Australia Zoo in Trouble » Australia Zoo

Originally Posted by patrick

nigel, i think you'll find that since the growth of the zoo was founded on the entertainment industry - continuing as a (bindi) irwin theme park, very much is their future.

what your asking is for australia zoo to not only hypothetically become just another zoo, without the theatrics, but to become a zoo comparable to melbourne or taronga or any other major zoo in the world.

i don't think thats possible with a private enterprise. i don't think just being a zoo is going to be enough for australia zoo to not only sustain itself but be able to continue to grow in the decades to come.

public zoos receive on-going funding by the government for new developments. the gates mostly just cover cover the day-to day running of the place.

if australia zoo gave up on the entertainment element what would happen?

the irwin celebrity would fizzle and with it would disappear the zoos biggest income. their nest egg would have been all spent on investments in gorillas, elephants, lemurs, animal hospitals and african safaris.

eventually renovations and new attractions would be needed to keep the ours zoo up to date. and whilst taronga zoo gets another government cash injection, australia zoo will find themselves struggling to makeup the funds from gate sales alone. as the zoo slowly begins to become more outdated less people visit and slowly its slips into trouble.

see, if australia zoo wants to play with the big guys and "live up to its name" as you put it then its imperative that they do continue up with irwin image and maintain it as more than a zoo.

the whole future of the estate is pinned on bindi not just as a child television host, but eventually she will be marketed as a sex-symbol who's not afraid to get her hands dirty. you wait and see...

Originally Posted by patrick

but eventually she will be marketed as a sex-symbol who's not afraid to get her hands dirty. you wait and see...

Originally Posted by snowleopard

Just take Britney with the boa constrictor at the MTV Music Awards a couple of years ago...add Bindi with a carpet python and the sky is the limit!

Originally Posted by jelle

I also wish that Terri would use some of those millions of Aussie dollar to set up a true conservation fund

Originally Posted by jelle

Bindi Irwin is Australia Zoo's answer to US Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton. I just wish Australia Zoo would totally move away from this showbusiness presentation of wildlife and become a serious contender in the major zoos stake.