Australia Zoo to expand

Friday February 23, 02:43 PM
Australia Zoo to expand
The zoo made famous by crocodile hunter Steve Irwin is to be enlarged and developed as a world-class tourist destination after a land deal with the Queensland government.

The government has agreed to hand over a parcel of state land so Australia Zoo can set up an open-range safari experience, incorporating wildlife from Africa, South-East Asia and North America.

In return for the land, the zoo will give the government a larger piece of land near the Peachester State Forest, to be used for forestry.

The zoo also will pay the state the difference in land value for the swap.

Queensland Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the move would bring to fruition Steve and Terri Irwin's dream of a stand-alone world-class tourist destination.

The zoo's new piece of land will be excised from the Beerwah State Forest, to the south-east of the attraction's existing facilities.

A spokeswoman for the zoo said the deal was welcome.

"There are a number of processes which Australia Zoo must implement to realise its dream but the agreement on forestry land which it has reached with the government brings expansion one step closer," she said.

Irwin, 44, died last September when a stingray barb pierced his chest as he filmed a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

His legacy, conservation fund Wildlife Warriors, has attracted millions of dollars in donations since his death, with some of the money to go towards building a new animal hospital at the zoo.

Mighty

Thanks for this article, Wolfi

But why on earth did you include this ' ' smilie. Anything you want to tell us

It's an "Australian Zoo" - wright? With endemic animals.
Why do we need wildlife from Africa, South-East Asia and North America?

Than it will be an ordinary zoo you can find anyhwere in the world.
Do we need that?

My two pennies worth.

Hi

well, it's Australia Zoo, not Australian Animal Zoo and whilst it grew out of a little reptile park with more or less endemic animals it has always incorporated Australian animals not endemic to the sunshine coast/Brisbane region.

I am still baffled how many Australians haven't seen Australian animals in the wild - and they are surprised when they hear my tales of lyrebirds, platypus and goannas (all in the more densely populated south coast). I've come to understand, that some people may need to see the animals of their own country in a zoo - something I found more peculiar than seeing elephants, giraffes and lions.

One could discuss endlessly the need and value of zoos alltogether.
Australia Zoo is actually quite nice with spacious enclosures and non-bored animals and they drive home the idea of men being the predator, the need for conservation, the need for more environmental thinking and acting...

I don't have a problem with the zoo incorporating large scale roaming enclosures like Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.

Cheers, Colluricincla

PS: The Python on my Avatar is a resident of Australia Zoo.