Hi All, As I mentioned in my introduction, I have recently become the curator of a private collection, that one day hopes to meet the criteria to open as an animal park to the public. I'm currently overhauling everything, from feeding schedules, to enclosure enrichment. This place has somewhat of a reputation, and I hope under my guidance we one day become an accredited zoo. It's a long journey, and in the matter of public interest as well as my own records, I hope to document some of the journey here. Here's an incomplete species list of what we currently house; White Cockatoo Galah Cockatoo Yellow Crested Cockatoo Vasa Parrot African Grey Parrot Various Pigeon Breeds Rainbow Lorikeet Dusky Lorikeet Derbyan Parakeet Burrowing Parrot Common Myna Australian Ring-Neck Various Chicken Breeds Various Terrapins Cockatiel Various Quail Budgerigar Maltese Black Chicken Fantail Pigeon Frillback Pigeon Roule Roule Partridge Red Rump Parrot Kookaburra Barbary Dove Bobwhite Quail Zebra Finch Common Pheasant Ring-Neck Parakeet Rock Dove Guinea Fowl Golden Pheasant Hybrid Pheasant Guinea Turaco Emu Violet Turaco Diamond Dove Eastern Rosella Senegal Parrot Blue and Yellow Macaw Catalina Macaw Red and Green Macaw Chinese Painted Quail Black Swan White Swan Great White Pelican White Stork Grey Crowned Crane African Sacred Ibis Eurasian Spoonbill Mallard Guinea Fowl Peacock Mini Deer Rock Doves Straw Necked Ibis Greater Flamingo Japanese Crane Demoiselle crane Scarlet Ibis Mini Deer Ponies Lovebird Lesser Flamingo Patagonian Mara Sheep Goat African Spurred Tortoise Bengal Tiger Lion Ostrich Water Buffalo Camel Barbary Sheep Barbary Ape Baboon Ring-Tail Lemur Black Lemur Pied Crow Harris Hawk Red Tailed Hawk Golden Eagle Various Donkey breeds. Some of the above might not be accurate descriptions of the animals, however it's a start. I'll be writing up specimen profiles and posting them as time permits.
Woo, today I can confidently say that we house approximately 1300 animals, of approximately 110 species! I haven't quite identified all the various ducks, chickens and some types of domestic livestock, so I can't quite be sure, but I am working on it. In the meantime, I'd like to introduce what I think may be our oldest resident; Lady at 25 years old! Lady is a White Cockatoo, and was hatched in July 1996 in the Netherlands. She is quite shy, however is more then happy to come collect a peanut or slice of apple if offered. I am slowly working on increasing her confidence around people, and the clever girl is learning quickly. Well, about as quickly as one could hope to teach an old parrot new tricks! My next post will be about her mate, who very sadly doesn't even have a name according to the collection's records. I'm open to suggestions; and yes I've already thought of the very obvious one...
Indeed, you'll have to excuse some crude terminology here and there. As I mentioned our document keeping has been poor under previous management so I am essentially starting from scratch.
Awesome to see you starting from almost scratch! Some great starter species, and I am curious to see the enclosures some of the animals are kept in!
I am starting from scratch, the establishment itself has been in existence for 10 years, if not more, however has been poorly managed. Goal is to bring us up to standards, and open as a zoo, and join EAZA. Given what I have to work with, this is a grueling task; however I believe that we can make it work. Animals are getting regular vet checkups again, I've flagged a number of critical issues, we're working on improving the water quality, and animal diets and overall security. Once I'm satisfied with the base care being given, I will work on enclosure enrichment, and improvement. Unfortunately a lot of the past management's attitude was 'that'll do' with little forward planning, a number of species are breeding out of control as a result, while others have suffered and dwindled greatly, if not disappeared completely from our inventory. It's not a situation anyone would want to be in, and will take great efforts and careful planning to fix. The management aspect of it will become significantly easier once I start migrating data to ZIMS, as the paperwork and various spreadsheets I've got are a chokepoint for my work, and things on premises will start improving at a rapid pace once all the little maintenance jobs are taken care of, things which are otherwise hindering my staff's daily tasks (eg; broken lights, water access points, drinkers..). I think one of our Vasa parrots is a good example of improved conditions & better keeping; Mid-September : Mid October : Not all the parrots have bounced back quite as well, but they are all showing signs of improvement. Edit: In regards to the enclosures there are some old photos posted on ZooChat already, unfortunately not much has changed to date.
I read here with great interest and will follow the re-birth of this collection. However to show a pic of a vasa parrots to prove better keeping conditions is strange. Vasa parrots, the female, lose portion of feders naturally during breeding season. Mature female will get for some weeks completely naked neck where you see yellow skin. Feders will grow back outside the season. Here a pic from Zoochat gallery where you can see a mature breeding female in top condition.
There's my lack of expertise showing! I take it to mean that both of our Vasa Parrots are female then. However, as mentioned, we have had signs of plucking on other parrot species; Macaws, and Lorikeets (Rainbow & Dusky), and those I am certain were plucking, as it extended down to the breast area along with the ruffled appearance. One Macaw was in a particularly bad state, is showing signs of feather regrowth, hopefully it will recover fully. If nothing else not having an aggressive dog kept in the same area as the aviaries is a change for the better...
From what I can see, very interesting to see the images that ZC has and you saying time froze basically in development. Some huge aviaries but tiny carnivore enclosures. I will definitely follow development in this.
According to ZTL, the zoo is still closed - has it reopened after the mauling? I can't find anything online saying it has, so are you just working behind the scenes in a closed zoo?
The zoo is indeed closed. These are behind the scenes glimpes into what I hope can be looked back at in a few years time as a success story.
I visited this zoo when it was open, and under previous owners. You most certainly have your work cut out, but I wish you good luck. Have you purchased the zoo from the previous owners, and have you made a completely clean break from them. As I remember it was a large site with lots of other bits and pieces on it beyond the exotics collection. I am generally in Malta every 2-3 years (we have family there) so very much loo forward to coming to see how it develops.
Are there any animals that you fear that you may have to give up to another zoo or sanctuary in order to make space for other animals? Or is the owner not willing to give up any animal away?
I should clarify that I am not the owner, I am just the director/curator of the park. To my knowledge we cannot currently legally transfer any animals, at least not to any reputable establishments. My intent is to lessen the quanitity of certain specimens when it becomes feasable to do so, or at the very least prevent further breeding in the overstocked enclosures.
