Monarto Safari Park South Asian theme at Monarto

[Jambo]

True, monkeys can be very charismatic. The Golden lion tamarin are a particularly striking primate that always seem to be the most popular monkey at Auckland Zoo; though my personally preference would be baboons. Given Terri’s North American connections, it’s surprising they’ve never considered Mandrill. They tick just about every box and would have also been available via Adelaide and Melbourne Zoo throughout the 2000’s.

All monkeys are great, but Tamirans, Capuchins and Spider Monkeys are best for me (all being very interactive species). Baboons are great, especially when they have multiple babies. It was fascinating during my last visit to Melbourne to see all of Melbourne's 20 baboons including the many babies interacting and playing with one another and the visitors.

 

[Grant Rhino]

True, monkeys can be very charismatic. The Golden lion tamarin are a particularly striking primate that always seem to be the most popular monkey at Auckland Zoo; though my personally preference would be baboons. Given Terri’s North American connections, it’s surprising they’ve never considered Mandrill. They tick just about every box and would have also been available via Adelaide and Melbourne Zoo throughout the 2000’s.

True - that's the hard thing with displaying monkeys: how to choose which one! There are just so many really good ones to choose from. I'd say that any of the following would be brilliant:
1. Mandrill
2. Black and White Colobus
3. Common Langur
4. Dusky Langer
5. Squirrel Monkey
6. Cotton Top Tamarin
7. Golden Lion Tamarin
8. Capuchin
9. Any other marmoset or tamarin

There are just so many good options and maybe it just becomes one for the "Too hard basket"...

 

[Jambo]

True - that's the hard thing with displaying monkeys: how to choose which one! There are just so many really good ones to choose from. I'd say that any of the following would be brilliant:
1. Mandrill
2. Black and White Colobus
3. Common Langur
4. Dusky Langer
5. Squirrel Monkey
6. Cotton Top Tamarin
7. Golden Lion Tamarin
8. Capuchin
9. Any other marmoset or tamarin

There are just so many good options and maybe it just becomes one for the "Too hard basket"...

Any species of monkey would be great. For monarto, I think Common Languar would be best, especially for an Indian theme. Capuchins could even be thrown in to, and even Black and White Colobus (which I believe they have or did have).

 

[Zoofan15]

True - that's the hard thing with displaying monkeys: how to choose which one! There are just so many really good ones to choose from. I'd say that any of the following would be brilliant:
1. Mandrill
2. Black and White Colobus
3. Common Langur
4. Dusky Langer
5. Squirrel Monkey
6. Cotton Top Tamarin
7. Golden Lion Tamarin
8. Capuchin
9. Any other marmoset or tamarin

There are just so many good options and maybe it just becomes one for the "Too hard basket"...

Great list! My personal preference would be:

Chacma baboon (difficult to source)
Mandrill
Hamadryas baboon
Golden lion tamarin
Bonnet macaque
Black handed spider monkey
Black and white colobus
Dusky langur

Adding apes to the mix presents even more options, but really anything would be a starting point as you say. A large troop makes for a fascinating display.

Best of all, they present an opportunity to add architecture to the zoo via their exhibit - an opportunity that doesn’t really come with hippopotamus etc.

 

[Zoofan15]

All monkeys are great, but Tamirans, Capuchins and Spider Monkeys are best for me (all being very interactive species). Baboons are great, especially when they have multiple babies. It was fascinating during my last visit to Melbourne to see all of Melbourne's 20 baboons including the many babies interacting and playing with one another and the visitors.

I felt the same about Wellington’s troop of Hamadryas baboon, which at one point reached 20-25 baboons. Not only was it an engaging exhibit; but it made for a fascinating focal point for animal behaviour studies. Zoos pride themselves on education and research and Wellington Uni students conducted a multitude of (non invasive/observational) studies in collaboration with staff.

 

[Swanson02]

The most frustrating thing about their Savannah saga is how easy it is to remedy. Like you suggest, ostrich could be added; as well as social ungulates including Nyala and female Waterbuck. It would greatly enhance the exhibit at a comparatively minimal cost.

It's such a shame with Australia zoo's savanna. I personally think it visually, is the best savanna exhibit in the region, it's lush, large and the weather is always relatively warm.

Also, a question, can Nyala be held in large mixed exhibits? I've noticed they are quite commonly held alone or with only a few other antelope species like waterbuck. Is it because they are skittish? It would be a shame as they are breeding well and can form large herds.

As I said recently in the Melbourne Zoo thread, an India theme is surely fairly easy to do in basically any zoo in Australia with a combo of the following:
1. Elephant
2. Tiger (very easy to get - who cares if they aren't Bengal Tigers)
3. Indian Rhino
4. Blackbuck (very easy to get)
5. Chital (Axis Deer) (very easy to get)
6. Hog Deer (easy to get - Altina has heaps)
7. Common Langur (should be easy to import)
8. Leopard (everyone else is getting Sri Lankan leopards, so easy enough)
9. Red Panda (easy to get but perhaps not appropriate for Monarto)
10. Snow Leopard (probably not appropriate for Monarto)
11. Rhesus Macaque (should be easy to import)

I agree, I personally think an Indian-themed safari would be more exciting than any African safari. large Indian-themed areas are very rare across all zoos. No other place on earth has as great a diversity of carnivorans as the subcontinent. An Indian-themed area could literally have Lions, Tigers, and bears, oh my!

 

[Zoofan15]

Any species of monkey would be great. For monarto, I think Common Languar would be best, especially for an Indian theme. Capuchins could even be thrown in to, and even Black and White Colobus (which I believe they have or did have).

Furthermore, a number of these species lend themselves to mixed species exhibits. Langurs could be exhibited with a wide range of medium and large ungulates.

 

[Jambo]

It's such a shame with Australia zoo's savanna. I personally think it visually, is the best savanna exhibit in the region, it's lush, large and the weather is always relatively warm.

Also, a question, can Nyala be held in large mixed exhibits? I've noticed they are quite commonly held alone or with only a few other antelope species like waterbuck. Is it because they are skittish? It would be a shame as they are breeding well and can form large herds.

I too think it is the best visually, maybe besides Werribee who have a large, expansive savannah.

Nyala can be held in large, mixed exhibits. At Werribee, they hold their Nyala with Blackbuck, Ostritch (and previously Waterbuck). I know Wellington hold their's in their savannah exhibit (featuring giraffe and ostrich).

 

[Zoofan15]

It's such a shame with Australia zoo's savanna. I personally think it visually, is the best savanna exhibit in the region, it's lush, large and the weather is always relatively warm.

Also, a question, can Nyala be held in large mixed exhibits? I've noticed they are quite commonly held alone or with only a few other antelope species like waterbuck. Is it because they are skittish? It would be a shame as they are breeding well and can form large herds.

I agree, I personally think an Indian-themed safari would be more exciting than any African safari. large Indian-themed areas are very rare across all zoos. No other place on earth has as great a diversity of carnivorans as the subcontinent. An Indian-themed area could literally have Lions, Tigers, and bears, oh my!

Lowland nyala are highly suitable for mixed species exhibits. They’re housed with giraffe at Wellington Zoo and Southern white rhinoceros and Waterbuck at Auckland Zoo. They tend to stick together and away from the larger ungulates, but don’t seem distressed by them either.

Male Waterbuck are the biggest challenge. They’re highly territorial and Auckland Zoo tried unsuccessfully to integrate a bull with first the giraffes and zebra; and then the rhinos and nyala. They now keep an all female herd.

 

[Jambo]

I agree, I personally think an Indian-themed safari would be more exciting than any African safari. large Indian-themed areas are very rare across all zoos. No other place on earth has as great a diversity of carnivorans as the subcontinent. An Indian-themed area could literally have Lions, Tigers, and bears, oh my!

An Indian Safari sounds like a really really nice idea. I would love to see it come to fruition at Monarto. Monarto have the space, and they could easily hold the species. I've never heard of an Asian Safari (besides the one at the Bronx) so Monarto could possibly make one that would be on a world class level and help Monarto stand on its own.

 

[Swanson02]

Nyala can be held in large, mixed exhibits. At Werribee, they hold their Nyala with Blackbuck, Ostritch (and previously Waterbuck). I know Wellington hold their's in their savannah exhibit (featuring giraffe and ostrich).

Thank you, that also brings up another question of mine, are Waterbuck being phased out? Their numbers have seemed to be dwindling as of late.

 

[Jambo]

Thank you, that also brings up another question of mine, are Waterbuck being phased out? Their numbers have seemed to be dwindling as of late.

I don't believe so, Werribee are still hoping on breeding them.

 

[Zoofan15]

Thank you, that also brings up another question of mine, are Waterbuck being phased out? Their numbers have seemed to be dwindling as of late.

They’re declining in numbers which is probably due to the lack of suitability of bulls for mixed species exhibits. Zoos like Auckland (and Hamilton before them) are holding non breeding herds. Orana is the main holding centre in New Zealand (and the only breeding facility). They have a dedicated exhibit.

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree, I personally think an Indian-themed safari would be more exciting than any African safari. large Indian-themed areas are very rare across all zoos. No other place on earth has as great a diversity of carnivorans as the subcontinent. An Indian-themed area could literally have Lions, Tigers, and bears, oh my!

An Indian Safari would be phenomenal. It would be a point of difference not only within the region, but on a global scale and could see Monarto attract a decent percentage of international tourism.

They could expand to South Asia to include countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal, which would afford them a few extra species like Nepalese red panda and Fishing cat, which could be displayed via walking trails like at the Singapore Zoo Night Safari; thought India alone would have more than enough.

Personally, I’d love to see Indian lions return to the region. Monarto could do well with this species.

 

[Zorro]

An Indian Safari would be phenomenal. It would be a point of difference not only within the region, but on a global scale and could see Monarto attract a decent percentage of international tourism.

They could expand to South Asia to include countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal, which would afford them a few extra species like Nepalese red panda and Fishing cat, which could be displayed via walking trails like at the Singapore Zoo Night Safari; thought India alone would have more than enough.

Personally, I’d love to see Indian lions return to the region. Monarto could do well with this species.

So that would see Indian blackbuck booted out of the western plains zoos African safari

 

[Zoofan15]

So that would see Indian blackbuck booted out of the western plains zoos African safari

Good. So many friends of mine believe Indian antelope are an African species (one even calls them African blackbuck). Zoos have progressed beyond the stage of grouping animals by taxonomy and as a place of education, should really not be misleading the public by including them in African Savannahs. It’s no wonder they never dare label them as Indian antelope.

 

[Zoofan15]

South Asian Safari Species List

To explore the idea of an South Asian Safari, I’ve compiled a list of some of the species found in South Asia that are held in Australia. Most of these are Indian species:

South Asian Species in Australia:

Asian elephant
Indian rhinoceros
Indian antelope
Domestic water buffalo
Himalayan tahr
Sambar
Chital
Hog deer
Dromedary camel
Bengal tiger (represented by generic tiger)
Snow leopard
Sri Lankan leopard
Fishing cat
Nepalese red panda
Rhesus macaque
Saltwater crocodile
Bull shark
Indian peafowl

The majority of these species could be sourced from within Australia (without needing to import).

I thought Bull shark (found in freshwater areas of India) would be especially interesting considering the majority of species here are terrestrial.

South Asian Species to Import:

This list is by no means exhaustive, however some feasible highlights include:

Indian lion
Leopard cat
Striped hyena
Sloth bear
Himalayan brown bear
Indian jackal
Gray langur
Bonnet macaque
Gharial
Indian gazelle
Nilgai

I acknowledge that a few of the species from both lists could be discounted based on Monarto’s climate (a Snow leopard exhibit would require extensive thermal regulation) and competition for Adelaide Zoo (Sri Lankan leopard); but hopefully it gives people an idea of the theoretical potential for a South Asian Safari - with the majority of the species listed here remaining completely feasible.

 

[Zorro]

South Asian Safari Species List

To explore the idea of an South Asian Safari, I’ve compiled a list of some of the species found in South Asia that are held in Australia. Most of these are Indian species:

South Asian Species in Australia:

Asian elephant
Indian rhinoceros
Indian antelope
Domestic water buffalo
Himalayan tahr
Sambar
Chital
Hog deer
Dromedary camel
Bengal tiger (represented by generic tiger)
Snow leopard
Sri Lankan leopard
Fishing cat
Nepalese red panda
Rhesus macaque
Saltwater crocodile
Bull shark
Indian peafowl

The majority of these species could be sourced from within Australia (without needing to import).

I thought Bull shark (found in freshwater areas of India) would be especially interesting considering the majority of species here are terrestrial.

South Asian Species to Import:

This list is by no means exhaustive, however some feasible highlights include:

Indian lion
Leopard cat
Striped hyena
Sloth bear
Himalayan brown bear
Indian jackal
Gray langur
Bonnet macaque
Gharial
Indian gazelle
Nilgai

I acknowledge that a few of the species from both lists could be discounted based on Monarto’s climate (a Snow leopard exhibit would require extensive thermal regulation) and competition for Adelaide Zoo (Sri Lankan leopard); but hopefully it gives people an idea of the theoretical potential for a South Asian Safari - with the majority of the species listed here remaining completely feasible.

Monartos climate and massive area are perfect for displaying game type African animals which would be living in large natural herds which will suit them very well even to the point where they can mark out their own territory. From the many zoos that I have visited over a long period of time I can't think of another which would come close to the potential of this place, I will make the effort to visit once its up and running with a visit to the Adelaide Zoo as well. This zoo has me excited

 

[Zoofan15]

Monartos climate and massive area are perfect for displaying game type African animals which would be living in large natural herds which will suit them very well even to the point where they can mark out their own territory. From the many zoos that I have visited over a long period of time I can't think of another which would come close to the potential of this place, I will make the effort to visit once its up and running with a visit to the Adelaide Zoo as well. This zoo has me excited

Monarto is definitely on my to visit list - with or without an Asian Safari. The latter would be hugely exciting prospect for the region. It’s common to see Indian lions displayed in male-female pairs in zoos, but like the Singapore Zoo Night Safari, Monarto would have the space to hold a large female pride, seperate from a small coalition of males, just like the natural social order of this species.

Monarto Night Safari:

On that topic, many of the South Asian species would work well in a Night Safari context - lions, leopards, tigers, bears, hyena etc. This could be something for Monarto to consider (even if it’s with with their African species) as a further point of difference.

 

[Jambo]

Monarto is definitely on my to visit list - with or without an Asian Safari. The latter would be hugely exciting prospect for the region. It’s common to see Indian lions displayed in male-female pairs in zoos, but like the Singapore Zoo Night Safari, Monarto would have the space to hold a large female pride, seperate from a small coalition of males, just like the natural social order of this species.

Monarto Night Safari:

On that topic, many of the South Asian species would work well in a Night Safari context - lions, leopards, tigers, bears, hyena etc. This could be something for Monarto to consider (even if it’s with with their African species) as a further point of difference.

The night Safari idea for Monarto is phenomenal.

It’s never been achieved (afaik) outside of Singapore, and considering how successful the Night Safari is, if Monarto attempt this alongside their already amazing Safari Park; Monarto could be one of the best zoos worldwide. By one of the best I mean one of the top five. The promise this zoo has is incredible.