Community & Business
28 April, 2025
An overload of cute at Darling Downs Zoo
The Darling Downs Zoo located at Pilton has been attracting attention from all over thanks to its bilby breeding program and the birth of a Capybara.
Easter is of course the time for the bilby, Australia's version of the Easter Bunny, to shine.
Although you will not find them on display, the Darling Downs Zoo has a bilby breed-for-release program, which sees the species sent to other zoos and released across Australia in semi-wild sanctuaries to help build up the population.
Steve Robinson, the founder of the Darling Downs Zoo, said it was good to let people know about the behind-the-scenes breeding program going on at the zoo.
Money that you spend on admission, encounters, food, drink and souvenirs supports behind the scenes conservation such as this very successful program.
Tax free donations can also be made via the Zoo’s website darlingdownszoo.com.au to support its ongoing commitment to wildlife preservation.
The Zoo has also been keeping busy by a baby female capybara that was born two weeks ago.
Capybaras are native to South America and are the largest species of rodent in the world, standing up to 60cm at the shoulder and usually weighing between 35 and 66kg.
“Everybody loves them - they’re guinea pigs on steroids,” Mr Robinson said.
“They’ve been a huge hit. Special encounters with families have been selling out in advance.”
The Capybaras are on display at the zoo and food can be purchased to feed them, or a special Capybara encounter can be booked.
Following the birth of the Capybara, Mr Robinson hopes the zoo will able to share more good news over the coming weeks and months.
