Ballarat Wildlife Park Ballarat Wildlife Park news

@WhistlingKite24

Oh cool thanks for the news. Another cool lesser kept and displayed monitor species again by Ballarat, cool stuff.

 

A few updates from Ballarat's FB page:

• Akasha, a female hybrid tiger will soon arrive from Dreamworld joining the park's other tiger Kai.

• two wild-born Little Penguins recently arrived after being found in Sunshine Cove, NSW and were both deemed unreleasable by their carers. It's hoped they will contribute to the managed programme as new founders.

 

Other 2023 News:

On January 1st, the zoo announced that the wombat (a (0.1) named Fudge/Fudge Pudding) was re-introduced to its family and is now on exhibit.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On February 13th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) Tasmanian devil named Devina passed away.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On February 20th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) koala named Gracie passed away.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On March 15th, the zoo announced that they acquired a (1.0) Tasmanian devil named Graham from the Melbourne Zoo in Melbourne.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

 

I went to Ballarat Wildlife Park about a week ago and i didn't see any Komodo Dragons, Short Beaked Echidnas or Green Anacondas. What happened to them?

 

I'm unsure about the other two, but the Komodos were present and on display at the zoo at least a few weeks ago, based on guest social media posts. I can't imagine any transfers/deaths being unannounced either. So my guess is they were either off-display for simple reasons (routine medical, exhibit work, simply not wanting to go on display, stuff like that) or on-display but particularly well hidden.

 

They weren't on the map, are they located in the Reptile Room? I could have sworn I looked all over the zoo, I couldn't find them anywhere.

 

I've never visited myself, so I'm not sure the exact details/how noticeable the enclosure is, but according to the 2022 map from their website, it doesn't look like they're in the Reptile House itself, but rather somewhere between it and their Saltwater Crocodile exhibit.
It's also possible that if the exhibit was under construction it would be blocked off/covered in some way, which could explain you missing it.

https://wildlifepark.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/bwp-map.pdf

 

They do currently have a pair, Lava Claw and Toothless. I believe they’re kept in or around the Reptile House. Their enclosure may have been empty at the time of your visit due to renovations or something of the like; which would’ve meant they would’ve been off display.

 

Odd names! I thought most of the region's Komodos had Indonesian names like Naga, Gili, Bulan etc.

 

Nope!

The name, Toothless, is almost certainly inspired by the protagonist in 'How to train your dragon'.

I'm not sure about Lava Claw though. It could just be a reference to the stereotypical, mythical dragon, of which breathes fire or 'lava' and has claws?

 

I visited Ballarat Wildlife Park today. I found the Komodo Dragon exhibit, it was there. The echidna has passed away and the Green Anaconda is confirmed no longer there by staff.

 

On July 1st, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) kangaroo (species not specified) was born.

Kangaroo joey emerges from mumma's pouch | Ballarat Wildlife Park | Ballarat Wildlife Park · Original audio

On July 24th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) koala was born and later named Muffin.

Ballarat Wildlife Park
Milo and Muffin ❤️ | By Ballarat Wildlife Park | Facebook

On August 5th, the zoo announced that a (0.1) common wombat was born and later named Matilda.

Ballarat Wildlife Park
Ballarat Wildlife Park

On August 27th, the zoo announced that a (1.0) koala named Vegemite was born.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On September 15th, the zoo announced they opened a new cafe to the public called Crunch's Billabong Cafe which is located in Crunch's Billabong through the reptile house.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On September 30th, the zoo announced that another (1.0) koala named Popeye was born.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On October 31st, the zoo announced that another (0.0.1) koala named Lino was born.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On November 14th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) koala named Jabba was born.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On November 24th, the zoo announced that they acquired a (0.1) lace monitor which is on exhibit.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On December 4th, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) freshwater crocodile hatched.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

On December 12th, the zoo announced that they acquired a (0.0.1) king brown snake named Rex which is now on exhibit.

Royalty has arrived at the Ballarat Wildlife Park all hail "Rex" the King Brown Snake Pseudechis australis on display now | By Ballarat Wildlife Park | Facebook

On January 29th, 2024, the zoo announced that a (0.0.1) little blue penguin named Filipe hatched.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

 

On February 22nd, the zoo announced that (0.0.3) Mertens' water monitors hatched which are now on exhibit.

Ballarat Wildlife Park

 

A new group of male Southern Corroboree Frogs have arrived at Ballarat Wildlife Park. They are on-show currently - reported on social media.