Product Code Database
Rockhampton Zoo is a zoo in the Australian city of Rockhampton, Queensland.
Zookeepers deliver talks and feed the animals at scheduled times during the day. Rockhampton Zoo: Keeper talks and feeding times , Rockhampton Regional Council website. Accessed 11 April 2018.
Two male chimpanzees, named "Cassie" and "Ockie" arrived at the zoo in 1986.Silva, Kristian (15 December 2015) Rockhampton Zoo's chimpanzee program evolving to encourage wild behaviour , Brisbane Times, Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
A chimpanzee enclosure measuring just 200m2 was replaced in 2010 with a new 1000m2 enclosure featuring large glass viewing screens was constructed at a cost of $1.3millions. It was officially opened by Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten in March 2010.Taylor, Adrian (15 March 2010) Chimps misbehave for new enclosure, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018. The decision to build the new enclosure came after the old cage no longer met Biosecurity Queensland standards.Robinson, Paul (27 May 2009) Rocky's chimps to get new enclosure , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
The decision to replace the old chimpanzee enclosure with a much larger facility was supported by both the RSPCA Australia and the WWF. The RSPCA said that although the organisation wasn't in favour of keeping animals in zoos, they did support any improvement to the enclosure at Rockhampton Zoo. The WWF said while the best way to save endangered animals was to protect the natural environment, they believed zoo breeding programs using best practice can play a role.
Two female chimpanzees, named "Samantha" and "Holly" arrived from Mogo Zoo in 2012, in the hope they would reproduce with the male chimpanzees as part of a proposed breeding program.(19 January 2012) Zoo welcomes female chimps, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
However, "Ockie" died from a heart condition in 2013.Roberts, Alice (26 November 2013) Ockie the chimp fondly remembered by Rockhampton Zoo staff, visitors , ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
Following the death of "Ockie", the chimpanzees were studied by University of Queensland psychologist who observed changes to the social order between them.Roberts, Alice; Mackay, Jacquie (5 March 2014) Chimps buddy up after death of Ockie , ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
A male chimpanzee and a female chimpanzee, named "Alon" and "Leakey", arrived at the zoo from Israel in 2015.Robinson, Paul (15 September 2015) Rockhampton Zoo welcomes two new chimpanzees, Alon and Leakey, to help boost captive breeding program , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
In February 2018, "Leakey" gave birth to a female chimpanzee, fathered by "Alon". It's believed to have been the first baby chimpanzee to have been born in Queensland since the 1970s.Stünzner, Inga; Hendry, Megan (22 February 2018) Baby chimp born at Rockhampton Zoo offers hope to breeding program , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
The baby chimpanzee was eventually named "Capri", nominated by a Yeppoon family as an homage to her place of birth - the Tropic of Capricorn on which Rockhampton sits in a region often referred to as Capricornia.Jarrett, Vanessa (9 April 2018) Yeppoon family's name was chosen for baby chimp , The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
The birth of "Capri" is part of an Australian and New Zealand breeding program aiming to increase the number of chimpanzees from 51 to 80 over twenty years.
Three two-week-old dingo puppies were donated to Rockhampton Zoo in 2009 where they were hand-reared.(6 August 2009) Dingo puppies settle into new home , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
In 2012, a cassowary chick was born at Rockhampton Zoo after an egg successfully hatched.Hendry, Megan (10 February 2012) Cassowary chick born at Rockhampton Zoo , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
A new koala called "Lleyton" arrived from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast in September 2013.Roberts, Alice (23 September 2013) 'Lleyton' parties at Rocky Zoo , ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
A 4.5 metre crocodile, weighing 570 kilograms, was delivered to Rockhampton Zoo from Koorana Crocodile Farm in September 2014. The crocodile, known as "The Colonel", was lifted into the crocodile enclosure by crane to live with two adult and five juvenile freshwater crocodiles.(9 September 2015) Colonel the croc takes pride of place at Rockhampton Zoo , The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
Two Asian short-clawed otters called "Soa" and "Houdini" arrived from Taronga Zoo in late 2014. Rockhampton Zoo expressed interest in working with international experts to ensure the longevity of the vulnerable species with the hope of eventually establishing a breeding program.Hendry, Megan; Whop, Marlina (16 December 2014) Otters settle into new home at Rockhampton Zoo , ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
Notable events
A Southern hairy-nosed wombat called "Fatso" gave birth in 2008.Fountain, Rachel (31 October 2008) Fatso the wombat gives birth at Rockhampton Zoo , ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
Security concerns
Concerns have arisen a number of times over the years about the zoo's security at night due to a number of overnight incidents at the zoo which has resulted in the death, injury and theft of animals.
|
|
