A new zoo has been announced for Victoria and it's two-and-a-half times as large as Melbourne Zoo.
The Victorian government has announced the acquisition of a fourth site for Zoos Victoria, with the management of Kyabram Fauna Park set to be taken over by Zoos Victoria, supported by $3 million in government funding.
Kyabram Fauna Park joins Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. The 55-hectare parkland and wetland Kyabram Fauna Park site is two and a half times bigger than Melbourne Zoo, and has more than 600 animals, the largest collection of Australian animals in Victoria after Healesville Sanctuary.
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The extensive collection of Australian animals includes Tasmanian Devils, quolls, dingoes, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, echidna, emus, flying foxes and southern cassowary along with an impressive collection of reptiles and birds.
The Park has looked after wildlife and delivered conservation programs since 1979, planting more than 7,000 native trees and plants to create a range of habitats to provide food and shelter for free-ranging wildlife and encouraged the return of 35 species of birds to the local Kyabram area.
The two wildlife organisations already share close strategic alignment across animal welfare, conservation, sustainability and visitor experience. The transition process is now underway, with full integration to be complete within the next 18 months.
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This also means that from October, Kyabram Fauna Park will be included in the state government’s $20 million ‘Kids Go Free’ offer, where children under 16 receive free admission to Victoria’s Zoos on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. Members of the two zoos will have access to both.
“Zoos Victoria will work hard to ensure a smooth transition,” Zoos Victoria CEO Dr Jenny Gray said. “We are thrilled to have an even broader reach to connect community with nature right across the state of Victoria, to secure a future rich in wildlife.”
Find out more about the new Victorian zoo at its website here.
