Halls Gap Zoo has experienced a flurry of positivity since the arrival Kifaru, the southern white rhino, in late October.
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The nine-year-old has provided a significant boost to the zoo, settling in well since arriving on October 25.
Despite being on display since arriving, stage one of the zoo’s rhino yards were officially opened by Mallee MP Andrew Broad on Monday.
Halls Gap Zoo general manager Carlee Vokes said the grand opening was a good opportunity to thank those involved in bringing Kifaru to Halls Gap.
“We had supporters who helped us financially in attendance as well as those involved in the tourism industry in the Grampians,” she said.
“There have been so many changes over the last few years so it was nice to show them off to some of the people who helped us.”
An adventure playground was also officially opened by newly re-elected Lowan MP Emma Kealy.
Ms Vokes said since Kifaru’s arrival she has seen a spike in visitors to the zoo.
“We have had quite the influx of visitors,” she said.
“It has been a very long process so it is great it has paid off with people coming to see him and he has settled in really well too.
“Everyone has been wanting him here for quite some time so it is quite the accomplishment.
“What we are here for is the educational factor with the animals and Kifaru is another to help great one to help with that.”
Mr Broad said it was a great experience to meet Kifaru.
“He is a magnificent animal. One of the great things about Halls Gap Zoo is being able to get so close to all of the animals,” he said.
“One of the great things about Halls Gap Zoo is everyone their are real conservationists
“They want to breed but also educate lots of people about how special some of the animals are.”
The two-tonne rhino has had no trouble adapting to his new environment, unphased by the cool and warm weather.
Ms Vokes said he loves the attention visitors have showed him, behaving like a “big show pony”.
“He loves his hay and loves to eat – we expect him to grow by about another half-tonne in the next few years,” she said.
“He also loves lots of mud baths. He can’t quite roll over in them yet so he gets a bit of a spa treatment. After that he is usually pretty full of energy and will go for a nice big run around his enclosure.
“He has gotten to know his keepers and has shown his beautiful nature.”
Halls Gap Zoo will continue to run its Rhino Rumble fundraising campaign it used to bring Kifaru across, looking to bring another rhino in from New Zealand next year.
At a cost of “easily more than $50,000”, Ms Vokes said she hopes for people in the community to continue to help to bring across a second rhino.
“There are plenty of ways to support. It can either be through buying a rhino teddy at the zoo or the Halls Gap newsagency or donating to the plenty of tins that are around,” she said.
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