Sssssssseven new additions to Alexandra Park Zoo

They go by the names of Nope Rope, Danger Noodle, Gypsy, Caution Ramen, Judgemental Shoelace, Hazard Spaghetti and Allen and they are the newest members of Alexandra Park Zoo.

Bundaberg Regional Council’s Zoo Group Supervisor David Flack said Hissy Elliott the carpet python celebrated one of the facilities big accomplishments of 2018, laying seven eggs in her enclosure.

This month, the last of her babies exited their shells.

“Hissy Elliott is our female carpet python who has been with us since 2015,” he said.

“She shares an enclosure with our male carpet python, Trigger, and laid her seven eggs on 7 November making her a first-time mother.”

David said carpet pythons generally bred in the spring but staff were not aware Hissy was expecting until her behaviour began to change.

“We first noticed something was about to happen when Hissy started to become quite active and then went off her food,” he said.

“We put her away in a separate enclosure and then a few days later she laid the seven eggs.

“This is the first time we have had a carpet python lay eggs so it’s a very exciting time for us.”

David said the seven snakelets would be hand-raised until they were ready for show at Alexandra Park Zoo or to travel to their new home.

Alexandra Park Zoo is currently home to 45 individual native and exotic animals from 17 different species including dingoes, cotton-top tamarin monkeys, birds, lizards and more.

To see all the amazing animals, visit the free Alexandra Park Zoo on Quay St, Bundaberg seven days a week from 8.30am to 4.45pm.