Animal Diaries Archive

Kids Zoo's New Run!

18 April 2008

People often ask why we have domestic animals like goats, sheep, pigs and cows in Australia Zoo. The answer is that these beautiful animals enable children, elderly and adults the opportunity to better understand farm animals. This is achieved by patting, bottle-feeding, hand feeding and by talking to the keepers. Although these animals are not exotic or endangered, they are still very important and we are lucky to have them as a part of our world.

It is great listening to stories from elderly people about when they were young and they had to feed the lambs. Or to see the excitement of, not only children, but adults as well when they get the opportunity to pat and feed our beautiful animals. For some, this may be the only chance to have this experience.

All the animals in Kids Zoo are taken for a walk everyday to give them a break from their enclosure. This enables them to have free grazing and time in the sunshine. The only restriction to this experience is that the animals need to be controlled and this is done by the use of leads. At the end of 2007 this problem was addressed and Kids Zoo was built a wonderful animal run.

The run is fantastic! The animals can now have some free time to be animals in a safe and controlled environment. This does not disadvantage our guests at all, as they have great enjoyment watching the animals run and frolic.

The goats can be playful and run, jump, and kick out, head butt with each other. The calves can kick up their heels, buck and run around. The sheep can graze undisturbed. They love lying around on the grass chewing their cud and soaking up the sunshine. Due to their popularity it also enables them the opportunity for a break from the adoring attention of cuddles and feeding.This has been a fantastic addition for the Kids Zoo. We find it very important for the animals to have enclosures and areas that best represent their natural environment, allowing them to live in safe and comfortable conditions.