Australia Zoo in Trouble » Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo in Trouble
14-03-2008

The Australia zoo is being investigated for possibly breaking laws regarding the release of injured koalas.
Australia Zoo defends koala policy | Herald Sun

It seems that the zoo has released rehabiltated koalas in places away from where they were originally found. The law says that they must release them within 5km. The zoo states that they couldn't do this as the places where the aniamlas were found were on busy roads or in areas where development has eradicated the koalas habitat. In either case this would have endangered the animals even further.

14-03-2008

they could have stuffed up bloodlines and everything!!!!!

this really pisses me off when people who should know what they are doing, do the wrong thing, if the animal cant be released and cant behoused or rehomed, think it should just be released anywhere!

15-03-2008

in my opinion does it really matter about mixing bloodlines? koalas are not sedentary at certain stages of their life-bloodlines certainly get mixed up. and its not as if Australia Zoo is releasing them into NSW or Victoria and polluting the sub-species.
what pisses me off really is that the QLD state Govt has come down on Australia Zoo like a tonne of bricks. does anyone else see the irony in this situation, or can we all not see the woods for the trees?
if the QLD govt didnt have such poor environmental planning, past and present, in the south-east of this state then we wouldnt really have this problem, and we wouldnt be passing the buck and slapping the wrists of an institution which, in reality is really only picking up the collateral of a much wider and major problem!!!!

15-03-2008

Between the Terri and Bob Irwin family saga, the koala problems, the alleged tax evasion threats...what the hell is going on in Queensland?

15-03-2008

It's the end of the honeymoon for the Irwins and now, as Australia is so good at, we are turning on our own and bringing them down - the tall poppie sybdrome. I'm inclined to agree with Glyn. As far as I can make out, the koalas are still be released on the Sunshine Coast, which is a large area. Much of the area is undergoing rapid urban development and they monitor the koalas to make sure that they settle in ok.

15-03-2008

Yep, you have hit the nail on the head with this one Jay, the tall poppie sybdrome strikes yet again

15-03-2008

are you being scarcastic?

if not i'm a little confused. how can mixing bloodlines of a purebred population of koalas do anything but good?

15-03-2008

i'm just saying that these populations may be isolated from others, so it may increase he spread of disease (but i spose they would have been tested for mosty things) but is there really a need to release koalas? or are just the voctorian koalas common?

15-03-2008

You hit the nail on the head here! I have some serious misgivings about the - overt commercialisation of Australia Zoo by Terri (now Steve is no longer at the helm of the conservation locomotive) and the lonely old Bob saga, I too am really sceptical at the major inroads the media seem to be making into spreading damaging "stories" (I believe that is what most are, without any substance to them) and portraying a total negative image of Australia Zoo. I agree that really does the Australia Zoo a grave injustice (could it be that the very same other zoo agenda people that are grilling Taronga over its elephants and sundry are at work here?)!!!!!

Anyhows, goodday to our Ozzie friends from down under (or other way up depending how you look at it! ). I am sure you are all working over this Australia Zoo negative buzzing BIG TIME! You seem to mention the "tall poppie sybdrome" (sybdrome = that really the right spelling of the word). Can you Ozzies elaborate on what is meant by that expression? It seems so quintessentially Australian in nature (LOL)!

And finally .... a word of caution, I agree with ZooYouthBen that we must be very cautious with introducing koalas to territory they are unfamiliar with or into already established populations. Disease risk and all!

15-03-2008

Tall Poppy Syndrome (is this just an Aus and NZ thing??) is where anybody achieving anything is verbally pulled down again. Basically if someone rises above the rest then the rest get jealous and need to cut them down again. Its a common expression over our way

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Koala release
15-03-2008

The law requires permission from state government for release into another area. Simply all Australia Zoo had to do is request with explanation. How hard can that be. Do not defend doing the wrong thing as the "tall poppy syndrome". They are screwing up a lot recently. They actually get the best treatment from the media. For years when Steve Irwin was there so much was overlooked.

15-03-2008

yes it does seem a uniqely Australian phomena the 'tall poppy' thing-the way we sanctify people when they kick the bucket but grill them when theyre alive.
i agree with PTIG that Australia Zoo has had a bit of a dream run with the media-i mean, without the media's help the zoo which isnt really that BIG a zoo could never of gotten as big as it has.
but regarding the koalas specifically-yes. there are guidelines and rules set in place for a reason but I do believe that whilst Australia Zoo should be playing by the rules the broader land clearance issue has been overlooked. diseases are endemic and highly localised in some koala populations, particularly when animals are stressed, and there are issues of territory etc. BUT i dont think a world-class animal health centre wouldnt be screening or releasing diseased animals.
onwards and upwards Australia Zoo. hopefully

Koala relocation
16-03-2008

The argument reminds me of George Bush arguing that he does not need the FISA court to determine wire tapping of phone calls. It only takes a bit of paper and phone time to request and explain why the area that the Koala came from is now inappropriate. Don't be surprised though if more comes out about this. I have heard little rumblings.

16-03-2008

what else are you gonna do with them all?

anyhow,

australia zoo, its direction and it image have never, ever appealed to me. and i don't have any aspirations to visit.

however, i appreciate any contribution to conservation, so i certainly don't want it to do badly. but this koala issue certainly makes them come across as a bit up themselves.

16-03-2008

waht is this terri wants to sell it? thats the 4th installment of bad press for them- apprently a zoo staff member said thst wht the rift was over, and that she was selling it to animal planet!