About Us
A Troubled Start…
The National Zoo and Aquarium (NZA) first opened in 1990 as the National Aquarium. In addition to the aquarium, it featured a large restaurant and function area and was situated on around 8 hectares of land, which also incorporated a series of outdoor ponds and streams for trout farming. It struggled financially and within 3 years of opening had been sold to another operator.
The second phase of the facility lasted around five years. During this period, the new operator added several outdoor exhibits that consisted mainly of native wildlife. This also suffered financially and the facility went into receivership in 1998.
Growing Every Day…
It was then purchased by the Tindale family. Richard Tindale was a local businessman who along with his wife Maureen and 6 children has a passion for animals. Richard and Maureen had travelled to Africa on multiple occasions and had an interest in establishing a conservation breeding centre for big cats. Their interest in animals prompted them to buy the facility from the Receiver in mid-1998. Initially, they struggled to be accepted into the zoo fraternity, having no background with zoo animals. Over the next two years they worked hard and repaired and replaced many parts of the existing facility and enclosures. The maintenance program revealed that the major exhibit of the facility (the one million litre walk through tank) had to be closed down permanently due to concrete cancer in the walls of the aquarium.
In 1999 the first significant enclosure was completed to house three ex-circus Brown Bears that needed to be re-homed. The new owners continued on their mission to rescue ex-circus animals from around Australia and to give them a ‘retirement home’, where they were required to do nothing other than relax, which they all quickly adapted to. In 2000 construction began on several large enclosures to home retired circus lions, leopards, tigers and a pair of tigons (a cross between a lion and a tiger). By 2001 the wildlife park was in full swing, at one stage having 14 new exhibits under construction that when completed would home more big cats, additional native animals and a variety of primate species as well as large ungulates such as zebra, antelope and giraffe. Upon completion of this initial stage, the wildlife park changed it’s name to the “National Zoo & Aquarium”.
Near Destruction leads to more growth…
In December 2001 and January 2003, the zoo battled Canberra’s bushfires on two separate occasions. The established pine forest surrounding the zoo was burned to the ground during Christmas 2001 fires. The Canberra Fire Brigade and the Rural Fire Service combined to extinguish at least 50 spot fires inside the zoo, saving it and the animals from disaster. Just 13 months later, the firestorm struck and came within a couple of hundred metres of the zoo - only the fact that the pine forests had been destroyed a year previously prevented the fire from destroying the zoo.
It was then suggested by the owners that the zoo could expand into adjoining land. Over the next 5 years the zoo continued to develop and designing a potential future expansion, it negotiated with the Government for more land, which it eventually agreed to. The facility added a further 18 hectares to its existing 8 hectares, thus tripling the potential size of the zoo.
Apart from the land grant, which the owners were very grateful for, the zoo was entirely funded by the owners and from the income that it derived. Without any external or Government funding and with a determination to give first priority to its animals, including more spacious enclosures than are normally found in urban zoos, the zoo team had to design and construct the facility themselves. This resulted in a slower building process but allowed the team to have everything designed and built as they wanted. The zoo is now one of the major tourist attractions in the ACT and region.
The zoo team and their philosophies
Over the years the zoo has developed its staff and management team to be what it believes to be as good as any team in the country. They are dedicated to the care and welfare of their animals, while encouraging visitors to protect the natural world. The team does what it does to move towards a better future for all living creatures on this planet.
With the motto “To inspire and assist in the conservation of the natural world through innovative and exciting educational experiences”, the zoo developed a number of interactive animal experiences for visitors, one of the first Australian zoos to do so. It realised that these encounters had almost universal impact on participants and their perception as to what was happening in the wild and how they could help. This led to the concept of Jamala Wildlife Lodge in order to further extend the success of this educational program.
The zoo strives to house animals in comfortable surroundings. As such, most of the enclosure sizes are far larger than found in other urban zoos and its animal husbandry and welfare are aimed at achieving world’s best practices. The expansion of the zoo from 2014 enabled the zoo to develop an open range section, with the animal habitats even larger and more spread out. It is now one of the largest privately owned zoos in Australia and one of the only 26 zoos that have been accredited out of the 52 zoos that are members of the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australia. It has the only inland aquarium exhibit in Australia. The zoo and Jamala have employed over 230 staff
Awards
(awaiting updated list)
Why Jamala Wildlife Lodge?
The addition of Jamala Wildlife Lodge in December 2014 was a major step to bolster the programs run by the zoo. The aim is that the funds from Jamala will allow the zoo to continue to grow, as well as to constantly develop its breeding programs, educational programs and to continue to support local, national and international wildlife conservation and welfare funds, along with donating to a significant number of charities and causes. Over the last few years, Jamala and the zoo have donated more than $1,000,000 to such causes in both cash and in kind. Jamala’s proximity to wildlife and its exclusive tours have been designed to maximise the opportunity to subtly impress on its guests that everything possible should be done to ensure that these magnificent animals survive in the wild.
Jamala Wildlife Lodge offers guests the opportunity to experience the thrill of close encounters with some of the world’s most dangerous and endangered animals, as well as relaxing in the unique atmosphere of its three individually designed five star accommodation hubs; Giraffe Treehouses, Jungle Bungalows and uShaka Lodge. The African inspired luxury suites lie in the heart of the National Zoo & Aquarium and epitomise style and comfort.
The combination of opulent surroundings, incredible animal encounters and gourmet cuisine alongside Jamala’s five star hospitality ensures that all guests share in a once in a lifetime experience during their stay and walk away with an enhanced outlook of how they can assist with animal conservation in the wild.