When You’re Managing 600 Hectares, and a 2,000kg Rhino, Everything Has to Work

At Monarto Safari Park in South Australia, mornings start early.

Long before visitors arrive, the park’s animal team is already moving, checking fences, observing animals, and preparing for the day ahead. Spread across more than 600 hectares, Monarto isn’t just a tourist destination. It’s a working environment where safety, animal welfare and reliability sit side by side.

For Tim Jenkins, Operations Manager at Monarto, that responsibility has been part of daily life for nearly 20 years.

“We need to know our fences are working — all the time,” Tim says. “In a place this big, you can’t afford to be guessing.”

Fencing at a Scale Few Farms Ever See

Over the past decade, Monarto has expanded significantly, including the development of its Wild Africa precinct, four large paddocks housing some of the park’s most iconic animals.

Across those paddocks, electric fencing plays a critical role. Not as a visual barrier, but as a behavioural one.

With long fence lines, varied terrain and animals that test boundaries differently to livestock, consistency is everything. Power needs to hold. Faults need to be identified quickly. And staff need confidence that the system is doing its job, even when they’re not standing beside it.

That’s where Gallagher’s i Series energisers were introduced, allowing the team to monitor fence performance across large areas, without physically being at the energiser itself.

“For a safari park, being able to monitor fences remotely is huge,” Tim explains. “It gives our team awareness without having to be everywhere at once.”

A Relationship Built on More Than Equipment

For Daniel Stuart, Gallagher Territory Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory, Monarto is unlike most sites he works on, but the fundamentals remain the same.

“We’re dealing with sheep and cattle most days,” Daniel says. “Coming out here, obviously the animals are bigger, but the principles don’t change.”

Daniel has worked with the Monarto team for more than three years, supporting everything from system design through to ongoing setup and troubleshooting.

“It’s not just about selling products,” he says. “It’s the after-service. Being local, being available, that’s what actually matters when something needs attention.”

That ongoing relationship has seen Monarto progressively roll out more Gallagher energisers across the park, with 25 to 28 units already installed and more planned.

Meet Savannah

Then there’s Savannah.

Savannah is a southern white rhinoceros, weighing over 2,000 kilograms. Calm, curious, and very aware of her environment, she’s one of Monarto’s most impressive residents.

Weighing an animal of that size isn’t done for show. It’s a vital part of managing health, nutrition and long-term wellbeing.

“This is Savannah, and today we’re weighing her on the Gallagher weight scale system,” says Lauren Foster, Ungulate Keeper at Monarto. “We’re tracking her weight to make sure her nutrition is right and that she’s getting what she needs.”

The process is controlled and low-stress, and accurate data is collected safely, without drama. The same expectation farmers have when weighing cattle or sheep at home.

Different Animals, Same Principles

Most farmers will never weigh a rhino. But many will recognise the moment.

Stock moving calmly.
Equipment doing what it’s meant to do.
Data you can trust.

Whether it’s fencing or weighing, the goal is the same: systems that work quietly in the background, so people can focus on the animals.

At Monarto, that reliability supports animal welfare and staff safety. On farm, it supports productivity and peace of mind.

A Familiar Lesson in an Unfamiliar Place

Monarto Safari Park may be unique in scale, but the lessons are familiar.

Good animal management doesn’t rely on constant intervention. It relies on well-designed systems, proven performance, and people who stand behind them.

When fencing holds its line, when scales deliver accurate readings, and when support is there when it’s needed, the job gets easier.

And whether you’re managing livestock or wildlife, that’s something everyone can appreciate.