An Outback Mob Makes Hampton Roads Home

Virginia Zoo debuts new Australia exhibit featuring kangaroos courtesy of Zoo train

Norfolk, VA (AUG. 6, 2009) – A mob of eleven kangaroos has been settling in at the Virginia Zoo’s newest exhibit -- Australia. The new exhibit will officially open this Friday, August 7, at 10 a.m.

“Australia is the first Zoo exhibit funded by proceeds raised from train ticket sales,” says Greg Bockheim, executive director of the Zoo. “The train has been wildly successful with visitors, and we are grateful for this support which enables us to expand the Zoo and bring in new animals.”

Australia was built by Zoo maintenance staff and features a group, also known as a mob, of Eastern and Western gray kangaroos. Their names are Apache, Ashe, Astro, Beans, Heckle, Horatio, Irwin, Kipling, Lobo, Marley and Mick. The kangaroos weigh between 90 to 150 pounds.

Future additions to Australia will include emus, kookaburras and cassowary - Australian birds. “A year from now, we plan to turn this into an immersive exhibit experience, where Zoo visitors will actually be able to walk into the exhibit with the animals on a path,” says Bockheim. “In the meantime, we know visitors will enjoy this taste of Australia.” (Birds such as the cassowary will be displayed in a holding area separate from the walk-in exhibit.)

Australia is located near the Zoo’s Africa exhibit, next to the gardens. “We’re excited that Australia also will help draw visitors to a sometimes overlooked section of the Zoo – our spectacular gardens,” says Bockheim. “Australia is near a unique set of Zoo gardens: ADA accessible Vegetable Gardens, Children’s Butterfly Garden, Herb Garden and formal Rose Garden.”

Since the Zoo train opened in the fall of 2008, over 85,000 visitors have taken the ¾ mile ride. In June 2009, the Zoo added a fourth coach so the train can carry more passengers on each journey. “We look forward to continuing to show visitors a good time with our train ride,” says Bockheim, “and using the dollars raised from their tickets to keep adding excitement to the Virginia Zoo.”

The Zoo train is ADA accessible, and tickets are $2.00 each. The Virginia Zoo is located at 3500 Granby Street in Norfolk. Visitors may check out the new kangaroos and their animal neighbors daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.