From my visit to Werribee...

[austrlain zoo gower]

I think also it depends who you asked, I asked multiple people about mandrills and they all were admit they were being imported and it hasn't happened , some keepers say something other say something else

Don't feel bad I don't think you would be making all this up there is no need to record because at the end of the day this is what the platform is about

 

[CGSwans]

I hate to burst your bubble, but the *vast* majority of zoo upper management do not frequent, and honestly aren't even aware of, zoochat. Yes, some zoo's management keep tabs on this forum (or have keepers who keep tabs on the forum, or have zoochat members who watch the forums and them submit emails or whatnot to zoo management), and obviously there are some standout examples of members who are either high level keepers or outright management/owners at various facilities, but, overall, the total number would be minute compared to the total number of zoo's out there. I've been in and out of the zoological field professionally for over 10 years, attended numerous conferences and other workshops interacting with other, actual zoo professionals, and know quite a few personally just through work and networking and such, and I think I've found a combined total of like...maybe? three or four other people who were even aware of this website, and none of them were upper management. They simply don't have time or desire to moderate such a thing, and to think a large number of the worlds most well known zoo's are closely monitoring a forum that is...niche at best, is honestly laughable. Yes, there are a few incidences in the past of some transfers and such in a certain few European collections being halted, apparently in part, due to info being prematurely posted on this forum, but as mentioned, 99.9% of the time, information posted on this forum and its overall limited audience, is simply not on the radar of management. Much more attention is put to facebook, twitter, and instagram, amongst other more main stream social media, and even then, that monitoring is more geared towards staff not breaking social media posting policies, and less towards watching for rumors about future plans from random, non-staff sources.

My bubble’s just fine. That’s your professional experience and I’m certainly not going to dispute it. But I’m aware of enough differing experiences to stand by my original comment.

edit: just saw your second post and I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing. My comment was never meant to imply universality. I do suspect, though, that Zoochat is higher profile among the Australian and UK zoo industries than other countries, especially outside the Anglophone sphere.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I think also it depends who you asked, I asked multiple people about mandrills and they all were admit they were being imported and it hasn't happened , some keepers say something other say something else

Don't feel bad I don't think you would be making all this up there is no need to record because at the end of the day this is what the platform is about

Yeah, I was joking about either record thing and I didn’t realise this chat doesn’t translate emojis. Sorry for that inconvenience

 

[Hyak_II]

My bubble’s just fine. That’s your professional experience and I’m certainly not going to dispute it. But I’m aware of enough differing experiences to stand by my original comment.

edit: just saw your second post and I don’t think we’re actually disagreeing. My comment was never meant to imply universality. I do suspect, though, that Zoochat is higher profile among the Australian and UK zoo industries than other countries, especially outside the Anglophone sphere.

I suspect your suspecting is correct, haha. I agree with all that you’ve said, and moreover, both Australia and the UK seem to have somewhat distinct yet similar (to each other) zookeeping cultures relative to North America and continental Europe, and, especially for the UK, it would seem that is where zoochat is most prevalently “on the radar” to actual zoo professionals.

Also I would agree in that I would say we aren’t disagreeing, per say, merely knit picking over the finer details of things. A bit of actual constructive conversation amongst rampant form speculation is always an appreciated reprieve for me, so you won’t hear me complaining about it either way

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I am aware of how late this is, but a Waterbuck breeding operation should hopefully happen soon at Werribee. It was apparently put on hold due to Covid like everything else, but will soon be made a priority following the Elephants. This is source from a keeper I talked to near the safari, but not the driver

 

[Zorro]

I

I am aware of how late this is, but a Waterbuck breeding operation should hopefully happen soon at Werribee. It was apparently put on hold due to Covid like everything else, but will soon be made a priority following the Elephants. This is source from a keeper I talked to near the safari, but not the driver

I am not understanding your point are you saying they might import more?

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I am not understanding your point are you saying they might import more?

I’m not sure, the person just said after the elephants they will put emphasis on a breeding operation. I’m not sure if that means importation or not, but hopefully the herd will increase in number, as I was only able to see 2 today

 

[akasha]

I have massive news following my visit to Werribee,
Melbourne Zoo plan to reimplement Bongo
Up to 10 Malayan Tapir are floated as a replacement for one of the Elephant exhibits
Nyala are likely cancelled for Melbourne Zoo, and will instead be put on the walking tour near the Elephants at Werribee.
Indian Rhino have been floated at Melbourne, and if they are introduced to Victoria will not be housed at Werribee

And Werribee information if anyone wants it:
Perth’s bull elephant may join the herd, and the elephant habitat can hold up to 40 Elephants.
Hyenas have been delayed but are planned for the next 18 months.

I plan to ask about the Brazilian Tapirs reintroduction to Victoria in the coming hours

That all sounds great, but I’ll believe it when I see it. (Not saying this isn’t what you were told, but it all sounds a bit much.) When I asked the same questions at Melbourne last week I was told that whatever is being considered/planned will not be discussed with the public (or zoo staff not in management positions) until it is confirmed to limit expectations.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

That all sounds great, but I’ll believe it when I see it. (Not saying this isn’t what you were told, but it all sounds a bit much.) When I asked the same questions at Melbourne last week I was told that whatever is being considered/planned will not be discussed with the public (or zoo staff not in management positions) until it is confirmed to limit expectations.

I fully understand all skepticism, in fact I expected it. It’s perfectly fine to not believe me, and frankly it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the end result, and we should see that in due time. I hope some of these things do eventuate, but I am more confident about some than others

 

[akasha]

I fully understand all skepticism, in fact I expected it. It’s perfectly fine to not believe me, and frankly it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the end result, and we should see that in due time. I hope some of these things do eventuate, but I am more confident about some than others

It’s absolutely nothing personal against you, I just find it hard to believe that a staff member would be allowed to share this information, if a staff member at that level has even been told themselves.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

It’s absolutely nothing personal against you, I just find it hard to believe that a staff member would be allowed to share this information, if a staff member at that level has even been told themselves.

As I mentioned before, he didn’t share anything large with me, aside from what we already expected. The tapir was a surprise, but it was not a confirmation by any means, just a possibility. He had presumably just heard that Melbourne were considering this and that, but didn’t receive or announce anything groundbreaking, just rudimentary information

 

[Jambo]

Sorry I didn’t see this earlier, but I heard from other people on Zoochat they would be housed between the Wild Dogs and Hippos? After the announcement of this new walking trail it could mean a new home for them though

Is there the space between the Wild Dogs and Hippos? I don't think there is, unless they decide to build it on one of the hippos grazing paddocks.

 

[Jambo]

I

I am aware of how late this is, but a Waterbuck breeding operation should hopefully happen soon at Werribee. It was apparently put on hold due to Covid like everything else, but will soon be made a priority following the Elephants. This is source from a keeper I talked to near the safari, but not the driver

I am not understanding your point are you saying they might import more?

I’m not sure, the person just said after the elephants they will put emphasis on a breeding operation. I’m not sure if that means importation or not, but hopefully the herd will increase in number, as I was only able to see 2 today

They currently only have one male and he's related to the females. He's also castrated I believe, so if they want to breed, new imports will be needed.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

They currently only have one male and he's related to the females. He's also castrated I believe, so if they want to breed, new imports will be needed.

That makes sense. I was very relieved to hear Werribee weren’t phasing out another interesting species like the Kudus, and the others mention beforehand. I truly hope they have a future at the zoo

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Is there the space between the Wild Dogs and Hippos? I don't think there is, unless they decide to build it on one of the hippos grazing paddocks.

On the map there seems to be, and I believe I observed unused grass yesterday, but it could well be part of a hippo grazing paddock

 

[Jambo]

That makes sense. I was very relieved to hear Werribee weren’t phasing out another interesting species like the Kudus, and the others mention beforehand. I truly hope they have a future at the zoo

Werribee do lack in the antelope department for an open range zoo; only with six total species (one of which is on the way out). With the new bovid IRA i'd hope Werribee plan to import some new antelope species ahead of the new Waterhole precinct.

 

[Jambo]

On the map there seems to be, and I believe I observed unused grass yesterday, but it could well be part of a hippo grazing paddock

Yes that should be apart of the hippos grazing areas. They have multiple paddocks, and some are closed off to them for periods of time allowing for regrowth.

If you take the Safari you can see the hippo paddocks go right next to the Wild Dog enclosure..

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Werribee do lack in the antelope department for an open range zoo; only with six total species (one of which is on the way out). With the new bovid IRA i'd hope Werribee plan to import some new antelope species ahead of the new Waterhole precinct.

For sure. Unfortunately I wasn’t given much information about it, which is fair enough, but the staff made it seem like the waterhole would not be as diverse as I anticipated. When I asked about new African animals, all they said was hyenas, a cheetah and the porcupine

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Yes that should be apart of the hippos grazing areas. They have multiple paddocks, and some are closed off to them for periods of time allowing for regrowth.

If you take the Safari you can see the hippo paddocks go right next to the Wild Dog enclosure..

Next time I’ll look out for that. I was preoccupied by the Nyala bulls next to the P-horses, so I wasn’t able to have a proper look at the layout. I had a look at google earth, and I’m not sure how reliable that is, but there seems to be some space behind the hippo grazing paddocks if I’m not wrong

 

[Jambo]

For sure. Unfortunately I wasn’t given much information about it, which is fair enough, but the staff made it seem like the waterhole would not be as diverse as I anticipated. When I asked about new African animals, all they said was hyenas, a cheetah and the porcupine

That's disappointing; I would've expected more. Possibly more antelope species too; and I believe the Rhino retreat was planned for this area too?

Did they just say one cheetah?