Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2020

WhistlingKite24 said:
According to Monarto's masterplan Wild Africa will be approxiamately 500 hectares (1235 acres). Some key points from the masterplan - https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/az_masterplan_web-FINAL.pdf:

- Visitors will be completely immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of the savannah as they travel across the open plains through herds of animals seemingly free to roam in nearly 500 hectares.

-There will be two individual paid encounters in the Wild Africa Precinct leaving from the new Visitor Centre; a walk-through Madagascar exhibit and a safari experience.

-The safari experience will take small groups of visitors off-road through herds of animals that may include giraffe, eland, bongo, nyala, white rhino, oryx, addax, Barbary Sheep, zebra, ostrich and perhaps African Elephants. Whether we house African Elephants in future will be subject to consideration of many factors including global conservation efforts, the availability of suitable animals, cost, personnel safety and import restrictions. At this stage we remain open to the possibility and this is reflected in our Master Plan.
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This sounds increadible, especially the safari experience. Thanks for sharing @WhistlingKite24. That’s an impressive array of species for sure. It’d be good to see Monarto establish a large breeding herd of Grant’s zebra to support the work of Darling Downs Zoo and Tasmania. They have the space for it. The only species I’d add would be Common hippopotamus and Okapi. Okapi are no more unsuitable to the biome than Bongo (also more rainforest than safari); and if Taronga reckons it can get them, then why not Monarto?

A herd of African elephants would be a dream come true for many of us. It’s such a shame they never bred decades ago when Dubbo imported their herd. I still don’t understand why they never experienced success with a herd that was founded by a proven bull and four reproductive aged cows.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The only species I’d add would be Common hippopotamus and Okapi. Okapi are no more unsuitable to the biome than Bongo (also more rainforest than safari);
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Speaking of rainforest-dwelling species, according to the masterplan, Monarto (and Adelaide) are also interested in acquiring gorilla. They would be part of the Back from the Brink precinct. From the masterplan:

The precinct could include new exhibits for Lowland Gorilla, Hamadryas Baboon, small monkey species, Maned Wolf and Plains Zebra as an ambassador for Grevy’s Zebra.
 
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I don’t understand why they’re so fixed on having African, rather than Asian elephants. Australia has plenty of Asian hoof stock species, and it’s not as if they don’t have the room for an Asian as well as African precinct.
 
CGSwans said:
I don’t understand why they’re so fixed on having African, rather than Asian elephants. Australia has plenty of Asian hoof stock species, and it’s not as if they don’t have the room for an Asian as well as African precinct.
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Let us be ambitious: Could they invest in both (Asian and African continent theme)?
 
Personally I have no problem with Monarto Zoo focussing on the African theme. Almost every major zoo in the region has multiple continents represented and some of their precincts are a really half-assed effort with just a handful of species.

Instead of copying them, Monarto is clearly putting everything they have into making themselves the best African Zoo in the region - something which will ultimately be their point of difference and make people travel to them.

Once they have achieved this (it’s taken them nearly 40 years to get to where they are now), they may choose to spend the next 50 years developing an equally decent Asian precinct; if not, then at least they’ll have one the most extensive and diverse captive collections of African species in the world.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Personally I have no problem with Monarto Zoo focussing on the African theme. Almost every major zoo in the region has multiple continents represented and some of their precincts are a really half-assed effort with just a handful of species.

Instead of copying them, Monarto is clearly putting everything they have into making themselves the best African Zoo in the region - something which will ultimately be their point of difference and make people travel to them.

Once they have achieved this (it’s taken them nearly 40 years to get to where they are now), they may choose to spend the next 50 years developing an equally decent Asian precinct; if not, then at least they’ll have one the most extensive and diverse captive collections of African species in the world.
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I agree also when one looks at Werribee zoo thats more or less almost all african exhibit with a few bits of other things added on.
Its a real shame Western Plains zoo did not keep to their plan of having a 500 acre african exhibit that would of been worth seeing!
 
Zorro said:
I agree also when one looks at Werribee zoo thats more or less almost all african exhibit with a few bits of other things added on.
Its a real shame Western Plains zoo did not keep to their plan of having a 500 acre african exhibit that would of been worth seeing!
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Perhaps TWPZ might think again now!

I agree that the open range zoo concept is more effective for African savannah themes. Allthough, Mongolian steppe and an Indian\Nepal terai themed areas would work well in this setting too.

The more specialised faunas like S.E. Asian rainforest or Amazonia or probably best designed for the more inner city locations.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Perhaps TWPZ might think again now!

I agree that the open range zoo concept is more effective for African savannah themes. Allthough, Mongolian steppe and an Indian\Nepal terai themed areas would work well in this setting too.

The more specialised faunas like S.E. Asian rainforest or Amazonia or probably best designed for the more inner city locations.
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I really dont see that happening at any time I believe the land is now part of the native breeding area for rare Australian animals. I believe once Monatros African exhibit is finished it will be the stand out African Safari exhibit in the region!
 
Creating Asian-themed exhibits at open range zoos has been a no brainer for me given the limited list of ungulate species available in the country, plus the need to move asian elephants out of the city zoos to more suitable facilities.

There is actually an identical number of Asian ungulate species in this country as African (give or take a couple depending on how you class them), plus a diverse group of other Asian mammals like tigers, otters and macaques that fit nicely within an Indian Terai or Asian theme. So its completely plausible that one could create an experience around Asian or Indian themed species that would rival any African section and double the amount of species at an open range zoo like Werribee or Monarto: something in my opinion they need for a bit more interest.
 
toothlessjaws said:
Creating Asian-themed exhibits at open range zoos has been a no brainer for me given the limited list of ungulate species available in the country, plus the need to move asian elephants out of the city zoos to more suitable facilities.

There is actually an identical number of Asian ungulate species in this country as African (give or take a couple depending on how you class them), plus a diverse group of other Asian mammals like tigers, otters and macaques that fit nicely within an Indian Terai or Asian theme. So its completely plausible that one could create an experience around Asian or Indian themed species that would rival any African section and double the amount of species at an open range zoo like Werribee or Monarto: something in my opinion they need for a bit more interest.
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I've been arguing the same thing for years! Only correction I would make is the lack of macaques in the country now.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
The article above mentions that the zoo has a herd of fourteen zebra. The relevant section from the article:

The little stripy zebra foal, the 14th addition to the herd, was born on Sunday morning in an ‘off limits’ area and has been busy settling in under the careful watch of mum Gina.

New zebra foal brings stripy joy to Monarto Safari Park
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I would expect them to run a 30 plus herd there in a exhibit of that size what a great sight that would be to see!
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
The lion cubs have been successfully introduced to the adult lions and Monarto has now successfully created a large pride of ten lions - males Kubwa, Kito and Kashka, females Husani, Makena and Nia, and the four (1.3) unnamed cubs.
African Lion cubs meet the males and join pride
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It’s cool to see Kubwa, Kashka and Kito with those great, big manes. All three boys look a lot like their father, Johari. It’s a shame they couldn’t introduce the three older girls, (now at TWPZ), Kiamba, Tiombe and Zalika, into the pride to make 13, three males, six females and four cubs! It will be exciting to see this pride grow! :)
 
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Wild Africa Update:

Monarto Safari Park’s director recently gave a very detailed update on the Wild Africa project which provided some excellent information. There will be 20 kilometres of safari tracks and of course the eight waterholes that I mentioned earlier in the thread. The director also mentioned their interest in acquiring hippos for one of the waterholes [around 2:30]. He also says that they are looking at bringing in additional species of ungulate [no specific species announced – 9:08]. Their growing herd of Nyala will also feature in this area. Another exciting snippet at around 10:15 is that the director says that there are plans to expand their Black Rhino programme. Another element of Wild Africa, the three-hectare walkthrough lemur exhibit is also well underway. They hope to house a group of 30-40 lemurs and they will be mixed with Aldabra Giant Tortoises [12:00]. The lemur importation from the USA was due to arrive a week after the COVID-19 closures so it had to be postponed. They should receive the lemurs by the end of the year.

The zoo has already planted 100,000 native trees in preparation for the new area. More animals (unspecified species) are planned to move into Wild Africa within the next two months. The video also shows that Monarto is constructing a new quarantine centre to import more rhino from Africa in conjunction with the Australian Rhino Project [7:19]. They will establish a larger regional population of rhino along with Orana Wildlife Park and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Monarto hopes to open Wild Africa in two years.

Source: Monarto Safari Park’s Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=609369163263663
Monarto Safari Park
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Wild Africa Update:

Monarto Safari Park’s director recently gave a very detailed update on the Wild Africa project which provided some excellent information. There will be 20 kilometres of safari tracks and of course the eight waterholes that I mentioned earlier in the thread. The director also mentioned their interest in acquiring hippos for one of the waterholes [around 2:30]. He also says that they are looking at bringing in additional species of ungulate [no specific species announced – 9:08]. Their growing herd of Nyala will also feature in this area. Another exciting snippet at around 10:15 is that the director says that there are plans to expand their Black Rhino programme. Another element of Wild Africa, the three-hectare walkthrough lemur exhibit is also well underway. They hope to house a group of 30-40 lemurs and they will be mixed with Aldabra Giant Tortoises [12:00]. The lemur importation from the USA was due to arrive a week after the COVID-19 closures so it had to be postponed. They should receive the lemurs by the end of the year.

The zoo has already planted 100,000 native trees in preparation for the new area. More animals (unspecified species) are planned to move into Wild Africa within the next two months. The video also shows that Monarto is constructing a new quarantine centre to import more rhino from Africa in conjunction with the Australian Rhino Project [6:40]. They will establish a larger regional population of rhino along with Orana Wildlife Park and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Monarto hopes to open Wild Africa in two years.

Source: Monarto Safari Park’s Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=609369163263663
Monarto Safari Park
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For any Australian zoo managers lurking here please take note, Zoos South Australia are showing you the way!
 
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