Conservation staff have consistently sought to avoid the extinction of species in the wild, often by eliminating potential threats such as invasive species, habitat degradation, and poaching. In many instances, however, field conservation measures may be inadequate and not all species can be effectively conserved in their native habitats. This then necessitates more extreme forms of intervention, such as captive breeding by zoos, aquariums, or botanical gardens to increase the likelihood of species survival.
The participation of zoos and aquariums in these breeding programmes is often a cooperative worldwide and regional captive breeding operation. For each species a programme is maintained that captures all the details of individual’s parentage, and factors such as breeding, health etc. A computer programme is also used to determine the best breeding partners that will ensure the genetic diversity of the population is maintained. The animals in these cooperative breeding programmes do not belong to any organisation and at any time we expect to get advice to move and swap some of our animals in support of these programmes.
Across our region, both for Australia and New Zealand a wide variety of native species are directly involved in breed for release or population insurance conservation programmes, which involve zoos and conservation departments and we are part of a number of these programmes. Additionally, numerous exotic species, which are often part of a global programme, are managed by our regional zoos including ourselves.
Each year Australasian zoos and aquariums connect 22 million people with wildlife, fostering a love for our world’s species and educating people about positive actions to help save them. The regional zoos and aquaria members participate in 629 conservation programs for threatened species worldwide. In 2017, for example, they funded a total of $21 million to conservation as well as a further $3 million of in-kind support.
A few examples of Australasian native species conservation breeding programmes:
Australia
- Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby
- Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby
- Orange-bellied Parrot
- Spotted-tailed Quoll
- Lister’s geckos
- Blue-tailed Skinks
- Numbats
- Coroboree Frogs
- Helmeted and Regent Honeyeaters
New Zealand
- Kiwi
- Campell Island Teal
- Brown Teal
- Tuatara
- Giant Weta
- Kaka parrot
- Shore Plover
- Archey’s Frogs
- Yellow-crowned Kakariki
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🐾 We are open everyday this long weekend 🐾
Bring the whole family we are open from 10am-5pm everyday. Enjoy some keeper talks or book in for an up close encounter where you can pat a Rhino, feed a cheetah, have a red panda walk across your lap 🫢 Check out our website for a full list of encounters we offer.
#longweekend #hallsgap #grampians #encounters #animalencounter
Happy 2nd birthday to Messi and Knuckles our 2 gorgeous Tasmanian devils 🎉🎉
Keepers had a bit of fun making some birthday enrichment with some yummy smells for them to enjoy their day with.
Come down and see our 2 newest devils, they have settled in quite well and have made themselves at home.
📸 keeper Darci
#hallsgapzoo #encounters #visitmelbourne #grampians
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It is Bearded Dragon week!
🪵 The females will lay about 11-30 eggs per clutch and take up to 80 days to hatch.
🪵 They are omnivores feeding on plants, flowers, invertebrates and small lizards.
🪵 Like most reptiles they rely on the sun to regulate their body temperature and when the winter comes around they go into ‘brumation’ which is similar to hibernation in mammals.
Today is World Otter Day! There are 13 species of otters in the world and here at Halls Gap Zoo we have the Asian small clawed otters and even though they are the smallest species of otter they have the biggest personalities. You will see our girls playing in their pool, eating at their waterfall or mum paddy playing with her favourite rock.
Have you ever wanted to hold an otters hand? We are the only place in Victoria where you can do that during an encounter with our beautiful and cheeky girls.
As Asian small clawed otters are classed as vulnerable in the wild we need to make sure we protect their habitats and keep our waterways clean so they can thrive in the wild and we are able to enjoy these incredible animals for generations to come. Visit our website to book book an encounter #hallsgapzoo #worldotterday #protectwildlife #encounter
It was national volunteer week this week and we would like to acknowledge the hard work all our lovely volunteers put into the zoo, they get dirty, they get sweaty, walking all day long but their dedication has a big impact for our animals and the keepers alike, hopefully being rewarded with animal cuddles, knowing they are making a difference and learning as they go makes it all worthwhile.
So thankyou to each and everyone one of you.
In the lead up to winter our maintenance team have been busy creating new shelters for our wallabies and new hot boxes for our small primates to keep them nice and cosy during those cold nights, as you can see I think the animals approve.
We are constantly looking for ways to update enclosures that improves the welfare of our animals and we have so much planned but we couldn’t do it without the support of you, when you visit, spend money in the gift shop or have an encounter with an animal that money goes back into the zoo so we are able to make these improvements so Thankyou for your support.
These animals deserve the best and that is what our keepers strive to achieve day in and day out.
📸 keeper Maddison and Sherrin
Keeper Larissa has some exciting news for everyone.
These fascinating animals are now on display and ready to meet you.
With its gorgeous grey feathers they often blend in and just look like part of the tree so you will have to concentrate to find them.
They are sure to capture your heart just like they already have our keepers.
Our animal care team have been working hard to ensure a smooth and comfortable transition into their new home and they have settled in perfectly.
Come visit and be among the first to see our newest residents.
📸keeper Rhys
#Hallsgapzoo #grampians #visitmelbourne #tawnyfrogmouths
Happy Mother’s Day from the Zoo!
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and in Asha’s case, it’s more like mini me’s running around the exhibit!
Motherhood is all about love, protection, and a whole lot of lookalikes.
Here’s to all the wild, wonderful mums out there we hope you have a great day and get to relax.
When you’re visiting see if you can spot the difference between Asha and her daughters or even spot one of our newer mums, hint: you might see a little face poking out of a pouch.
#mothersday #grampians #present #hallsgapzoo #visitmelbourne
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Today is about our beautiful native Dingoes
🐾 The widest part of their body is their skull which they use to test if they can fit through holes without getting stuck.
🐾 They are not a dog they are genetically and behaviourally different to domestic dogs.
🐾 They can jump up to 2m high from a standing position.
Come and meet one of our 3 beautiful boys Daku, Bobby and Maliki during an encounter
#hallsgapzoo #encounter #dingo
💕Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day present?
How about the gift of an animal experience for the special woman in your life.
Spend some quality time together, cementing your position as the favourite child while having an unforgettable time feeding a giraffe, patting a 2000kg rhino or having a red panda walk across your lap. 🤭
Check out our website for our full range of encounters. #mothersday #mothersdaygifts #encounters
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Today we are looking at Elk
🦌They are one of the largest species of Deer.
🦌Babies are born with spots but loose them by the end of summer (as you can see in the photo) they are also born without a scent to help protect them from predators.
🦌Males grow impressive antlers each year and shed them in the winter
#elk #hallsgapzoo #nationalpark
#visitmelbourne #visitmelbourneaustralia
Thankyou so much to a Family from Horsham who so generously donated 5 family yearly memberships to some deserving local families saying that “The Halls Gap Zoo has brought so much joy to our lives over the years and after everything they and the local community have been through, especially with the challenges of the fires, we wanted to give something back to the zoo and hopefully bring some joy to local families through a zoo membership.”
So wonderful to have such kindhearted people in our community so Thankyou again.
#kindness #hallsgapzoo #familymembership
Happy World Vet Day!!
Today we celebrate the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to protect the health and welfare of animals everywhere.
We would like to thank our vets from Stawell veterinary clinic who help us when our animals need them and after the recent fires were amazingly kind enough and wiped our bill which was such a big help to us.
We would also like to thank the vets from Werribee Zoo who take on our animals when they need specialist veterinary care especially when they make the trek out to see our animals on site.
We appreciate each and everyone of you for your commitment to the animals you work so hard to care for.
