Yes very aware of the obvious, if some zoos wants to keep both and they don't have to I can't see a problem here!
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Jambo
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PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Sorry, in what section are the IRAs
They're not explicitly mentioned there as IRA's; but the species that can be imported are listed here:
Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government
The Australian IRA for perissodactyls (2012) can be found here:
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/site...6/2012-11_Final_Policy_Zoo_Perissodactyls.pdf
Perissodactyls are hoofed, odd-toed, relatively large mammals that include Przewalski’s horses, zebras, tapirs and rhinoceroses.
Countries, administrative regions and territories from which Australia previously permitted the importation of zoo perissodactyls, are referred to in the policy review as approved countries. These are: Canada, certain member states of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), New Zealand, Singapore and the United States.
I’m open to correction, but I don’t believe the IRA’s are usually made public until after they’re published - but reports from those in the industry are Giraffe/Okapi and Common Hippopotamus/Pygmy Hippopotamus are the two currently in progress for Australia.
New Zealand’s Giraffe/Okapi IRA was published in 2021: NZ Government
New Zealand’s Giraffe/Okapi IRA was published in 2021: NZ Government
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Thanks
Just to clarify - the Australian government will only develop one zoo IRA at a time.
An IRA for Hippopotamidae has been under development for the past year - almost. There is no telling just how soon that process will conclude.
The government has not made a decision as to what the next IRA will be.
ZAA would like Giraffidae to be processed next but there are other industry interests.
That’s interesting. So we can assume a Giraffidae IRA is years away from being processed if they’re still developing the Hippopotamus IRA and have yet to make a decision on what will follow.
It’ll be interesting to see if any Australian zoos import giraffe via New Zealand, who have a Giraffidae IRA.
@Zoofan15 This was mentioned yesterday, with you liking the post?
@Swanson
Am with you on your concepts, like the GOH Rhino and extending the Orangutan exhibit ropes into what is the bull Elephant yard idea most of all.
Here's what I'd scrap on the masterplan concept above:
*Scrap 'Growing Wild' and use the space for something else (animal exhibit related of course, there's enough people leasure facilities in the plan now, and enough education and conservation buildings, 'nutrition' seems scrappable to me too but it is in that section of the zoo amongst the other educational facilities).
*Scrap the Giraffe 'African Grassland' idea and send them to WORZ.
*The Tropical Temporary Exhibit area could be good if they could have Pygmy Hippo, Mandrills etc at different times in a guest capacity revolved over time like 12-18 months at a time
*Am not an insect person but can see that the micro world thing will probably be well liked, and the butterfly house has been there for 38 years so know the idea of getting rid of it would be a travesty to many
*is that new Reptile House being built where one of the Elephant yards is now? Surely they could build it where Growing Wild is instead
Am with you on your concepts, like the GOH Rhino and extending the Orangutan exhibit ropes into what is the bull Elephant yard idea most of all.
Here's what I'd scrap on the masterplan concept above:
*Scrap 'Growing Wild' and use the space for something else (animal exhibit related of course, there's enough people leasure facilities in the plan now, and enough education and conservation buildings, 'nutrition' seems scrappable to me too but it is in that section of the zoo amongst the other educational facilities).
*Scrap the Giraffe 'African Grassland' idea and send them to WORZ.
*The Tropical Temporary Exhibit area could be good if they could have Pygmy Hippo, Mandrills etc at different times in a guest capacity revolved over time like 12-18 months at a time
*Am not an insect person but can see that the micro world thing will probably be well liked, and the butterfly house has been there for 38 years so know the idea of getting rid of it would be a travesty to many
*is that new Reptile House being built where one of the Elephant yards is now? Surely they could build it where Growing Wild is instead
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I would strongly support the phase out of giraffes and zebra given Werribee holds them. It’s a rather pointless double up with neither species being a major crowd puller.
I too have little interest in insects (and neither does the general public judging by Wellington Zoo’s invertebrates section), but I accept some people enjoy them and that Melbourne Zoo is the natural choice for exhibiting them over Werribee etc.
Big cats have always been one of Melbourne’s biggest drawcards (along with gorillas and elephants), so I’d have hoped to see these feature more in the plans rather than the vague Carnivores precinct, which only mentions a lion exhibit. Presumably the Snow leopard will remain, though further species are anyone’s guess. It’s been previously mentioned by @Jambo the exhibits were designed to allow different species to inhabit them so tigers etc. may well be phased out for something else.
Wonder how many years on average from beginning an Import Risk Analysis to completetion it actually takes.
The NZ Giraffe/Okapi IRA was finalised in 2021 with multiple source material from 2019/2020, so I’d guess around two or three years. If only one is processed at a time, we’ll find out how many years the hippopotamus one took as it was begun after the Bovidae IRA of 2021 .
Think carnivore trails main exhibits should be Lions, Dingo, Snow Leopard, keep one exhibit for Sumatran Tiger, perhaps put Leopard Cat or Clouded Leopard where the Coatis are when they pass.
Would be good if there was still space in the zoo to keep some exhibits for Red Panda, BN Coati, SC Otters (maybe a waterway in with the Orangutans) and bring back some Binturongs (a Meetkat exhibit can inevitably be put somewhere near one of the cafes or something, possibly same with Fennec Fox, and if we're really lucky another for Cape Porcupine).
Would try find a 1,200 sq m space somewhere too for two adjoining Sun Bear exhibits (but of course TB prevalence with finding though perhaps a pair from zoos in the U.S could be found).
Call me old fashioned and would understand but if that thick glass that Taronga uses/used where it may or may not have an electronic component to it but essentially means people can see through clearly but residents inside don't see people gawking at them and helps de-stress them. Instead of phasing out Sumatran Tigers id recreate a moat fronted exhibit for one or two of the Sumatran Tigers somewhere at WORZ but keep an individual at MZ in the exhibit in the Carnivore precinct but glass front the exhibit and fill in the moat with more land space (but obviously keep a pool for them to swim in) and possibly combine the two exhibits for them there (didn't know there were two until Akasha's excellent review) so that way with the filled in moat, closer viewing but not disturbing the Tigers with gawking and combining the two neighbouring exhibits MZ meets it's always expanding their animals living space progressive traction for a period. Few years ago would be advocating to have some Sri Lankan Leopards in the smaller of the two exhibits but do believe in expanding space over time for animals of course, and with Snow Leopards and perhaps a smaller fourth felid in that area it could work well with the next 'chapter' for that carnivore precinct.
Would be good if there was still space in the zoo to keep some exhibits for Red Panda, BN Coati, SC Otters (maybe a waterway in with the Orangutans) and bring back some Binturongs (a Meetkat exhibit can inevitably be put somewhere near one of the cafes or something, possibly same with Fennec Fox, and if we're really lucky another for Cape Porcupine).
Would try find a 1,200 sq m space somewhere too for two adjoining Sun Bear exhibits (but of course TB prevalence with finding though perhaps a pair from zoos in the U.S could be found).
Call me old fashioned and would understand but if that thick glass that Taronga uses/used where it may or may not have an electronic component to it but essentially means people can see through clearly but residents inside don't see people gawking at them and helps de-stress them. Instead of phasing out Sumatran Tigers id recreate a moat fronted exhibit for one or two of the Sumatran Tigers somewhere at WORZ but keep an individual at MZ in the exhibit in the Carnivore precinct but glass front the exhibit and fill in the moat with more land space (but obviously keep a pool for them to swim in) and possibly combine the two exhibits for them there (didn't know there were two until Akasha's excellent review) so that way with the filled in moat, closer viewing but not disturbing the Tigers with gawking and combining the two neighbouring exhibits MZ meets it's always expanding their animals living space progressive traction for a period. Few years ago would be advocating to have some Sri Lankan Leopards in the smaller of the two exhibits but do believe in expanding space over time for animals of course, and with Snow Leopards and perhaps a smaller fourth felid in that area it could work well with the next 'chapter' for that carnivore precinct.
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PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I’d prefer maned wolf as opposed to Dingo, but that’s not likely. Sun bear would be ideal in love of Indra. I really hope that master plan is not similar whatsoever to how it pans out
@PaddyRickMFZ
I personally too would prefer Maned Wolves also. I was originally going to suggest them and find a space for a Dingo pair in the Australian section but @Jambo mentioned the Aus section is full to the brim atm (though with the masterplan perhaps there will be future space after all). Akasha made a good point that Dingo prove to be very popular animals especially with children..but personally too would prefer a bonded pair of Maned Wolves in that exhibit (do like Dingoes too but am team-put-them-in-the-Australian-section).
I personally too would prefer Maned Wolves also. I was originally going to suggest them and find a space for a Dingo pair in the Australian section but @Jambo mentioned the Aus section is full to the brim atm (though with the masterplan perhaps there will be future space after all). Akasha made a good point that Dingo prove to be very popular animals especially with children..but personally too would prefer a bonded pair of Maned Wolves in that exhibit (do like Dingoes too but am team-put-them-in-the-Australian-section).
I’m hopeful they’ll be more than enough room in the Australian section for the Dingo (alongside Tasmania devil), allowing these species to be phased out of the Carnivores precinct. I get the precinct represents multiple continents, but this is needless when Australian natives are so heavily represented elsewhere in the zoo. Instead, they should showcase a diverse range of felids, canids etc.
I feel like to follow this masterplan would be to regress as a collection. Many zoos in Australia begin with a large number of native species and acquire exotics as they go. Melbourne is going backwards collection wise under these plans.
I've always been a fan of sending the Giraffes and Zebras to Werribee. Werribee have the chance to hold a very large breeding group, and with the new Waterhole precinct soon opening, they have an opportunity to move their bachelor group there in favour of holding a breeding group on the Lower Savannah. Okapi and Bongo would be suitable replacements for them imo.
The Reptile House is indeed where the Cow exhibit is now; assumingly to tie in with the Butterfly House next door.
I honestly don't see Melbourne building a new Reptile House though. Their current one is a piece of history, and still serves its purpose very well.
Re. The Insect House - I think it's a very interesting idea, but I would like to see it replicated in Growing Wild. San Diego included Insect Buildings in their Childrens precinct, and it's worked very well as children are notably very fascinated with insects. Melbourne should really look into doing something similar.
Tasmanian Devil already have an enclosure in the Australian precinct. And considering they're already at Healseville too, I don't see why Melbourne need three enclosures for them across two different precincts.
Unfortunately, space is indeed pretty full in the Australian precinct. A new childrens play area has been built and has taken up around a quarter of the whole precinct.
A thought on the Australian animals- Maybe once the Tapirs and Peccaries die, that top area might be used as an extension to the Australian area (being almost connected to the Australian precinct in a way). Dingoes would fit the current Tapir enclosure (with some modifications) and Tasmanian Devils would also be the best fit for the current Peccary enclosure. But that's just a thought. Not the best idea, but does open up space in the Carnivore precinct for new species.
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