the northernmost
suburbs of Perth and less than 2 hours from the Busselton/Margaret River region which has a lot of residents whom some of may appreciate a zoo within (reasonable) driving distance (and Bunbury and Mandurah both are even closer which have big populations too).
(Waroona is actually a farmland locality, Prestons Beach next door is the closest 'town' but thought as land would be the issue and just off the highway would probably be better so long as there's enough distance for the animals not to be disturbed by car noises)
That looks like a suitable site. It’s just over an hour from Perth Zoo, which is ideal. It’s within the catchment of Perth city for a day trip, which means people would be likely to visit both - similar to Adelaide and Monarto; Melbourne and Werribee. It’s a shame Taronga and Dubbo are so far apart as it makes transfers an arduous process logistically - even though the facilities have the cooperation of each other.
Tributes to Tricia
There’s been a number of pieces on Tricia across the Australian news channels. This piece by 9News details a memorial walk for Tricia - a series of tributes including photos laid out along her daily walking route:
Another article mentioned Permai didn’t leave her side in the 24 hours following Tricia’s death and that the exhibit has been closed to give her privacy during this time.
Another tribute has come from Perth’s Council House, who lit up the facade of their building with this image:
Photo source: Council House lights up Perth with beautiful Tricia tribute
It’s very clear how much Tricia meant to Western Australia.
Ash
There’s been a number of pieces on Tricia across the Australian news channels. This piece by 9News details a memorial walk for Tricia - a series of tributes including photos laid out along her daily walking route:
Another article mentioned Permai didn’t leave her side in the 24 hours following Tricia’s death and that the exhibit has been closed to give her privacy during this time.
Another tribute has come from Perth’s Council House, who lit up the facade of their building with this image:
Photo source: Council House lights up Perth with beautiful Tricia tribute
It’s very clear how much Tricia meant to Western Australia.
Ash
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@Zoofan15 So heartbreaking for poor Permai. Glad that Tricia had a decent long life and am sure she felt the love from her doting keepers and visitors alike. Yeah she really meant so much to Perthites (and personally haven't lived there for 28 years but everyone in my family knew her by name, have even been texting with cousins and fellow animal lovers about how sad it is). Thanks for finding all the beautiful tribute links though and for sharing about how poor Permai has been going. Hope it gets better for Permai in terms of her grief soon, that's very emotionally powerful that she didn't leave Tricia's (body's) side, my sister was wiping tears out of her eyes just then when I read the posts and its got me almost the same. But glad Tricia got to have 65 years of life where the last 30 were a lot better than the 30 before that. Could Burma join Permai and then go to Dubbo together?
Tricia was probably Australasia’s most well known elephant given the time she lived at the zoo. Generations to come will be able to visit her
given she’s being donated to the WA Museum to continue her legacy. Rajah has similarly resided at the Auckland War Memorial Museum following his death in 1936 and been visited by generations of people.
I assume you mean Burma (Anjalee is already at Dubbo). I think Burma being sent to Perth is an ideal solution to provide them both with companionship over the next two years (the length of time to export them to the US); but I can say with near certainty they won’t go to Dubbo. Dubbo are limited on space (they refused Burma previously) and at this stage, would even struggle to accomodate Pak Boon and Tang Mo from Taronga.
A transfer to Werribee could work though. They’d be looking at a similar time frame to a US export given Werribee’s facility won’t be up and running until 2024, but the transfer would be a lot easier to arrange (and fund). This transfer would give Werribee a herd of seven adult cows, which safe guards against the possibility of a succession of male calves titling the gender balance of their herd.
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
It's a real shame Perth never got an open range zoo up and running. I also think it's unlikely they ever will, new zoos aren't as common as they once were. It's amazing comparing the glut of zoos in some states like NSW which has both Tarongas, Altina, Sydney, Mogo, and a plethora of smaller parks to states like WA which only has Perth Zoo, bar some smaller wildlife parks.
Apparently there has been some chatter from the current state government about the potential for an open-range facility again (I've only heard this second-hand, so don't ask me for proof!). I wouldn't put much money on it happening and if it did it would be small scale (collection rather than land) to begin with.
Pinjarra in the south and Chittering in the north have both been previous suggested locations for an open-range zoo, but Waroona looks like a good bet too.
Tricia is going to be buried:
REVEALED: Plan for beloved Tricia the elephant’s body
Apparently Perth Zoo have decided that Tricia will be buried at a yet to be determined site at the zoo. Presumably they’ll look at carrying this out in conjunction with building a fountain or other monument to her at the zoo.
I have to say I’m a little disappointed. As a museum exhibit, Tricia could have been preserved for a decades to come and enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people as she was in life.
Burying her is the most anthropomorphic course of action - and I don’t mean that in a critical context, as she’s fondly remembered and respected by many (including myself). The alternatives are incineration (the usual course of action for a zoo animal); and display in a museum. The latter probably felt too far removed from recognising her as an individual and everything that was special about her.
I think they’d like Tricia to be memorialised by memories and photos of Tricia when she was alive rather than just a display of her in a museum. For many of those who knew her well, it would make sense to bury her, as she was very special to the city of Perth. As many news articles stated; she was more than just an elephant.