New exhibits for Australia Zoo » Australia Zoo

13-08-2007

I did see something that looked suitable for a Lemur Island down the end past the elephants and tigers ... didn't think to take a photo. Definitely a fair way from completion - no footpaths in place yet and it looked pretty rough.

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Sim'

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14-08-2007

Is there a sand pit at Australia Zoo's ele exhibit? Elephants (at least the ones in Singapore) seem to love sand baths.

14-08-2007

No sandpit as such, but there is a large pile of dirt there which apparently the elephants love playing in.

The keepers wash down the elephants each day and scrub them clean (the elephants really enjoy it and it gives the keepers a chance to check them out thoroughly) and apparently, immediately after they are finished the elephant will head for that pile of dirt and toss dirt all over themselves (you can see in the photo below the elephant in the background on the pile of dirt who had just finished her clean).

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Sim'

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14-08-2007

Ah yes, i see the pile of dirt. I guess its kinda like throwing on powder to dry themselves?

14-08-2007

protects their skin from the sun, insects etc....

14-08-2007

I will ask them at Aust zoo on my next visit if they are going to use sand and I have a few other qestions for them.

14-08-2007

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?

14-08-2007

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....

15-08-2007

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.

15-08-2007

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...

16-08-2007

okay. Thanks for those two replies. Very different opinions but strangely, combined together they still give an idea of what the future might hold there for elephants In other words, its totally 'up in the air' at present

16-08-2007

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...

16-08-2007

i beleive there is a barn like set up out the back.

Bullens Elephants
16-08-2007

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.

16-08-2007

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!!