Tag / Animals

by brandsa2018

Adelaide Zoo reveals plans for $1.1m Variety Children’s Zoo

The next generation of conversationists will be able to experience the wonder of the natural world when Adelaide Zoo develops a new $1.1 million children’s zoo in 2019.

Zoos SA has unveiled plans for the immersive and interactive Variety Children’s Zoo that will be connected to the existing and ever-popular Nature’s Playground, an area where kids can explore nature-inspired spaces including water features, a natural creek bed and aerial walkways.

Construction of the new children’s zoo will be developed in partnership with children’s charity Variety SA, and will begin in 2019.

Quokkas, critically endangered bettongs, goats and other creatures will move from the existing children’s zoo to the new space near the zoo entrance.

The area as it currently stands.

The new development will feature balance beams and ladders for goats, climbing branches for quokkas, a dedicated presentation area for keepers to host educational talks and aerial walkways connecting to Nature’s Playground.

Zoos SA CEO and I Choose SA ambassador Elaine Bensted says the new Variety Children’s Zoo will help encourage and develop the next generation of conservationists, no matter their ability.

“Our vision for the Variety Children’s Zoo is to help kids get hands on as they learn and connect with wildlife, and in doing so develop a strong passion for conservation,” she says.

“The Variety Children’s Zoo will be a continuation of Nature’s Playground – making Adelaide Zoo the number one destination for the kids of South Australia and their families.

“When finalising the plans, we ensured we had an equal balance between animal welfare, unique facilities, exciting animal encounters, and educational yet magical moments for visitors to experience.”

An artist’s impression of the newly developed Variety Children’s Zoo.

Variety SA CEO Mark McGill says the charity is proud to again partner with the zoo to bring the next stage of children’s play development to life.

“Variety is enormously proud to have opened the doors of the Adelaide Zoo to more children who are sick, disadvantaged or who have special needs,” he says.

“These children have enjoyed the freedom and inclusiveness of the all abilities Nature’s Playground, proudly supported by Variety, and these wonderful outcomes will only be expanded with the development of the Variety Children’s Zoo.”

The public will have a chance to become the face of the new children’s zoo, with a large art installation taking centre stage in the area. For $50 people can purchase a tile with their photo to remain at the zoo into the future.

by brandsa2018

Life reinstated to much-loved Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary

When wildlife lovers David Cobbold and Narelle MacPherson heard that Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills was for sale, they saw an opportunity to “reinvigorate a national treasure”.

The couple, who own Peel Zoo in Western Australia, packed up their lives and relocated to Mylor in the Adelaide Hills, home of the closed but not forgotten sanctuary once famous for its Australian wildlife conservation efforts.

In September Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary reopened for the first time in more than five years and has since attracted thousands of visitors who come to learn about native wildlife and the environment.

“We’re only into our fifth week and it (visitation) seems to be building quite nicely,” David says.

“Just over the last week we’ve had a couple of hundred people through.”

Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary owners Narelle MacPherson and David Cobbold with four-legged friend, Bear. Photo courtesy of Weekender Herald.

Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary was closed in 2013 after a long history in wildlife conservation and efforts by its founder Dr John Wamsley to eradicate feral pests and restore habitat.

Dr Wamsley purchased the property in 1969, eradicating feral plants and animals and putting up a 2.1m feral-proof fence to keep out roaming cats and foxes.

Warrawong soon became a thriving eco-system with native Australian wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, bandicoots, potoroos, bettongs and birds.

In 1993, Dr Wamsley made news headlines when he wore a hat made from feral cat skins to make a point about the destruction feral cats have on native wildlife.

The stunt brought about fierce debate between cat lovers and those who believed feral cats were wreaking havoc on native species.

An aerial view of Warrawong, located on Stock Road, Mylor, in the Adelaide Hills.

Eventually Dr Wamsley’s campaign led to a change in feral cat laws, allowing him to legally shoot them in his sanctuary.

Warrawong expanded into Earth Sanctuaries and was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, but later fell into financial difficulty, with Dr Wamsley and wife Proo Geddes leaving in 2005.

The sanctuary has since fallen under ownership of Zoos SA and the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority before it closed to the public in 2013.

It remained that way for the next five years, until David and Narelle heard the property was on the market.

“We heard that Warrawong was coming up, and we thought it wasn’t only interesting from a business point of view, where you think wow, great location, lots of infrastructure, huge potential … but you also realise it’s the cat hat guy, who I saw on TV as a young boy,” David says.

“When you realise that you’re not only hopefully creating a future for your family, but also reinvigorating a national treasure, the birthplace of the feral proof fence … it turns into a little personal crusade.”

Warrawong Wildlife Keeper Erin introduces some of the sanctuary’s friendly locals to visitors.

Now Warrawong is well on its way to being reinstated as a popular tourism destination, with opportunities for animal research and education.

One of the centrepieces is the platypus pond, and David says he envisages plans for platypus research and breeding facilities.

However, he admits there is still much work to be done including ensuring the property is once again free from pests, including a sneaky fox which has made its way onto the property.

“As we speak we have a fox on the property,” David says. “Dr Wamsley finished the (feral proof) fence in 1982 so the youngest part of the fence is 36 years old.”

He says birdwatching has been a popular activity at Warrawong since the reopening, with 110 species spotted so far.

Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary employs about half-a-dozen casual staff, and is about to put on a full-timer.

Warrawong is open to visitors seven days a week.

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by brandsa2018

Wildest dreams a reality for zoos chief Elaine Bensted

Wild African-style adventures, birds of prey flying overhead and tourists sleeping to the chilling laugh of hyenas – South Australia is set to have it all.

Two of the state’s best tourist attractions, Adelaide and Monarto zoos, are set for big changes on the back of rising visitor numbers which hit more than half a million in 2016/17.

At the helm of the plan is Zoos SA CEO Elaine Bensted who officially opened Monarto’s latest heart-stopper, Lions 360, in November 2017.

 

The Lions 360 experience brings humans face-to-face with the king of the jungle.

The hair-raising attraction has already put hundreds of visitors within clawing range of a pride of African lions.

“The Lions 360 is definitely a first in Australia, and we think the first in the world,” Elaine says.

“It reverses the zoo concept by putting people inside the cage.

“Our lions have 10ha and they can choose where they want to be, but they generally choose to be all around the people in the dome.”

The Lions 360 is a big ticket project included in Zoos SA’s 20-year Masterplan, a document outlining immersive experiences, displays and improvements expected to set Adelaide and Monarto zoos up for further success.

Changes at Adelaide Zoo over the next two decades include a gorilla exhibit and nature-based adventure playground.

But it’s what’s in store for Monarto Zoo that has hearts racing.

Birds of prey flight presentations, safari-style accommodation and Madagascar walk-through experiences are all on the cards.

“The really exciting one that’s just around the corner is Wild Africa and that’s the development of a safari experience (that will be) by far the largest drive through experience outside of Africa,” Elaine says.

“You’ll be able to go on a sunset safari drive and come back and stay in accommodation from family cabins to a safari resort and ‘glamping’ in tents.”

Elaine says big things are on the horizon for Monarto Zoo, Australia’s largest open-range zoo and a major tourist attraction in SA.

With SA’s tourism industry worth $6.3 billion and attracting 13.6 million day trips to and around the state in a year, Elaine says tourism is a big employer.

“Zoos SA employs 250 people … and we’re lucky to be supported by over 500 volunteers,” she says.

“People think of the obvious jobs, the animal carer and the vets but we also have horticulturalists, asset staff and retail staff – so a really diverse range of jobs.”

Local communities also benefit from the zoo’s operations, Elaine says.

“We have about 3000 animals and they all need to be fed,” she says.

“If you see our fruit, veg and meat bill, it’s fairly large, so of course all this is supporting local communities.

“When we built the Lions 360 is was engineered by a Mt Gambier firm and then another SA company Sarah Constructions did the building work.”

Elaine has been Zoos SA CEO for the past five years and says her role is “an absolute dream job”.

“It’s really diverse, you are doing a range of conservation projects, but you’re also looking at sourcing funding and looking at new tourism operators to partner with so that people can explore this fabulous region,” she says.

Elaine grew up in SA wanting to be a veterinarian but later decided it would be a poor choice as she faints at the sight of blood.

She says the state’s scenery and business environment make it “a great place to live”.

“I’m very passionate about SA,” Elaine says.

“We have amazing local scenery, and it’s also a really nice place to do business.

“I think we’re the right size and we have a lot of connections.”

Visit the I Choose SA for Industry website to read more stories about key industry leaders, why they’ve chosen SA as a base and how the state is enabling them to succeed.