The cotton top tamarins moved to their new enclosure and a female ring tailed lemur named Asha arrived from Mogo Zoo. 2 donkeys arrived February 6th too.
Halls Gap Zoo have recently opened a new exhibit for their group of five Black-capped Capuchins. The new enclosure is larger and is situated near the lemurs and spider monkeys. The exhibit now has several food stations to avoid conflict, new branches and trees, swings and a large net. Source: Hall Gap Zoo's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=881759678967626
Honestly, Halls Gap is carrying Victoria in Primates, they have a whopping SEVEN species of new world monkeys (emperor tamarin, golden lion tamarin, cotton top tamarin, black handed spider monkey, pygmy marmoset, common marmoset and black capped capuchin), I'm pretty sure thats more than Melbourne, Taronga and a couple other zoos combined.
Its quite interesting to see a lot of the regional zoos keeping a bigger range of animals than some of the big state funded zoos I would love to know the real reason why this is happening I fear our large zoos will become second rate to many major overseas zoos!
[QUOTE="Zorro, post: 1216268, member: 14275" I fear our large zoos will become second rate to many major overseas zoos![/QUOTE] They have been for years now, Taronga is the only ‘competitor’ left but with the constant expansion of the collection of so many other zoos it might fall with the others.
They have been for years now, Taronga is the only ‘competitor’ left but with the constant expansion of the collection of so many other zoos it might fall with the others.[/QUOTE] Perhaps it will maybe another hotel or plastic kids play ground might be another option!
Perhaps it will maybe another hotel or plastic kids play ground might be another option![/QUOTE] Melbourne Zoo has been turned into a giant playground essentially. I kid you not there’s about 6 or 7 play spaces.
Melbourne Zoo has been turned into a giant playground essentially. I kid you not there’s about 6 or 7 play spaces.[/QUOTE] Really perhaps they need to fill all the empty areas with something other than animal exhibits!
Since you place such high judgement on number of exotic I'm curious why you consider Taronga superior to Melbourne? I would have thought Melbourne held more exotic mammals than Taronga. Now thats a big exaggeration. There are a few play areas in spaces that have never really been utilised as animal exhibits.
For me it’s not just about mammals, reptiles and birds play a massive part, on exotic reptiles id say Melbourne edges out Taronga but on exotic birds Taronga blows Melbourne out of the water. On natives Taronga dominates, Melbournes native collection is quite poor (yes I know there’s Healesville) but Tarongas is just far superior. Exotic Mammals at Melbourne (and not Taronga) Malayan Tapir Collared Peccary Black Handed Spider Monkey Black and White Colobus Hamadryas Baboon Siamang Sumatran Orangutang African Lion Snow Leopard African Wild Dog Brown Nosed Coati Exotic Mammals at Taronga (and not Melbourne) Alpaca (dosent give much) Bongo Pygmy Marmoset Francois Langur Chimpanzee Fishing Cat Sun Bear Fennec Fox Binturong California Sea Lion Capybara Barton’s Long Beaked Echidna Turns out Taronga has 1 more but it’s an alpaca so they are basically even. Quality wise it’s subjective Now thats a big exaggeration. There are a few play areas in spaces that have never really been utilised as animal exhibits.[/QUOTE] It was a little exaggeration, I can think 7 off the top of my head and that’s putting ALL of growing wild as a single play space. There’s a playground in the main courtyard, the sandpit and stuff at Wild Seas, the water play near the Lions, the maze in the Aussie section, all of Keeper Kids (only counted as one), Wiggles Coroboree Frog Disco (it’s permanent).
Can you please keep this to Halls Gap Zoo. Not every thread in the Australia forum needs to be turned into the exact same rant about other zoos.
Sorry I didn’t mean to drag it down, the initial conversation was about Halls Gap though. Sorry Chili
Made my second ever visit to Halls Gap Zoo on Friday. It is well worth the drive from Melbourne. They have been using the shut down to improve a few enclosures and tidy up the park. The 5 female capuchins have settled in to their new enclosure, which is much larger than their old domed enclosure. The park now has a nice monkey row, capuchin, spider monkey, ring tailed lemur pair (female Asha ex Mogo Zoo, male Dodi - they are hoping to breed soon), Black and White Ruffed Lemur pair (male 8 years, female 4 years), another ringtailed Lemur exhibit (possibly solitary male). If you want to see Wallabies and parrots there is planty of choice. Several walk through wallaby exhibits of good quality. Lots of parrot aviaries around the park with a good mix of Australian and exotic birds. Cheetah exhibit is very large and well done, although reflection from afternoon sunshine on viewing window didn't improve my photography skills. Rhino, bison, ostrich, himalayan thar, red panda, in good sized exhibits. 3 Giraffe have plenty of space, but as has been mentioned before there are really no good vantage points on which to see them clearly. There are some exhibits that definitely need improving - salt water crocodile and American alligator, and some of the older tamarin exhibits.... Had a great day. Really enjoyed seeing an aviary of small African softbilled finches - such a rarity in Australia zookeeping.
I'm glad the zoo still house this species. According to the exotic mammals of Australia thread only Halls Gap, Altina and Mansfield hold the species currently. Couldn't agree more - an underrated group of species that don't get the attention they deserve in zoos especially in collections that place an emphasis on African species.
Hi Andrew, looking at my bad phone photos of the aviary signage, it contained Orange Breasted Waxbill, African Fire Finch, St Helena Waxbill. In true aussie fashion a couple of friendly locals were thrown in as well - Diamond Firetail Finch, White Breasted Woodswallow, Black winged Stilt. There were also a couple of unsigned birds in there as well, just to keep us all guessing. Cheers Murray
I suspect they meant to write "African waxbill finches". "Waxbill" is a broad term used for a number of smaller, mostly African finch species.
Halls Gap Zoo has announced the arrival of 0.2 Emperor Tamarins. They are living in a mixed enclosure with Crimson-bellied Conures. From their Facebook page: Security Check
