Chad Staples battles to protect Featherdale Wildlife Park, Hunter Valley Zoo and Mogo Wildlife Park from floods

Beloved zookeeper Chad Staples, who has three wildlife parks in Sydney, the Hunter Valley and on the South Coast, is fighting to stop floodwaters encroaching on his properties – and on his animal kingdom.

Beloved zookeeper Chad Staples, who has three wildlife parks in Sydney, the Hunter Valley and on the South Coast, is fighting to stop floodwaters encroaching on his properties – and on his animal kingdom.

Mr Staples, better known to his 800,000 Instagram followers as ‘Zookeeper Chad’, told the Daily Telegraph on Friday he and scores of his staff were frantically working to protect his parks from flooding during the freak weather event unfolding across the state.

“Floods are not new to us, we’ve unfortunately dealt with them before,” Mr Staples said.

“We have preparations in place to make sure that any damage is minimal.”

On Friday, Mr Staples’ three zoos were each facing their own set of issues, from falling branches and strong winds lashing Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, to rapid floodwaters gushing through his Hunter Valley Zoo and a swollen creek edging closer to Mogo Wildlife Park in the Eurobodalla Shire.

Zookeeper Chad Staples is frantically trying to protect his zoos from rising floodwaters. Mr Staples with Kaius the gorilla when he was a bub. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Mogo’s back paddocks have already gone under water, so we’re closely watching that situation to make sure everything is all good there, but I’m in Hunter Valley at the moment and there’s quite a bit of water,” he said.

23 May 2025. Chad Staples. zoo manager at Hunter Valley Zoo which is experiencing flooding. Picture: Supplied

“Sydney has definitely been the hardest hit, we’ve got branches falling and quite a bit of clean up going on there at the moment.”

Roads have been closed into Hunter Valley Zoo. Picture: Supplied

But despite the heavy rain and rising waters, Mr Staples said it was unlikely any animals across his three parks would need to be moved.

“We have systems in place just for this across our zoos since flooding and rain events have occurred in the past,” he said.

“There should never be a need for us to move an animal.

“We have also been very strategic with where certain animal enclosures go.”

23 MAY 2025. Flooding at Mogo Zoo on the NSW South Coast. Picture: Supplied

Mr Staples did however admit he and his team expected more flooding from creeks and rivers in the coming days.

“Today is really all about getting prepared,” he said.

“We’ve been getting prepared all week.”

Mr Staples also ensured his famous and beloved baby gorilla, Kaius – who he hand raised after complications at birth – was doing well.

Chad Staples' Hunter Valley Zoo was flooding on Friday. Picture: Supplied

“The gorillas are all good, they have access to their bedrooms all day which are out of the weather,” he said.

“But they still come out and Kaius is always curious about the rain when it starts.”

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Originally published as Chad Staples battles to protect Featherdale Wildlife Park, Hunter Valley Zoo and Mogo Wildlife Park from floods