Rhinos to australia Zoo » Australia Zoo

27-02-2008

Who is he? Father, brother or another relative?

27-02-2008

He is Steve Irwin's father and if the rumours are true, then I was right with my earlier statement about Bindi becoming a 'star'...

27-02-2008

geeze that was a bit abrupt jelle! it also seems a little unprompted, since nobody mentioned "elephant integration"....

anyhow, id'e just like to say that i know of soooooo many examples to the contrary. and i think its (forgive me) rather naive, attitudes like this that sees elephants kept in solitary environments.

heres some hitch-free introductions, that have happened in australia just recently involving the sort of elephants your talking about...

mek kapah, melbourne zoo. lived with only one bull for almost 30 years. integrated successfully with 3 young elephants within just over 24hrs. she is now the protective matriarch of the group and behaves very much like an elephant matriarch should.

gigi, ashtons circus. lost both companions within a very short period of time. integrated with arna, who was living solitary at stardust circus for years.

these two elephants were in turn introduced to burma, dubbo zoo, just recently. so far as i can tell all's so good so far.

often circus elephants are actually quite used to change and meeting other (circus) elephants. i have little doubt that they can often be integrated with other elephants like any other animal.

Little dissapointed by certain comments
30-03-2008

Can i just say having come on to this web site i'm a little shocked i guess you could say at the main points of discussion on these forums. That being zoo's animal collections and the priorities of zoo's. I have seen many comments in respect to certain parks and how they don't deserve certain status or are second level zoo's as they do not contain large collections of the typical megafauna, i think that if zoo's have a hope of surviving into the future i think we need to all understand that there are reasons certain species are priorities in a region and so must be focused on, this is not because our region are tight ass's it's because they understand what a zoo's role should be, places of education and of CONSERVATION not of drawing crowds or becoming a major attraction in an area. Having worked in the zoo industry in australia for half a decade now i admire our region for doing what it does and not becoming the typical "megazoo" area. I also think that attitudes towards the zoo's that aren't listed is quite disgusting, the damn zoo in mareeba hasn't had an easy time, and i admire the current owner for stepping in and doing what she's done, it's not that easy to get a zoo on it's feet after going through what that place has gone through. But saying that it would have been so much better to have the animals in regionally listed zoo is i think a very snobbish way of looking at the zoo system. And people who make such comments obviously have lost the whole point of zoo's being in place. I hope i have not offended anyone but people need to think before they walk around "knowing" everything about zoo's.

30-03-2008

Welcome to the forum, zooworker.

No, you don't offend me and I'm sure you don't offend most people on this site. (We've been offending each other for years!) Your views are quite valid.

I hope I don't offend you, however, when I point out that there are three legitimate functions of a zoo, not just two.

These are Conservation, Education and RECREATION ( that is, the provision of a recreation facility, somewhere that ordinary people can go to actually see animals "in the flesh", not just in books and on T.V.) As far as I am concerned that is just as important a function as conservation and education. I'm aware that many people wouldn't agree with that, but I would regard them as being idealistic rather than realistic.

In the U.S.A. for instance more people go to zoos each year than attend all the football and baseball games put together. They go, basically, for recreation. In doing so they are contributing financially. If they learn something along the way, so much the better.

Some zoo keepers are so unrealistic that they would prefer that the public were kept out of zoos altogether. They are kidding themselves!

31-03-2008

zooworker - firstly, i'm struggling to make clear sense of your post. i'de be interested to hear your point of view so please look are rewording it a bit more cohesively.

secondly, i dare say it seems you have your head in the clouds. i'm not sure what zoo you work for, but most of the big government funded zoos have or still do have CEO's that very much have an obsession with being not only "a major attraction in the area" but in fact "the biggest attraction in the area".
i agree very much that zoos should either manage a population sustainably or give up on that species. i'd have to wholeheartedly disagree with you that zoos are all about education and conservation. they should be, they are supposed to be, i want them to be, but they are not.

and i'm more than happy to point out a actions taken on the various zoos part, that illustrates this.

01-04-2008

[quote=Ara;44611]Welcome to the forum, zooworker.



I hope I don't offend you, however, when I point out that there are three legitimate functions of a zoo, not just two.

These are Conservation, Education and RECREATION ( that is, the provision of a recreation facility, somewhere that ordinary people can go to actually see animals "in the flesh", not just in books and on T.V.) As far as I am concerned that is just as important a function as conservation and education. I'm aware that many people wouldn't agree with that, but I would regard them as being idealistic rather than realistic.

I strongly agree Ara that RECREATION is an important reason for a zoo's existence - and people subliminally can be educated while enjoying their recreation.

I'd also like to offer another word - PRESERVATION. As we at DDZ struggle with the mountain of paperwork involved in our ARAZPA application we are continually having doubts as to the true worth of our zoo to conservation. We have no wish to return endangered species of animals to the wild, given that the conditions that caused them to become endangered in the first place still exist. We don't see that our little zoo will ever be able to raise enough funds for any worthwhile in-situ programs. We are never going to be a huge urban zoo with tens of thousands of people participating in our education programs. What CAN we do?

PRESERVATION seems to us to be the reason for our existence. We can be a repository for species that have no hope of ever being returned to the wild - house and display bachelor groups etc, individuals surplus to breeding programs for whatever reason, take part in breeding programs that are within our means - all that sort of thing.

01-04-2008

ahhh... the big discussion again "what is the function of a zoo?"

i see it like this. its okay for zoos to be concerned with RECREATION on account of the fact that if the zoo isn't fun, nobody is going to go and thus there goes the EDUCATION part. they also can play an important role in PRESERVATION like you said, which is essentially they they are a "living bank" or the worlds species. big zoos in particular also i feel have a responsibility to support CONSERVATION initiatives and to me, this is even more important that EDUCATION. this is because education comes in two categories: EDUCATION about wildlife and EDUCATION about conservation of wildlife. the latter is really only worthwhile if it sparks action, and for majority of exotic animals in the zoo, their conservation is not relevant to us. the animals live on the other side of the world. if zoos told us relevant information, like don't buy indonesian timber, maybe we could expect the australian public to make a contribution. but sadly, zoos usually play switzerland on political issues, and thus the message is usually dumbed down along the lines of "these animals are endangered due to poaching and deforestation" which means nothing. if you don't believe me, ask yourself why, after decades of hearing "poaching" and "deforestation" more species are endangered due to this than ever before. no, zoos are not too effective at EDUCATION about conservation. so in my mind its important that they better contribute by simply supporting CONSERVATION. by raising funds for NGO's conservation projects zoos can make a contribution to the conservation of the large range of exotic species they hold. zoos talk conservation so much that unless they actively support it, they are only lulling people into a false sense of security. thus, i think its important for those large zoos to be upfront and honest about their activities and what they support and in what way.

of course there is also always the PRESERVATION argument.

PRESERVATION in captivity isn't enough if we can't try to do the same for those animals in the wild. however, captive PRESERVATION of a species is important for a few reasons. firstly, its an insurance population if need be called apon for later reintroduction or genetic invigoration of the wild population. that in itself is a contribution to CONSERVATION, however not the most important aspect. secondly, its important for zoos simply to be self-sufficient with maintaining stocks otherwise they need to take animals from the wild and they become part of the very problem. in order to continue to lure visitors that can contribute to CONSERVATION they need their animals as attractions.

its not enough for zoos to be just about RECREATION anymore. they have to be about practical CONSERVATION to justify holding all those animals. they know this already. but captive breeding programs are not going to save the worlds wild places, just the animals that live in them.

so essentially, i feel that if zoos are going to keep a species they have a responsibility to help that species. that can be in either the support of its CONSERVATION in the wild and or its PRESERVATION in captivity. but what i see as irresponsible is keeping an endangered species and neither contributing to its survival in captivity or the wild.

steve, if darling downs zoo actively participates in regional programs, even as a holding institution, then it is effectively playing a role in the captive PRESERVATION element in some species CONSERVATION. like you said. it
also indirectly supports practical CONSERVATION at the bigger by freeing up money, if that larger zoo has balanced priorities.

so thats a good thing. the important part is your supporting zoos that support real CONSERVATION. and in time, hopefully you might be able to take on a more active role in raising CONSERVATION funds in your community.

oh you know what? now iv'e gone confused myself. just don't breed hybrid tigers and harp on about preserving rare cats and your probably doing okay!!!

01-04-2008

Steve, unlike most of us on this forum, you're a realist.(I guess you have to be!)
I imagine the "red tape" involved is a real pain.

I see your point,too, about the impracticality of returning animals to the wild when "the wild" is still shrinking. Things are sure going to have to turn around a lot. I wonder if they ever will?

The true value of a zoo like yours (Darling Downs) is that it does provide a home for "bachelor" and other surplus but still precious animals, as well as making possible that all-important connection with animals that people seem to need.

(Do you need to be in ARAZPA to receive such animals, or would you be "cut loose" without ARAZPA membership?)

01-04-2008

now to steer this thread totally abck in the direction it's meant to be in, the transaction of subject has taken place, with the first rhino born in south australia havinf a tree change to the glass house mountains.

Adelaide and Monarto Zoos

he is en-route to werribee, to be meet by to otehr rhino, to then be flown to brisbane- no trucks for terri's rhino- the best all the way.

01-04-2008

[quote=Zoo_Boy;44835]now to steer this thread totally abck in the direction it's meant to be in, the transaction of subject has taken place, with the first rhino born in south australia havinf a tree change to the glass house mountains.

Well done Zooboy, Lets get back on track

01-04-2008

And which are the other two rhinos? Good news that Australia Zoo is getting them, once they are on display that will be areason to visit them.

01-04-2008

Yes thats good news for Aust zoo, maybe the first species for there African Safari exhibit

01-04-2008

jay my guess would be infact werribee rhino- i think they have had 2 male calves, i am thinking no more in nz to import to oz, nor at perth or wpz.

i am guessing werribee.

01-04-2008

So a Bachelor herd to start with, well that makes sense and is needed. It's also vaguely familiar so we probably have discussed this before. Thanks Zoo_Boy. Oh and thanks for the link re the zebra foal at Dubbo.