Cheers thanks for tat Hasani was from the litter of 4 I think 2 of his litter mates were handraised and him and his other sibling were raised by there mother I think?
I finally made it back here today after a couple of planned forays got put off. 11 months is a lifetime at Halls Gap. New developments since I had last been include: - New giraffe yard. Still just the one but the second is expected within weeks, if all goes well. The yard looks great, takes up much of the centre of the zoo and is big enough for a couple of zebra to join the giraffes without turning it into a dust bowl. Probably about the size of Melbourne's giraffe yard (at least before they connected it to the zebra paddock next door), albeit it a different shape. The fence on one side of the main viewing area is a bit higher and more obtrusive than it could be, but that's the only criticism. At one stage we spotted the giraffe sitting down, which is a good sign that it's relaxed and comfortable with its surroundings. - Two ring-tailed lemurs. Currently in a small-ish, irregularly-shaped enclosure next to the pygmy marmosets which is a temporary enclosure until new larger quarters are built, probably within the next couple of months. The current one will eventually become more housing for callitrichids. - A new mesh enclosure for the serval mentioned above. This cage is constructed as two separate sections which can be connected through an overhead run. It's currently sealed off and the several is in one half, and the spider monkey in the other. This is near the brush-tailed rock wallabies in the centre of the zoo. The spider monkeys will also have a new enclosure shortly, I believe in the same general area as the ring-tailed lemurs. - A fair bit of reshuffling has happened with the bird collection. The cockatoos are now in the aviary that once housed the spider monkeys. Their old aviary (the largest of the old run of aviaries) retains the ducks it had previously, as well as a group of superb parrots. The other runs have all been combined into a single aviary for the rainbow lorikeets, rosellas, king parrots and regent parrots, along with stilts and bush-stone curlews. And two large, new aviaries have been built in the same area. One houses the exotic parrots - blue and gold macaws, sun conures, quaker parrots, dusky lories and plum-headed parakeets. A second houses a pair of white-tailed black cockatoos, golden-shouldered parrots and an apostlebird. Other new birds on display include a whistling kite (I think, but now I'm not certain of the species) along with an Australian bustard in one aviary. A pair of nankeen kestrels has another aviary. Awesome little birds. - The new koala exhibit, which was just a fence when I was last there, has been completed. It's near the Tasmanian devils and looks to also have a wombat at ground level. I saw plenty of evidence of wombat destruction, but not the wombat itself. Of the previous koala exhibit only the round wall remains - it will form the foundation of another enclosure, but don't ask me what for. Adjacent to the former koala exhibit is a new square colourbond yard for an echidna. It came from Healesville Sanctuary, where it ended up after being attacked by a dog in the wild. Presumably it wasn't fit for release. I didn't manage to spot it. The addition of an echidna, though, leaves platypus and numbats as the only native species of particular note that aren't at Halls Gap. Maybe one day, though both species require specialist husbandry. - When I first went a couple of years ago reptiles were fairly thin on the ground. This has been caught up over time. Much of the entrance building now consists of reptile terraria and aquaria that are similar in size and style to a reptile hobbyist's 'furniture piece' enclosure. They include freshwater crocodile, Merten's water monitor, pig-nosed turtle, ridge-tailed monitor, Victorian carpet python, green iguana and southern angle-headed dragon. In the 'Fossil Cave' building there are exhibits for boa constrictor, black-headed python, diamond python, death adder (forget which species, but I think northern) and central netted dragon. The veiled chameleon is still in its old spot at the entrance to the nocturnal house, which also houses a carpet python. There's a juvenile saltwater croc behind the nocturnal house. The previous lizard pit has been fully enclosed to a height of several metres and houses lace monitors. Another outdoor reptile enclosure next to this has previously held red-bellied black snakes and various goanna species. Not it has water dragons, shinglebacks, blue-tongues and a sand monitor. So reptiles are fairly well represented now. The next project appears to be a larger exhibit for the perentie, which is a good thing - it's certainly outgrown its current housing. I really like Halls Gap. It struck me today that it's kind of an 'English' zoo tucked out in the Australian bush. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to communicate what I mean by that. I'll return to this post, perhaps tomorrow, and see if I can.
It sounds like the zoo is even bigger and better than when we visited a couple years ago. I quite liked the zoo then, as it was probably the best private zoo that we have ever visited in Australia. The owners seemed pretty cool too. I definitely want to visit again. Nice review, by the way.
Just found this news from back in October. Greg Cullel owner of Hall's Gap Zoo had applied for permission to house baboons, golden lion tamarins, black and white ruffed lemurs and white cheeked gibbon but was knocked back over noise concerns. Can sort of understand the baboons and gibbons but knocking back the tamarins and lemurs just seems odd. Full article below
Sounds a bit to me of the typical 'he/she who yells loudest' syndrome that I ran across a lot off when I worked for local council. You get one or two vocal people who constantly hrass the councillors over any little thing and the councillors bow to their wishes simply to shut them up.
Of all the Australian Zoo news you've posted today this is my favourite. Gila monsters are quite an exotic species for one of Australia's smaller zoos to obtain. Also, thank you. Sometimes I'll go on an Australian Zoos facebook page binge but you've saved me the trouble
I though that the Australian section needed a bit of updating considering it has gone downhill with the number of posters. And also, I think the gila monsters may have come from the clutch bred at Taronga this year: http://taronga.org.au/blog/2013-07-02/taronga-welcomes-four-new-monsters
As southern Australia's heat wave draws to a close today, a bushfire has swept through much of the Grampians (a mountainous region in Victoria), so far killing at least one person and threatening a number of small towns. This includes Halls Gap, which is where Victoria's largest private zoo is. There is concern that a wind change this afternoon, which will bring cooler weather, will move the fire towards Halls Gap. As far as I know, the fire is on the other side of the town to the zoo, so if it doesn't get to the town it won't get to the zoo. Fingers crossed that the fire doesn't get that far. Story here: Grampians Towns On Fire Alert - australia - world | Stuff.co.nz
The fire is now 2km from the township of Halls Gap, and 8km from the zoo, according to live news just aired on Channel 7 here. The fire is expected to impact Halls Gap tonight, although the zoo itself is thought to be relatively well protected given its position, so will hopefully be OK. A reporter was at the zoo, and interviewed the owner, who has been clearing breaks and doing all he can to protect the zoo. If the fire does reach the zoo, his plan is to drive into the dam and take as many animals with him as possible, the orange-bellied parrots being a priority he mentioned. UPDATE: According to some sources (in the UK and NZ), Australian TV news has reported that several animals, including giraffes, have been evacuated from the zoo, but I can't find any evidence of this online from Australian media, so don't know if its actually true.
it is from a "tweet" from Nine News Melbourne saying the animals including giraffes are being evacuated. That is the only source I can find and it is where the NZ media is getting it, so it may be a "jumping-the-gun" sort of tweet.
The zoo owner was just interviewed on the 6pm news. "A wind change saved the zoo". The fire is still out of control but apparently the zoo is out of danger at this time.
As zooman said above, very good news from Halls Gap Zoo's Facebook page this morning: and again this afternoon: There were, however, some very negative comments left on the zoo's Facebook page last night after the TV news story. Many people were very angry that the zoo was not evacuating animals and wanted to know why they hadn't all been immediately sent to Melbourne and Werribee Zoos...
There is a letter on facebook condemning media reporting and the ignorent public comments. I agree with what the owner has written, particularly the media scare mongering.
EDIT: Posted that at the same time Monty! Its good that Halls Gap Zoo has been able to get their message out in the face of all the negativity directed their way. Would be good if this got picked up by newspaper media. I'm very glad that the fire didn't reach Halls Gap and the Zoo.
I am glad the HGZ is out of danger's way and am in doubt that at any point during the recent fire scare they did just would needed to be done. It is most disheartening and a revealing truth upon the media and their reporting of events what crevices they sink to only with sensationalist features / goals in mind. Lo(o) and behold the ignorance of most readers that eagerly digest without making up their own minds first - and not believing every word in print - and than shouting the drivel down the internet highways ..
