NEWS
AUGUST
- If you have a spare $5 million you may be able to buy Brisbane's
Alma Park Zoo!
The owners of 21 years have had to sell due to health problems and are looking
for buyers who will continue their efforts to upgrade and rejuvenate the small zoo.
There is strong competition though with the Australia Zoo, owned by Steve Irwin,
undergoing major changes and expansions. This zoo, only an hour north of Alma Park
is planning to become the 'Great Zoo' of Queensland.
- Taronga Zoo has lost its breeding male Sumatran Tiger with the death of Shiva
of old age. The tiger, over twelve years old, was the father of four cubs. He was born at
Taronga Zoo.
- A blue and yellow macaw that was being trained for special demonstartions
at Auckland Zoo has flown off. The brilliantly coloured parrot took off during
a training session and hasn't been seen since.
- A 15 year old male jaguar at Melbourne Zoorequired dentistry this month, including a root
canal filling.
- Lulu is a female cheetah who normally lives at Monato Zoo in South Australia.
At the moment she is holidaying at Victorias Werribee Open Range. To try and encourage breeding
she has been introduced to the three males that reside at werribee.
- Werribee has begun a project to create a $4 million lion safari. With
sposership of 2.2 million from car manufacturer Holden, the new exhibit will feature
up to 15 animals that will be visible both from walking tracks and the zoos bus and
canoe safaris.
- Melbourne Zoo has just announced the birth of a
Rothschilds Giraffe. The little
female, born about the 22nd August, is only the seond female Rothschilds to
be born in Australia. The unamed female is the second calf of the breeding pair at Melbourne,
Makulu and Twiga.
- Taronga Zoos colony of chimpanzees have received a new home. A forest full of ironbark
trees and a view over the bay. The 17 chimps were moved into their new forest which has
trees up to 16 metres high, linked by a network of timber bridges. Lauching the
new forest, the NSW Enviroment Minister announced an $11 000 grant to support the zoos
work in Uganda at the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Orphaned and injured chimps are
rehabilitated for release back into the wild.
- Taronga two female lions were sent to Western Plains to join a pride there. Meanwhile
their brother was joined by a female born at Auckland Zoo. Jambo and his
new partner Kuchani will be gently introduced and hopefully create a pride of
their own.
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