Surviving has turned to thriving as gorgeous gorilla Kaius turns two, overcoming his sad start thanks to his devoted keeper and the eventual acceptance of his gorilla family in an Australian first.
“He should have died, multiple times, but each time he pulled through,” Mogo Wildlife Park zookeeper Chad Staples told the Sunday Telegraph.
“I took on the role of hand-raising him, and for seven months we were attached at the hip.
Despite the odds, little Kaius thrived.
Residents of Eastern Australia often envy their Western counterparts for having easy access to the “world’s happiest animal”, the quokkas.
But what many may not realise is that Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, part of the Australian Wildlife Parks group alongside Mogo Wildlife Park and Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, offers a chance to hand-feed these joyful animals and snap a selfie with them.
Healthcare heroes–this one’s for you! This February, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park are rolling out the green carpet (and maybe a few kangaroos) just for you. As a heartfelt thank-you for your dedication and hard work, Featherdale are offering FREE ENTRY to all healthcare workers for the entire month!
Whether you spend your days saving lives, caring for patients, or making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, Featherdale think you deserve a break – and what better way to unwind than with a few adorable furry, feathery, and scaly friends?
In a heartwarming milestone for Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, Kebibi, a first-time giraffe mum, has welcomed the park’s very first giraffe calf. The healthy male calf was born on 15 September 2024, and only 3 weeks after his birth, weighed in at a sturdy 80 kilograms and over six feet tall.
Kebibi’s birth story unfolded under the night sky, with staff watching through night vision to ensure the process was progressing smoothly without needing to disrupt the mother and calf. Zookeeper Chad Staples, who was on hand for the exciting moment, described the birth as a “tense but thrilling” event after a lengthy 16-month pregnancy.
Until the end of March, people can have an intimate and personalised tour of Mogo Wildlife Park after it has closed to the public.
Among the wildlife park’s wonderful collection of endangered, exotic, and native species are the white rhino, two female baby giraffes born on 27 and 31 December, and a red panda who gave birth on 6 January.
The Wildlife Sunset Tours are only offered on Saturdays at 4:30 pm and run for about 90 minutes. A maximum of 20 people can book.
Zookeeper Chad Staples said the things you got to do on the tour were “pretty amazing”.
“You are there on your own, so it is a much more intimate experience.”
Two baby giraffes have been born just days apart in what Zookeeper Chad Staples describes as “rare” and “perfect” births.
The female calves were born at Mogo Wildlife Park on December 27 and 31.
Zookeeper Chad said mothers normally showed signs such as swelling, walking differently or waxy teats indicating the birth was imminent.
“These two girls were a bit more secretive,” he said.
A New South Wales’ activity has topped Australia’s ‘Top Experiences’ list in Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travellers’ Choice Awards. The Small Group Blue Mountains Day Trip from Anderson’s Tours has been crowned the Top Experience in all of Australia.
The tour visits Scenic World, the Three Sisters in Katoomba, the Scenic Railway, (the world’s steepest rail trip), the Glass-bottom Scenic Skyway, Cable Car, and gives guests a chance to get up close and personal with animals like kangaroos and wallabies at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park.
Read Time Out Sydney’s full article here