Ringtailed Lemurs » Alma Park Zoo

Ringtailed Lemurs
13-01-2008

Brisbanes Alma park zoo has now opened a new exhibit for Ringtailed Lemurs, the five females from New Zealand will have a new Island home.

14-01-2008

That's good news. In some ways I like Alma Park and in some ways I don't. Can't stand the old concrete and iron monkey cages. But they are trying to improve things. Glad to see that they have a new exhibit. Maybe I'll visit again soon. I've often wondered how they are going to survive against The Australia Zoo.

14-01-2008

I guess they are looking for a unrelated male now

14-01-2008

The Australasian zoo community needs just a few more zoos like Alma Park. even if only one or two more opened, could you imagine how much better it would be for our managed species if a few smaller zoos could hold a couple extra otters, lemurs, gibbons, tree kangaroos, cassowary, red pandas, tigers, tamarins, fishing cats etc. would be of great benifit.
in the future perhaps Symbio, the Hunter Valley Zoo and the Tasmanian Park plus Gorge Wildlife Park could help to realise this goal

14-01-2008

I could not agree more with this Glyn, smaller zoos such as Mogo and others would be a good back up for the major zoos around oz, maybe our big zoos could work out some plan with them to work as a back up for managed species

14-01-2008

well i think thats what is happening more often and probably will only increase in the future. i remember when Mogo became the first private holder of Sumatran Tigers although this did later on result in 'illigitemate' cubs.
cotton top tamarins are now widely distributed and red pandas are the subject of frequent private to non-private transactions. otters too, and fishing cats now at Crocodylus Park. i can understand of course the reluctance of the major zoos to enter too quickly into programs with these smaller zoos though. a professional relationship does need to be fostered so that species programs can be accurately formulated. ie the BIG zoos need to know that the SMALL zoo will also follow breeding recomendations closely and not compromise regional planning. as well, small zoos are at greater financial risk so the BIG zoos could be wary about that too. we all know what happens to valuable animals when things go bust.
but all in all a reliable, professionaly managed small zoo or 5 would be a great asset to our zoo community.

14-01-2008

There are also fishing cats and agouti at Gorge Wildlife Park and Otters, and Cotton tops, Common Marmosets

15-01-2008

It's suprising where otters can turn up. There are/were otters at Underwater Worlsd on the Sunshine Coast. Qld. But this is a great role fopr the smaller zoos, the one at Woolloongong certainly seems to be heading this and great for them.

31-01-2008

From a press item:

Newest Attraction in Alma Park Zoo – Rare Lemur
January 2008

Alma Park Zoo is the first Zoo in Queensland to exhibit this threatened species and is proud to announce the addition of 5 Ring-tailed Lemur.

A dedicated Island sanctuary has been constructed in the middle of our lake and is the new home for these elegant and entertaining animals. As part of the management program for this specie Alma Park Zoo will assist stud keepers in their efforts to conserve and breed the endangered Ring-tailed Lemur.

They have made the long trip from Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand and after quarantine in both NZ and Australia have arrived at Brisbane's Alma Park Zoo. Like most Lemurs, the Ring-tailed Lemur is threatened in Madagascar mainly because of habitat loss due to fires, overgrazing by livestock and tree-cutting for charcoal production. They are very sociable, preferring to live in groups of up to 25 individuals. After a gestation period of 134-138 days, the female bears one, sometimes two, offspring.

31-01-2008

from a survival perspective maybe what's best for a small zoo like alma, faced with what will only become even greater competition with australia zoo, is to specialise.

i suspect the "alma primate park" would do better at carving a niche for itself than it would remaining the poorer, smaller of two "zoos"...

31-01-2008

They actually have about 5 species of primates already. This would be a great idea and is probably the only way they could survive. I personally would hate to see the zoo close.

31-01-2008

Great minds think alike, patrick (flattering myself...) and I had that same idea, though you beat me to the post.

Alma should become a specialised primate collection. Get rid of all other mammals (a variety of birds is O.K.), increase their primate representation and get themselves a good publicist. Instead of being a small, general also-ran they could be a leader in the field in Queensland.

31-01-2008

well, there you have it. our collective intelligence has solved all of almas problems (well not quite)

the simple fact is they are not going to be able to compete with an expanding australia zoo. they can however capitalise on their strongpoint (as jay said they already have a decent primate collection) and promote themselves as a unique attraction. people except specialist zoos for what they are. nobody whinges that there are no monkeys at jurong birdpark (and thats not because their actually are!).

with so many primate species currently in australia too (i count 37 off my head) many of which may be acquirable as surplus phase-out species and others which are in need of additional holders, its a surprise no other park has yet taken advantage of this opportunity.

someone needs to tip them off!!

31-01-2008

All they need now is one male ringtail to keep the five ladies happy

31-01-2008

keep in mind though that Australia zoo is set to open its own primate section soon with cotton top tamarins already in the zoo and i believe there are plans to aquire their own lemurs. Australia zoo is as you all say much begger and better conected in the zoo worls so im sure if they wanted to they could expand this primate collection. I know primates are always rally popular in zoos but is a zoo of just primates exciting enough to beat a few primates and elephants, tigers ect at the near by australia zoo in the minds of your average person?