These little sentinels are trading their vintage 2004 digs for a new, dynamic space. Photo: Guillaume David.
Some of Helensburgh’s cutest residents are set to receive a serious accommodation upgrade.
Symbio Wildlife Park has submitted a DA for significant upgrades to its meerkat habitat and a new space for its red panda.
Both habitats were built two decades ago and are in need of attention, Symbio managing director Matt Radnidge said.
“We built them 20 years ago with 20-years-ago thinking and 20-years-ago materials,” he said. “It’s time to dedicate some resources to give these beautiful residents an upgrade.”
It is hoped both habitats will be delivered by the end of the year.
“They’ll be visually stunning, but they don’t incorporate intensive water bodies or any of the more complex infrastructure that some of our recent projects did. So with some good luck with the weather, we hope to deliver relatively quickly.”
The meerkats will remain in their current location with a slightly larger footprint, and a more dynamic habitat, incorporating more climbing structure, termite mounds, new planting, extra digging space and more undercover space.
Their display will be temporarily closed while the work is carried out.
The red pandas, however, will remain in their current home while a whole new area is created around some existing trees that are ideal for climbing.
That space will incorporate an air-conditioned space for them.
“They really feel the heat on hot days, and while the team is always providing misters and frozen treats, this will be the next-level provision they deserve,” Matt said. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for them for a long time.”
It follows upgrades over the past few years including to the park’s front entry, commercial kitchen and the piece de resistance — the addition of penguins that became a fast favourite among patrons.
Matt said it was about balancing the park’s commercial interests with its ethical stance around conservation and animal welfare.
“It’s true that new exhibits bring lots of visitors, and visitors are important to our operations,” he said.
“But it’s important to us not to focus solely on bringing in new animals as our core attractor, but ensuring we continually improve the lives of the animals and species we already house.
“We’re very intentional about how we reinvest in the park. The key to our success is that we say what we do and we do what we say. This is one of the more visible examples of that in action.”
Stay tuned for the housewarming.
Symbio Wildlife Park is open 9:30 am to 5 pm seven days a week at 7/11 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Helensburgh.
