Hatches & Matches

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

Elephant Calves

PLAINS-WANDERERS

Nine of the rarest animals in the world took their first tiny footsteps at Werribee Open Range Zoo, marking a significant milestone in threatened species conservation. The Critically Endangered Plains-wanderer chicks were born weighing between just four to five grams at the Zoo’s threatened species facility.

Pademelons

A pair of Red-bellied Pademelons have popped up at Healesville Sanctuary. The macropods were once found across south-east Australia; however, their wild population is now restricted to Tasmania. Catch a glimpse during your next visit

Pookila Pups

The Victorian Pookila Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction Program is celebrating success with six Pookila pups from two litters born at Moonlit Sanctuary and two Pookila pups born at Melbourne Zoo, with anticipation of further litters during the breeding season.

Meerkats

Kyabram Fauna Park welcomed five meerkats from Sydney Zoo last year. Native to southern Africa, these friendly, intelligent little animals live together in family groups, creating a network of burrows underground to keep themselves safe from predators in the wild.

PRI-“MATES”

Love is in the air with the exciting arrival of partners for the resident Black-and-white Colobus and White-cheeked Gibbon. Gibbon Cahn, 7, travelled from Perth Zoo to partner with Li-Lian, 15, while Colobus Kyoda, 13, arrived from Adelaide’s Monarto Zoo as a mate for Kipenzi, 10.

Lameroo The Eclectus Parrot

Vale Lameroo the Eclectus Parrot. Joining Melbourne Zoo as a five-monthold chick, Lameroo inspired young students to develop a connection with wildlife across our zoo classrooms. He had a big personality and will be sadly missed by keepers, vets, members, visitors and all that knew him.