Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2022 (Speculation / Fantasy)

[austrlain zoo gower]

The following area will be a small taste of South America the first animals that would greet you would be a capybara or Mara exhibit this would be a nice kids area some small animals and ocelot would be call but can’t see them coming as growing wild could grow in area it would be cool to see giant anteater or armadillo some nice South American theaming and you have yourself an underrepresented are into represented i estimate cost about 1 to 2 million, the other option would be to have a small south america area area between gorrila rainforest tree top apes and trail of elephants with the same animals

 

[tetrapod]

I think people need to temper expectations. Sri Lankan leopards were an unexpected surprise addition to the region, and there would be pressure on any zoo that wants to add another Panthera species to consider this over adding yet another new species.
Realistically the Australasian region are not going to add giant otters. The captive population has relatively few founders and it would be better for North America and Europe to concentrate maintaining a diverse gene pool while attempting to increase numbers. I cannot see an appetite in the region for a second otter species.
There are enough potential South American species already in the region for a committed zoo to produce the country's best Neotropical display: various primates (spider, squirrel, capuchin, marmosets, tamarins), coati, maned wolf, camelids, tapir, rodents (mara, agouti, capybara), parrots, some finches (bird choice is limited), poison-arrow frogs, cane toads, turtles (matamata, twistneck), tortoise, several lizards (iguanas, basilisk), boas/anacondas, and huge range of fish. Potentially there are species that could be imported that were previously kept: anteater, sloth, caiman, ocelot. Nobody has anything close to that as a display and it would be a huge attraction if done correctly.

 

[Jambo]

Some feedback and discussion: @austrlain zoo gower

(i belive the zoo used to have ostriches and would like to see them but the exhibit is to small)

They used to have ostriches up until only eight or so years ago; they were removed due to them not getting along well with the Zebras. The enclosure is not too small for ostriches as well, its large enough.

platypuses might go but probably not as they aren’t realy around the giraffe.

I'd like to see a Platypus enclosure in the Australian precinct, although I don't see them demolishing the current platypus enclosure which is a heritage enclosure.

the nyala which were confirmed on the zoo map the nyala would be held in the old bongo exhibit and would be introduced to the zebra and girrafe

The old Bongo enclosure is no longer there...it was demolished and the area was used to extend the giraffe and zebra enclosures.

the current area between the baboon and tapir would become an educational area talking about beads for wildlife which is one of there main campaigns the tapir and peccaries exhibit would be turned into a fennec fox and african crested porcupine enclosure kinda like a small desert area with a couple of small other desert creatures the meerkats would suit this area well but can’t see them getting moved.

The area between baboons and tapirs can't be used it holds a water-tank and an area dedicated to growing plant life.

The desert idea sounds good. If the Growing Wild precinct was to go though, this would be the best place for meerkats, in a mixed species enclosure alongside african crested porcupines.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

When i visited on the 15th of april this year there was a small exhibit between the baboon and zebra it is in disrepair but it is still there I am 100% shure
I few updates
Gorrila rainforest
Pygmy hippo after visiting the zoo on the exhibit on the left i belive has a sign that says something exiting is coming as there is no animal living in there I am assuming that an animal from the zoo would be moved there I am visiting on the weekend so will ask I was hopeful it would be a female Pygmy hippo as it seems like they are adding some foliage I just want answers ( I know i bring this up every time but they must be planning something)
The tree top monkeys and apes all the exhibits are full except for 2 I think the very small one which housed tree shrew and slow lorises I would love to see slow lorises back but can’t see it happening.
I agree with the ostrich comment, the platypus exhibit probably won’t be moved but should be in the Australian area they could replace it with some animals the bongo exhibit is still there but I think it is a bit smaller with between the tapir and baboon on the other side of the tapir there is a patch of grass that isn’t in use they could be a educational area.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

This is what I saw
Sorry it is a bit blurry

 

[Jambo]

When i visited on the 15th of april this year there was a small exhibit between the baboon and zebra it is in disrepair but it is still there I am 100% shure

That's not the former Bongo enclosure, it's just a small fenced off area to add some natural foliage around the giraffe/zebra enclosure.

Pygmy hippo after visiting the zoo on the exhibit on the left i belive has a sign that says something exiting is coming as there is no animal living in there I am assuming that an animal from the zoo would be moved there I am visiting on the weekend so will ask I was hopeful it would be a female Pygmy hippo as it seems like they are adding some foliage I just want answers ( I know i bring this up every time but they must be planning something)

Felix has indeed been moved back into his former enclosure (the right side) after its undergone renovations and a slight upgrade. I'm not sure there are any immediate plans for a female, especially due to restrictions.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

That’s what i meant to say just a small undercover area and a stumpy palm tree, in a 2018 document Taronga wanted to import a couple of hipppos i didnt happne

 

[Jambo]

That’s what i meant to say just a small undercover area and a stumpy palm tree, in a 2018 document Taronga wanted to import a couple of hipppos i didnt happne

That area your referring to is simply there as an aesthetic with an african like landscape.

What document are you referring to?

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Here is the document
https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/defaul...my-hippopotamus-department-risk-analysis.docx

 

[Jambo]

Here is the document
https://www.awe.gov.au/sites/defaul...my-hippopotamus-department-risk-analysis.docx

Interesting to see Melbourne haven't expressed any interest as well, maybe they plan to get one of the females from the supposed Taronga import to be paired with Felix.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Probably

 

[tigris115]

So how come they're phasing out elephants? I thought that facility was supposed to be rly recent

 

[Jambo]

So how come they're phasing out elephants? I thought that facility was supposed to be rly recent

It was built in 2003 so not that recent.

The decision was mainly formed on the basis that elephants aren't suited to city zoos and would do better in a zoo that could provide more space for them. They're being moved to Werribee Open Range zoo (a sister zoo for Melbourne).

 

[Abbey]

So how come they're phasing out elephants? I thought that facility was supposed to be rly recent

Essentially, because times have changed even since the mid-2000s when Trail of the Elephants was built and the breeding cows were imported from Thailand. The elephants will instead be housed at Werribee Open Range Zoo, where they will be able to have a larger, more naturalistic exhibit (and a larger, multi-generational herd), which is also relatively accessible from the city.

It remains to be seen whether Melbourne will repurpose the elephant exhibits for another species or build something else in their place.

Other members would quite possibly have more to add, but that's my understanding of it.

 

[Jambo]

Essentially, because times have changed even since the mid-2000s when Trail of the Elephants was built and the breeding cows were imported from Thailand. The elephants will instead be housed at Werribee Open Range Zoo, where they will be able to have a larger, more naturalistic exhibit (and a larger, multi-generational herd), which is also relatively accessible from the city.

It remains to be seen whether Melbourne will repurpose the elephant exhibits for another species or build something else in their place.

The space just isn't there for Melbourne's growing breeding herd. The complex can only hold around ten or so elephants, which they are beginning to approach.

Werribee is still a sister zoo and so the elephants are still technically within Melbourne (Werribee is a twenty minute drive from the city), and allows for Werribee to have another major drawcard.

It's been decided what will replace the elephants, it's just we're unaware. I've emailed Melbourne once again, as the last time I asked was last year so hopefully there's something new..

 

[tigris115]

The space just isn't there for Melbourne's growing breeding herd. The complex can only hold around ten or so elephants, which they are beginning to approach.

Werribee is still a sister zoo and so the elephants are still technically within Melbourne (Werribee is a twenty minute drive from the city), and allows for Werribee to have another major drawcard.

It's been decided what will replace the elephants, it's just we're unaware. I've emailed Melbourne once again, as the last time I asked was last year so hopefully there's something new..

Well, 10 elephants is still a lot. Idk, when it comes to elephants being phased out, I'm more used to the stereotypical image of it being down to 1 or 2 cows.

 

[Jambo]

Well, 10 elephants is still a lot. Idk, when it comes to elephants being phased out, I'm more used to the stereotypical image of it being down to 1 or 2 cows.

Melbourne are currently at seven with the upcoming possible births of three calves, so with the retaining of female calves down the line the herd will get eventually well over ten individuals. They do have three breeding cows.

 

[Zoofan15]

Essentially, because times have changed even since the mid-2000s when Trail of the Elephants was built and the breeding cows were imported from Thailand. The elephants will instead be housed at Werribee Open Range Zoo, where they will be able to have a larger, more naturalistic exhibit (and a larger, multi-generational herd), which is also relatively accessible from the city.

It remains to be seen whether Melbourne will repurpose the elephant exhibits for another species or build something else in their place.

Other members would quite possibly have more to add, but that's my understanding of it.

Times have definitely changed!

20 years ago, no zoo in the region had a herd of more than three elephants. Even with the import of the cows from Thailand, reproduction was still unprecedented in the region, with an uncertainty over how successful it’d be (even with multiple cows).

What followed was a hugely successful breeding programme with three founder bulls and six founder cows producing a total of eleven calves between 2009 and 2018.

Melbourne welcomed five of these calves and now not only have the opportunity to transfer their herd to a vastly improved complex; but they have the means to fill it through the successful reproduction of their herd.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's been decided what will replace the elephants, it's just we're unaware. I've emailed Melbourne once again, as the last time I asked was last year so hopefully there's something new..

I asked them in January 2022 and was told they have lots planned for the space vacated by the elephants and to keep an eye on their social media channels for updates in the future.

I asked them in April 2022 and was told nothing has been decided yet and to keep an eye on their social media channels for updates in the future.

To be fair, the person responding to the second email may genuinely be unaware of what decisions have been made (the chain of information etc). We’re close enough to the elephants leaving (two years) for plans to be finalised and all of the senior management will know at a minimum. Imports from the USA could easily take that time to be processed.

 

[Abbey]

Times have definitely changed!

20 years ago, no zoo in the region had a herd of more than three elephants. Even with the import of the cows from Thailand, reproduction was still unprecedented in the region, with an uncertainty over how successful it’d be (even with multiple cows).

What followed was a hugely successful breeding programme with three founder bulls and six founder cows producing a total of eleven calves between 2009 and 2018.

Melbourne welcomed five of these calves and now not only have the opportunity to transfer their herd to a vastly improved complex; but they have the means to fill it through the successful reproduction of their herd.

It's interesting to go back to some of the older posts in the Australian forums and read over the conversations and debates which took place around the time of the elephant import and leading up to the births of Luk Chai and Mali (now expectant parents) in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Even AI was relatively unproven when Mali and Pathi Harn were conceived.

Even though both Melbourne and Taronga (with the losses of Numoi's first two calves and Pak Boon's calves respectively) have experienced some loss and hardship, the program has broadly been a success. The move to Werribee will hopefully herald a new era for that herd's growth, but also an interesting new chapter in Melbourne Zoo's history and development.