Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)

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Jambo said:
I think it would be suitable for at least one Malayan Tapir, maybe a pair depending on how they want to work it. The barn roof would have to be modified though, it lets in a little bit too much sun the way its designed.

Okapi and Bongo could very well have use of the other three enclosures but Okapi would need at least two of them (if Melbourne want a pair).

Doubt Melbourne would reacquire Brazilian Tapirs. They sent Arturo away to focus on displaying Semangka (a Malayan).
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Which barn the tapirs take, idk. I was hoping that Indian Rhino could take 2 exhibits, 1 okapi could be held off display when not breeding and Bongo could be held where the peccaries/tapir or the newly floated barn. Even if the new barn got knocked down(if malayans don’t take up residence there is no point in it being there) and Bongos or the other Okapi out there
 
Jambo said:
You definitely overheard a visitor convo.:p I've heard MZ visitors quite often mistake the Saimangs for Chimps, so it wouldn't surprise me if one of them threw in 'Bonobo'
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What got me was the fact that a member of the public would know what a bonobo is, let alone mistake it for something like a siamang. Did you ever see any ape display in the orangutan house that could have included bonobos, for which my 9 year old self may have mistaken for siamang
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Whether MZ can actually be bothered is the question, but a mini South American precinct with monkeys, rodents, tapirs and even a coati reintroduction would be great. *maned wolf sadness continues*
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I think I was the one on here who initially suggested a South American precinct in place of Growing Wild a while ago.:p So I too am a big fan of this idea.

A walkthrough aviary featuring Macaws, Conures, Tamarins, Spider Monkeys, Agouti and Capybara would be awesome. Alongside this, a Brazilian Tapir exhibit would be the 'big' highlight of the trail.

A very small, simple South American trail; but a very effective and well thought out one imo.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
What got me was the fact that a member of the public would know what a bonobo is, let alone mistake it for something like a siamang. Did you ever see any ape display in the orangutan house that could have included bonobos, for which my 9 year old self may have mistaken for siamang
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The average member of the public doesn’t know what a Bonobo is. If they saw one, they probably call it a chimpanzee; or even a monkey.
 
Jambo said:
I think I was the one on here who initially suggested a South American precinct in place of Growing Wild a while ago.:p So I too am a big fan of this idea.

A walkthrough aviary featuring Macaws, Conures, Tamarins, Spider Monkeys, Agouti and Capybara would be awesome. Alongside this, a Brazilian Tapir exhibit would be the 'big' highlight of the trail.

A very small, simple South American trail; but a very effective and well thought out one imo.
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I thought so, and bravo. A dome would be pretty cool, but the fact that MZ likely won’t reintroduce Maned Wolf is a bit of a blow. And for some reason nobody wants to house jaguars… so that ain’t gonna happen.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Which barn the tapirs take, idk. I was hoping that Indian Rhino could take 2 exhibits, 1 okapi could be held off display when not breeding and Bongo could be held where the peccaries/tapir or the newly floated barn. Even if the new barn got knocked down(if malayans don’t take up residence there is no point in it being there) and Bongos or the other Okapi out there
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The Tapirs would have to go in the cow barn, the other (bull barn) dosen't have enough space and isn't viewable to the public.

If Indian Rhino were to arrive, they'd take the main two, and then Bongo potentially in the other.

It'll have to be Okapi or Indian Rhino imo. There's not enough space to hold one off display and the other on exhibit and have both.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Which barn the tapirs take, idk. I was hoping that Indian Rhino could take 2 exhibits, 1 okapi could be held off display when not breeding and Bongo could be held where the peccaries/tapir or the newly floated barn. Even if the new barn got knocked down(if malayans don’t take up residence there is no point in it being there) and Bongos or the other Okapi out there
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I think Indian rhinoceros is far more likely than Okapi at this point in time. They would likely occupy two of the elephant paddocks; with another Indian ungulate occupying the third as its primary exhibit - but with a filter fence to allow them access to the rhino yards. Auckland Zoo implemented this for their Springbok.

As @Zorro mentioned, Okapi are unlikely at this point in time. I’m optimistic this could change, but they’ll be years away.
 
Jambo said:
The Tapirs would have to go in the cow barn, the other (bull barn) dosen't have enough space and isn't viewable to the public.

If Indian Rhino were to arrive, they'd take the main two, and then Bongo potentially in the other.

It'll have to be Okapi or Indian Rhino imo. There's not enough space to hold one off display and the other on exhibit and have both.
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Chances are that the IRA for okapi is gonna be a while, and by that time Indian Rhinos may be move to WORZ if they backflip
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
What got me was the fact that a member of the public would know what a bonobo is, let alone mistake it for something like a siamang. Did you ever see any ape display in the orangutan house that could have included bonobos, for which my 9 year old self may have mistaken for siamang
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The thing is, I don't think the Saimangs were in the Orangutan complex at the time - you said 2015?

PaddyRickMFZ said:
I thought so, and bravo. A dome would be pretty cool, but the fact that MZ likely won’t reintroduce Maned Wolf is a bit of a blow. And for some reason nobody wants to house jaguars… so that ain’t gonna happen.
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Jaguars would be the greatest main attraction for a South American precinct, but unfortunately they don't really fit any of the categories Zoos Vic have implemented. It's even arguable if they're an enabling species, especially as Melbourne already has a species of leopard - Snow Leopard.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Chances are that the IRA for okapi is gonna be a while, and by that time Indian Rhinos may be move to WORZ if they backflip
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That’s definitely the way to go. Indian rhinoceros calves will give Melbourne a boost while Werribee welcome elephants and continue breeding; as well as new exhibits for hyena and breeding lions.

Indian rhinoceros can then transfer over if/when Okapi arrive.
 
I
Jambo said:
The thing is, I don't think the Saimangs were in the Orangutan complex at the time - you said 2015?



Jaguars would be the greatest main attraction for a South American precinct, but unfortunately they don't really fit any of the categories Zoos Vic have implemented. It's even arguable if they're an enabling species, especially as Melbourne already has a species of leopard - Snow Leopard.
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Depends. Melanistic Jaguar is probably on the same level if not higher than Jaguar, and the traditional morph would not be far off by any means. Does anyone know why the region is disinterested in breeding them?
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Chances are that the IRA for okapi is gonna be a while, and by that time Indian Rhinos may be move to WORZ if they backflip
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I believe you are missing the most fundamental point is that Melbourne zoo have shown no intention or interest in having them. That there should tell you a lot
 
Zoofan15 said:
I think Indian rhinoceros is far more likely than Okapi at this point in time. They would likely occupy two of the elephant paddocks; with another Indian ungulate occupying the third as its primary exhibit - but with a filter fence to allow them access to the rhino yards. Auckland Zoo implemented this for their Springbok.

As @Zorro mentioned, Okapi are unlikely at this point in time. I’m optimistic this could change, but they’ll be years away.
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Thanks for that update then.

So it seems Indian Rhino will probably have the two main paddocks (Cow and bull paddocks).

The third enclosure (actually the first one you visit) - the Pool paddock, would then be left. I'd hope to see Bongo (despite not fitting the Asian theme), but an Orangutan expansion there also wouldn't surprise me. I honestly doubt Melbourne would acquire a species of Asian antelope (even Blackbuck).
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I thought so, and bravo. A dome would be pretty cool, but the fact that MZ likely won’t reintroduce Maned Wolf is a bit of a blow. And for some reason nobody wants to house jaguars… so that ain’t gonna happen.
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It’s unfortunate there’s no regional interest in Jaguar. They’re the only big cat from South America and represented by a melanistic colour morph, which most visitors believe is a seperate species. They make great display animals as they’re more confident than tigers etc.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I

Depends. Melanistic Jaguar is probably on the same level if not higher than Jaguar, and the traditional morph would not be far off by any means. Does anyone know why the region is disinterested in breeding them?
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I'd put it down to the fact that they're not endangered. The region's small, so needs to all work together to focus on a select few Carnivore species. Obviously Sumatran Tigers, Snow Leopards and now, Sri Lankan Leopards are those said focus species at the moment.
 
Zorro said:
I believe you are missing the most fundamental point is that Melbourne zoo have shown no intention or interest in having them. That there should tell you a lot
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This is a speculation thread. They haven’t shown interest in Indian rhino either
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I

Depends. Melanistic Jaguar is probably on the same level if not higher than Jaguar, and the traditional morph would not be far off by any means. Does anyone know why the region is disinterested in breeding them?
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Melanistic Jaguar (Black Panthers) rate very highly - arguably up there with white tigers in the public view. They’re not an endangered species, so that probably influenced the decision. Historically, zoos holding them struggled to place offspring, so breeding ceased.
 
Ny
Jambo said:
The Tapirs would have to go in the cow barn, the other (bull barn) dosen't have enough space and isn't viewable to the public.

If Indian Rhino were to arrive, they'd take the main two, and then Bongo potentially in the other.

It'll have to be Okapi or Indian Rhino imo. There's not enough space to hold one off display and the other on exhibit and have both.
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which barn I meant the aforementioned old barn or the cow barn. Idek where the bull barn is tbh
 
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