New animals since last update: Black-capped capuchin Monkeys Waterbuck Antelope Red panda AND an new unannounced animal arrived last week stay tuned! AND exciting new births for announcing next week also to stay tuned for! We have also built our memorial area/museum just need to put our (RIP) animals within it and make sure lighting presents the animals in the best way possible. This building also connects the log cabin by an out door covered area for waiting visitors. Waiting approval to build ringtail lemur enclosure on Islands! Also waiting approval to build Coati enclosure! Importation of 1:1 wolves is also in progress for the end of the year. We are also about to start QT for export of Blackbuck to NZ!
This sounds great, awesome to have more collections housing coati. Looking forward to more details on the new arrivals too! Could you expand a little on the museum, will this feature taxidermied specimens from the zoo? If possible, it would be great to have some photos of this uploaded to the ZooChat gallery, once its complete and opened. Good to hear that NZ will be getting some new Blackbuck blood, are you able to say how many, male or female, or to where (Orana or Hamilton)?
Yes this will feature taxidermied specimens from Altina. Photos prob wont do it justice - you guys will have to visit once its ready We are aiming to send 6-10 Blackbuck females to Hamilton but depends if we become a approved QT facility - lots of inspections & paperwork. We also are meant to be importing female waterbuck in the next yr or 2 if breeding is in favour of females at Hamilton. (Fingers crossed)
this is all very exciting. I really think the two most progressive zoos in Australia right now (regarding exotics) are Altina and Darling Downs - both steadily developing, collections growing, and - really importantly - lots of imports of new blood for all sorts of species.
That sounds great, and I'd love to visit. Quite a long drive from Melbourne though. Good luck with the QT, exports and hopefully Hamilton can breed waterbuck soon.
A 1000km round trip is a little hard to justify for just one Zoo, but it could work as part of a long weekend up via Shepparton and back via Bendigo (or vice versa). Are there any other collections out that way?
there is an Australian zoo list on the forum, arranged rather roughly in north to south order by state. Sheesh.
Oh, really? You learn something new every day. It looks like I could potentially add Wagga Zoo and Kyabrum Fauna Park by doing a bit of a loop up there.
Thought Media Release would be easier to copy & Paste But A New Species For Altina!!! MEDIA RELEASE Altina Wildlife Park – Darlington Point Is it a Beaver without a tail? A Giant Guinea Pig? A hairy Pig without a snout? Maybe a Hippo crossed with a Guinea Pig? No it’s a CAPYBARA!!! Welcoming to its collection, a rare species for Aussie Zoos, Altina is the only Zoo on the Eastern Seaboard & 2nd Zoo, Australia wide, to house this unusual animal! 2 Males & 2 females all the way from Adelaide Zoo!! The Capybara is the largest Rodent in the world and when fully grown can weigh up to 79kg! Native to South America, the Capybara inhabits Savannas and Dense Forests and lives near bodies of water where it can stay under water for up to 5 minutes! The Capybara is hunted for its meat, hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin which is used in the Pharmaceutical trade. Quick Facts Life span: 8 to 10 years in the wild, up to 12 years in zoos Gestation: 5 to 6 months Number of young at birth: 1 to 8, although 5 is average Age of maturity: About 15 months Size: 100 to 130 centimeters long Size: 50 centimeters tall at the shoulder Weight: 27 to 79 kilograms, depending on gender Weight at birth: 1 to 1.5 kilograms
MEDIA RELEASE Altina Wildlife Park – Darlington Point 4 BABY MEERKATS!! A first for the Riverina & a first for Altina! The babies are now 5 weeks old and will be on display as of today! Proud Parents “Timona” (Mum) & “Doug” (Dad) are both first time parents and are doing an awesome Job! This group of Meerkats consists of Mum, Dad, Dad’s brother (Digger), an unrelated Male (Allan) and now the 4 babies! All adults have never raised Kits before and all are involved in protecting & feeding the babies! Meerkat Facts •A nominated ‘sentry’ climbs to the highest rock, to look for threats. •Meerkats have a special membrane that protects their eyes while burrowing; they can even close their ears to keep out sand and dirt. •They have dark skin and thin fur on their bellies that helps them control body temperature. •Adult Meerkats can kill and eat poisonous snakes and scorpions without being hurt because they’ve become immune to the venom. •Diet: scorpions, beetles, spiders, centipedes, crickets, millipedes, worms, eggs, tubers, roots, small animals and small reptiles. •Reproduction: The alpha male and female of the Meerkat mob are the only 2 that breed. The gestation period is 11 weeks with litters of 2 to 5 kits. •Predators: Martial Eagles and Jackals. When the Meerkat guard senses danger he/she will give a warning bark, allowing the other mob members to run for cover in holes they have spread across their territory. •Lifespan: 12-14 years.
Good news with the Meerkats Bec. I am planning to come with my kids for the fourth time in July, and bringing another family who has never been to Altina before.
Updating some of Altinas info • We have just done an Eland swap with Wereibee Zoo giving them our 3 yr old Altina born bull, and receiving a 1yr old bull calf/teenager from them so once this Werribee born boy is of age he will become our new breeding bull while our current bull goes into retirement. • We have just received a Mingolian Wild Horse stallion from Dubbo Zoo to go over our current mare (possibly already preg to our current stallion Ronald) and our 2 Altina born fillies Ally & Dash (Ronald is going to Werribee next month as their new stallion as per recommendations) • 2 bull calf bison have just been sent to a private breeder • Altina is now a approved Quarantine Facility for ungulates! • first ever export achieved in this QT facility successfully exporting 8 female blackbuck to Hamilton Zoo NZ consisting of 3 different bloodlines for them to get as much genetic versiltility for their own breeding programs. • baby season has started again with many Hooved animals starting to give birth already. • Ring Tail island is complete and awaiting approval from DPI so we can Aquire this new species • coati plans are awaiting approval to start building • Rhino plan are being drawn up to be sent for approval shortly - recommendations are for us to import 2 make rhino from NZ next year! • 1:1 Maned wolves import paper work is in final stages approaching transfer to Melbourne Zoo for QT then to Altina in time for breeding season next year! • 3 male wolves recommended to go to National Zoo in near future • 2 male Wolves recommended to go to Shoalhaven Zoo in near future too • 1 male wolf going to Hunter Valkey Zoo in near future for 1 season of breeding of all goes to plan also • tarongas Baby bongo make and baby zebra female both ear tagged for transfer to Altina in the near future also!
Sorry presumed as you have mentioned above that it was obvious which "Taronga" zoo housed each animal we were receiving.. Yea western plains for zebra
RIP NARLA To NARLA a lioness that always new what she wanted and loved to relax in the sun working on her tan. ☀️ Our beautiful Narla was born at Bullen's Animal World in 1996. Arrived at Mogo Zoo December 1997. Transferred to Altina in 2012 to retire. She bred several times with her favourite man "Lance". Her surviving Offspring are spread throughout Australia including her son "Congo" and daughter "Binji" who are still at Mogo Zoo , handsome "Jabari" her son that came to Altina with her to comfort her in retirement and another son Mujambi at Adelaide Zoo. We all will miss Narla greatly. Her old age has caught up with her and taken her to a better place. She will always be in our hearts. RIP Narla (Snarly Narly) Please share your photos, videos & memories of Narla in comments.
Maned Wolf Import Altina's Media release as of today - see our facebook page for photos My!!!! What long Legs you Have!!!! Altina Wildlife Park has welcomed a new exotic bloodline to Australia! All the way from Pueblo Zoo, in Colorado, a 2yr old Female South American Maned Wolf now calls Altina Home! After a year of red tape and paper work "Tepin" was definitely well worth the wait! Usually a timid animal, "Tepin" is extremely relaxed and is already Hand Feeding from her new keepers! (Typical baby though and doesn't like her veggies!) Altina has cared for Maned wolves since 2008 and now have the only breeding Maned Wolves left in Australia AND largest collection worldwide in zoo establishments! (Declared endangered by the Argentine Wildlife Board) Altina is very proud of their success with this species and are changing how they are managed world wide! With our new import, Altina now house 16 individuals, including our 2 previous imports in 2009 ("Olinta") & 2013 ("Pepe"). Altina are now, not only part of the European Endangered species Program (EEP) and the European Stud Book (ESB) but also, as of this year, now manage the Australasian Maned Wolf Stud Book on behalf of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA)! Altina's goal is to save the unusual long legged omnivore.