BestZoo in the Netherlands is receiving Wombats in exchange for Sri Lankan leopards. They breed them a lot and are outside of the EEP, so would be easier to transfer anyway.
I believe the Australian zoos are working with the EEP with this species I would be surprised if they took any other animals outside of it?
Good news from DDZ from their Facebook page is the zoo received a huge amount of rain the last couple of days with the African waterhole dam that was bone dry is now filled to the brim! so glad they got this rain!
The leopards are definitely not coming from BestZoo. Both the National and Darling Downs Zoos are now participants of the EEP for Sri Lankan Leopards, and their animals are coming solely from within that programme.
What is relationship of Sri Lanka leopards towards EAZA and EEP, also in terms of ownership? (This part discussion should really be in Best Zoo thread by all accounts)
The zoo has now officially announced the arrival of the Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys. Darling Downs Zoo will also be acquiring females for the three males in the future. Security Check
I don’t think DDZ has enough news to warrant an annual thread (yet). I say yet, because like Altina, Hunter Valley Zoo etc. they have made huge progress in recent years; and if continuing at this pace, will soon be putting the region’s major zoos to shame. Some would argue they already are with their initiative regarding the import and breeding of Maned wolves, Grant’s zebra etc.
Not to mention also importing two groups of Giant Tortoises, red handed Tamarins, SL Leopards, Agouits and more!
At the end of summer it appears the DDZ has had a flush of new babies being born including Blackbuck, Baboons, Red Handed Tamarins, Emperor Tamarins and more.
Darling Downs Zoo have bred Rhinoceros Iguana. This is the first time the zoo has had a successful hatching from the species. Darling Downs Zoo
Some very troubling and sad news from Darling Downs Zoo reported tonight on the 6 o'clock news. The zoo certainly has some very worrying times ahead without further assistance from the government. I encourage fellow ZooChatters, if possible, to donate on the zoo's Go Fund me page, which can be found on their Facebook page (I know I will be). Source: 7 News Brisbane https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=225671741851082
Yes please help them with support the costs of the feed bills which would be large I have sent money as well hope they get some government help soon!
This is a really unfortunate but well spoken insight into what the majority of smaller zoos and parks are facing. I know that there are a lot of facilities across the whole country in a similar boat to DDZ and a lot in worse situations as well. It seems that there’s not a huge amount of industry wide support especially from major players that could be doing a lot more. Luckily there are plenty of smaller parks that have each other backs and are working together to help even smaller parks in worse situations to keep the industry afloat.
The no further assistance from the Australian Government is a absolute disgrace! The least they could do is support them with food bill and some wage costs.
You will be aware that Steve and Steph, their family and staff, are very good friends of ours. EVERYTHING Steve said, word by word, is absolutely identical to our position in the UK.
Dear @Andrew, I did not know the first bit, but given your positions either side of a few ponds and oceanic depths I am acutely aware of the predicament privately funded and managed zoos find themselves in. Unfortunately, the whole damn sector seems to be ignored by Governments like they privatised out education, science, culture and nature. This short-sighted policy line and behaviour past and present is impinging heavily on good society structures in general. Not that this observation is any help in itself (I agree ...). I guess we have to become much more vocal before the indifferent policy men and women do move. Lest be, if they do not move up and act up, ... perhaps we all should remind them what a good and caring society really means and takes to tend, to preserve and to enjoy.
