This is a list of captive species held on show in David Fleay Wildlife Park on my visit on the 12th of June 2016. This includes species shown in the animal shows that are not in permanent exhibits but it does not include species held off show, the species only visible in the animal shows are marked with *. It also does not include the numerous wild bird species that can be seen in the zoo. Mammals: Short-eared Brushtail Possum* Common Ringtail Possum* Squirrel Glider Greater Bilby Spinifex Hopping Mouse Long-nosed Potoroo Platypus Fat-tailed Dunnart Koala (Northern form/nominate subspecies) Red-legged Pademelon Swamp Wallaby Common Wallaroo Bridled Nailtail Wallaby Dingo Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo - (Temporarily absent but due to return to the collection soon) Proserpine Rock Wallaby Reptiles: Jungle Carpet Python (M. s. cheynei) Spotted Python Coastal Carpet Python (M. s. mcdowelli) Saltwater Crocodile Freshwater Crocodile Lace Monitor Murray-darling Carpet Python (M. s. metcalfei) Southern Angle-headed Dragon Birds: Australian Barn Owl* Bush Stone-curlew Tawny Frogmouth Plumed Whistling Duck Australian Pelican Brolga Emu Magpie Goose Royal Spoonbill Chestnut Teal Barking Owl* Black Kite* Wedge-tailed Eagle* Southern Cassowary Australasian Darter
That seems like a fairly small collection, and despite the presence of a few mammalian gems the bird and reptile holdings are distinctly ordinary and even minimal (although presumably augmented by wild birds). Did you find it impressive LD or a little underwhelming?
It is a small collection though I would say worth a visit just for the few mammal rarities. The actual place itself is very nice with the boardwalks and natural wetlands with some very nice enclosures, particularly the cassowary enclosure. Around the zoo there is also a nice area of mangroves with boardwalks going through them so there is some opportunity for birding that can be tied in with a visit to the zoo.
The photos are impressive, looks like they have made the most of the tropical surrounds. Looks like they have gone for mostly large, open exhibits, which is presumably why the bird collection is almost entirely flightless or waterfowl, or used only in bird show. How were the pythons displayed - nocturnal house or diurnal exhibit? Thanks for the list btw. Shame the Lumholtz Tree Kangaroos were not on display. What exactly is a 'short-eared' brushtail possum?
They definitely have made the most of their surroundings with the large wetland area with the many waterfowl and the nice boardwalk going around the zoo. As well as those waterfowl mentioned in the list there were also many wild White Ibis, Moorhens, and others. Short-eared Brushtail Possum is Trichosurus caninus The Pythons were displayed in fairly large outdoor diurnal tanks. I have pictures but I haven't uploaded them because the reflection in the picture makes them look like mirrors . Though I can upload a picture if you like. It's not that the Tree Kangaroo was not on display, it's that the last one had died a few months before my visit, though a keeper that I spoke to said they would get more within a few months. I was quite disappointed, but I'm not anymore after getting a fantastic view of the species in the Atherton Tablelands
I visited six years ago (June 2010) and although not large, I still found it impressive. As LD said, it was worth it for a few of the mammals, but also the wild birds and the large enclosures. They could have many more species on display, like many other fauna parks, by sacrificing exhibit size, but they've chosen the "larger enclosures, less species" philosophy which I applaud. Next time I'm back that way I'll definitely be visiting again! Hix
I split off all the field guide discussion to its own thread: http://www.zoochat.com/24/field-guides-australian-mammals-452507/
They now have Black-Footed Tree Rat, Eastern Gray Kangaroo, Macquarie River Turtl, Spiny Leaf Insects and an Olive Python.
A keeper did mention to me that they would be getting Tree Rats at some point, so that's cool. Are they in the nocturnal house?
I think stuff moves around a lot in the nocturnal house (and by that I mean moves between being on show in there to off show) because there were no Yellow-bellied Gliders in the nocturnal house when I visited, and when I asked a keeper about it, she was surprised that they were not there and radioed to check if they were off show.
They have many animals of display, around a large third of their animals. I can give you a list of the animals off display if you like.
These are the the off display animals I can remember seeing: Woma Python Spotted Python Dingo Wedge-tailed Eagle Bearded Dragon Blue-toungued Skink Lace Moniter A species of Velvet Gecko, can't remember which though
