Healesville has welcomed seven baby Mountain Pygmy Possum from two females. The two females that bred are wild-born- a significant milestone for the zoo. Zoos Victoria
I figured I'd just continue from this topic, seeing as Healesville doesn't get too much news... But there are a few things to note recently: - Leadbeater's Possums, Feathertail Gliders and Long-nosed Potoroos are no longer on display in the Nocturnal House, and as a result it seems none of these species are currently on display at the sanctuary at all. Leadbeater's Possums are still in the enclosure off the Fast Track path before the bridge but are impossible to view there. The current Nocturnal House line-up is: empty enclosure (not sure what's planned for it but this was the sugar glider enclosure) Sugar Glider + Woylie (this is the old squirrel glider + woylie enclosure) Squirrel Glider + Eastern Barred Bandicoot (this is the old Leadbeater's + EBB enclosure) Bilby Northern Quoll Spinifex Hopping-mouse (this has been extended to include the old dunnart enclosure) Fat-tailed Dunnart (this has replaced the Feathertail Gliders) Mountain Pygmy-possum - Rakali are no longer in the Platypus House. The Murray Cod is currently occupying this tank. - Eight koalas are currently in care at the hospital, being treated for burns.
Healesville Sanctuary has welcomed the birth of a Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo! The male joey has been named Chimbu. Security Check
Healesville Sanctuary has welcomed the birth of four Alpine She-oak Skinks. This is the first time the species has been bred in captivity. These Baby Alpine She-oak Skinks are Teeny Tiny Treasures Healesville has also welcomed the arrival of seven Mountain Pygmy Possums. They currently house 42 pygmy possums. Healesville Sanctuary health check for precious Mountain Pygmy-possums
I’m going off what is mentioned in the article published by Healesville. These Baby Alpine She-oak Skinks are Teeny Tiny Treasures
Healseville Sanctuary has welcomed the birth of a female Platypus to first-time mother Wadderrang! The baby platypus has been named Storm and was born in November 2019. From the zoo's Facebook page: Source: Zoos Victoria https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=873467453157280
Healesville Sanctuary has completed the construction of a new enclosure for a female Tiger Quoll. The exhibit now has new opportunities for climbing and a pool. It looks great! It's fantastic that the zoo has a Tiger Quoll on-display and Northern Quoll in the nocturnal house. Source: Zoos Victoria’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=657326944826204 Zoos Victoria
For anyone wondering, the new Tiger Quoll exhibit is the old Tawny Frogmouth aviary between the emus and the goannas which most recently held Gang-Gangs. They've had the quoll off display for some time so it's nice that it will be visible to the public now
"Healesville Sanctuary has a new breeding facility for alpine skinks called the Alpine Skink Chalet. It is a climate controlled facility home to Alpine She-oak Skinks and Guthega Skinks and will hopefully help to build an insurance population of the endangered skinks."
Healesville Sanctuary have a new Eastern Barred Bandicoot on display in their nocturnal house. The female was hand-raised at Melbourne Zoo. Keepers have also been busy renovating some of the nocturnal exhibits. Security Check
18 captive-bred Helmeted Honeyeaters have been released into the wild. According to the video they were bred at Healesville Sanctuary. From their Facebook page: Source: Zoos Victoria's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=416535365975713
The recently-released Annual Report 2019-2020 by Zoos Victoria mentions the following key births/hatchings at Healesville over the past year or so: “At Healesville Sanctuary, the breeding programs for critically endangered Fighting Extinction species produced 524 Northern Corroboree Frogs eggs, 383 viable Southern Corroboree Frog eggs, four Alpine Sheoak Skinks, 52 Orange-bellied Parrots, 22 Helmeted Honeyeaters, 13 Tasmanian Devils and seven Mountain Pygmy-possums.” Full report: https://parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/ZV_Annual_Report_2019-20__Final__Fpb4DRWQ.pdf
An update on Healesville's nocturnal house which announces some new arrivals. Leadbeater's Possums and Feathertail Gliders are back on-display. Source: Zoos Victoria's YouTube channel
Healesville Sanctuary has collected a group of threatened Spotted Tree Frogs (Litoria spenceri) from north-east Victoria. They will form the nucleus of a captive breeding programme. From their Facebook page: "The good news we need this morning! A group of Critically Endangered Spotted Tree Frogs have been collected from north-east Victoria to form the beginning of a captive breeding recovery program at Healesville Sanctuary! The potentially fatal combination of bushfires, flooding and deadly fungal disease has seen the Spotted Tree Frog population significantly plummet and the need for intervention is crucial for the future of this species. With the help of our partners, the captive breeding program hopes to maximise the potential for successful breeding and longer-term reintroduction programs for this little amphibian." Additional article on the new frogs: Endangered frogs collected from fire impacted areas for safekeeping
Healesville Sanctuary have participated in a release of 32 Helmeted Honeyeaters with the birds becoming the founders of a new population in the Yarra Ranges National Park. The honeyeaters selected included both captive-bred birds from Healesville Sanctuary and wild birds. Source: Zoos Victoria Youtube