Zoo News - Autumn 2022

ZOO NEWS

ZOOS VICTORIA MEMBER MAGAZINE

Expectant Elephants IN AN AUSTRALIAN FIRST, THREE OF THE ELEPHANTS AT MELBOURNE ZOO ARE PREGNANT AT THE SAME TIME

ANIMAL

SUSTAINABILITY

CONSERVATION

COMMUNITY

A day in the life

Energy efficient

Adopt an animal

African Wild Dogs

Follow Ross the hippo keeper at Werribee Open Range Zoo

Zoos Victoria has become 100% energy efficient at all three zoos

When philanthropy meets a passion for animals you get an Animal Adopter

This Zoo Member has developed a lifelong love for the wild dog packs

VOLUME 45 / AUTUMN 2022

ALL TICKETS

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$

CA N IVA L R of the Animals

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Carlo Antonioli conductor Jess Hitchcock presenter SATURDAY 21 MAY 10.30am 12.30pm – relaxed performance Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall

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CONTENTS AUTUMN 2022

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African Wild Dogs

11 Feature story

14

Expectant elephants

Finding your voice

Exciting news for the elephants at Melbourne Zoo

04 News at the zoos

16 Animal Adopters Turn your passion into purpose

06 A day in the life Of a hippo keeper

08 Part of the pack

Dear Members, Welcome to the first edition of Zoo News for 2022 – we are excited about the year ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support and passion for our work and we look forward to seeing you, our valued members, at your zoos.

Dr Jenny Gray CEO, Zoos Victoria

This member’s love of the African Wild Dogs

18 The zoo files

Learn all about the animals at Wild Sea

16

Animal Adopters

22 Clean and green

11 Expectant elephants

Exciting news! We’re expecting three elephant babies to join the herd

Zoos Victoria’s commitment to 100% renewable energy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders both past and present.

14 Finding your voice

The school in Warrnambool making a difference in fighting extinction

Zoo News is published for Zoos Victoria by Heads & Tales

Zoos Victoria PO Box 74, Parkville Vic 3052 P 03 9340 2780 / F 03 9285 9390 E members@zoo.org.au W zoo.org.au

MANAGING DIRECTOR Clare Brundle ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Scott Elmslie ACCOUNT MANAGER Hannah Louey EDITOR Georgia Lejeune DESIGN Dallas Budde, Natalie Lachina ADVERTISING Kerri Spillane PRINTER Immij ZOOS VICTORIA Eammon Verberne, Olivia Shiels, Tracey Borch

Connect with us: Have you visited lately? Share your visit with us and be sure to use the hashtag #zoomember

Cover: Asian Elephants (Photograph: Jo Howell)

Printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Zoos Victoria is a carbon neutral organisation.

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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COMMUNITY

NEWS at the ZOO

Keep up to date with the news taking place at: HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY MELBOURNE ZOO WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

Don’t Palm Us Off Easter is just around the corner, and you can make choices in the supermarket aisle that are both delicious and more environmentally sustainable.

Zoo Shop

pick of the month…

Elephant gifts Buy a beautiful gift for the elephant lover in your life at the Zoo Shop. Put together your own gift pack, including a Plush Elephant Keelco toy, a Keyring Elephant Replica and the picture book That’s Not My Elephant. Whether separate or together, each gift will make any elephant lover very happy.

News on the Werribee Open Range Zoo expansion With generous support from the Victorian Government, the Werribee Open Range Zoo Expansion will deliver a world-class experience that connects our community with nature and wildlife in exciting and adventurous ways, and provides our much-loved animals with the environment they will truly thrive in.

We are excited to share this journey with our members, and will be covering each step of the expansion in member communications over the next few years.

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To visit the online shop and redeem your 15% member discount Click here

Member VIP Zone Visit your Member VIP Zone for the latest information on upcoming events at Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. You’ll also find a range of craft activities for kids, keeper talks and exclusive member discount offers.

Click here

IMAGES: CORMAC HANRAHAN, JO HOWELL

EXPANSION PROJECT UPDATE

By hunting down Easter treats that contain no vegetable oils or only contain the most traceable form of Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO), you can support companies that are choosing to support people and wildlife. Companies that only source ‘the best’ form of CSPO include Ferrero, Kinder and Australia’s own Violet Crumble.

HATCHES & matches

Tips for

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

PRE-BOOK TICKETS

BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD/S All members will be asked to present their member card upon entry with their pre-booked tickets. Without your member card/s you may be refused entry.

MEMBERSHIPS AREN’T TRANSFERABLE A friendly reminder that memberships and pre-booked member tickets are nontransferable and should only be used by the named member.

MELBOURNE ZOO

BIG-BELLY SEAHORSES The baby seahorses born at Melbourne Zoo are now visible at the newly renovated Sponge Garden tank in Wild Sea.

MELBOURNE ZOO

GIANT TORTOISES

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

NEW SPOTTED QUOLL

Six new Aldabra Giant Tortoises are now living with Jean at Melbourne Zoo’s Growing Wild Precinct. All are aged 8–9 years old and recently arrived from a nature park in Mauritius.

The Sanctuary also welcomed a male Spotted-tail Quoll.

He has settled in nicely over the past four months and is progressing well with target training.

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

ORANGE-BELLIED PARROTS

MELBOURNE ZOO CAR PARKING The City of Melbourne carpark at Melbourne Zoo fills up quickly.

To avoid disappointment, come to the zoo via public transport. We have a dedicated tram and train stop right on our doorstep.

Getting to Melbourne Zoo via public transport is easy, convenient and eco-friendly.

Public transport will help to make your visit as stress-free as possible.

To plan your route Click here

TASSIE DEVIL TRIPLETS Since November, Tasmanian Devil mother Arla and her three devil joeys have been delighting members and visitors. The trio have been exploring in the afternoons and are now ready to leave mum’s side. This year 13 joeys were bred from four different mothers.

MEMBERS All members who wish to visit the zoo must now pre-book your free member tickets prior to arriving. Non-members must also pre-book tickets before arriving.

To book your tickets Click here

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

ZEBRA COLT

Six female Orange-bellied Parrots have joined the Werribee Open Range Zoo free-flight aviary from Tasmania’s Hobart Wildlife Centre.

We welcomed the first male zebra in four years. Zintlanu (Zint-lan-oo) – meaning number five in the Xhosa language of South Africa – is the fifth baby for mum, Zaide and father, Melako. Plains zebras are native to Africa and classified as near-threatened in the wild. The zebras at Werribee Open Range Zoo form part of a regional breeding program to maintain a genetically diverse herd that can support conservation of wild zebra populations.

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ANIMAL

All in a day ~ FOR A ~

HIPPO KEEPER We spent the day following hippo keeper Ross at Werribee Open Range Zoo, to see what it takes to care for these giant creatures.

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Alano

oss grew up working with animals, but never thought he’d end up at a zoo.

“I was brought up on the family farm and always thought I’d be there, but it wasn’t big enough for my brother and I,” he says. After years of working as a mechanic, it was time for a change. “Once I started at zoos, I’ve never looked back. That was where I wanted to be,” Ross says.

While working at Taronga Western Plains Zoo for 20 years, he completed a TAFE course in zookeeping and a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Now at Werribee Open Range Zoo, he spends most of his time with the five female hippos. Primrose and her daughters Tulip and Lotus are one

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group and the other is Brindabella and her daughter Pansy.

“The mums don’t get along and they’re actually half-sisters. They never saw eye to eye,” Ross says. “To stop the fighting (as siblings do) we decided to separate them.”

Respecting the giants Hippos are the third-largest land mammal and can be dangerous to humans, so Ross is always with a second keeper when he works with them. There are two gates separating the exhibit from the den, each with different keys. When the hippos are in the exhibit and Ross in the den, both gates are locked, and another keeper has the other key, ensuring the keepers are always at a safe distance.

IMAGES: JO HOWELL

WORDS Alegria

Did you know?

The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek word for ‘water horse’.

They spend most of their time submerged in water to keep their skin hydrated.

Morning and afternoon training

“Each animal is given between eight and 10 kilograms of hay for breakfast each day.”

“Morning and afternoon are the busy times. That’s when we bring the animals in and work with them,” says Ross.

Training teaches behaviours for voluntary cleaning, medical procedures and health checks.

For example, in the past the hippos were weighed while they ate on a scale. For a more accurate reading, the keepers are training them to step on the scale without food.

The first step is to teach ‘breach’ and ‘reward’. “A breach tells the animal that they’ve done the right thing… they hear the whistle, or the clicker, and they know they’re going to get their favourite food.”

To do that, Ross places food on the ground. As soon as the hippo touches it, he whistles or clicks. Over time the hippos associate that sound with a reward. Then a target, like a tennis ball on the end of a stick, is used.

“As soon as the animal touches the tennis ball, you give them the whistle or the clicker, and they think, ‘I know that noise, I’m going to get my favourite food and all I had to do was touch this ball.’ From there, you can teach them to do all sorts of things,” explains Ross.

Feeding and cleaning

A special bond

“Each animal is given between eight and 10 kilograms of hay for breakfast each day,” he says. For a treat, hippos are sometimes given watermelon or pumpkin. After breakfast, the hippos spend time in the exhibit while Ross takes care of their dens. “For the second part of the day, I clean their exhibits and put food in the den for dinner,” says Ross.

A hippo’s toilet is also its bed. “In winter, they sleep in the den under the heater. I’ve been known to pick up and carry five wheelbarrow loads of hippo poo out of their dens. In summer they’re out in the exhibit so most of the poo goes into the pond, which is regularly and thoroughly cleaned out.”

Ross’ favourite part of each day is training. “When an animal trusts you enough that you can ask it to do something, it does it for you and you give it a treat… you’re setting up a relationship — that’s the magic of being a keeper.” ZN

LOOKING FOR MORE? Visit the hippos at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Click here to book your free Zoo Member tickets

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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COMMUNITY ANIMAL

Picture

perfect Zoos Victoria Member Chris Girvan has found solace in photographing the pack of African Wild Dogs at Werribee Open Range Zoo. WORDS

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Georgia Lejeune

PHOTOGRAPHY

Chris Girvan

a Chris capturedpose moment of rfethe when all o s hid African Wild Dogin the from the rainen. warm d

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cardiac event in 2015 set Zoos Victoria Member Chris Girvan on a path that led to the African Wild Dogs at Werribee Open Range Zoo. “I went through open-heart surgery and rehabilitation,” says Chris.

During his recovery, Chris’ wife Dianne took him to Werribee Open Range Zoo and it was there that he first saw and fell in love with the African Wild Dogs.

Sitting and observing the dogs for hours made him feel like he’d been given a chance at a second life. He thought, ‘I’m going to make the most of it and just apply all my time to these dogs because they’re just so heavenly’.

Seven years on, Chris visits the African Wild Dogs at Melbourne Zoo on Thursdays or Fridays each week and the dogs at Werribee Open Range Zoo every weekend — in recent times, accompanied by his trusty camera and long lens. A former wedding photographer, Chris has an eye for a good shot, which is why he was shortlisted for the 2022 Zoos Victoria Calendar with his image of Werribee’s African Wild Dog, Neo. The group dynamics of the pack are what intrigues Chris most. “There’s so

Calling all photographers The Zoos Victoria Member much complex “Keepers go out communication of their way to Calendar competition is from a pack, try and replicate now open for submissions. and you can the wildness Flip to page 10 for imagine in a pack and it keeps them entry details. of 12 dogs in Africa, wild. They’re not that communication called wild dogs for would be so important nothing. They’re wild, not because they’ve got to go feral, and that’s the joy that I out and hunt,” he says. “The way see in them,” says Chris. they do it just by that little movement of He hopes that zoo-based conservation, the mouth, or a little stare or something education and an emotional connection — it’s quite extraordinary.” from members and visitors to the zoo Sitting patiently for hours observing will help provide more protection for and photographing the wild dogs, Chris them in the wild. has become adept at spotting the shy “I think there’s something in awareness animals that might be overlooked by of what these animals are, what they others passing by. Patience and timing, represent and what they look like. That Chris says, are key to glimpsing the picture of Neo is the prime example of wild dogs. what they look like and what a beautiful “They’re very much creatures of habit. animal they really are.” ZN Between 9 and 10am, they’ll hear those keys rattling in the keepers’ lodge.

When the keepers come down that LOOKING FOR MORE? little trail with the wheelbarrow full of food, the excitement in their behaviour Visit the African Wild Dogs at is a joy to behold,” says Chris.

Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Passionate about conservation of African Wild Dogs, Chris is pleased Click here to book your free Zoos Victoria is educating the public Zoo Member tickets about these fascinating creatures.

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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Members'

PHOTO

Competition Entries are now open for the 2023 Zoos Victoria Calendar. Send through your best animal photos taken at Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo for your chance to have your image featured in next year’s calendar.

Head to the website for the details on entry, terms and conditions and to submit your photos. Entries close on 31 May 2022. Best of luck!

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Click here to enter

ANIMAL

IT TAKES A village With three pregnant Asian Elephants due to give birth, the team at Melbourne Zoo is busy preparing for the new arrivals at the end of 2022 and early 2023.

WORDS Jo

Stewart

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Did you know?

Unlike humans, elephants don’t show physical signs of pregnancy and won’t get any cravings or express nesting behaviours. Due to their size, elephants generally only have one calf at a time.

Planning for parenthood

This baby boom isn’t just down to luck. The Melbourne Zoo team provided opportunities for natural conception in the hope that several calves would be born in close succession.

“It’s important that calves are born around the same time so they can grow, learn and play together. When calves grow together, it provides them with the best start in life,” says Erin.

Elephant calves are usually born in the early hours of the morning. The team will be conducting 24-hour monitoring before and after the births.

Having already overseen the birth of five elephant calves, the Melbourne Zoo team is experienced at giving elephants the best opportunities to have successful births.

“Our in-house vet team is highly skilled with elephant births. We also consult with external specialists if we need more information on specific subjects,” says Erin.

Welcoming the new arrivals

While the birth takes place, the keepers will observe quietly via cameras.

Afterwards, the team will monitor for behaviours that indicate the mother and calf are tracking well.

IMAGES: JO HOWELL

ig changes are afoot for the Asian Elephants at Melbourne Zoo. Known for having the longest gestation period of any mammal, after 22 months, two elephant calves are due to arrive late in 2022 and one in early 2023.

Among the expectant elephants are Dokkoon, 28 years old, 11-year-old Mali and 20-year-old Num-Oi. Erin Gardiner, Trail of the Elephants Life Sciences Manager at Melbourne Zoo, explains that keepers are focused on providing a calm environment that enables the elephants to maintain their physical and mental health during pregnancy.

“The herd needs the right environment to exercise and look after their skin through dust bathing, wallowing and swimming. Providing appropriate social opportunities is also important,” says Erin.

These social opportunities allow the herd to interact in ways similar to how they would in the wild – providing the best environment for the expectant mothers and their calves.

Bull elephants, in the wild, would roam in and out of the herd units which is primarily made up of related females.

This is why Melbourne Zoo’s pregnant elephants still get time with the bull elephants, as this replicates behaviour that occurs in the wild.

Providing optimum nutrition through a diet of hay, browse (leaves, twigs and high growing vegetation), fruit and vegetables is also vital. Supplements are only given if blood sampling reveals extra supplementation is needed.

Apart from regular blood sampling and other daily interactions, the pregnant elephants aren’t scanned often. This helps to minimise potential stress during the gestation period.

“Scans are performed at six months gestation to view the calf to ensure it is healthy and developing well.

After that we aim to have minimal medical intervention to create a calm environment for the duration of the pregnancy,” Erin says.

Did you know?

When they’re born, calves weigh around 121kg and are 3ft tall. They will drink milk from their mother for up to two years. They can drink up to 11.4 litres per day.

“We want to see mum bend down, touch the baby with her trunk, help the baby to stand and ultimately start feeding,” says Erin.

The herd also plays a role. “Elephants are very social. In the wild they’re constantly working together as a herd unit. They’re also very maternal. Luckily, we have two females in the herd who are experienced mothers. Mali, our first-time mum, will learn from the other females who’ll be with her when she gives birth,” Erin explains.

The herd will also focus on the calves as they grow. Female elephants care for other calves and even breastfeed them if they’re able to produce milk.

“It’s a lovely, cohesive way of raising offspring,” says Erin.

She explains that after the birth the team doesn’t enter the stalls, preferring to observe from the outside so the mother can bond with her calf.

A newborn calf is expected to stand and walk within the first hour of its life.

If the team sees anything of concern, vets will be called to intervene.

“Our motto is to plan for everything.

Hopefully the best scenario happens, and we get to observe this beautiful moment, with mum and baby bonding.

We’re all really excited,” says Erin.

Over the next year, members and visitors won’t notice any difference in appearance and behaviour of the expectant mothers. However, it’s important that you try to keep noise low when visiting the Trail of the Elephants during the year.

For now, all we can do is wait patiently for the exciting new arrivals. ZN

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE The calves will be raised at Melbourne Zoo before moving with the entire herd to Werribee Open Range Zoo’s purpose-built habitat in 2024.

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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COMMUNITY ANIMAL

FINDING YOUR VOICE Students at Warrnambool East Primary School have been working hard to educate their community about the local threatened species — and their work is paying off.

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Lejeune

rowing up in a town situated on Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road has given the students at Warrnambool East Primary School an acute awareness of the animal life that surrounds them. Having passionate science teachers like Kerry McCarthy, who encourages conservation-based education, doesn’t hurt either.

The school has a long history of participation in Zoos Victoria initiatives, beginning in 2014 with its involvement in the Marine Guardians program – where they collected plastic debris at a local beach – followed by Seal The Loop action day in the same year. It was through this conservation work that the school established a relationship with Zoos Victoria and became a Fighting Extinction School.

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“Since then, we’ve had this really great relationship. We’re doing lots of things and the kids here think it’s pretty special,” says Kerry.

The best buds

In late 2019 the school worked with the local Beach Patrol to launch the Better Buds campaign to educate the community about the harm plasticstemmed cotton buds can have on marine animals. “Plastics in cotton buds became a real issue on the local beach, where the outfall from the sewerage plant is. Local beach patrol volunteers have found more than 26,000 over the last three years,” says Kerry.

“One of our kids came up with a title, Better Buds, and at school we made posters, we made a video and we educated our local community here.”

At the time, the students (now in grades six and seven) travelled to Melbourne Zoo to present what they had been working on.

The campaign was a success, with plastic-stemmed cotton buds added to the list of single-use plastics that will be banned in Victoria by February 2023, and is a 2021 finalist in the Sustainable Communities — Tidy Towns Awards for litter through the environmentalist group Keep Victoria Beautiful.

Planting for wildlife

More recently, the grade one and twos began a habitat restoration project at the beginning of 2021 to learn more about Zoos Victoria 27 Fighting Extinction animals and to plant a garden at the school with trees that would attract local native species. Each class chose a different native animal to

IMAGES: JO HOWELL

WORDS Georgia

BRUS H-TA ILE D RO CK-WAL LA BY

HE LM ET ED HO NE YE AT ER

Calling all teachers Are you a Zoo Member and also a teacher? You could have exclusive access to our programs, activities and presentations through the Fighting Extinction Schools Mentoring Program.

TASM AN IAN DE VIL

For more information

Click here

STUTTE RING FROGS

research — including the types of plants they use for food and habitats.

“We’ve been learning about the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby,” says Bella, aged seven. “They like to live in hilly places or where there’s bits of rocks for hiding. We’re planting native grasses in the garden for them.”

Chris Vella, Fighting Extinction Schools Coordinator, says, “One of the reasons that Warrnambool East Primary School is an exceptional Fighting Extinction School is because they have their program embedded in their regular curriculum. This means that every year they use their real-world Fighting Extinction Schools program to learn about animals and the environment.

They then take that learning and turn it into student-led action.”

It’s this student-led action that’s

Above: students from Warrnambool East Prim ary School (back L–R) Bella, Harry and Tellulah (front) Fre d.

empowered these seven and eightyear-olds to become eco-warriors in the community. “They’re much more articulate about what is right and what is wrong around plastics, litter and rubbish,” says Kerry.

Some have found ways to implement new sustainable habits at home. “My family has been trying to take shorter showers,” says Harry. “We used to take showers for up to 20 minutes but now we take only four minutes.”

Seven-year-old Fred adds, “We put our leftover food in containers, so we don’t waste food.”

To celebrate the new garden, and raise money for seating, the school hosted an endangered species dressup day and an official launch on 10 December — attended by members of the community and Zoos Victoria.

The students were excited to present what they had learnt about endangered animals. “We get to help all of the animals, if they’re endangered or not,” says Tellulah.

Harry adds, “I think it was good that we made the garden so then some of the endangered animals could come here and breed more of their type of animals.” ZN

LOOKING FOR MORE? Visit the Fighting Extinction Schools website to create your own Fighting Extinction Schools program.

Click here to learn more

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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CONSERVATION

Turn your

PASSION INTO PURPOSE As an Animal Adopter, you can help us look after one of your favourite species — both at our zoos and in the wild.

WORDS

Beth Wallace

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IMAGES: JO HOWELL

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any of our Zoo Members have a favourite animal they like to check in with whenever they visit the zoo properties. Perhaps it’s the lofty giraffes on the savannah at Werribee Open Range Zoo, or the elusive Platypuses playing hide-andseek at Healesville Sanctuary. And who among us can resist taking a stroll past the wide-eyed, playful lemurs at Melbourne Zoo? For Zoo Member and donor Shyama Jayaswal, it was the orangutans at Melbourne Zoo that captured her eldest child’s attention from a young age. As a regular visitor to the Orangutan Sanctuary, her son would sit, mesmerised, observing the animals

LOOKING AFTER OUR LOCALS

as they moved around the exhibit.

“It didn’t matter how often we went, he’d always spend at least half an hour watching them,” Shyama says. “And when a four-year-old sits for half an hour, you realise he’s got something special going with these animals.”

Hoping to nurture her son’s fascination, in 2011 Shyama joined Zoos Victoria’s Animal Adopters program. For more than a decade, her monthly donations have supported the orangutans living at Melbourne Zoo. Orangutans aren’t the only species available for adoption through the Animal Adopters program; there are currently 14 others to choose from.

Alternatively, donors can fund a group of local threatened species, which encompasses the 27 Australian animals that Zoos Victoria is fighting to protect.

This broad selection of ‘adoptees’ has been assembled to give Animal Adopters the chance to find a favourite, explains Estelle Van Hoeydonck, Zoos Victoria’s Philanthropy Coordinator.

“Whether it’s the Snow Leopards or the Tasmanian Devils, there’s an option for everyone,” she says.

Animal Adopter donations help Zoos Victoria to provide world-class care and enrichment. The funds also support conservation programs, Estelle explains, which allows Zoos Victoria to expand its research, breeding programs and community education work. She adds, “Our Animal Adopters

are helping to create the future rich in wildlife that Zoos Victoria is striving for with our whole community of supporters.”

In nominating a particular species to adopt, Animal Adopters form a strong connection with the animals — something Shyama and her family have experienced firsthand.

“We always spend longer at the orangutans than the other animals,” she says. “It’s good to know that we’re specifically helping that animal’s conservation program.”

The family’s involvement in the Animal Adopters program has been a useful learning experience, not only teaching Shyama’s children the importance of ‘giving back’, but in creating positive change. With her eldest son, now 15, and her younger children, aged nine and 12, they’re increasingly interested in conservation issues. Each time they visit the zoos or connect with the program, it reminds them to think about the actions they can take to save orangutans and other threatened species from extinction.

Even as her children grow older, Shyama says they continue to visit the orangutans and relish the decade-long friendship they share with their favourite apes. “It’s a fun joke every year that the orangutans are the first to send me a birthday card,” she laughs. “The kids love the whole experience.” ZN

In 2021, there were two additions to the Animal Adopters program: koalas and Local Threatened Species.

Estelle explains, the Local Threatened Species option is ideal for people who are interested in conservation, as it gives them the opportunity to connect with 27 Australian animals on the brink of extinction, including the Helmeted Honeyeater and Mountain Pygmy-possum. “Our zoos work tirelessly to research and run breeding and recovery programs for a range of different species, doing what it takes, along with our partners, to make sure those species don’t become extinct,” she says.

Meanwhile, with the catastrophic 2019–20 bushfire season putting koalas in both the local and global spotlight, many Zoo Members were eager to support their plight.

Now, this iconic Australian species, found at all three of our zoos, can benefit from the generous donations of our Animal Adopters.

LOOKING FOR MORE? As an Animal Adopter, your monthly donation of $15 or more will support important care and conservation work at Zoos Victoria.

Click here to become an Animal Adopter

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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ANIMAL

UNDER THE SEA

The Zoo files

Oceans are thought of as the last frontier of discovery, but Wild Sea gets us closer to mysterious marine animals and connects our worlds.

WORDS Alegria

Alano

Bella, the Australian Fur Seal 18

“W

ild Sea is a bit of a mixture,” says Harna Burton, Life Sciences Manager at Wild Sea. “We have seals, penguins, seahorses, fish, otters, Pygmy Hippopotamus and freeflight birds.”

Her favourite Wild Sea resident is Felix, the Pygmy Hippopotamus. “He’s the best. He gets in the pool and swims right up to the window… he’s a cool animal for people to see.”

Ed, the Fiordland penguin, is a favourite among members and visitors for his good looks and charisma. “He’s just got so much personality. He’s also got racing-stripe colouring: black, white and a bit of yellow. He’ll waddle up, nip at the keepers’ shoelaces and follow us around — people love to see him,” says Harna.

Marine Response Unit, Wild Sea Melbourne Zoo allows visitors to get to know marine wildlife and also raises awareness for their protection. Bella is the only Australian Fur Seal at Wild Sea. She often tries to get cosy with the three Long-nosed Fur Seals that she shares her habitat with — something she might have done in the wild.

Bella’s life took a different turn when she was found on a beach near Queenscliff. Mark Keenan is the Marine Response Unit (MRU) Coordinator at Melbourne Zoo. His team is responsible for marine wildlife rescues.

“…simple things, like responsible pet ownership, have an impact on wildlife.”

Ed, the Fiordland penguin

Felix, the Pygmy Hippopotamus

IMAGES: JO HOWELL

MARK KEENAN

Pot-Bellied Seahorse

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FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT MARINE ANIMALS

KEEPING WARM

The Pot-bellied Seahorse

is one of the largest seahorse species in the world, with a length of up to 35cm

Males, not females, give birth to live babies called fry LITTLE PENGUINS

Long-nosed Fur Seals have two-layers of fur – the under layer helps the skin stay dry under water

Can dive up to

60M under the water to search for food such as small fish, squid and krill

THEY CAN’T FLY

GOOD GRIP

but penguins are the best swimmers and divers of the world’s birds

FRED ASTAIRE OF THE OCEAN Seahorses have mating ritual courtship dances that can last for hours

Seahorses have prehensile tails – meaning they are capable of grasping objects

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Hippos have 36 teeth.

The canine teeth can reach 50cm long

SEALS

have large eyes to help them see underwater Australian Fur Seals

Hippos have three-chambered stomachs and use foregut fermentation to break down food

CHOPPITY CHOP

find their breeding place on rocky islands – which can include boulder or pebbly beaches and rocky outcrops

Barnacles Fiordland Crested penguins occasionally grow barnacles on their tails — an indication that some may spend up to 75% of their lives at sea

“At the time she was a pup that was dependent on her mum. She was attacked by a dog on the beach, badly wounded and we didn’t know where her mum was,” he says.

The MRU sees the impact of humans on animals and wildlife habitats every day. Sometimes, as in Bella’s case, it’s an animal attacked by someone’s pet. Other times it is plastic, rubbish or fishing materials in waterways. The goal is always to rescue and, where possible, rehabilitate and release back into the wild. But sometimes, sadly, an animal’s injuries are so severe that euthanasia is the most humane welfare decision.

Fortunately, Bella got a second chance at life. “It was determined that the best outcome for Bella was to give her a permanent home at the zoo rather than risking release as a lone pup into the open ocean,” says Harna. Mark adds, “By keeping Bella and telling her story we can explain to people that simple things, like responsible pet ownership, have an impact on wildlife.”

Following rules about pets on beaches, putting litter in the bin and choosing plastic-free alternatives (to things like straws and cotton buds) can go a long way. Signage and Keeper Talks at Wild Sea encourage members and visitors to think about the impact they might have on sea life. “It’s definitely been eyeopening to be reminded of the power that we all have,” says Harna.

Knowing how to contact the MRU is also important. “We absolutely rely on people in the community being

d Ed, the Fiordlavnourite penguin, is a bfaers and among memhis good visitors for arisma! looks and ch

Help us Seal the Loop

our eyes and ears,” says Mark, who emphasises the importance of leaving wildlife injuries to the experts.

“Victoria has incredibly diverse and beautiful ecosystems that are home to amazing species,” says Harna. “We all need to remember that we play a role in keeping them safe and clean for our beautiful wildlife.” ZN

fyi IMAGES: JO HOWELL

WHO TO CALL FOR HELP If you see an injured or distressed marine animal on Victoria’s coastline, phone the Marine Response Unit on 1300 245 678.

LOOKING FOR MORE? Visit Melbourne Zoo’s Wild Sea exhibit to see the fascinating marine animals.

Every year, seals, birds and other aquatic animals are killed or injured as a result of entanglement in discarded fishing gear. In response, Zoos Victoria, in partnership with the Victorian Fishing Authority, operates the Seal the Loop program. More than 300 brightly coloured bins have been installed at popular fishing spots to encourage anglers to responsibly dispose of their fishing waste.

The program relies on custodians to maintain, monitor and empty the bins.

Pete Lancaster of the Community Conservation Team at Zoos Victoria says, “We are lucky to have more than 70 different custodian organisations across Victoria monitoring the bins and sharing our care for waterways and the wildlife in them. But we know there are more locations where they’re needed. If you know anyone who likes to fish, let them know about the importance of keeping fishing waste out of waterways and to keep an eye out for the yellow Seal the Loop bins when they’re fishing,” says Pete.

To find out more about this program and see where the bins are currently located

Click here

Click here to book your free Zoo Member tickets

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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SUSTAINABILITY

Solar panels

&

CLEAN GREEN

Zoos Victoria’s three iconic properties have flicked the switch on 100% renewable energy.

In early 2021, Zoos Victoria became the first zoo-based conservation organisation on mainland Australia to be powered entirely by renewable energy.

Coldwell-Ross.

W

here the electricity comes from probably isn’t the first thing you wonder during a visit to one of our zoos.

But rest assured, Zoos Victoria has been making strides to reduce carbon emissions for a future rich in wildlife.

With help from the Victorian Government, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo are now powered by GreenPower, while Healesville Sanctuary draws from the Crowlands Wind Farm, just outside of Ararat.

Kiam Yoong, Senior Manager Environmental Sustainability, has been working to reduce Zoos Victoria’s environmental footprint for the past 13 years. He considers the adoption of renewable energy a transformative step

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in positioning the organisation as a leader in sustainable practice.

“It’s our duty to drive down our carbon emissions, to reduce our own environmental impact and inspire others to do the same,” says Kiam.

“Climate change poses a major threat to the animals in our care — both at our

zoos and in our conservation programs — and requires urgent action.”

This is certainly not the first major sustainability milestone. In 2013, Zoos Victoria was recognised as having the first independently certified carbonneutral zoos worldwide.

From heating and cooling animal habitats, supporting busy veterinary hospitals and keeping our members and visitors comfortable and safe, operating three busy zoos is a complex and resource-intensive affair. However, gradual efficiency initiatives have led to a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, taking our footprint from 14,000 tonnes to just 4,000 tonnes per year.

“Every time we install something, we reduce our environmental footprint by a bit here and there,” says Kiam.

IMAGES: JO HOWELL

WORDS Hugh

“Every time we install something, we reduce our environmental footprint by a bit here and there.”

KIAM YOONG Senior Manager Environmental Sustainability

Reduce your energy use at home

Across the zoos, we have installed 675 kilowatts of solar PV – which is short for photovoltaic: the system of capturing the energy of sunlight and converting it to electricity – generating 800,000 kilowatt hours of clean, green energy. The first, fitted in 2010, is also the most visible, sitting just outside the Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Healesville Sanctuary. Other solar panels are working hard on rooftops, while ingenious ‘Solar Trees’ — solar panels erected on recycled timber in the formation of trees — were ‘planted’ at the entrance to Werribee Open Range Zoo. These clever structures also offer shade on sweltering summer days.

There’s ample opportunity for new technologies to prove their mettle.

Between 2018 and 2019, the shade structure in front of Melbourne

Zoo’s Lord Howe Island Stick Insect information area was replaced with super thin, flexible and semi-transparent organic printed solar cells as part of a research partnership with CSIRO. “We’ve never been shy about embracing emerging technologies and partnering with like-minded organisations,” Kiam says.

“The opportunity to road-test tech like the organic printed solar cells keeps us looking ahead at how we can continuously improve. Curved and delicate surfaces, which aren’t suitable for supporting heavy solar infrastructure, could become accessible to us very soon.”

Animal habitats have also received efficiency makeovers. Within Melbourne Zoo’s Butterfly House, temperatures must only range from 22 to 28°C and humidity must remain between 65 and 75 per cent. Consequently, the Butterfly House is the single highest natural-gas user across all three zoos, accounting for a third of our total consumption.

By installing double glazing to the roof, we’ve helped to lower emissions and improve the Butterfly House’s ability to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity required to care for its hundreds of residents.

Speaking of makeovers, you may have noticed extra coloured bins since your last visit. We’re ensuring that all waste from members, visitors and staff is reused or recycled and doesn’t end up in landfill. Last year, we were able to divert 89 per cent of waste from landfill and we’re hoping to reach our target of 90 per cent soon. ZN

Keep it cool

Fridges are one of the few appliances that run all day long. Every time we open the door, precious cold air escapes. Save money on your electricity bill by keeping your fridge well stocked. Liquids in food and drink help hold the cold and take pressure off the motor.

Food waste

If you live in Melbourne, you may be able to recycle your food scraps in the green waste bin. Across Australia, 3.2 million tonnes of food waste ends up in landfill each year, and for every tonne of food waste, more than a tonne of greenhouse gas is generated.

Your food and garden scraps can be given a second life as nutrient-rich compost when recycled through the green waste collection or in a home compost.

LOOKING FOR MORE? Next time you’re at one of our zoos look out for the sustainable measures we’ve put in place.

Click here to book your free Zoo Member tickets

ZOONEWS MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2022 •

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Your Zoo Membership helps save wildlife

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Did you know Zoos Victoria Members receive reciprocal entry to interstate zoos?

Take advantage of this member exclusive benefit the next time you are travelling in Australia. The zoos our members are eligible to visit are:

Taronga Zoo Sydney (NSW)

Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo (NSW)

Adelaide Zoo (SA)

Take your Zoos Victoria Membership card when you visit and check the websites for the individual zoo to book a ticket.

For more information 24

Click here

Monarto Safari Park (SA)

Perth Zoo (WA)