Western Plains Zoo, NEW SOUTH WALES
Airing Date: Jan 19th, 2004
Western Plains Zoo is an open range zoo located about four kilometres south west of Dubbo.
The zoo covers nearly 800 hectares and is divided into five geographical regions - Africa, Australia, Eurasia, North America and South America. You can drive, walk or cycle around the zoo's six kilometre circuit and see over 1500 animals, including giraffes, elephants and lions.
Early morning is the best time to see many of the animals, so head out on a guided early morning walk. For just $3 you can see heaps of animals tucking into their breakfast, and for an extra $12.50, you can enjoy a post-walk breakfast as well.
The walk gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the African section with a visit to the Black Rhinoceros Conservation Complex and the Giraffe Night House. Next you will see where several primate species live, including the noisy Siamang Apes who have a vocal chorus call. Your final stop is a visit to the South American section, where you'll see the unique Guanacos, Greater Rhea and Tapir.
Western Plains Zoo also has a new Rhino Encounter, where you can get up close to these dangerous and endangered beasts, learn about their habits and hand feed them.
Visitors get a close look at the black rhinos and can even have a photo taken near them. You'll also see the White Rhino and get a close up visit with the Greater One-Horned Rhino.
Dora the Greater One-Horned Rhino is the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. He belongs to the new $28 million Wild Asian Wetlands exhibit, which is also home to a remarkable family of five Oriental Small-Clawed Otters. Together, these threatened species live in an area that is reminiscent of their home in India and Nepal.
The new exhibit also includes a Terai village, which showcases human settlement and animals domesticated in this area hundreds of years ago. From the village, a pier stretches out into the floodplains, affording close-up views of the magnificent 'armoured' Greater One-Horned Rhino.
The facts
As a special offer for viewers of The Great Outdoors, the first 100 callers will pay just $99 per night for a twin-share room at the Comfort Inn in Dubbo City. This price includes breakfast and two tickets to Western Plains Zoo. The offer is valid from 1 November, 2003 to 31 December, 2003.
Comfort Inn Dubbo City
Tel: 13 24 00
The new Rhino Encounter costs $25 per adult and $13.50 per child and runs for groups of five or more.
Western Plains Zoo
Tel: 02 6882 5888
