Open Plains Zoo for Perth??? » Perth Zoo

29-01-2008

the idea of an open range zoo in WA is not a new one. the issue came up a few years ago and a potential site was canvassed.

perth zoo certainly could do with a sister open range zoo and would have few problems acquiring a starter selection of staple ungulates for display there. however, one of perth zoos largest precincts is its "african savannah" and long-term i would suggest that the best thing for the the zoo, in this hypothetical scenario, would be to move these animals to the open range to capitalise on the distinctness of the two kinds of zoos. obviously, i feel the same goes for elephants.

this would leave half the city zoos exhibits free for expanding populations of program species, be it ones the perth zoo currently keeps or not.

31-01-2008

My idea is MORE room for our animals! It is pointless to ungrade old enclosures to new ones and then realising the new ones are smaller than the old! Our elephants and rhino deserve better. It is hard to see a big cat for the mounds of grass and they have worked out where to hide - which does nothing for the disappointed paying public.

Come on Minister - put pen to paper.

01-02-2008

With Taronga, Melbourne and Adelaide all having enormous open-range zoos it only makes sense that Perth attempts to jump on board with their own. The cost factor is a major concern, as well as the importation of animals. If it ever does get off the ground then I'm sure that it will be tough to begin with large herds of ungulates, as Australia (and especially Perth) is so isolated from everywhere else. Perhaps hoofstock can be obtained from the other 3 Aussie open-range zoos, and slowly integrated into a future collection. It would be wonderful for Australia if this happened, but it is difficult to see anything progressing anytime soon.

01-02-2008

That is true, money is everything. I am not sure on how much it cost to set up werribee in the 80's, and monarto in the 90's, but wpz cost ONLY 2.5 Mill or so, which i think is less than the ele import sage . Now days to do an open range zoo of any size would be very expensive, but could be done on budget along the lines of Altina wildlife park in griffith, who just received their first giraffe.

I do beleive their is space for another open range zoo, especially in the very isolated W.A for the size of the state, and distance from anywhere is suprising the state has only 1 Zoo. Are there any small private collections in W.A? I suppose the last one would have been at Broome?

01-02-2008

well perth zoo already have a decent african savannah collection, which could be utilised at the new zoo. but an open range zoo needs more than 3 or four zebras and as you suggest, they would have little difficulty acquiring additional giraffe, zebra, rhino and maybe even a couple of antelope from one of the existing open range zoos.

getting primates and carnivores such as cheetah and lions would be no problems whatsoever.

if they wanted asian animals also they would have no problems acquiring blackbuck, any of 5 or so species of deer, buffalo, banteng etc. the smart move would also be to make an luring attraction of the asian elephants out there, but fat chance that will ever happen.

i see dubbo and werribee holding on tightly to theirs and really only sharing with eachother and wherever the cairns animals end up.

werribee has room to hold at least another two or more hippo, depending on fights, so i cant see them giving up any soon.

01-02-2008

So what sort of open concept should it be, a large open paddock arrangement like monarto, or werribee, with open, more modern exhibits?

I think both, trails for aivaries, and primates, and small cats, mayve savannah platforms etc, then large habitats like monarto for big cats, eles, and savannah species.

01-02-2008

If you wanted to stick to an African grassland theme you could easily have a mixture. A large Werribee stle paddock for the hoofstock that could incorportate a bus ride then a walking trail that would incorporate the carnivores (including fennec foxes and servals), primates (baboon, vervets) and small animals (meerkats).

01-02-2008

most people love the safari-bus concept, so its not something i would exclude from a modern open range zoo, even though the 'do it at your own pace" style sits better with me personally.

i agree with jason, that a combination is what works best.

personally the temptation for me would be to be to also have a river safari, where you can view elephants and hippos and other species from the confines of a submerged cable running boat.

01-02-2008

I adore the concept of an "open-range" zoo, but as I've said on here before (and many have agreed) it is somehow much more difficult to spend an inordinate amount of time at such an establishment. For example: Monarto Zoo near Adelaide has an hour long bus tour...and then there isn't a lot else to see. One can now disembark at scheduled stops and get a closer look at some animal species (ie: giraffe) but there is clearly not enough "go at your own pace" exhibits. The tour is too short and doesn't give enough time for someone to hang around and view the lions, hyenas, cheetahs, etc.

It is vital that any open-range collection has lots of walking trails for those that are true fans of taking the time to view the animals. An hour long ride in a bus with tourists means that sometimes exhibits are passed in literally seconds, without even a pause or being able to come to a full stop. The San Diego Wild Animal Park was a tad frustrating to visit, as inside the monorail car a visitor appears to be so far away from the action. However, they also have a number of lengthy walking trails to satisfy hardcore zoo fans who wish to get up close and personal with typical zoo exhibits.

01-02-2008

All that is planned!

01-02-2008

@ZooYouthBen: I seem to remember that you are a massive fan of Monarto, and love spending hours and hours at the zoo. Hopefully there will be some more boardwalks constructed that allow visitors to amble along at their own pace, snapping photos and taking it easy as they venture along raised platforms. I realize that the brand new chimpanzee exhibit will have viewing platforms for the public.

01-02-2008

The bus ride would be good if you could do it more than once. There is a huge difference in your enjoyment depending on how full, the typre of people and the time of the trip. I will never forget a trip to Werribee that had a bunch of old women on it and the entire time they all gossiped loudly and all at the same time about grand children, other holidays, illnesss' etc and not one of them took a bit of notice of the wildlife, fair ruined my tour. I could see what that particular trip was going to be like but had no choice but to go on it.
I like Pats idea of the river trip. Wouldn't it be great iff we could get together and design Perths OPZ for them. I think there would be some great ideas.

01-02-2008

a boat ride could be ultra-cool i reckon.

submerged walls, stopping just shy of the surface could create the illusion that bathing elephants and hippo are sharing the same water as the boats, with no barriers.

it would also be a great place to view other animals from, with monkey islands and waterbirds all potential candidates for being featured on the "river safari"

another cool idea would be to have a train (or bus i guess) that features "stations". thus one could get out at each themed station (i'm imagining one for each different geographic precinct) and wander around looking at smaller animals on trails as well as viewing the larger savannah inhabitants before resuming the safari, through the animal paddocks to the next area. no ticket, just line up and jump onboard the looping train/buses.

a old faux steam train train could be particularly fun.

01-02-2008

OK, I can see we will have to form a board of some description and present our thoughts on paper formally to the Minister before going to press in the West Australian and announcing to the public what they can expect. It is so great to feel the excitement coming off the forum - the Minister was clearly excited at the thought!

01-02-2008

Jaywa, if the Minister had an invite to "go see" an open range zoo that may Help