sbzoo
Source: Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is proud to welcome three male Western grey kangaroos, the last of the species who will call the new Australian Walkabout exhibit home. The kangaroos join four Bennett’s wallabies and two emus who have recently all moved into the exhibit to adjust to their new surroundings, and each other. Construction on the Australian Walkabout is nearly complete and scheduled to officially open on January 8, 2022. The new exhibit is designed to transport guests “Down Under,” where they can walk among the wallabies, kangaroos, emus, and also see native Australian birds and plants.
“We’re happy to share that all the animals are now cohabitating in the exhibit, and getting acclimated with each other and their new surroundings,” said Dr. Julie Barnes, the Zoo’s Vice President of Animal Care & Health. “So far the animals all seem to be adjusting really well, and we’re really looking forward to introducing these unique and iconic animals to our guests very soon!”
Max the kangaroo was born in May 2020, and came to the Santa Barbara Zoo from the San Diego Zoo. Aspen and Coolibah are brothers that arrived together from the LA Zoo. The older brother Aspen was born in August 2019, and the younger brother Coolibah, which is a type of eucalyptus tree, was born in August 2020.
Western grey kangaroos are in the family of marsupials called Macropodidae (“big foot”), a family of 50 species that includes kangaroos and wallabies, among others. As one of the largest macropods, the adult males weigh around 120 pounds, and the females weigh in at around 60 pounds. They are a social species and usually live in groups known as ‘mobs’ of up to 50.
Western grey kangaroos have powerful, large rear legs which support the familiar leaping motion, also aided by their long tail, which acts as a balance. Western grey kangaroos are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of grasses, some herbs, leaves, tree bark and shrubs. They also have a high tolerance to certain plant toxins. Contrary to its common name, they are found throughout southern Australia, from the Indian Ocean in Western Australia to western Victoria, New South Wales and southern Queensland.
Construction is nearly complete on the 15,000 square-foot Australian Walkabout, which will open to the public on January 8, 2022. The new exhibit is specifically designed to put guests right in the middle of the action, exploring open pathways, beautiful landscapes, and seeing some of the most iconic and unique wildlife representatives from the continent of Australia.
Max is generously sponsored by Jess & Aaron Goldberg, Coolibah is generously sponsored by Charlotte & Ken Richardson and Aspen is generously sponsored by Alaia.
Want to support the kangaroos? Help welcome the newest residents of the Australian Walkabout by becoming a kangaroo Foster Feeder today. Visit https://www.sbzoo.org/support/ to learn more.
Sun: If you get the chance, spend a little time volunteering at our lovely zoo. It will absolutely change your mind about what zoos are all about. Do not confuse zoo animals with circus/Las Vegas/entertainment animals. Keep in mind that without the zoos around the globe, it would be nearly impossible for the general public to enjoy the zoo animals. Zoo animals live a lot longer, and have much better lives than so-called wild animals who live in fear and starvation for their entire lives. ‘Back to the Outback’ is a cutesie cartoon that so “preachy” that it’s hard to watch more than the Netflix trailer. BTW, Australia probably has the absolute worst record for invasive animals introduced by scientists and eco-warriors: the rabbits, the foxes, the cane toads, feral cats, pigs, camels, goats…..I mean they’ve shot themselves in the foot soooooooooo many times with these animals it’s not funny. I spent a lot of time in Australia from coast-to-coast both north and south. They plan to kill off millions of cats. If yoiu see a cane toad you’re supposed to run it over. See a fox, shoot it and turn it in for a reward. Ice-cold beer….VB, Carlton, Swan, Coopers, 4X… drink it!!!
Walt Disney did us no favors – bugged the heck out of my biology teacher back in the 1950’s. Disney anthropromorphicized wild creatures so now humans believe they know exactly what animals are thinking and how they are supposed to live – in cartoon two dimensions. Snow White was probably the worst. The SB Zoo is a gem and this community can be very proud of its ethical mission. Well deserving of our local support. Strongly recommend everyone adopt at least one of the animals with their donations; if not a few more. Zoo animals today are most often born of other zoo animals, going back now several generations – if we care about their new lives, we share to care for them. They have not been “wild animals” now for generations. We owe them a safe and caring environment now. It is our generations gift to them because they should not be made victims for what may have been wrong with their long removed ancestor’s original capture.
Zoos or no zoos, you can either support or not support them…Jimmy Crack Corn. Two things I am against when it comes to animals is regularly dressing them up in costumes and putting them in baby carriages when they get too old to walk.
These are not threatened or endangered animals, right? So many of those arguments people use to support zoos are out the window. Get rid of the kangas, and make the leopard enclosure a lot bigger.