The owners of the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Western Sydney have moved to expand their operations with the acquisition of Bateman’s Bay animal attraction Mogo Zoo.
With the new Sydney Zoo set to open just 4 kilometres away before Christmas, the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)-listed Elanor Investors Group has launched the Elanor Wildlife Park Fund seeded by its existing asset, Featherdale Wildlife Park, to acquire Mogo Zoo.
Reflecting considerable confidence in the animal-based attractions and conservation sector, the boutique investor, known for its innovative real estate funds management business, established the fund following its purchase of Mogo Zoo over recent days.
The Fund has an initial value of $49 million, and is reportedly in talks to buy more zoos and wildlife parks.
Advising that the sector has a lot of room for growth, Elanor Chief Executive, Glenn Willis told the Australian Financial Review “with the acquisition of the Mogo Zoo, we are pleased to be acquiring an iconic tourism and leisure asset with significant growth potential.
"We look forward to applying our asset management approach to Mogo Zoo initially and, as the fund grows, to additional wildlife parks across Australia to deliver strong returns."
Mogo Zoo was sold by Sally Padey who, having established the attraction almost 30 years ago, has built the attraction into Australia’s largest collection of privately owned exotic animals including giraffes, rhinoceros, zebra, tigers, two prides of lions and primates.
Well known Featherdale Wildlife Park zookeeper Chad Staples is to take control of the 200 animals on the site, and will live at the attraction in Padey’s house.
Commenting on the acquisition, Staples stated “she’s poured her heart and soul into this place and I feel a huge burden of responsibility to make sure her legacy lives on.”
However, among changes that will come to the Bateman’s Bay attraction will be a joint annual pass granting access to both the Zoo and the Park.
Images: Snow and co, Mogo’s famous white lion (top, courtesy of Mogo Zoo Facebook) and Chad Staples (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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