Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African themed zoo in Werribee, about 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board or 'Zoos Victoria' which also includes Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. It is situated on approximately 225 hectares (560 acres) and is located on the Werribee River in Werribee Park, adjacent to the Werribee Mansion. It was originally agistment land to the Melbourne Zoo.
Once visitors have entered the Open Range Zoo, they can book for and take a safari bus tour which runs according to the expected demand - usually at least every twenty minutes on weekends and public holidays. The safari tour normally lasts 45 min and takes up to 70 people, not including the guide. Photos are encouraged, but drinking, eating and smoking are not allowed on the bus. The safari tour begins and ends at the bus shelter near the Meerkat Bistro and Function Centre. The safari tour includes animals such as the hippo, animals of the grassland, like zebra, waterbuck, giraffe, ostrich, and rhinoceros, as well as the camel and the oryx. The animals are kept 'open range,' however, often young are not released until they have bonded with the mother.
There is also a simulated African village, with educational and entertaining features, including a mock scenario of an African ranger and his adventures tracking lions, and an interactive soundscape walk with simulated lion sounds surrounding the walker. There are two independent trails that visitors may follow in addition to the safari tour: the Pula Reserve Walking Trail (800 metres/approximately 40 minutes) which focuses on African animals, including lions, Vervet Monkeys, Cheetahs and meerkats, and the Volcanic Plains Walk (500 metres/approximately 30 minutes), which focuses on Australian animals, like the wallaby and kangaroo.
Educational institutions may use the Learning Centre and the zoo's educational programs to further reinforce the learning experience. Various programs are offered, and teach more about the history and geography of animals in their environments. The Learning Centre is close to the entry of the park, as are the toilets and first aid.
In addition to the standard safari tour, visitors can also book various 'specialty' tours, including the open vehicle adventure or a close encounters with lions, rhinos or giraffe. Due to their popularity, it is recommended that visitors considering these tours phone in advance to make a booking.
Werribee Open Range Zoo also has an animal/adoption sponsorship program which is used for gifts and other altruistic purposes.
In April 2008 it was announced that a theme park known as African Safari World was proposed, by Warner Villiage to be built within the grounds of the zoo. On July 1, 2008 the proposed theme park plans were indefinitely postponed, the Government citing the potential $100 million dollar cost to the taxpayer as the reason they were postponed.
Westrans Altona has one bus that is dressed to advertise the zoo. The advertisement covers the entire bus, and leaves no white space or logos on the bus, apart from a small logo on the front. It can mostly be seen serving route 413 in the afternoon.
Read more about Werribee Open Range Zoo: Gorilla Exhibit
Famous quotes containing the words open, range and/or zoo:
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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“The zoo cannot but disappoint. The public purpose of zoos is to offer visitors the opportunity of looking at animals. Yet nowhere in a zoo can a stranger encounter the look of an animal. At the most, the animal’s gaze flickers and passes on. They look sideways. They look blindly beyond.”
—John Berger (b. 1926)