Caroline Shemwell with some black-tufted capuchins at Tasmania Zoo yesterday. Picture: WILL SWAN
OPENING Tasmania Zoo was not the original intention of owner Dick Warren.
Mr Warren had come to visit the Ecclestone Road site where the zoo now stands to buy an excavator.
He had just sold his paint-stripping business and he owned land down the West Tamar that he wanted to do up.
But when he arrived at the site to buy the equipment, he noticed the land was for sale too, so he decided to buy both.
Mr Warren's daughter Rochelle Penney, who is the zoo manager, said: ``Then after he bought it, he came up with this idea of starting the wildlife park.
``All his life he had a love for animals and even as a family when we were younger we always had kangaroos and possums and wombats.''
A decade later, the zoo is celebrating its 10th birthday.
As part of the birthday, the zoo is offering a discounted entry of $10 a person.
All the exhibits will be open and children will be able to get their face painted, play laser tag and get a free party bag.
Mrs Penney said the development of the zoo had been amazing but there was still a long way to go.
``Ten years ago it was just a few native animals and some birds, and now we have quite a few exotic animals and we've actually started on an enclosure for a few exciting animals like cheetahs,'' Mrs Penney said.
The enclosure is expected to be finished soon, with the cheetahs arriving later in the year.
FACT FILE
WHAT: Tasmania Zoo celebrates its 10th birthday.
WHEN: Today and tomorrow.
WHERE: Tasmania Zoo, 1166 Ecclestone Road, Riverside.
ENTRY: $10 for everyone.
