Australia

Cranky croc steals Aussie zoo worker’s lawn mower

Associated Press A giant saltwater crocodile named Elvis with an apparent affinity for household machinery charged at an Australian reptile park worker Wednesday before stealing his lawn mower. Tim Faulkner, operations manager at the Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney, was one of three workers tending to the lawn in Elvis’ enclosure when he heard [...]

Giraffe to set sail on his OE

Aucklanders might be able to catch a glimpse of a giraffe as he makes his way through suburban streets en route to the Ports of Auckland today. Auckland Zoo is part of an Australasian regional breeding programme, and 18-month-old Jelani is crossing the Tasman to live in a giraffe bachelor herd alongside rhinos, zebras and [...]

“Banjo,” the elderly stolen koala, safely returned to zoo

(Reuters Life!) – An elderly koala stolen from an Australian wildlife park by bolt-cutter wielding thieves was returned home unscathed, with an anonymous phone tip-off leading keepers to a rubbish bin in the zoo’s parking lot. “Banjo” the koala went missing earlier in the week after the koala-nappers used the cutters to break into his [...]

Crikey! Steve Irwin’s legacy in the red as Australia Zoo crippled by debt

Source: news.com.au LESS than five years after Steve Irwin’s tragic death the Crocodile Hunter’s legacy appears to be at risk amid reports Australia Zoo has become crippled by debt. Management at the once-booming Sunshine Coast tourism and conservation icon has confirmed at least 22 staff have been recently let go due to a downturn in [...]

Two men charged with stealing meerkat from Kansas City Zoo

Source: Herald Sun TWO men have been charged with stealing a meerkat from the Kansas City Zoo, with authorities believing they used a stroller to smuggle the African mammal out of the zoo. Jacob M Bradley and Justin R Santhuff were charged with felony stealing by the Jackson County, Missouri, prosecutor. Bond was set at [...]

Musicians answer call of the wild for Zoo Music

Wild Bean Cafe Zoo Music returns to the Auckland Zoo Band Rotunda in the new year with five sensational concerts for conservation to liven up your summer. 2011 marks Auckland Zoo’s eighth Zoo Music series, which showcases the best Kiwi musical talent on offer at one of Auckland’s most unique venues. Opening the series is [...]

Raw Video: New Penguin at Australian Aquarium

TARONGA’S 3rd ELEPHANT CALF BORN ON ANNIVERSARY OF HERD’S ARRIVAL

Taronga third Asian Elephant calf was born at 1.12 am Sunday night. The calf is Taronga’s first female and it is the fifth calf born to the Australian Conservation Management Plan for these endangered elephants. The calf was born in the paddock four years to the day of the arrival of the herd from Thailand [...]

Zoo rescue for tiny 2.35g baby bat

Source: PerthNow PERTH Zoo staff went batty when one of the tiny winged creatures landed in their care this week. The baby native bat was found on a Claremont footpath on Wednesday and handed into the zoo by Native Animal Rescue officers. Weighing only 2.35g, or the weight of a five cent coin, the insect-eating [...]

Come to Boo at the Zoo if you dare

For one night a year, Auckland Zoo transforms into spook central with enchanted gardens and magical markets for Boo at the Zoo on Saturday, 30 October from 6pm to 9pm. All creatures great and small are invited to share a night of frightfully fun adventures as you make your way through Halloween-themed stops on the [...]

Auckland Zoo in panda swap with India

Source: 3news.co.nz Auckland Zoo sending is one of its female red pandas, Khosuva, to India in exchange for a male red panda at Darjeeling Zoo in India. Ten-year-old Sagar is expected to arrive in Auckland early next month and spend a month in quarantine before the public gets to see him. Khosuva flies out tomorrow, [...]