The wildlife park initially contained only deer and other Australian animals, but it had two lions, brothers Kitwe and Monbu, by 2005.

[1][2] Not content with her life in suburban Melbourne, Bronwen Wilson and her husband Rodney sold their house and business.

Though Wilson was adamant on holding on to the zoo, her husband disagreed with her decision to move to rural Victoria.

In 2008, she met neighbouring farmer Dave Murphy, who became her new partner and co-manager of Mansfield Zoo.

The male white lions Djuma and Matimba were transferred from the National Zoo & Aquarium in 2012.

Other animals include emus, dingoes, monkeys, deer, water buffalo, antelope, llamas, ostriches, camels, a variety of birds and a colony of meerkats.

[4][6] In December 2021, the zoo acquired a pair of female maned wolves from Altina Wildlife Park.