Arrived at Mogo Zoo at about 9.30. I had booked online, but hadn’t received email – possibly from incorrect email address. (probably my fault!) but it was no problem on entry. Nice welcome. No Maps handed out due to Covid-19 restrictions, but we could take a photo of the one at the front desk.. Shop on LHS of entry desk, with the café just behind the shop. On the RHS (opposite Café) there are two small glass enclosures. Top one contained at least 4 small mouse like creatures – unsigned so not sure what they are. Bottom enclosure possibly contained reptile, contained food and a heat lamp. This enclosure was also unsigned. Next enclosure on RHS contained Meerkats. Out in front a large glass fronted enclosure contained 4 Grey Gibbons. Glass heavily frosted with dew, which burnt off during the morning. Gibbons 3 Adults and 1 Juvenile. (possible adult pair and 2 off spring?). From this point on the review will take a left hand route through Mogo Wildlife Park. To the left, behind the café is the original entrance walkway. The outside seating area was closed due to Covid-19. The original entry plaque is located here part of which reads “Somerset Wildlife Sanctuary was officially opened by The HON Tim Moore M.P Minister for the Environment on 17 November 1991” The first outside exhibit in this area is a nice glass fronted exhibit containing at least 2 Emperor Tamarin. Next Black Capped Capuchin Troop in wire enclosure. Well shaded and lightly planted mesh enclosure for Bintourong. Definitely smelt the strong odour of Pop corn… but I also thought that there was a hint of Rat. Enclosure opposite appeared empty and had no signage, but on a later visit sighted a second Bintorong exploring. Ring tailed Lemur troop next in glass fronted mesh enclosure. Glare and condensation meant not very good photos. Two Sumatran tiger enclosures next. Well grassed and planted. Nice pool in 1st enclosure. Tigers (1 in each exhibit) seemed relaxed and moved freely around. Although viewing windows and upper viewing deck are much closer that the viewing opportunities at Melbourne zoo – I felt these tigers were more relaxed and didn’t pace around like their Melbourne counterparts. No sign of and no signage for Generic Tigers – possibly no longer in the collection?. Toilets were located underneath the viewing platform. On the other side of the viewing platform from the tigers were two large enclosures. The first one had no signage and appeared to be empty. The second enclosure was signed for Lions, but nothing was sighted. It annoys me that signage is lacking. It only takes 5 minutes to print out and laminate a sign saying “Enclosure closed for re-development”….. 2 Red Panda exhibits up next with Large trees and plenty of greenery. (only 1 red panda sighted in 1st enclosure.) 2 x African Servals in wire mesh enclosure. Poor photo opportunities. Both were very playful early on in the morning and one was stalking and pouncing on the other one. Later on they were enjoying the sunshine and lying close to one another. Walking up from the Servals you come to the back of the Grey Gibbon enclosure. This side is covered in mesh, which gives them plenty of climbing opportunities and they were active brachiating the length of the enclosure. By this time the condensation had cleared from the viewing windows. Sharing a solid concrete back wall with the Servals, the snow leopard enclosure looked small and old fashioned, with a low roof, possibly not helped with the ground sloping away from the viewing area. Only 1 snow Leopard sighted. Next a large otter enclosure with two happy and active Oriental Small Clawed Otter. Walking along the path – most of the enclosures are on the RHS and will be mentioned on the way out of the zoo. Empty enclosure up next – Next up Large Cheetah enclosure – only 1 Cheetah sighted. Fallow Deer in large paddock – the only animals you are allowed to feed, with a small paper bad of food available to purchase at the entry counter for $4. You feed them through the fence, so not as exciting as the deer chewing on your coat at Halls Gap Zoo! Giraffe in several interconnected paddocks. At least 7 Giraffe including 2 young ones. (7 in total) Giraffe feeding / photo opportunities for $15.00 7 Zebra including 1 juvenile share the next paddock with 6 female ostrich. (No male Ostrich sighted) 1 Southern White Rhino in next paddock . A second rhino sighted in the behind the scenes area. Primate Islands – these are some of the best primate Islands I have seen in my zoo travels. The first Island is lushly planted with She-Oaks and Large Gum Trees. It makes for sighting the occupants difficult. Luckily we were there after a scatter feed, so saw the two Siamang Gibbons. Next island is not so densely planted and has more wooden climbing structures and contains 5 Siamang Gibbons – including 1 juvenile. I am guessing adult pair and 3 offspring. Post 2 for the rest of the zoo
Third Island Contained Lar Gibbon pair (and a photo bombing wild duck) Lar Gibbons are a rarity in Australian Collections today. (phase out?) 4th Island contained Cotton Top Tamarin family 5th Island Group of Ring-tailed Lemurs 6th Island contained a Single Ring-Tailed Lemur. The Islands are located around the outside of a large wooden building that was closed due to covid-19. Is this normally a café? Between the wooden Building and the Rhino enclosure is the Exhibit for the Pair of White Lions. A nice exhibit, but I am not a fan of White Lions. Heading back towards the entrance / café, the path passes the Gorilla complex – two large brick enclosures – the open moated enclosure contained a solitary female gorilla, possibly one of the older females. She has a love for blankets. There were a couple of ducks within this enclosure – possibly Egyptian Goose. The main enclosure contains three adult gorillas – 1 male and 2 females? This enclosure was previously for Chimpanzees and is similar to the Chimp exhibit at Wellington Zoo. It was interesting to see one of the gorillas up on the highest climbing platform. Poor photo due to glare on the glass. There were no Orangutans sighted in this area and no signage for them. Perhaps they have left the collection. Past the Gorilla complex, is the main African Lion enclosure. It contains a very large gum tree The enclosure contained the cub Phoenix – born after the bush fires, and one lioness. No Lion sighted. Further round the path is the Tamarin and marmoset complex. These are a row of 4 glass fronted enclosures. They are all heavily planted. Enclosure nearest Lions contained 5 (possibly more) Emperor Tamarins Next enclosure signed for Golden Lion Tamarin (2 sighted) Next Enclosure signed for Cotton-Top Tamarin (2 sighted) Last enclosure in the row was signed for Pygmy Marmoset – two sighted, but due to the condensation difficult to see inside all of these enclosures, so more animals may be on display. The next monkey enclosure is made up of two enclosures for Bolivian Squirrel Monkey. They appear to be interconnected. The last group of enclosures were made from colour-bond metal Fennec Fox – signed for two animals (Sundai and Kito)– only one sighted . Radiated Tortise – 3 animals sighted. After the Radiated Tortise you come up to the outside portion of the Meerkat enclosure, which ends the tour of Mogo Zoo. Mogo Wildlife Park is a great little zoo with excellent collection of exotics. Especially Primates – Highlights being Gorilla complex, and primate islands for Siamang, and Lar Gibbon, and the Grey Gibbons. Good Representation of Large Cats - Lions, Sumatran Tigers, Snow Leopard, Cheetah. The park is very neat and tidy and all the animals appear to be well housed, with the possible exception of the Snow Leopard. Hopefully they have additional land that they can expand into in the coming years as there zoo footprint appears well developed. The collection is totally focused on exotic mammals and the only disappointed is with the lack of birds (Only 2 species birds on display. No Aviaries), no native species on display and no reptiles (apart from Radiated tortoise). Hopefully with the change of ownership these items can be sorted. Mogo Wildlife Park was busy on the cold wintery Thursday that I visited. It is a popular local attraction and it was good to see it so well supported. They were incredibly lucky with the bushfires that destroyed vast areas of bushland and many houses nearby. Mogo is one of the zoos to watch in the coming years. I loved my visit and would like to visit more often – unfortunately it is an 8 hour drive from Melbourne.
The solitary gorilla would have been G-Anne (1979). The other three would have been silverback Kisane (2007), and mother and daughter, Kriba (1979) and Kipenzi (2011). It seems weird that G-Anne’s seperate from the main troop. She previously got along well with both Kriba and Kipenzi, so maybe she’s having issues with Kisane, the young silverback.
Thanks for the detailed review! Mogo is only one of two zoos currently housing this species in Australia. They should have six Javan Gibbons - a breeding pair plus four offspring. There have probably been some transfers, animals moved off-display or deaths. Their eldest offspring Cinta (2009) is probably due for a transfer considering she's almost eleven and should be paired soon. 1.0 Arjuana (Jury x Hecla) 24-11-2000 at Perth Zoo 0.1 Layar (Ujung x Kulon) 14-04-2002 at Howletts Wild Animal Park, UK 0.1 Cinta (Arjuana x Layar) 06-09-2009 at Mogo 1.0 Patoot (Arjuana x Layar) 07-05-2012 at Mogo 1.0 Jawa (Arjuana x Layar) 02-05-2015 at Mogo 0.0.1 Unknown (Arjuana x Layar) 19-05-2018 at Mogo Yes they are. Mogo should have just the two in the photo - females Jo and Jess. Fortunately the region does have three other species of gibbon that seem secure - Javan, White-cheeked and Siamang.
Awesome review (and photos) @kiwimuzz Mogo Zoo have just 2.0 Sumatran tigers now: 1.0 Indra (2010) Lari x Malu 1.0 Mattai (2010) Lari x Malu I'm not sure on their current generic tiger numbers (if any). That seems likely given she had issues with both Ya Kwanza in Jersey and Otana at Melbourne. Younger males often make less tolerant troop leaders than older males due to their inexperience.
I spoke a keeper late last year and G-Anne was living well within the group but was separated as a result of a medical issue that required treatment. She said the plan was to reintegrate her into the group when she’s recovered.
