Leipoa ocellata

Malleefowl may be considered one of he world's hardest working birds as the male spend some 300 days a year building and caring for a huge earthen nest. In September he digs out a special earth chamber in the nest where the female comes every few days to lay an egg. She can lay up to 35 eggs, an intensive effort in itself.

Over summer the male keeps the nest at a constant 35 degrees celsius. After 7 weeks the chicks hatch inside the mound and have to dig their own way out. 

WPZ has been an active particpant in the National Recovery Plan for Malleefowl in Australia. Since 2001 a total of 231 birds bred at the zoo have been released to the wild . (Link to Home/ Conservation PRograms / Australian Conservation)