Kyabram Fauna Park will become Victoria’s fourth zoo under a deal to make it part of the Zoos Victoria family.
It will join Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, delivering better staff opportunities, benefiting the wildlife and increasing tourism under a multi-million dollar deal.
Environment and Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced late last week that management of the fauna park would be taken over by Zoos Victoria.
“Welcoming Kyabram Fauna Park to the Zoos Victoria family is a win for tourism and jobs in northern Victoria and our precious biodiversity,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
It comes after the park was announced as an accredited zoo in April this year, with one of the highest welfare standards in the industry.
State Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp said the management takeover would mean more tourists would visit the 55-hectare zoo.
“Zoos Victoria taking management control of the Kyabram Fauna Park will mean new tourists from all over Victoria,” Mr Gepp said.
“The world will have even more reason to visit Kyabram and north-central Victoria.”
The park would also be included in the government’s Kids Go Free program, where children under 16 received free entry to all zoos in Victoria on weekends, public holidays and school holidays.
The transition to Zoos Victoria management was already under way at Kyabram Fauna Park and would be completed in 18 months.
Zoos Victoria chief executive Jenny Gray was excited for the park to join the Zoos Victoria family.
“Zoos Victoria will work hard to ensure a smooth transition,” Dr Gray said.
“We are thrilled to have an even broader reach to connect community with nature right across the state of Victoria, to secure a future rich in wildlife.”
With more than 600 animals spread across 55ha, Kyabram Fauna Park was twice the land size of Melbourne Zoo and housed the second largest collection of wildlife in the state.
The park has delivered conservation programs in the area since 1979, including planting more than 7000 native trees and plans in the area to encourage wildlife to return.
The initiative saw 35 species of native birds return.