The Wagga Zoo & Aviary will close for five days from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October while works are undertaken to replace the netting on the Free Flight Aviary.
The netting needs to be replaced as it has passed its guaranteed life span and is often the target of pesky feathered and furry vandals. Cockatoos and possums love to chew holes in the net to get access to the bird seed.
Wagga Zoo & Aviary Curator Louis Reid said closing the zoo is necessary while the netting is replaced to ensure the safety of visitors and the contractors.
"We have contractors coming in to replace the netting and there will be equipment, ladders and tools around the site, so it's best to close the whole zoo to keep everyone safe," Mr Reid said.
"There are about 70 to 80 birds living in the enclosure which will all be caught and taken to a temporary enclosure while the works take place.
"If everything goes well and the weather doesn't interfere too much, we should be able to reopen the zoo and aviary on Saturday 24 October."
Visitors to the zoo over the coming days will notice small cages on the ground of the aviary with bird seed in them, these are in place to start the process of catching the birds to move them to their temporary enclosure.
Visitors may also notice the vegetation around the perimeter of the Free Flight Aviary has been cut back, this is to allow the contractor to undertake the replacement of the netting quickly and safely.
The closure of the Zoo & Aviary to undertake these works is timed so it occurs after the school holidays have finished. It will reopen to the public once works are completed.
Regular open hours of the Wagga Zoo & Aviary are Thursday to Monday, 9am – 4pm (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). It is open every day of the school holidays and closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Located at the Wagga Wagga Botanic Gardens, the Zoo and Aviary is a Council facility and is free to visit.
