Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Jambo
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austrlain zoo gower
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Great thanks zoofan15
PaddyRickMFZ
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Thats Annoying. Is there one at Werribee? That’s obviously the best candidate. If I’m not wrong clouded leopards are gaining more interest in Australia, and with a soon to be empty enclosure, Caracal or clouded leopard could provide a good replacement(saying that red panda is one of my fav animals). I just feel like they suit the area they are in, and wouldn’t make a ton of sense in the carnivore precinct. Also, would it make sense to not get rid of the dingo enclosure, but rather decrease the size of it. Many would prefer a unique species in that exhibit, and although we have covered that maned wolf is extremely unlikely, it wouldn’t require an overly large amount of space. They also seem to be generating a lot of interest in the region, as clouded leopard is predicted to
austrlain zoo gower
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Where is the new master plan
PaddyRickMFZ
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It’s an old one, it is on one of the pages in the old thread, I’ll try find it
austrlain zoo gower
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Ok great
PaddyRickMFZ
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Though neither are endangered, Clouded leopard and Caracal are becoming more popular in the region with several new holders of the latter emerging in recent years. Clouded leopard are better suited to a city zoo than an open range zoo, so if Zoos Victoria acquire them, Melbourne would be my guess. They compliment any South East Asia collection and are more enabling than Fishing cat.
There's one at Werribee and one at Healseville too.
Melbourne already has one though off display, so I'm presuming this one will be an upgrade. I'd like to see one that's actually accessible to the public though. It'll be cool to check out a Seal that's being rehabbed or a Gorilla that's having a health check.Caracal and Clouded Leopards both don't make a whole lot of sense unfortunately for Melbourne. Neither fit into at least two categories.
Another option for the enclosure is a Bird of Prey species, which I think I've mentioned on here before (credit to @Zoofan15 for this idea).Wedge Tailed Eagle would be a nice fit Healseville have a few individuals, and this species is not only enabling, but also an ambassador and can be used in displays and encounters.
Werribee have a wildlife hospital, detailed here: Koala Ward Opens At Werribee Open Range Zoo | Premier of Victoria
The new hospital consists of two large recovery wards, two fully equipped surgery rooms, a neonatal room, food preparation zone, sterilisation room, pharmacy facilities, hay shed, browse fridge, and a quiet room for injured wildlife waiting to be admitted or recovering from surgery.
Twelve outdoor recovery zones can house injured koalas and other wildlife during their rehabilitation. A large browse plantation at Werribee Open Range Zoo will provide a critical food source for wildlife patients.
The RSPCA Koala Ward expands Zoos Victoria’s existing wildlife hospital network, including Healesville Sanctuary and Melbourne Zoo, and furthers the state’s ability to treat and care for precious wildlife during future disasters and emergency wildlife care requirements.
It's an old one so whilst it's interesting to view, I would take all of it with a grain of salt. Most could/would be inaccurate now with a new masterplan in the works.
PaddyRickMFZ
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It’s come to my attention that Zoos Victoria don’t stick to the criteria as much as they say they do. Complimentary species like I mentioned above are seen in various parts of the zoo, Such as Aldabra Tortoise, Hamadryas baboon, and even the Snow Leopard is only vulnerable. Imo clouded leopards would be a great boost to the carnivore precinct, and ZV have shown they are willing to accept animals even if they don’t fill more than 2 categoriesThere's one at Werribee and one at Healseville too.
Caracal and Clouded Leopards both don't make a whole lot of sense unfortunately for Melbourne. Neither fit into at least two categories.
Another option for the enclosure is a Bird of Prey species, which I think I've mentioned on here before (credit to @Zoofan15 for this idea).Wedge Tailed Eagle would be a nice fit Healseville have a few individuals, and this species is not only enabling, but also an ambassador and can be used in displays and encounters.
I’ve noticed that. Asian small clawed otter and Slender-tailed meerkat are another two examples - only fitting into the enabling category; had they gone on exhibit, the Lowland nyala would be another.
The criteria (especially enabling) is very subjective. Mandrill were certainly enabling; and African wild dog were endangered AND enabling.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I agree. Mandrills getting phased out was a complete shock to me, every time I would stop and admire them, joined by many others. On a side not, what did the numbers in the group reach, because I seem to remember there being a few.
They had three near the end; all three died in 2017. I believe they would've had maybe five or six maximum (back in the early 2000's), so only a small group.
PaddyRickMFZ
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That 5-6 sounds about right. I’d hope that if they get reintroduced there would be a far bigger troop. To my understanding. There is enough space in that exhibit right?
I thoroughly agree. The current exhibit could maybe only hold around ten mandrills at max. So a group of a male, three females plus their offspring would probably be best.
The numbers reached five in the 2000’s, with a male and a female transferred out shortly after a one more male bred (that died young). This reduced the troop to 1.2 Mandrill.
I’m hopeful Melbourne and Adelaide could work together on an import. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of interest regionally, but a third bachelor facility would allow two breeding troops to be maintained, with first generation daughters retained on contraception; or exchanged between the two troops.
Melbourne’s Mandrill troop grew to eight individuals in the early 1990’s - with this troop later revealed to be hybrids. Two purebred females were transferred from Adelaide Zoo, with a purebred male imported from Jerusalem. To my knowledge, the troop had never exceeded these numbers, but it wasn’t uncommon for zoos to hold larger troops of primates than what we’d consider acceptable for this day and age in the exhibit they were in.
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