what about alma park zoo in brissie? i know this zoo has changed hands recently, but maybe it only manages to keep itself going, not making enoughnto expand without an owner with a serious amount of capital.
Hi Patrick, We never seem to hear much about Alma park zoo, I think that maybe they dont have a lot of money to spend on the zoo, I have never been there, from what I have heard I dont think they have a big range of animals. Mark
no, from memory they just have a small range of primates (baboons, tamarins, squirrel monkeys& macaques), himalayn tahr, agoutis and an elderly sun bear. of course they do have a good collection of natives as well.
I will try and get up there sometime this year and I let you know the full list of what they do have Patrick. Mark
Alma Park Zoo according to Nigel Sim . Perhaps you can move some of the comments from this thread , and make a new one -- like you did the other week . When I went to visit Brisbane a couple of years ago , Jay and I visited Alma Park Zoo . The gardens / grounds are beautiful -- cant fault them . But the layout of the zoo , and the size/state of the enclosures are somewhat disappointing . Its the first zoo that I have been to where the car park is placed right in the middle ! With the exception of the sunbear exhibit , the other exhibits are far too small for the inhabitants , and do not provide the required shelter against climate elements , or space for the primates to play and monkey around ( that monkeys tend to do ) . There is very limited information about the animals , or breeding programmes , or anything much . Where there should be paddocks , there are small pens of earth /mud . It gives the impression of a hotch potch collection of animals that exists for little children to see some unusual animals . It is very reminiscent of the Wellington zoo about 15 years ago , but without the mountainside . This "zoo" is overrated , and is FAR too overpriced !! Australia Zoo , Currimbin Sanctuary and another place near THE GAP in Brisbane that specialises in local fauna are better places to visit . No doubt Lone Pine , Fleaghs , and Olsen bird sanctuaries would also be better value to visit , and better zoos as far as breeding and husbandry is concerned . Just make sure Skite Irwin is not home when you visit Australia Zoo . I am not saying "Dont go to Alma Park ....." , but rather that you may find it to be very frustrating and disappointing . There must be better small zoos in Australia than Alma Park . Jason might be able to give me a surprise update about improvements at Alma Park , but I aint going to hold my breath for that one .....
Hey as the Brissie resident let me make a few comments about the zoos etc around the city. Alma Park Zoo - I agree with what Nigel said - excellent gardens, really beautiful. When it was up for sale a year or so ago it was stated that the owner would make a living from the zoo with around $40 000 a year before tax( what i get and I don't have the stress of running a private business). This is basically the profit, you would need a lot more than that to make much of it. As far as I can see they are basically treading water and will probably be swamped when Australia Zoo really gets into the exotic fauna. Lone Park - For a while they catered almost totally to the Japanese, your photo with a koala crowd. I haven't been for a few years. Olsens bird gardens - would appeal mainly to the avicultural crowd. Keeps your typical range of birds - lots of parrots, finches, pheasants kept in backyard style aviaries. Tropical gardens (very cold in winter as the sun doesn't get through to the ground but lovely in summer) a hedge maze nice cafeIt was also up for style and if I only had a few million dollars!! Fleays - very much down on its luck, too close to Currumbin. Lives mainly on its reputation from the old days when it was started by Fleay (who was first to breed the platypus) Currumbin - the best native fauna park I have ever seen (haven't been to Healseville but from what I have read it is comparable). Unfortunately it is also starting to struggle financially - too much competition on the Gold Coast. Its big attraction was the lorikeet feeding, thousands of the birds coming in to be fed - Nigel knows what that is like. Unfortunately something is happening to the birds, they are not in the numbers they once were. Dreamworld - This seems to be the place to go now - tiger island, an excellent native bird aviary (huge walk through but not quite as good as the Melbourne one) Native fauna exhibits - the farmyard. Seaworld - Polar Bear Shores!! Shark Bay!!! Both excellent and amazing, informative interactive did I say amazing!! Brisbane Forest Park - an interesting little place run by Brisbane Forest, to give visitors an idea of what can be found in the huge forest reserve to the West of Brisbane. Another nice walkthrough aviary with about 40 species of local birds- excellent aquarium displays showing native fishes, frogs crustaceans, reptiles etc. A good platypus exhibit (they are hoping to breed them) quolls, squirrel gliders, antichinus, potaroos, feather tail gliders, bandicoots, ringtail possums, wallabies etc. Really nice though small. I visit it on a regular basis.
Healesville or Currimbin ?? As a visitor to Australia , and having been to both Santuaries , I will try to explain the difference between the two ( from a visitors perspective ) Currimbin seems to have the larger collection ( both in species , and in sheer numbers ) and is more designed for families , and people with lesser zoological interests than the regular writers on this forum . There are more shows and more opportunities to get some hands on experiences --- but the shows are more interesting than "Crikey,s " ( which wouldnt be too hard to do ! ) nad they provide educational information . It also covers a HUGE area in comparison to Healesville , with more facilities that are not related to conservation ( restaurants , miniature train etc ) Healesville is more of a conservation and breeding centre , that also tries to be user friendly with its guests . There are more walk through enclosures ( but not as large as Currimbins Walk through Aviary ) and the whole atmosphere is more natural "rustic" with native bushland throughout . The few shows that are put on are more zoologically inclined . The species at Healesville are ones that are found in temperate climates of Australia . There are fewer snakes on display at Healesville , and certainly no bird shows like Currimbin has . Which is better ? A hard ask . For non Australian visitors , and non zoo/conservation fans , it will have to be Currimbin . But they are of similar calibre to really say that one is better than the other . Both are definately worth visiting , and both are sanctuaries that do Australia proud . If I had my way , I would probably amalgamate Fleaghs into Currimbin , close down Alma Park , and send the exotics to"Crikey!"s zoo , and the natives to Lone Pine or similar , and any birds to Olsens Bird park . I would turn Alma Park into a drive through botanical gardens
African Wild Ass? Sorry to dig up this ancient thread but I was just searching Isis and it says that they have two female African Wild Ass. I know Isis can be unreliable but I've never been so your guess's are as good as mine.
Alma Park Zoo announces the birth of the first Emperor Tamarin to be born at the Zoo. Story & Photos here: Our new Emperor Tamarin monkey baby!
