Join our zoo community

A Zoochatter 50th birthday midlife crisis!

Discussion in 'Zoo Cafe' started by zooman, 3 Apr 2016.

  1. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    So always wanted a zoo and have just turned the big 50 so to ease the pain of not getting my zoo, l built my own "Lake District" exhibit at my holiday house. Under the John Coe "No Zoo" concept of inviting the animals freely into the space.

    8 month mostly weekend build time. Only contracted the digging of the ponds 1 7x2x1mt the second 2x1x1.
    Paving and construction of pool fence, lighting everything else I did :)
     
    Last edited: 3 Apr 2016
  2. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    May 2015 site to be improved :)
     

    Attached Files:

  3. savethelephant

    savethelephant Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    12 Jan 2015
    Posts:
    1,186
    Location:
    New York
    First off congratulations and many hopes to live another 50 more years:)
    Next, what animals are you hoping/planing will visit your "backyard paradise"(;))
     
  4. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    The digging begins. First major issue found concrete foundation of fence from 1920!
     

    Attached Files:

  5. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    5 tons of dromana quarry rock, when the truck dumped it I was thinking way to much turned out exactly the right amount!
     

    Attached Files:

  6. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    Fountain in far left of picture, water pumped from small pond that is filled via connecting stream that flows when pump runing. Kids love playing in their very own stream :)
     

    Attached Files:

  7. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    Of course a night wetland experience also included :)
     

    Attached Files:

  8. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    Had frogs for awhile then they disappeared :( never saw them but did hear them at night.
    A huge range of birds bathe in the stream.
    Small lizards the type that drop their tails when caught. (Childhood exp not recent)

    We have allot of parrots in the area but none ever seem to come down and drink??
     
  9. vogelcommando

    vogelcommando Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    10 Dec 2012
    Posts:
    17,732
    Location:
    fijnaart, the netherlands
    Looks great - you realy did a great job zooman and the animals will come with time !
     
  10. Nikola Chavkosk

    Nikola Chavkosk Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    17 Feb 2016
    Posts:
    1,322
    Location:
    Prilep, R. Macedonia
    Happy birthday Zooman!

    Did you ever, officially tried to open a zoo?
    Can you recommend something for some future undertakers (with plan/dream to establish a zoo, even smallest one, but with wild animals and officially, a zoo)?
    Is the lack of funds biggest problem for not succeding establishing a zoo?

    Thank you,
     
  11. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    Thx V wish the frogs would come back!
     
  12. zooman

    zooman Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    4 Jul 2008
    Posts:
    1,849
    Location:
    Australia
    Yes it is the $$$ I am short about $5,250,780 of cash that I don't mind if I never see again ;)
     
  13. boof

    boof Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    16 Jan 2005
    Posts:
    1,385
    Location:
    Nyngan,nsw,australia
    awesome job. the hard work will be rewarded. the birds will love it.