Zoo News - Spring 2023

ZOO

cubsCharismatic

THREE TINY-BUT-MIGHTY LION CUBS ARE CHARMING WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO’S STAFF, MEMBERS AND VISITORS

ANIMAL

Superb snakes

Meet the scaly residents of Kyabram Fauna Park’s brand new Reptile Habitat

SUSTAINABILITY

Wipe for wildlife

How your choice of toilet paper can impact native birds and mammals

CONSERVATION

Taking flight

Helmeted Honeyeater releases strengthen the future of the species

COMMUNITY

Animal ally

How one young person contributed to threatened species recovery programs

Kyabram reptiles

Dear members,

The transition from winter to spring breathes new life into the world around us. With the arrival of this rejuvenating season, we also welcome the arrival of three lion cubs at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Did you know Zoos Victoria runs and delivers more conservation breeding and recovery programs than any other institution within Australia? In this edition we celebrate the work of Healesville Sanctuary’s long-running recovery program for the Critically Endangered Helmeted Honeyeater. From pensioner pelicans to senior savannah citizens, learn how Zoos Victoria looks after its older residents and how we curate their care to ensure they are ageing gracefully. Take a peek behind the scenes in a day in the life of Animal Training Coordinator, Kelly. Our team of horticulturists and arborists already have summer in their sights, as they prepare our gardens for climate resilience.

We hope you are inspired by this edition and continue to join us in the fight against wildlife extinction. We look forward to welcoming you again soon at one of your four great zoos.

Dr Jenny Gray CEO, Zoos Victoria

NEWS ZOO at the

Keep up to date with the news taking place at:

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

MELBOURNE ZOO

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

KYABRAM FAUNA PARK

VIPZone

Check out your updated VIP Zone

Stay up to date with zoo events, insider stories, animal updates and more with our new Member exclusive blog. Bookmark your Member VIP Zone to visit for regular updates from your four zoos.

To visit the VIP Zone

Dream Day

In partnership with the Association for Children with a Disability, Melbourne Zoo will be transformed into a place of wonder for families of children with disabilities who may otherwise find it difficult to visit during peak times. This means that Melbourne Zoo will be closed to both Zoo Members and the public throughout the day on Saturday 21 October 2023 to support this event. All other zoos and parks will remain open to our members and the public on this day. We thank our members in advance for supporting this important and valued initiative.

Coffee for Wildlife

Members save

As a valued Zoos Victoria member, you also receive 15% discount when you purchase Coffee for Wildlife coffee in beans or ground, from all Zoos Victoria shops and online.

Have you tried a coffee of Zoos Victoria’s own Coffee For Wildlife yet? Join the tens of thousands of members who have purchased Coffee for Wildlife. Whether it be a coffee when you visit, or purchasing your own bag to take home, Coffee for Wildlife coffee not only tastes great, but your purchase supports projects that empower people to live in harmony with forests and wildlife.

For

more information or to purchase online

ATTENTION invertebrate LOVERS!

Extend your passion beyond your zoos and check out Invertebrates Australia. From only $25 a year, you can get involved in events, keep updated on invertebrate news and contribute directly to the conservation of critical invertebrates.

for more information.

HATCHES &

matches

The zoos are places for love, new life and, sadly, sometimes loss. Check out the latest animal happenings at your zoos.

BILBY

There’s a tiny new resident hopping around Healesville Sanctuary’s Nocturnal House. At first glance, you may notice long, pink ears and silky grey fur peeking out from beneath tree logs. But stay a while and Aherte [pronounced: ara-ta] the Greater bilby joey will likely be hopping around his red-lit habitat.

LIONS

Werribee Open Range Zoo has welcomed a healthy litter of three precious lion cubs – the first of this threatened species to be born at the Zoo in almost six years. The cubs, which each weigh approximately 1.5 kilograms, were born in the evening on Sunday June 4 to 11-year-old mother Nilo and five-year-old pride male Sheru.

SIAMANGS

Siamang pair Isador and Sampit have moved to a private island habitat, making room for daughter Kemala to start a budding companionship with new mate Batak, who arrived from Mogo Zoo.

SNOW LEOPARD

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of beloved Snow Leopard, Sundah. Born on July 12, 2008, Sundah was the offspring of Meo and Leon. We express our deepest gratitude to the dedicated keeper and veterinary teams who cared for her throughout her life. Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts ensured that Sundah received the best possible care and support.

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY GREATER

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

MELBOURNE ZOO

MELBOURNE ZOO

THREATENED SPECIES update

BROAD-TOOTHED RAT

A new population of threatened native rodents were unexpectedly discovered by Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Detection Dog Squad during a routine training session in the Coranderrk Bushland that adjoins Healesville Sanctuary [Wurundjeri Country].

FROG

A milestone for the Threatened Frog team at Healesville Sanctuary with 5,000 viable Northern Corroboree Frog eggs contributed to the conservation program for the endangered species since 2010. Northern Corroboree Frogs were also upgraded from Endangered to Critically Endangered in 2022 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Helmeted Honeyeater

A group of Critically Endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters bred at Healesville Sanctuary was released into Yarra Ranges National Park as a part of the ongoing recovery program.

Turn to page10

to read more about this special species

Moss, a four-year-old Labrador, was participating in a blank area search without a target species when he

Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon

alerted his trainer to animal scat that was bright green and full of grass. Scientists were able to confirm the scat was from the native Broad-toothed Rat, which is distinguished by its fluffy fur, short tail and chubby cheeks.

A small reptile not seen in Victoria for over 50 years has recently been rediscovered! Once thought to be extinct, the landmark discovery of a Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon population provides renewed hope for the Critically Endangered species last sighted in 1969.

IMAGES: MUSEIUM VICTORIA (JOHN JAMES WILD); ALAMY; RICK HAMMOND

MOSS

into

ROARING SPRING

Adorable lion cubs bring joy among the blooming landscapes at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

WORDS Jesse Failla

As the sun’s rays dapple Werribee Open Range Zoo, signalling spring, the blossoms shine bright and grow to much delight. But the flora isn’t the only thing flourishing at the Zoo this season – three precious healthy lion cubs are busy developing their skills while exploring their home, thrilling members and visitors who now have the opportunity to see them.

“It’s a wonderful time to be at Werribee Open Range Zoo,” African River Trail Coordinator Ben says. “Witnessing three robust, inquisitive and playful lion cubs thriving under their mother’s guidance is truly incredible.”

In June this year, one female and two male lion cubs were born to third-time mother Nilo and first-time father Sheru. For eight weeks, Nilo and her cubs remained in the comforts of their den, taking important quiet time to bond,

replicating the behaviours of their species in the wild. But now, after three months of Nilo’s nurturing, as well as gradual introductions to the pride and lion habitat, the cubs are thriving and quickly reaching new life milestones.

“We’re really starting to see their individual personalities shine through, which is cool to see,” Ben says.

“The female cub is very explorative. She will often be the first of the trio to engage with new things in her environment. She’s got confidence in spades and is not afraid to stand up to her brothers when needed.

“Of the male cubs, one is the biggest of the trio. He will often follow his sister’s lead in exploring new things and loves to playfully wrestle with his siblings whenever he has the opportunity.

“The second male cub often needs some gentle encouragement out of bed by Nilo and tends to hang back when his siblings are off exploring. He loves playing with new things, but will first hide within or behind browse [vegetation] and quietly observe what is happening around him.”

A win for conservation

African lions are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, with their population declining to only around 39,000 left in the

“Raising cubs provides important opportunities for lifelong learning for the entire lion pride.” BEN

African River Trail Coordinator Werribee Open Range Zoo

FAST FACTS

Lion cubs

wild in sub-Saharan Africa. The species is facing increasing threats, including human–wildlife conflict, poaching and habitat destruction.

The lion pride at Werribee Open Range Zoo is part of the Australasian zoo breeding and conservation program. Ben says breeding has significant longterm health and behavioural benefits for female lions, while raising cubs also provides important opportunities for lifelong learning for the entire pride.

“Each adult lion will have an important role in the cubs’ development and their own personal life development. As father Sheru and older sister Asali have never had any experience around cubs before, they will be learning how to interact with them and how to help keep the cubs safe while they are exploring. We can’t wait for Sheru, who is notoriously shy, to learn to how to play with the cubs and build his confidence around new things,” says Ben, before adding, “Asali will also have

the opportunity to gain some valuable experience from observing how Nilo mothers the cubs, and we anticipate Asali will also help look after the cubs during moments when Nilo rests.”

Zoos Victoria members have opportunities to see the lion cubs throughout the spring school holidays along Werribee Open Range Zoo’s African River Trail. ZN

A few things you may not know about lion cubs:

At birth, a cub’s coat is marked with distinct dark, rosette-shaped spots or, sometimes, stripes. These usually disappear as they mature.

Lion cubs are born weighing around 1.5 kilograms. Within just six months, they can grow up to 22 times in size to 34 kilograms.

Newborn cubs spend up to 20 hours of the day sleeping or resting.

Lion cubs can also be referred to as lionets.

WILD Return ~ TO THE ~

Victoria’s Critically Endangered Helmeted Honeyeaters are on the comeback trail thanks to Healesville Sanctuary’s long-running recovery program.

In April, 20 Helmeted Honeyeaters bred at Healesville Sanctuary were released into the wild at Yarra Ranges National Park. Twenty birds might not seem like a great number, but considering how close the state’s faunal emblem has come to extinction, this release was significant.

“It’s wonderful to see them leave the aviaries. They all meet up and talk to one another. They do this corroboree behaviour where they throw their heads back, flutter their wings and make a soft piping call, which you can picture as the wild birds welcoming the new residents to the area,” says Zoos Victoria’s Helmeted Honeyeater Field Officer, Nick.

With the last wild population on the increase at Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area due to several successful recovery actions, the expansion of the release program to Yarra Ranges National Park over the past two years is a strategic move to ensure risk-spreading against bushfire.

“We want to establish multiple populations across the landscape to bolster numbers and spread risk,” says Nick, who adds that this approach also enhances the ability to restore some genetic diversity that was eroded when the population size declined so severely.

Decades of dedication

There have been many advancements in approaches since the recovery program commenced in 1989. Developments in genetic research have boosted the team’s capacity to breed healthy, hardy birds. “Having input from conservation geneticists has been integral,” says Nick.

Implementation of supplementary feeding in the field has also contributed to the population growth of Helmeted Honeyeaters in the wild, providing

a stable food source all year round. “Numbers declined to about 60 individuals in 2012, towards the end of the drought. In response, supplementary feeding was expanded at Yellingbo, where birds are provided a nectar mix in feeding stations. This measure has been a critical factor contributing to the substantial increase in population size, which now sits at around 200 birds in the wild,” Nick explains.

Trust the process

Over the decades, the program has deployed many different methods to secure the future of the species. Not every approach has worked, but Nick maintains it’s important to keep trying different things.

“Everything that we try, we learn from.

WORDS Jo Stewart PHOTOGRAPHY Jo Howell

“It’s wonderful to see them leave the aviaries”

NICK Helmeted Honeyeater Field Officer

We can’t just give up and hope that it’ll change, because it won’t.”

Keeping track of Helmeted Honeyeaters in the wild is key. Nick and a team of field ornithologists monitor the birds closely, in particular during spring and summer when they are nesting. Built low to the ground in protected scrub, the nests are carefully checked (with minimal disturbance) to see how many eggs have been laid and monitor when chicks have hatched.

“Recently, I’ve installed cameras to keep a close eye on what happens to nestlings. I would love to be out there all the time, but I can’t be, so the cameras have helped to identify a few predators, which assists our efforts to help the birds by managing that risk,” Nick says.

One of the reasons the species has experienced population decline is habitat destruction. Helmeted Honeyeaters live in riparian zones near creek systems and floodplains. According to Nick, 99 per cent of that habitat has been lost.

“Organisations such as Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater Inc. are revegetating suitable parcels of land. But anyone can play a part in enhancing

habitat for our wildlife,” says Nick. Despite the challenges this species faces, hope is on the horizon. Every time Nick conducts fieldwork, he’s reminded of the program’s achievements.

“It’s a wonderful outcome to have these birds out there flourishing, foraging on natural resources, nesting, and socialising with one another. It’s just wonderful to witness.” ZN

HELP HELMETED HONEYEATERS

Show further support for native threatened species by donating to Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction program

Click here

Kyabram Fauna

REMARKABLE REPTILES

Scales, forked tongues, venomous fangs… reptiles might not be the cuddliest creatures in the world, but there are many fascinating species that call Australia home.

Anyone with a passion for reptiles will love the brand-new purpose-built reptile habitat at Kyabram Fauna Park. Since its opening in April 2023, members and visitors have been thrilled by the scaley spectacle of many different remarkable reptiles.

“The reptile habitat has been a huge highlight for our members and visitors,

and they’ve been waiting patiently for the opening of our newest facility,” says Ellice, Life Sciences Coordinator at Kyabram Fauna Park. “It’s a great opportunity to educate and inspire passion for conservation.”

The weird and wonderful

The fabulous new habitat is home to 15 reptiles and includes a purposebuilt conservation breeding space for a future frog conservation program. Until then, the Green Tree Frogs call the new habitat home. Crowd favourites include the Black-headed Monitor, Frilled Lizard,

Death Adder and Murray Darling Carpet

Python. All the keepers have a soft spot for the Hosmer’s Skink, a rock-dwelling lizard native to the Northern Territory and Queensland.

You can see all species up close in their naturalistic habitats, including the fascinating Inland Taipan, the most venomous snake in the world. While they are the most venomous, they are not the deadliest snake, as they rarely encounter humans. There have been no recorded deaths since the anti-venom was created in 1955.

“We want to showcase a diverse array

Park’s new Reptile Habitat is home to some of the most exciting and unique reptile species in Australia.

WORDS Gabby O’Hagan PHOTOGRAPHY Rick Hammond

FRILLED LIZARD

of local, native reptiles, as well as shine a light on some of the lesser known species,” says Ellice. “All the species have their own unique characteristics. We think this will build a passion for reptiles.”

One very exciting new addition to the family is a Reticulated Python. This native Southeast Asian species is the longest snake in the world – capable of reaching up to around 6.5 metres in length! Currently weighing around 22 kilograms, the Reticulated Python has been wowing members and visitors from the moment he slithered on the scene.

“Everyone’s been very excited to meet him. We kept him a surprise until recently, but we’re very happy to be sharing him with our members and visitors now,” says Ellice.

No place like home

The habitats replicate the environments the reptiles would naturally be found in. They also contain a variety of environmental stimuli to boost the reptiles’ physical and psychological wellbeing.

“The new facility was built from the ground up, with the design focusing on modern animal-habitat size and welfare

Smart build

standards,” explains Ellice. “The space allows great viewing, and we utilise various technologies to monitor the animals’ environmental conditions.”

All the habitats are strictly temperature controlled and extremely well insulated, with roof-mounted vents promoting optimal air circulation and high energy-rated appliances and operating systems for optimal energy efficiency.

Boosting brain power

The best thing about the new habitat? It has been designed to keep the residents active and engaged. The keepers carry out daily enrichment sessions to facilitate learning, stimulate their senses and encourage a variety of natural behaviours.

For example, some of the reptiles have learned that when they touch a target, they receive a reward. This allows the keepers to manoeuvre them onto scales and check their weight, without the potential stress of handling them.

“Modern studies have indicated that when animals are given choice, it has a positive impact on their overall welfare,” Ellice explains.

The enrichment sessions also recreate some of the experiences reptiles would have in the wild. Pythons, for instance,

are given puzzle feeders, which encourage them to explore their habitat and forage for their next meal.

When it comes to reptiles, there’s never a dull moment. “We encourage members and visitors to take their time to observe the animals and ask our keepers as many questions as they can,” Ellice says. “There’s so much to learn about the variety of remarkable reptile species living at Kyabram Fauna Park.”

ZN

BOYD’S FOREST DRAGON

HOSMER’S SKINK

INLAND TAIPAN

Kyabram Fauna Park’s new Reptile Habitat optimises energy efficiency

WILDLIFE Wipe FOR

By choosing recycled toilet paper, you can help protect Australia’s tree-dependant native species, including the majestic Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo.

WORDS Beth Wallace

88 ROLLS

On average, Australians wipe their way through 88 rolls of toilet paper per person every year. That is around 7,387 rolls in a lifetime!

Given that the toilet paper we use can’t be recycled once it is flushed, this is a massive waste of an ecologically valuable resource – our precious trees, explains Zoos Victoria Conservation Campaigner, Estelle.

“Trees clean our air and provide habitat for Australian wildlife,” she says. “When we choose non-recycled toilet paper, we’re basically flushing trees down the toilet, rather than keeping them in the ground. Recycled toilet paper is a great alternative.”

Calling all cockatoo lovers

Large tree hollows take more than 100 years to form. The Yellow-tailed BlackCockatoo is one of many native species that relies on tree hollows to nest in and raise young.

Spread across Tasmania and southeastern mainland Australia – from Eyre Peninsula in South Australia to southeastern Queensland – these large birds are known for their black plumage, splashes of yellow and charismatic calls, which can often be heard as flocks noisily navigate across the sky.

Sadly, in recent years their numbers have been declining due to habitat loss. Many of the eucalyptus forests they once called home have been destroyed and replaced by pine plantations that

Australians wipe their way through 88 rolls of toilet paper per person every year. That is around 7,387 rolls in a lifetime.

produce wood to make a range of products, including toilet paper.

Estelle explains that Yellow-tailed BlackCockatoos have adapted to the rise in pine plantations and have even changed their diet accordingly – tearing open pinecones to feast on the seeds inside, instead of their regular menu of native shrub and tree seeds, as well as insect larvae foraged from wattle branches.

Nevertheless, their numbers are still in decline. In large part, this is because the tree hollows in which female birds incubate their eggs during breeding season, and where both parents raise their young, are increasingly hard to find. These important hollows only exist in mature and dead native trees such as eucalypts; whereas exotic pine trees grown in plantations to create products such as toilet paper don’t form suitable natural hollows.

Like an assortment of other Australian native animals, including possums, gliders, owls, kingfishers and bats, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos need tree hollows in old-growth native forests to survive, says Estelle. “It’s also much better if they can stick to their natural diet of native plant seeds instead of pinecones,” she adds.

sweet

HOME HOLLOW

Conservation group the Wilderness Society estimates that 303 Australian native wildlife species rely on hollows to nest and shelter, including 31 per cent of native mammals and 15 per cent of native birds. Besides the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, many other tree hollow-dependent animals are at risk, including:

• Swift Parrot

• Orange-bellied Parrot

• Greater Glider

• Yellow-bellied Glider

• Leadbeater’s Possum

Make a paper pledge

For several years, Zoos Victoria’s Wipe for Wildlife campaign has called upon people to help conserve Australian wildlife and their habitats by using recycled toilet paper. To date, more than 285,000 people have committed to making this change.

Produced from sources such as used office paper, recycled toilet paper enables people to live more sustainably and support wildlife at the same time. While in the past, some people may have been deterred by the feel of recycled toilet paper, these days, Estelle says both the cost and quality are on par with non-recycled products. If you haven’t tried recycled toilet paper recently, you might be surprised by how good it feels!

“Plus, recycled toilet paper uses less energy and water to produce,” she adds. In the next six months, Zoos Victoria will be transitioning to icare’s 3-ply 100% recycled

WILL

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROT

Saving trees

toilet paper, so you’ll be wiping for wildlife when you visit. The icare brand is also stocked at major supermarkets across Australia.

The Victorian Government has committed to end native forest logging by December 2023, which will go a long way to protect ecosystems for wildlife such as the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Estelle says there is still an important role that we can all easily play, by choosing to buy recycled toilet paper.

“We’re still going to need timber, so the more we can make use of the plantation land that has already been cleared, by using it for producing timber for long-term uses like building houses, rather than single uses like toilet paper, the better that will be for our wildlife and the habitats they depend upon.” ZN

Hollows are essential to the survival of many native species

Sharing her wealth of knowledge about animal training is all in a day’s work for Werribee Open Range Zoo’s Animal Training Coordinator, Kelly.

WORDS Alegria Alano

A day in the life

~ OF AN ~

ANIMAL TRAINING

Growing up with horses sparked Kelly’s lifelong love for animals. But as a child, she also had close ties to Werribee Open Range Zoo.

“My mum was a Safari Guide. I used to sit in the bus with her on tours and rattle off the information she was telling guests. I had this real connection long before I even thought about working here,” says Kelly. After a solo trip to Africa, Kelly returned with a passion for animals that led her back to Werribee Open Range Zoo.

“It’s a bit different to how we hire now, but I got a one-month contract based on the physical work I’d done with horses on farms,” says Kelly. This led to work at zoos and wildlife organisations around the world, including Auckland Zoo, Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre in Cambodia, Free the Bears in Vietnam, Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre in The Bahamas and your very own Melbourne Zoo. In 2018, Kelly started a newly created role as Animal Training Coordinator at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

What does an Animal Training Coordinator do?

Kelly’s role is focused on improving animal training at Zoos Victoria by providing resources and coaching to staff. “With keepers and veterinarians in our life sciences team, my role isn’t to take over the animal training; it’s to provide what they need to set them up for success,” Kelly says.

Animal welfare is key at Zoos

Victoria and Kelly’s role supports that. “I want everybody who works with animals here to be knowledgeable and experienced enough to shape positive behaviours. To be mindful and sensitive to animal behaviour – that’s always our priority,” she explains.

Making the most of mornings

A typical day starts with updates and training with keepers. “The morning is quite full as I’m trying to be part of as many training sessions as I can,”

Touch the ball

says Kelly. Morning training gives the team flexibility with animals in private dens before they’re able to access the main habitats once the Zoo opens. Veterinarians are also available in the morning to take advantage of sessions that will assist with health checks.

Dedicating time to desk duties

When she’s not out training, Kelly liaises with the broader team. “I might meet with our leadership team about animal transfers, as we would need to plan to train animals to enter a crate or a box willingly. Or a veterinarian might request training for upcoming vaccinations,” she says. Desk time is also used to work on animal training plans or complete behaviour analysis by watching animals remotely via CCTV.

Prioritising afternoon education

“We have the opportunity to train animals where members and visitors can watch. We’re also able to talk about why it’s important,” says Kelly. While it is engaging for members and visitors, she explains that training is about making sure animals understand the process and have the choice to participate.

Members and visitors might see keepers training Lions (Kelly’s favourite residents) to touch a ball on a stick.

“That’s really a way to ask the Lions to move to different locations and exercise their bodies,” says Kelly. Asking for specific movements (like standing on hind legs) helps to assess

mobility and cognitive health. Training also gets the animals used to health check behaviours such as opening their mouths for dental inspections or getting comfortable to prepare for medical injections.

“I consider myself lucky because I get to work with every animal that calls Werribee Open Range Zoo home,” says Kelly. She is passionate about mutual trust and communication with the animals. “We’re seeing benefits on a large scale. That’s incredibly rewarding to me.” ZN

SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL ZOO COMMUNITY

Zoos Victoria supports the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) by sharing resources through the Sister Zoo Program. As a part of the program, Kelly travelled to Uganda in May to provide animal husbandry coaching to the zoo’s animal care team. This educational support continues remotely with online training and catch-ups.

Training animals to touch a ball on a stick is a way to assess mobility and conduct health assessments

Above: the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC).

Gracefully

Retiree reptiles, pensioner pelicans and senior savannah citizens –take a peek at how Zoos Victoria cares for its older residents.

WORDS

Ethan Jenkins

Just like humans, animals go through different life stages, with some needing a little extra help as they get older. From providing special diets to modifying habitats, Zoos Victoria’s keepers and veterinarians are doing everything they can to ensure some of our oldest residents enjoy their golden years.

Taking care of tortoises

You may have noticed we have done some renovations recently at Melbourne Zoo’s Aldabra Giant Tortoise habitat. Through increasing the Giant Tortoise’s habitat, we have been able to create an environment that highlights their natural behaviours, which includes clambering over uneven terrain. A newly constructed heated wallow encourages the tortoises to enter the water all year round, contributing to the health of their shells. A variety of grasses has also been planted within the habitat, which

adds to a well-rounded diet, leading to higher quality animal welfare for its retiree reptiles.

One of the last two groups of giant tortoises remaining, Aldabra Giant Tortoises are endemic to the Seychelles. Currently considered Vulnerable under

the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, these ancient agriculturalists serve as ecosystem engineers for their habitats by bulldozing small trees and shrubs, and acting as seed dispersers to aid in the growth of the native fauna.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise weigh in

WILBUR

our oldest resident

Wilbur, who resides at Melbourne Zoo, is estimated to be 94 years old, making him older than our national broadcaster, the ABC. Pinpointing his precise age is tricky, as unless you know a Giant Tortoise’s full history from birth or as a hatchling, you can’t know exactly how many years they have lived. Wilbur arrived at Melbourne Zoo in 1965 when he was approximately 36 years old.

Camel care

A new training yard built within the zoo’s expansive Savannah habitat means it’s the zoo keepers and veterinarians, rather than the animals, who are required to step inside. The zoo’s five Camels, including 21-year-old Saffron, are asked to approach the perimeter of the yard to participate in training sessions, while retaining choice and control to leave at any time.

Savannah Keeper Sophie says senior savannah citizen Saffron is an ideal training candidate. “Saffron is an ageing camel and has lameness in her front left leg, which impacts her mobility. We’re hoping that by empowering her to participate in her own healthcare, we can get to the bottom of the issue,” Sophie explains.

“Saffron is also the most patient of our five camels. She is quite food motivated, which makes her more willing to participate in training.”

Keepers are using the new facility to train behaviours including body

condition checks, and receiving needles for blood draws and stethoscopes for heart monitoring. Historically, these would have required containment or anaesthetic but now take place if the camels choose to participate.

To positively reinforce behaviour for all participants, each success is rewarded with delicious lucerne, building an enduring and trusting bond between the keepers and animals.

Life’s a beach

An unlikely location for a seaside escape, Healesville Sanctuary has constructed a sandy beach alongside the Pelicans’ expansive pond. The soft sand is ideal for the Pelicans’ webbed feet and provides the ageing birds in the flock with easier access to land.

Healesville Sanctuary Keeper Sarah explains “We created a walk-up beach, because wild pelicans are found in sandy environments. The sand makes it easier for the older birds to enter and exit the water.

“We also installed short stumps for perching, which allows keepers to perform health checks on the birds’ big, grey, webbed feet. The birds have complete choice and control to access Pelican Beach, where we plan to do weight and crate training, so we can manage their overall healthcare in a non-intrusive way.”

The habitat has provided a secluded spot with a brush fence at the back of the beach to ensure the Pelicans feel completely comfortable and protected when coming out of the water. Our feathered friends can be found making a splash at Healesville Sanctuary’s Woodlands Track. ZN

SAY HI TO OUR SENIORS

Come and see how we care for our older zoo citizens across your four great zoos.

FIGHT EXTINCTIONFundraising to

For Zoos Victoria Member Arabella, persistence and passion paid off in her mission to help the Critically Endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.

WORDS Alegria Alano

Inspiring people to fight wildlife extinction is an important part of Zoos Victoria’s conservation work. This is especially true for young people, as they will inherit the natural world we’re working to preserve. The hope is to empower the younger generations to take action – big or small – just like nine-year-old animal-lover Arabella.

After reading about some children who ran a lemonade stand fundraiser, Arabella was inspired to do something, too.

Although her favourite animal is the echidna, she wanted to choose a species that really needed support. With her mum’s help, she learned about the Critically Endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (Lowland) listed as a Fighting Extinction priority species on the Zoos Victoria website.

“I chose them because they were so cute, and also because there are less than 40 left in the wild… I didn’t want them to go extinct, because it’s sad when animals go extinct,” she says.

Celebrating a good cause

Arabella started fundraising at her seventh birthday party, asking people to donate money instead of buying her presents. “I thought it was a good idea because when I get presents, sometimes I get too many to play with. I also thought it would be a fast way to raise money,” she says.

To encourage donations, Arabella made posters with information about the Leadbeater’s Possum and a QR code that led directly to her GoFundMe page.

“I felt like I was doing something good. I was proud of myself,” she says. Her party and other fundraising efforts throughout 2021 raised $2,000, but there was more work to do to reach her $5,000 goal.

GET INSPIRED

Inspired to raise funds in your community too?

Here are Arabella’s top tips for fundraising success:

“I was on the Junior School Council last year and I helped organise a fundraiser,” Arabella says. “We had a possum week at my school with possum face-painting and possum masks at recess for a gold-coin donation.” She’s also talked about her fundraising efforts and shared Leadbeater’s Possum facts at school assemblies. As a result, she raised another $500 and inspired her classmates to host their own fundraisers too.

Creating the ripple effect

Spreading the word about fighting extinction is important to Arabella: “If they can start doing what I’m doing, then more people do it. And if even more people start, then more and more will help and the world will be better.”

Pick species that need the most help

You can learn more about the Fighting Extinction priority species on the Zoos Victoria website.

One-on-one Arabella enjoyed a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Leadbeater’s Possum facilities during her visit to Healesville Sanctuary.

Do some research and teach people about your animal so they understand how their donation will help.

Arabella had another fundraiser for her eighth birthday and has supported her online campaign by making videos encouraging people to get involved. Early this year, she reached her $5,000 fundraising goal. She hopes to continue to help animals when she’s older by becoming a zoo keeper. “If I’m working at the Zoo then I can teach people about animals and help people love them even more than they already do,” she says.

Arabella recently met the Leadbeater’s Possum keepers during a special Zoo visit. “They gave us a tour and showed us the possums’ habitat... We saw some of their food, and it smelled really bad! They asked if I wanted to try it, but I didn’t because it had worms in it!”

Plan fun activities for your fundraiser to get people excited.

Fundraising requires effort and support. Arabella’s advice is: “Believe in yourself and make sure you have help –you don’t have to do it alone. Think of the animals that you’re raising money for. What if they were to go extinct? You’d be sad, but if you raise money for them, even if they did go extinct, you know you’ve done something to help.” ZN

INSPIRED TO DO MORE?

To check out Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction page

Click here

Learn more about how you can start community fundraising to help Zoos Victoria fight extinction

Click here for more

CLIMATE RESILIENT gardening

As spring brings a flurry of new life and growth to Melbourne Zoo’s gardens, its horticulturists and arborists already have summer in their sights.

Melbourne Zoo’s gardens are hitting their stride, as drifts of colourful flowers form a welcome party along the main drive. New spring growth appears on trees and shrubs, the last of winter’s grevillea blooms still linger, and rainforest ferns are unfurling new fronds. In the Japanese Garden, winter’s show of the Taiwan cherry trees’ crimson blossom has been usurped by the delicate tones of the Ukon cherry tree.

While winter at the Zoo means a lull in the growing season, there’s much to be done – not only to prepare for spring, but to bolster the gardens against the extreme heat of summer. For horticulture supervisor Sarah

and her team, their approach is no different from what we can do in our own backyards.

The grass is always greener

Lawn areas get a serious workout through the warmer months. “We always use summer grasses, such as kikuyu, on our main lawn, which suffers extreme conditions, huge visitor numbers and a lot of compaction,” says Sarah. “So, in early spring, we’ll aerate the soil, then flush it with an organic fertiliser to get good, deep roots established.”

“We also use buffalo grass. It supplies good nutrients for some of the grassbrowsing animals. We use it in the Japanese Garden, too, because it holds its colour better through the cooler months.”

Spoiled for choice

Sarah explains there’s been a huge shift towards choosing climate-resilient plants. “For years, Melbourne Zoo

was known for its amazing annual displays, until we experienced drought, when the theory turned towards more drought-tolerant natives. While that shift has remained, it’s turning to a mix of natives and exotics, what’s going to withstand extreme conditions, and plants that complement each other.”

Among the successes are agastaches and salvias: “They always put on a great display, and the strawflowers and everlasting daisies do quite well,” says Sarah. “Kangaroo paws are a huge crowdpleaser through spring. Some oldschool perennials like melianthus and plectranthus are super-adaptable. We grow them in full sun and through our rainforest trails. We feature a lot of the large ornamental grasses, such as miscanthus [silvergrass] and pennisetum [fountain grass], which create beautiful structures and are super-tough. They grow a bit leggy, but give them a good haircut and they grow back well.” ZN

WORDS Sally Feldman

CATCH THE CHERRY BLOSSOM BLOOMS

Resident Japanese horticulture specialist Brendan explains that cherry blossom season begins in Melbourne Zoo’s Japanese Garden with early blooms from some species in mid-July, then bountiful blooms throughout spring. A hedge of azaleas, ‘the Victorian Mountain’, is also in full flight. But it’s not all exotic plantings. The garden’s original designer, Shiro Nakane, also used Australian plants, such as patersonia (native iris or native flag) and planted native violet in shaded areas. “Originally, we had about 35 Japanese maples, which are iconic in Japanese gardens, especially for their autumn display,” says Brendan. “Possums have taken a liking to these trees as a food source. To keep faith with Shiro’s original design, as a replacement we’ve got ornamental pears. Thankfully, these trees aren’t as palatable to our furry friends.”

SARAH’S TOP TIPS for a climate-resilient garden

Promote soil health: Set up your soil for good health by removing old mulch, adding organic matter and aerating the soil before re-mulching.

Start composting: Melbourne Zoo processes organic waste and animal manure in an in-vessel composter, which creates a soil conditioner. You can easily make your own compost at home.

Avoid pesticides: Do away with synthetic materials and pesticides to encourage the growth of soil microbes.

Get pruning: Prune in winter to reduce the plants’ energy use. Thin out shrubs by removing central branches and diseased or dead wood.

Schedule watering: Water in the morning to set up plants for the day. Maintain moisture as the soil warms up in spring by watering twice a week, then up to four times, if needed.

Create shade: Plant trees that block the harsh summer sun but still let light in during winter.

PLANT POWER

Climate-proof your garden by stocking up on a range of drought-tolerant plants now available in-store at your zoo shops.

Choose plants wisely: Read plant labels to ensure your garden fits their requirements. Choose healthy plants or seedlings with good roots. See what’s doing well in your local area!

New Holland Honeyeater perched among flowers

Female giraffe, Nakuru, reaching down to eat aloes

Bee feeding on everlasting daisy