Tag:animals
Located in the heart of New South Wales at Dubbo, Australia, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, also known as Dubbo Open Range Zoo, is a leading force in wildlife conservation and education. Covering over 300 hectares and 100 species, the zoo provides an immersive experience, allowing visitors to observe animals in expansive, natural enclosures replicating their native habitats.
Historical Background
The Dubbo Open Range Zoo opened its gates in 1977 as a companion to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The goal was to establish a zoo with more space for larger animals and to support breeding programs for endangered species. Dubbo was selected as the zoo’s location because of its expansive, open landscapes, suitable climate, and distance from urban pressures. Since its founding, the zoo has expanded and developed into a prominent conservation and animal welfare advocate.
Conservation Efforts
Dubbo Open Range Zoo’s primary focus is wildlife conservation. The zoo participates in various breeding programs to protect endangered species. It is also involved in the worldwide initiative to save the critically endangered black rhinoceros. The large savannah exhibits at Dubbo create an optimal habitat for these rhinos, leading to successful breeding and providing hope for the species’ future.
The zoo also plays a vital role in conserving the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros and the African Lion. These programs ensure healthy genetic diversity within captive populations and may lead to future reintroduction into the wild. The zoo works with international conservation organisations to align its efforts with global strategies to save these animals.
Educational Programs
Education is at the core of Dubbo Open Range Zoo’s mission. The zoo provides various educational programs to engage and inspire visitors of all ages. Through interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on activities, visitors learn about the significance of biodiversity and their role in conservation.
One of the zoo’s leading educational programs is the Zoo Adventures holiday program. This program offers children a unique chance to participate in animal-themed activities led by the animal keepers, giving them an inside look at the zoo. Through this experience, children learn about animal care and conservation efforts. The zoo’s education centre also welcomes school groups and provides curriculum-aligned lessons that make learning about wildlife enjoyable and informative.
Visitor Experience
Like the Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria, the Dubbo Open Range Zoo has an open-range design that enables animals to roam in large, natural enclosures. This provides a distinctive and immersive experience for visitors. Visitors can explore the Dubbo Zoo on foot, by bicycle, by golf cart, or by driving their car through the expansive grounds, which offer a lot less walking!
A zoo highlight is the African Savannah exhibit, where visitors can observe giraffes, zebras, and antelopes grazing together in a setting reminiscent of the African plains. The zoo also features a sizeable Asian exhibit, home to elephants, tigers, and other species native to the continent. These expansive habitats enhance animal welfare and offer visitors a more authentic and educational experience.
Overnight experiences are available at the Zoofari Lodge and Billabong Camp. These accommodations allow guests to stay within the zoo grounds and enjoy exclusive tours and animal encounters. Staying at the zoo provides a close-up look at the zoo’s inhabitants and operations, fostering a deeper connection to wildlife and conservation.
Encounters and tours
Behind-the-scenes experiences are available, such as an Early Morning Walk with a Zoo volunteer, the safari truck that takes you out to venture amongst African species on the Savannah Safari, or entering into lion territory onboard Lion Pride Lands Patrol. All of these carry a reasonable (but additional) cost. On the day we visited, we took the Pridelands Patrol. For $29, you board a comfortable medium-sized bus and go into the lion’s domains, seeing them up close. The alpha male even put on a roaring show for us!
Impact on Local and Global Scales
Dubbo Open Range Zoo also plays a crucial role in the local community. It is a significant tourist attraction that contributes significantly to the local economy. The zoo draws visitors from all over Australia and beyond, bringing substantial economic benefits to the region. Additionally, it creates job opportunities and engages local businesses through partnerships and procurement.
The zoo’s conservation efforts have a significant impact worldwide. Through its breeding programs and collaborations with international conservation organizations, the Dubbo Open Range Zoo contributes to preserving endangered species and protecting biodiversity. The zoo’s research initiatives, often in partnership with universities and other scientific institutions, advance our understanding of animal behaviour, genetics, and ecology, providing valuable insights for conservation strategies globally.
Challenges and Future Directions
Even though Dubbo Open Range Zoo has been successful, it faces several challenges. The ongoing threat of climate change poses a significant risk to wildlife globally, and the zoo must continuously adapt its strategies to mitigate these impacts. Maintaining genetic diversity within captive populations is complex, requiring careful management and international cooperation.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo is located on Obley Road in Dubbo, central west NSW
Tickets: $47.70 Adults, Child (4-15) $27.90, Concession $36.90 (Zoos Victoria members Free)
Situated in the rural heartland of New South Wales, Australia, Altina Wildlife Park is a unique sanctuary that offers a blend of conservation, education, and immersive wildlife experiences.
Historical Background
Altina Wildlife Park was founded in 2004 by Gino and Gloria Altin. The couple’s passion for animals and experiences visiting game reserves and zoos in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zambia inspired them to establish the park. It is situated near Darlington Point and covers approximately 207 hectares of land along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.
Originally intended as a private collection of exotic and native animals, the park later opened its doors to the public. It focuses on wildlife conservation and provides educational opportunities. The park’s distinctive approach to wildlife management and visitor engagement sets it apart from traditional zoos.
Altina Wildlife Park offers safari-style tours. These tours allow visitors to see animals in large, open-range enclosures resembling their natural habitats. This approach improves animal welfare and offers visitors a more immersive and educational experience.
Conservation Efforts
Altina Wildlife Park is dedicated to conservation. The park participates in breeding programs to protect endangered species and preserve genetic diversity. One of the main focuses at Altina is the Scimitar-horned Oryx, which was declared extinct in the wild in the early 2000s. Through its breeding program, Altina has contributed to the international effort to reintroduce these animals into their natural habitats.
Altina is also committed to conserving endangered species such as the African Painted Dog, Maned Wolf, and Przewalski’s Horse. The park collaborates with other zoos and wildlife parks to participate in breeding programs to ensure these species’ survival. In addition to these efforts, Altina also focuses on conserving native Australian wildlife, including the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red Kangaroo, and Emu. By showcasing these animals, Altina aims to raise awareness about the threats facing native wildlife and the importance of preserving Australia’s unique biodiversity.
Educational Programs
Education is a crucial part of Altina Wildlife Park’s mission. The park offers various educational programs tailored to engage and inspire visitors of all ages. These programs aim to deepen our understanding of wildlife conservation and our role in protecting the environment.
One educational initiative at Altina is the Junior Keeper Program. The program gives children hands-on experience in animal care and conservation, allowing them to work alongside zookeepers and learn about the park’s daily operations. Participants gain valuable insights into animal behaviour, nutrition, and habitat management, fostering a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards wildlife.
Visitor Experience
Altina Wildlife Park offers visitors a distinctive and immersive experience, setting it apart from traditional zoos. The park provides safari-style tours in custom-built horse-drawn carts or motorised vehicles. This approach allows guests to explore the expansive enclosures and observe animals in a more natural setting, enhancing the visitor experience and minimising animal stress.
One of Altina’s main attractions is seeing rare and exotic animals up close. The park is home to various species, such as lions, tigers, giraffes, and rhinoceroses. The spacious, open-range enclosures allow these animals to roam freely, giving visitors a glimpse into their natural behaviours and social interactions. However, wire fences are still at the front of the larger animal enclosures, and you can’t approach the enclosure to shoot through the wires. It’s a tad difficult if photographing is your main aim.
In addition to the safari tours, Altina offers a variety of animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences. Visitors can participate in feeding sessions to hand-feed animals such as giraffes and camels.
Impact on Local and Global Scales
Altina’s conservation efforts have significant global impacts. The park participates in international breeding programs and collaborates with other wildlife organisations to combat species extinction worldwide. The successful breeding and potential reintroduction of species like the Scimitar-horned Oryx demonstrate the positive outcomes of these collaborative conservation efforts. Altina’s educational programs also have a broader impact by raising awareness about conservation issues and inspiring future generations of conservationists.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its successes, Altina Wildlife Park faces several challenges. The ongoing threat of climate change poses a significant risk to wildlife globally, and the park must continually adapt its strategies to mitigate these impacts. Maintaining genetic diversity within captive populations is also complex, requiring careful management and international cooperation.
Looking ahead, Altina Wildlife Park is committed to expanding its conservation and education efforts. Plans include developing new exhibits and facilities to enhance the visitor experience and support more extensive breeding programs. The park also aims to increase its focus on in-situ conservation projects, working directly in the field to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Leopards, scientifically known as Panthera pardus, are one of the five ‘big cats’ of the genus Panthera. Known for their distinctive dark spots and agile bodies, leopards are remarkable members of the animal kingdom, boasting a combination of strength, intelligence, and beauty. Found across various regions of Africa and parts of Asia, they are versatile creatures that have adapted to different environments, from deserts and mountains to jungles and grasslands. Their solitary nature and incredible stealth and speed make them one of nature’s most efficient predators. However, they are more than just hunters; leopards are a vital part of their ecosystems, with their very existence contributing to the delicate balance of nature.
Physical Attributes
Leopards are medium-sized big cats, typically measuring between 1 and 2 metres in body length, with a tail that can extend an additional 90 centimetres. Males are usually larger than females, weighing between 36 and 180 kilograms, while females weigh between 27 and 155 kilograms.
One of the most striking features of the leopard is its coat. It is covered in a tawny or golden hue with black rosettes, unique to each individual, much like a human fingerprint. The rosettes are circular in East African leopards but square in southern African leopards. Some leopards are also melanistic, a trait more commonly known as ‘black panther’, which results from an overproduction of pigment and appears in dense, forested areas where light levels are lower.
Leopards have a robust build with a large skull. They also possess powerful jaws and necks, enabling them to carry their prey up trees to secure it from other predators. Their bodies are designed for power rather than long-distance running. They have a barrel-chested torso and thick, muscular limbs, and their retractable claws provide excellent grip, crucial for climbing trees and catching prey.
Leopard’s eyes are large and expressive, providing them with excellent night vision, essential for their predominantly nocturnal hunting habits. Leopards also have keen hearing and a strong sense of smell. This makes them one of the most effective predators in the animal kingdom.
Habitats and Distribution
Back in 1750, leopards were found in most parts of Africa below the Sahara and some regions in the north and northeast of the continent. They also lived in Asia Minor, Central Asia, India, China, and Manchuria. However, as of 2019, the species has lost a significant portion of its range, up to 75%. Although Leopards can still be found in scattered regions throughout Africa and parts of Asia, their wild population has dwindled to just 250,000.
These creatures are highly adaptable and are known for their versatility as predators. They can survive in various environments, such as savannas, woodlands, mountains, and even urban areas.
The Elusive Nature of Leopards
Being primarily nocturnal, leopards are shrouded in an air of mystery. Unlike their social counterparts, such as lions, they are generally solitary creatures, seeking solitude during the day and emerging under cover of darkness to hunt. Their stealthy and elusive behaviour has often made it challenging for them to study in the wild. Thus adding to the fascination surrounding these elusive big cats.
Hunting and Prey Preferences
Leopards are skilled and adaptable hunters who can capture a wide range of prey, from tiny rodents to large ungulates like deer and antelope. Their impressive strength enables them to hoist prey twice their size up into trees, keeping them safe from scavengers and other predators. This ability to climb trees is a distinctive trait of leopards and has significantly contributed to their evolutionary achievements.
Threats and Conservation
The decline of leopard populations is primarily due to poaching, with the Amur leopard being particularly vulnerable to trophy hunters. These majestic animals often live near human settlements, making them easy targets. The primary motivation behind poaching is the valuable fur of the leopard, which is usually sold as rugs or clothing. Poaching has adverse effects not only on the Amur leopards but also on their prey, such as deer and rabbits. This makes it challenging for them to survive. Moreover, the Amur leopard is facing difficulties in finding enough food in China as the population of its prey is declining.
Although criticised by conservationists, several countries still permit trophy hunting. African nations such as Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique have policies that allow it. Moreover, some farmers view leopards as pests and may take measures to eliminate them to protect their animals. As a result, the IUCN has categorised leopards as vulnerable. However, there are still a sufficient number of them that repopulation is feasible.
Nevertheless, some subspecies face more significant threats than others. The Amur leopard, for instance, is the rarest, with only about 100 individuals left in the wild. There are 180-200 in captivity. It is classified as Critically Endangered and may soon vanish. Similarly, the Javan leopard, with only about 250 mature adults in the wild, is also on the Critically Endangered list. Sadly, human activity is diminishing its chances of survival. With just 200 individuals remaining, the Arabian leopard is also in serious danger of becoming extinct.
Conclusion
Leopards have fascinated humans with their stunning appearance and elusive nature for centuries. As top predators, they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems. Sadly, human-induced factors are endangering their survival, making conservation efforts urgent.
Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African-themed open-range zoo in Werribee, 32 kms southwest of Melbourne. It is part of Zoos Victoria, which also includes Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, and Kyabram Fauna Park. Werribee open range zoo is situated on approximately 225 hectares (560 acres), located on the Werribee River escarpment in Werribee Park, adjacent to the Werribee Mansion on land that was initially part of the Chirnside estate.
History
The land was originally part of the Chirnside family estate (Werribee mansion) before being sold to the Catholic church. In 1975 the Victorian Government purchased the land and broke it into four parcels – Werribee Zoo, Werribee Park Golf Club, Werribee Mansion and the National Equestrian Centre.
At first, Werribee zoo was used as extra pasture land for Melbourne zoo’s surplus animals. Then in 1977, the Board of Zoos Victoria decided to create an open-range zoo based on the African Savannah species of animals. Most of the animals came to Werribee from Melbourne Zoo. However, the zebras came from Rotterdam zoo, and the hippos were supplied by Whipsnade animal park in the UK. Werribee zoo officially opened to the public in 1983.
Early Days
When Werribee Open Range Zoo opened, work was still ongoing. Visitors would board a bus at Werribee Park Mansion, pay their entry fee on board the bus, and were then driven to the zoo adjacent to Werribee mansion.
In 1996 the bistro, gift shop, and walking trail were added. Next, in 1997, the Volcanic Plains trail. Finally, 1999 saw the arrival of four rhinos from South Africa. Before long, the breeding program commenced, and a rhino calf was born in 2002. In the subsequent years, the zoo continued to grow. Lions on the Edge habitat opened in 2004, producing three cubs in 2015 and two more litters since. Kubu River Hippos in 2006 and African Wildlife habitat in 2008.
In 2011, the gorilla exhibit opened with the arrival of an adult silverback and his two sons from Melbourne Zoo. The koala habitat opened in 2014, along with a bandicoot hideaway for the critically endangered eastern barred bandicoots. Squirrel gliders, dunnarts, tawny frogmouths, and striped legless lizards also live here.
Sheru, a five-year-old male lion, arrived from Sydney zoo in March 2022, joining the two lionesses, Nilo and Asali. He is considered the ideal age to assume the role of pride male and lead his own pride.
Main Attractions
Safari Tour: the forty-minute bus tour travels through the 45-hectare open savannah section. It runs on the hour daily and is included in your admission cost. The safari bus passes roaming bison, camels, elands, waterbuck, ostrich, scimitar oryx and Przewalski’s horse before going through Australia’s only drive-through hippo exhibit – the Kubu River Hippo enclosure. The bus then heads past southern white rhinos, giraffes and zebras (with the elephants from Melbourne zoo joining them in 2024).
Australian Journey – this trail will take you past kangaroos, emus, brolgas, tammar wallabies and orange-bellied parrots.
Pula Reserve Walking Trail takes you past the lions, vervet monkeys, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and western lowland gorillas.
Meerkat Bistro and Gift Shop
The bistro and gift are inside the front entrance, and the meerkat’s glass enclosure is beside the bistro. Visitors can watch them play while dining. There is also a kids menu for the little ones and seasonal food, wines and beer for the adults.
In April 2008, it was announced Warner Village Theme Parks proposed that a theme park, known as African Safari World, was to be built within the grounds of the zoo. However, on July 1, 2008, the proposed theme park plans were indefinitely postponed, with the Government citing the potential $100 million cost to the taxpayer. It was also a concern that it would negatively impact the animals as well as conservation and research programs.
The Future of the Zoo
In 2020 the Victorian Government announced an $84 million upgrade to Werribee zoo. Much of the massive 225 hectares (560 acres) that make up Werribee zoo is unused. As part of the upgrade, 22 hectares of that unused space is being prepared for the elephant enclosure, a significant upgrade from the 2 hectares they currently have at Melbourne Zoo. (Coincidentally, the entire footprint of Melbourne zoo is 22 hectares! Construction commenced in 2021 and is due for completion in 2024.
Also planned is an expanded rhino retreat, a prairie landscape for the bison, an expansion of the lion exhibit and a new hyena clan. Additionally, a tree-top gondola, the sky safari, will carry visitors from one side of the zoo to the other.
Special Experiences
Slumber Safari – 2 days of access and one night in a luxury lodge at the zoo. Includes an animal encounter, a unique early fully hosted safari and meet the keeper. Plus dinner and breakfast. $380pp
Deluxe Safari Adventure – Travel across the savannah with a personal guide in a smaller safari vehicle. Unlike the big bus, this one gets closer and stops so you can capture photographs. I did the tour once and loved it. $56 (plus zoo entry)
Where is it?
Werribee Zoo is located on K Road Werribee. They are open from 9 am to 5 pm each day.
Adult entry is $42; Seniors are $38 and Concession $31.50. Children under16 are free on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. At all other times, children are $21. Entry is free for zoo members.
What’s Nearby?
Nearby Werribee Open Range zoo, you will find Werribee Mansion and the State Rose Garden. Both are worth a visit, especially during spring when the roses are flowering. Also nearby is Shadowfax Winery. The Werribee Gorge State Park is just down the road – another gorgeous spot for a walk or picnic.
Melbourne Zoo, considered among the best zoos in the world, was founded by the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria in October 1857 in Richmond. The zoo opened in its current location on October 6 1862, when it moved from Richmond to Royal Park on land donated by the City of Melbourne. The higher grounds of Royal Park were considered more suitable for the animal’s health than the damp ‘Richmond Paddocks’.
History
Modelled on London zoo, it is Australia’s oldest zoo and one of the world’s best. Like other zoos in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, the early days of the zoo practised ‘acclimatisation’ of exotic species. The zoo housed animals in small enclosures at the Royal Botanical Gardens, where they recovered from the long sea voyage before being introduced to the Australian environment. Pople in those days thought animals such as blackbirds, pheasants, quail, salmon, camels, goats and sheep could prove valuable sources of food and income.
However, despite the move to Royal Park, by the late 1860s, the zoo was in financial trouble. The public had lost interest, and Albert Alexander Cochrane Le Souëf (1828-1902) was appointed the first Director of the Zoo. To save the zoo, he made several significant changes. Le Souëf expanded the zoo’s role by building a collection of animals for the amusement and education of Melbourne’s citizens. Additionally, he developed extensive gardens and picnic areas. By 1880, Melbourne Zoo’s animal collection included lions, tigers, a panther, deer and hoofed animals such as sheep and cows. All of which were considered exotic for the colony at the time.
Early Animals
In 1881, an elephant and an orangutan arrived, followed by rhinos, hippos, bison, zebra and giraffe. Wallace the lion, came in 1891 and was famous for his love of classical music. During the first half of the 1900s, visitors could ride on Queenie the Elephant, throw peanuts to the bears or watch Mollie, the orangutan smoke a cigarette in her enclosure.
Mollie the Orangutan was one of the zoo’s most beloved characters in the early 1900s due to her intelligence, quirky personality, and the human-like habits she was taught. She came to the zoo in 1901 at only a few months old and remained a crowd favourite until she died in 1923. From the late 1800s and early 1900s, the humanisation of animals was common in zoos worldwide, and Melbourne Zoo was not exempt from the practice. Mollie was known for her ability to light and smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol and her elaborate ritual for setting up her bed each night, using hessian sacks in her cage.
Unfortunately, Mollie also had a habit of setting her bedding on fire due to her talent for lighting matches. After she partially burned down her wooden enclosure, it was replaced with a concrete one. Following her death, Mollie was stuffed and displayed at the Melbourne Zoo.
Elephant Rides
Melbourne Zoo had three elephants, Queenie, Betty and Peggy. Queenie, loved for her gentle nature, was a significant zoo attraction for over 40 years at Melbourne zoo. She walked a circuit giving daily rides to up to 500 children for tuppence each. Children would place apples and peanuts on the circuit posts for her to eat as she passed by. However, on September 19, 1944, she sadly crushed and killed her keeper at the end of her working day.
Following the incident, the zoo retired Queenie from giving rides and Peggy and Betty took over giving rides. After public support, the zoo decided to keep her as an exhibit. However, in 1945, she was put down. The reason given for this was that it was wartime, fodder was scarce, and the zoo could not afford to keep her. By 1962 elephant rides at the zoo had ceased for safety reasons.
Ethical Zoos
Thankfully times have changed. Modern zoos of today bear no resemblance to their predecessors. Capturing animals in the wild for display is now illegal. The cramped, concrete and brick steel-barred cages are gone. Instead, their natural bio-climatic habitat is recreated. Subsequently, they have room to roam. Melbourne zoo is part of a world-leading organisation dedicated to fighting extinction. As a not-for-profit organisation, the funds raised from visitors are ploughed back into helping wildlife. Zoos Victoria – the parent organisation of Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Zoo, and Werribee Zoo is involved with more captive breeding programs than any other organisation in Australia.
“I justify zoos providing they are scientific, providing they are selective about what they keep and provided they keep them to the highest possible standards. That’s okay by me,”
Sir David Attenborough
While zoos are loved by many, they still have their detractors. Opponents of zoos argue that conservation doesn’t justify keeping animals in captivity.
‘PETA doesn’t believe that animals are ours to use for entertainment,’
Claire Fryer, PETA
Captive Breeding Success
In 2021 Melbourne zoo released 8 critically endangered Plains Wanderers back into the wild. They also successfully bred 50 Grassland Earless Dragons, 4 Mountain Pygmy possums, 21 Helmeted Honeyeaters, and 11 Eastern Barred Bandicoots.
Moving the Elephants
Melbourne Zoo has a herd of 6 Asian elephants – at the time of this post, three are pregnant after conceiving naturally. The three elephants will all deliver towards the end of 2022. While the Melbourne Zoos ‘Trail of the Elephants‘ is ‘award-winning’, I have always disliked it. It’s a dusty or muddy enclosure (depending on the season) that seems way too small for them. They are rotated through three different enclosures, but none are large. However, the good news is the entire herd will move to Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2024 after an $87 million expansion. The new space at Werribee Zoo will give the elephants 22 hectares to roam across the savannah with the zebra, Rhino and Giraffe.
Visiting the zoo
Melbourne zoo is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Adult entry is $42; Seniors are $38 and Concession $31.50. Children under16 are free on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. At all other times, children are $21.
As Austen Tayshus said in his comedy single, ‘How much can a koala bear?” the sad truth is, “not much more”. Koalas are in crisis, with the situation now extremely dire. Between 2018 to 2021, the koala population suffered a dramatic 30% drop. That the koala could become extinct is unthinkable, but it’s an all too real possibility.
An Iconic Species At The Crossroads
Found only in Australia, the koala is one of the world’s most iconic species. However, this once-thriving marsupial has been brought to the brink of extinction by disease, culling, habitat loss, climate change and government apathy. In 2012 the government listed the koala as “vulnerable” in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (the ACT). The classification was upgraded to ‘endangered’ in 2021.
Despite the endangered classification, land clearing of the koala habitats in the name of development continue. Bushfires in 2019 – 2020 created the perfect storm for the koala. A 2021 report to the NSW government found that koalas in NSW will be extinct in the wild by 2050 unless there is urgent action. Consequently, the NSW government has upgraded the classification from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report found that the bushfires of 2019 to 2020 killed an estimated 61,000 koalas across Australia. An alarming 41,000 perished on Kangaroo Island alone. That figure is doubly tragic considering that the koalas of Kangaroo Island are the only disease-free Koalas in Australia.
Did they really kill koalas?
As unfathomable as it is, they did. Koalas, in the late 1800s, were considered fair game. As a result, licensed killing allowed koalas to be hunted for their pelts across Queensland (Qld), New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia (SA). After a public outcry, NSW, Victoria and SA banned the practice in the early 1900s. However, in Qld, it continued until 1927. By then, Qld had almost driven the koala to extinction.
(Supplied: Australian Koala Foundation)
In 1919 the Qld Government announced a six-month open season on Koalas. In that six-month season, 1 million Koalas were killed. By 1924 Koalas were extinct in South Australia, severely depleted in NSW, and estimates for Victoria were as low as 500 individuals. At this time, the focus of the fur trade moved north to Queensland.
Open Season
In the weeks leading up to August 1927, the Queensland Government collected licence fees from 10,000 hopeful koala hunters. This was in order to to boost rural employment and in response to reports of uncontrollable koala populations. The furs were popular in the coat, glove and hat industries in the United States. This led to restrictions being lifted. The acting Queensland premier of the time, William Forgan Smith, then declared an “open season” on August 1, 1927
ABC News
In August 1927 alone, 600,000 – 800,000 koalas were killed. Koala pelts fetched 56 shillings and 9 pence per dozen. The backlash of the wholesale killing of koalas helped oust the Labor party from office in the next elections in 1927. Almost eight million koalas were killed for their pelts between 1888 and 1927. Due to public outrage, all states declared the koala a ‘protected species by the late 1930s. However, no laws have been enacted to protect the gum trees that the koala relies upon for survival.
2013 Cape Otway Cull
Additionally, in 2013 – 2014 the Victorian Government allowed the secret culling of almost 700 koalas at Cape Otway on the Great Ocean Road. The Koalas were pulled out of trees, assessed and given a lethal injection. Held in secret, no details were released until the Australian Newspaper revealed the news. However, supporters of the cull claimed it was necessary and done humanely, as many koalas were starving to death due to lack of food.
“It got to the point where there were no leaves left on the trees they were literally falling out of trees due to starvation.”
Dr Desley Whisson, a koala expert from Deakin University, told 3AW Radio
Kangaroo Island Koalas
The koala was introduced to Kangaroo Island (KI) in 1920 as part of a plan to stop the species from becoming extinct on the mainland. Instead, they flourished on KI, and the population grew to 27,000. However, it wasn’t long before the Natural Resources Committee (NRC) in SA saw a problem and, in 2019, called for a cull. The committee also advocated a cull of corellas, fur seals and other native animals before reaching “unmanageable levels”.
The NRC recommended the government declare certain species overabundant and consider giving local councils the power to cull the native animals. A community backlash, however, saw the idea dumped. Fast forward twelve short months, and the Kangaroo Island bushfires decimated the koala population. With a loss of approximately 41,000 koalas on KI due to the fires, had the cull gone ahead the year before, it begs the question – would KI have any koalas left?
“Koalas have gone from no-listing to vulnerable to endangered within a decade. That is a shockingly fast decline,”
Conservation scientst Stuart Blanch WWF Australia
Threats to Koalas
The main threat to the koala is loss of habit due to tree clearing and climate change. Tree clearing and destruction of bushland continue to escalate. NSW repealed tree clearing controls in 2017, tripling the clearing in one area of northwest NSW and doubling the area cleared around Narrabri, Dubbo and the Hunter Valley.
Habitat destruction causes mass suffering, injury and death to native wildlife to the point it must be considered cruel. However, because it is largely invisable and occurs far from the public gaze, public recognition of the wild animal welfare crisis is low
Animal Welfare Impacts
Tree clearing impact
Native animals are not cleared from areas about to be felled. Animals living in the trees when they are bulldozed are often killed outright. Those who survive suffer terrible injuries, either from falling to the ground or being crushed by trees. Habitat fragmentation forces koalas to spend more time on the ground moving from tree to tree. This puts them at greater risk of being hit by cars and attacked by dogs.
We called the rangers, and they collected her (she recovered)
Meanwhile, elevated stress levels make them prone to sickness and diseases like chlamydia. There is also increasing evidence that climate change reduces nutrient levels in Eucalyptus leaves. The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is dedicated to effectively managing and conserving the koala and its habitat. They plant trees on farms and private land creating new habitats for koalas.
The current koala population of Australia today has fallen to an estimated 32,000 – 58,000, a mere 1% of what was killed in Qld, August 1927. So, the AKF is mounting a Save the Koala campaign calling NSW politicians to act. CLICK HERE to join the ‘koala army’ or support the Koala Protection Act.
In December 2017, Melbourne Zoo opened a new exhibit – the Carnivores Trail. The new enclosure houses the Lions, Sumatran Tiger, Tasmanian Devil, African Painted Dog and Snow Leopard. I had been to the zoo many times and failed to get a ‘shot’ of the tiger. He always seemed to be hiding at the back of his old enclosure, so I decided another trip was in order.
the Carnivores Trail
On the day we visited, the Lions weren’t on display as they were adding new tree trunks for them to climb on. Considering we visited in February and the ‘Trail’ had only been opened for around seven weeks, it was disappointing and poor planning on the zoo’s part. Another disappointment was that the trail wasn’t circular like the map at the entrance. Once past the invisible snow leopards, the trail was blocked, and a sign told us to retrace our steps. So while the trail was open to the public, it seems that it’s certainly not finished.
Snow Leopards and tigers
The snow leopards have mythical status as they are hard to find. When we visited again, they were nowhere in sight. A fellow photographer had visited five times since the opening of the new trail and had not seen them once. The new Tiger enclosure is excellent. We were lucky to see him wading back and forth in the water for a good ten minutes.
Lemur Island
From the Carnivores Trail, we headed off to Lemur Island. Not actually an island but a fully enclosed walk-through exhibit where the Ring-Tailed Lemurs swan around relaxing and observing the visitors…
Gorilla Rainforest
Lemur Island leads to the Gorilla Rainforest. Among the Western Lowland Gorilla and other animals, it’s also home to the tree-tops apes and monkeys.
Butterfly House
We headed to the Butterfly House from the Gorilla Rainforest. This is one of my favourite exhibits at the zoo. It’s home to hundreds of butterflies fluttering around and landing on people.
Werribee Open Range Zoo is set on approx 225 hectares within the Werribee Park Precinct in K Road Werribee. Its neighbours in the Werribee Park Precinct are the historic Werribee Mansion and the Victorian State Rose Garden.
Fighting Extinction
The zoo is a world-leading, zoo-based conservation organisation dedicated to fighting wildlife extinction. To this end, Werribee Open Range Zoo has several captive breeding programs of critically endangered animals. As a result, in 2021, Zoos Victoria, of which Werribee Zoo is a part, successfully:
- 50 Grassland Earless Dragons – not seen in the wild in Victoria since 1969
- 4 Mountain Pygmy Possums – fewer than 2000 left in the wild
- 21 Helmeted Honeyeaters – fewer than 200 left in the wild
- 11 Eastern Barred Bandicoots – extinct in the wild on mainland Australia
- released 8 critically endangered Plains Wanderers into the wild – number left in the wild 250-1000
- released 1,380 critically endangered Southern Corroboree frogs into the wild
- bred 16 Tasmanian Devils
Modelled on an African theme, the zoo is home to gorilla’s, Hippo’s, Rhino, Camels, American Bison, Przewalski’s horse, several varieties of antelope, monkeys, painted dogs, giraffes, and cheetahs. You can take a free bus ride through the savannah lands as part of the entry fee. But this day, along with around 25 fellow photographers from the Victorian Photographers Collective, we took the off-road safari for an additional cost.
Off Road Bus
For a very reasonable $50, we went off-road in the savannah over ninety minutes, stopping at each animal group for up close and personal photos. I’m spoilt now and can see myself ever doing the big free bus again. Once off the bus, we met up again for lunch, then wandered off in different directions to get some more shots before heading home. Fabulous day with lovely company!
