Zoo News Weekly

SECRETIVE PLATYPUS BEHAVIOUR CAUGHT ON CAMERA

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 6 Aug 2026

A rare glimpse into the secret life of one of Australia’s most elusive animals has been caught on camera, with a female Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary spotted collecting nesting material with her tail as they head into breeding season.

ONE YEAR OF TAMBI

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 6 Aug 2026

One year ago, many of you welcomed Tambi into the world as Melbourne Zoo celebrated the birth of its first giraffe calf in almost 20 years. After a wobbly start, Tambi has grown into a healthy, playful youngster and a proud big brother to little Zambezi. Celebrate Tambi's milestone with a free downloadable background below.

HIPPO HOT TUB

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 6 aug 2026

While Melbourne's winter mornings are freezing, Felix the Pygmy hippo is staying cosy with his very own heated pool, kept at a balmy 25°C all year round. Whether he's swimming, snacking or snoozing in the water, Felix is always a favourite with visitors. Stop by the Gorilla Rainforest Trail on your next visit to see this threatened species enjoying his winter routine.

QUARDRUPLE CUTENESS: JOEYS HOP TOWARDS NEW SEASON

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 30 July 2026

A sign that spring is just around the corner, with a roo-markable baby boom of Kangaroo Island Kangaroos at Healesville Sanctuary.

FOR THE LOVE OF CATS

BLOG │ 30 July 2026

From the scratching post to the savannah, cats big and small are more alike than they appear. What does the way lions and cheetahs experience the world reveal about the cats curled up on our couches?

From Zoo News Digital 2026

NEW LIFELINE FOR CRITICALLY ENDANGERED HELMETED HONEYEATERS

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 24 July 2026

One of Victoria’s Faunal Emblems facing the real threat of extinction is receiving a new safe haven for orphaned or fragile fledglings.

A SECOND CHANCE IN THE WILD FOR BUSHFIRE-INJURED KOALA

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 24 July 2026

A spark of hope has emerged from the aftermath of Victoria’s January bushfires with a young, orphaned koala called Robyn returning to the wild after a lengthy rehabilitation journey at Healesville Sanctuary’s wildlife hospital.

NEW EAGLE SOARS INTO SPIRITS OF THE SKY

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 21 July 2026

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Well, yes. Actually, it is a bird. A new bird of prey is soaring onto the scene at Healesville Sanctuary, with Audax the majestic Wedge-tailed Eagle joining the iconic Spirits of the Sky free-flight presentation.

EARLY LEARNING MATTERS: GROWING CHILDREN'S CONNECTION WITH NATURE

zoo UPDATE │ 21 July 2026

Early learning plays an important role in shaping children’s development, wellbeing and connection to the world around them. This Early Learning Matters Week, the Keeper Kids team at Melbourne Zoo is celebrating the power of nature-based learning and the ways children can discover, explore and care for the natural world!

VALE WILDLIFE DETECTION DOG DAISY

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 21 July 2026

The Detection Dog Squad is deeply saddened to share the sudden passing of Daisy. Despite the best care, Daisy was diagnosed with incurable cancer and quickly succumbed to the disease. Over her nine years, including five years with Zoos Victoria, Daisy made an incredible contribution to threatened species conservation, from detecting Victorian grassland earless dragons and supporting groundbreaking conservation research to helping connect thousands of people with wildlife conservation. Daisy touched the hearts of many at Zoos Victoria. Fluffy, food-obsessed and occasionally dramatic, she had the biggest heart, the best nose and was a cherished member of our zoo family. She will be missed dearly.

LEG UP FOR LIMPING LIZARD

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 10 July 2026

Brace yourselves because this story has got legs. A Bearded Dragon called Ned, who has a sore leg, is receiving state-of-the-art treatment at Healesville Sanctuary, as vets use 3D printing to step up his care.

NEW LION PRIDE EXPERIENCE DATES

experience UPDATE │ 15 July 2026

Exciting news! New dates have just been released for our wildly popular Lion Pride Experience. Step behind the scenes to meet our growing lion pride and hear from the passionate keepers who care for them every day.

NEW ROO STROODEL

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 10 July 2026

Healesville Sanctuary's newest Red Kangaroo joey, Stroodel, is out of the pouch! Named after mum Roobarb, she's already showing plenty of personality, from playful boxing matches with aunty Roobix to energetic morning zoomies. Spot Stroodel in Kangaroo Country, especially in the early morning or late afternoon, and learn more at the daily keeper talk at 11.15am.

UNDER-THE-RADER

blog │ 10 July 2026

Discover the must-see unique animals to find on your next visit.

From Zoo News Magazine Winter 2024

NEW AVIARY ARRIVALS

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 10 July 2026

Eight more Orange-bellied Parrots have joined our Fighting Extinction aviary at Healesville Sanctuary this week! Having retired from the breeding program, they're now settling into their new home, see if you can spot them on your next visit!

KOALA JOEY HAS A NAME

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 02 July 2026

Thank you for helping us choose a name for Kyabram Fauna Park's adorable new joey! We're thrilled to announce that the newest member of the Kyabram family if officially called...

Gumnut!

SNOW LEOPARDS STOP AND SMELL THE ROSE(MARY)

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 03 July 2026

Melbourne Zoo's snow leopard cubs are growing – and it turns out they're fine dining connoisseurs. The four five-month-olds were presented with palm fronds that were rubbed with a mix of dried herbs and fresh rosemary, a combination of seasoning that literally made the siblings flip out.

MEET BETTY QUOKKA

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 03 July 2026

They're "bonding" and allegedly there have been "no tiffs at all" - Melbourne Zoo has a potential new couple. Betty the quokka has joined male quokka Abe in the leafy Australian Bush habitat at Melbourne Zoo.  

A NEW RHINO ENTERS THE SAVANNAH

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 22 JUNE 2026

A five-year-old southern white rhino has completed the journey of a lifetime, travelling from New Zealand to Australia to begin an exciting new chapter at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

MEET PANGI THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED CROC

conservation UPDATE │ 19 JUNE 2026

Philippine crocodiles are the most critically endangered crocodilian species in the world. There are fewer than 200 left in the wild. Discover Pangi’s journey at Melbourne Zoo and learn how our partners at the Mabuwaya Foundation are working in the Philippines to protect this species in the wild.

LEMUR LOVE TRAIN

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 19 JUNE 2026

Melbourne Zoo's lemur lads are real group hug guys. This cuddle puddle is extra special as Mafana, Shango and Ritchie (three at the front) are some of the older boys, and Roa (at the back) is one of the younger boys, originally from Adelaide. Previously the two groups rarely cuddle together. Did you know: Keepers identify Roa from his 'love heart' shape white marking on his forehead.

PHOTO COMP EXTRAS

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 11 JUNE 2026

We hope you're enjoying your 2026 Member Calendar! Our members submitted so many wonderful photos, and while we couldn't include them all, we couldn't resist sharing some extra favourites. P.S. Don't forget to get your submission in before 30 June!

NEW DIGS FOR RESCUED DINGO

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 8 JUNE 2026

There’s a lively new resident to meet at Healesville Sanctuary! Alpine Dingo Gertie has moved into the main habitat and is delighting visitors with her curious and energetic personality. Relocated from Little Desert Nature Lodge following the 2025 bushfires, Gertie loves exploring her new surroundings, sniffing out every corner and zooming around her habitat.

Did you know female dingoes are the leaders of the pack? In the wild, females are typically the dominant animals, leading their family groups alongside a chosen mate. While dingoes may look similar to domestic dogs, they are highly intelligent, instinctive animals with impressive climbing and jumping abilities.

You can find Gertie on the Dingo Country Track and learn more about this fascinating species during the daily keeper talk at 3.40pm.

QUOLLY SMOKES

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 8 JUNE 2026

Two energetic new residents have moved into Healesville Sanctuary’s Animals of the Night Nocturnal House, giving visitors the chance to get up close to one of Australia’s most fascinating and endangered marsupials.

INSIDE THE DRAGON DEN

CONSERVATION UPDATE │ 8 JUNE 2026

The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon, a tiny reptile once feared extinct until its rediscovery west of Melbourne in 2023, now has a purpose-built conservation breeding facility at Melbourne Zoo, helping secure a future for this Critically Endangered species.

MELBOURNE ZOO PLAYS DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 2 JUNE 2026

There are some new faces for members to discover at Melbourne Zoo, with four young Tasmanian Devils recently joining the zoo family: Apricot, Plum, Aunt Beru and Egg.

‘BARITONE’ FROGS WHISTLE A HOPEFUL TUNE

CONSERVATION UPDATE │ 29 MAy 2026

East Gippsland’s endangered Watson’s Tree Frog is about to get a lot louder, with 200 froglets and 1,200 tadpoles being released into the wild this season (November 2025 – April 2026).

NEW SPIDER MONKEY EXPERIENCE

experience UPDATE │ 29 MAy 2026

FANG-TASTIC RECOVERY: BONITO THE TASMANIAN DEVIL VISITS THE DENTIST

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 29 MAy 2026

WALLABIES GET SOME GLAM

ANIMAL UPDATE │ 19 MAy 2026

During recent training sessions, the Red-necked Wallabies at Healesville Sanctuary had their nails painted! The splash of colour helps keepers quickly identify and monitor each wallaby. Keep an eye out for their bright new nails next time you visit.