National Zoo & Aquarium logo |
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National Zoo & Aquarium entry |
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| Location | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
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| Land area | 25 acres (10.1 ha) [1] |
| Number of animals | Approx 151 (not including fish) |
| Memberships | ZAA[2] |
| Website | www.nationalzoo.com.au |
The National Zoo and Aquarium is a privately owned 25-acre (10.1 ha) zoo and aquarium in the Australian capital city of Canberra. It is located in Yarralumla at the western end of Lake Burley Griffin also next to Scrivener Dam.
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"To inspire and assist in the conservation of the natural world through innovative and exciting educational experiences."
The National Zoo and Aquarium is privately owned by Canberra businessman Richard Tindale, and is maintained as a predominantly family-run business. The zoo receives no Government or Commonwealth support, and relies on entry fees from the public to continue operations. The zoo also relies on a large number of volunteer recruits to aid in the management of it's grounds and the animals residing there.
The Zoo is the only combined zoo and aquarium in Australia.[3] The zoo has both Australian endemic species and introduced species including the largest collection of big cats in Australia, including, until recently, the only tiglon in Australasia. The zoo is also involved in a number of breeding programs for endangered species.
The National Zoo and Aquarium plays host to many educational programs and specially designed tours for various groups; including school tours, family groups, Walk on the Wild Side, daily information sessions and children's birthday parties [4][5]. The zoo runs children's activities during ACT public school holiday periods[6] and a hands-on educational program for children from 8-16 years of age on weekends during the term [7].
A little penguin at the zoo reportedly bit Linus Torvalds, providing the inspiration for Tux the Linux mascot.[8][9][10]
Australian animals at the zoo include dingos, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, emu, Tasmanian devils, and wombats.
The Zoo maintains a collection of large cats including Tawny lions, white lions, a Sumatran tiger, a Bengal tiger, snow leopards, cheetahs, pumas, and servals. Other mammals include brown bears, sun bears, zebras, giraffes, common eland, black-capped capuchin, common marmoset, cottontop tamarin, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, black-and-white colobus, De Brazza's monkey, red pandas, and Oriental small-clawed otters.
The Aquarium includes a variety of tropical marine and freshwater bony fish including Murray cod, Queensland Groper, humphead wrasse and green moray, as well as several shark species including blacktip reef sharks, tawny nurse shark, leopard shark and brownbanded bamboo shark.
Reptiles and amphibians at the zoo include shingleback skink, blotched blue-tongued skink, green iguana, rhinoceros iguana, Taiwan beauty snake, reticulated python, Malayan blood python, olive python, boa constrictor, American alligator, pig-nosed turtle, and Australian green tree frogs.
Birds at the zoo include little penguins and peafowl.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:National_Zoo_%26_Aquarium National Zoo & Aquarium] at Wikimedia Commons
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