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

[PaddyRickMFZ]

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.

My memory is a bit foggy, but was Zillie the immediate replacement for the mandrill, or ditch the exhibit sit bare for a while(which is what I remember). Conversely, was another species held there for a short period of time

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

I dont think any animal sat in the exibit until zillie replaced them

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

How long until Zillie was put in?

I dont think any animal sat in the exibit until zillie replaced them

 

[Zoofan15]

My memory is a bit foggy, but was Zillie the immediate replacement for the mandrill, or ditch the exhibit sit bare for a while(which is what I remember). Conversely, was another species held there for a short period of time

I dont think any animal sat in the exibit until zillie replaced them

How long until Zillie was put in?

The last Mandrills died in September 2017.

In November 2018, somebody on ZooChat reported the Southern cassowary had been moved into their exhibit. It sat empty for just over a year in between - no doubt with a sign promising “something exciting is coming soon” as is Melbourne Zoo’s tradition.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

The last Mandrills died in September 2017.

In November 2018, somebody on ZooChat reported the Southern cassowary had been moved into their exhibit. It sat empty for just over a year in between - no doubt with a sign promising “something exciting is coming soon” as is Melbourne Zoo’s tradition.

Bruh

 

[Zoofan15]

It sat empty for just over a year in between - no doubt with a sign promising “something exciting is coming soon” as is Melbourne Zoo’s tradition.

Bruh

A few zoos including Melbourne and Hamilton are infamous for this. In the case of the latter, the “something exciting” was goats on one occasion. As is always the case, something that’s genuinely exciting is well publicised ahead of arriving to drum up excitement; clickbait signage is exactly that and never fails to disappoint.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

A few zoos including Melbourne and Hamilton are infamous for this. In the case of the latter, the “something exciting” was goats on one occasion. As is always the case, something that’s genuinely exciting is well publicised ahead of arriving to drum up excitement; clickbait signage is exactly that and never fails to disappoint.

I just wish they’d leave no sign unless something exciting was coming, or if it doesn’t matter, just tell us what’s going in there

 

[Zoofan15]

I just wish they’d leave no sign unless something exciting was coming, or if it doesn’t matter, just tell us what’s going in there

Exactly. You can’t go wrong that way. To use the cassowary as an example, some people might be excited to see it in that exhibit; while those that won’t at least won’t be disappointed when it does.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Perfect example, when i visited the zoo in 2021 in the bare Pygmy hippo exibit, nothing changed in my 3 visits in 2022, and my planned vist in February this year, northing will have changed

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Perfect example, when i visited the zoo in 2021 in the bare Pygmy hippo exibit, nothing changed in my 3 visits in 2022, and my planned vist in February this year, northing will have changed

And I believe when I went last week the sign was still there

 

[Jambo]

My memory is a bit foggy, but was Zillie the immediate replacement for the mandrill, or ditch the exhibit sit bare for a while(which is what I remember). Conversely, was another species held there for a short period of time

I dont think any animal sat in the exibit until zillie replaced them

How long until Zillie was put in?

It was a Gorilla Research Base Camp for about a year, before Zillie eventually moved in late 2018.

 

[Jambo]

Perfect example, when i visited the zoo in 2021 in the bare Pygmy hippo exibit, nothing changed in my 3 visits in 2022, and my planned vist in February this year, northing will have changed

And I believe when I went last week the sign was still there

The sign is now down, hasn't been there for a while afaik. Felix has had access to the other exhibit on occasions for some periods of time within the last year.

Previously that said enclosure has held Carp, and even Peccaries since Petre died in 2016. In 2018, Arturo the Brazilian Tapir was going to move into the second enclosure, but a last minute change meant he was sent to Adelaide instead. The plan was to use the vacant first enclosure for Felix.

In the past, the aforementioned enclosure has housed Asian Short Clawed Otters, and I wouldn't mind them returning in the meantime (before a female Pygmy hippo arrives). They're a very active species, and would certainly make great use of the enclosure. The public would also benefit from seeing them from a large underwater window.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Asian Small clawed otter into the exibit would be great, but malyan tapir even better, as the exibibt is a decent size and otters would look tiny in the exibit

My plan after seeing the Old Master Plan

Gorilla Rainforest
Lemurs and Gorilla Largely unchanged, as somebody suggested can’t remember Leopard tortoise in the walkthroughs lemur exibit maybe an import of Gorrila when Adelaide imports as they are keen to house them as says in their materplan.
Pygmy Hippo remain, a female would be great, but for the meanwhile Asian Small clawed otter as @Jambo suggested or in my preference Semanka as it would be really unique to see tapir underwater, or you could put the 4 baby small clawed otter (not baby’s anymore) into the exibit and keep Paula and the others one in the exibit.
Zillie moved to the great flight aviary and mandrill imported with Adelaide into the exibit
Tree top apes largely unchanged cotton-top tamarins in the first, black handed spider monkey in 2 and 3, emperor tamarins in 4 and colobus monkey in a joint overhead bridge 5 and 6 and white cheeked gibbon moved to the Japanese island, they probably wont be but it would be great to see them in that exibit White faced saki or another species of monkey in exibit 7 and tree shrew or Pygmy Marmoset, or slow loris, marmoset most likely in the last exibit 8

Trail of the elephants coming soon

 

[Jambo]

Asian Small clawed otter into the exibit would be great, but malyan tapir even better, as the exibibt is a decent size and otters would look tiny in the exibit

My plan after seeing the Old Master Plan

Gorilla Rainforest
Lemurs and Gorilla Largely unchanged, as somebody suggested can’t remember Leopard tortoise in the walkthroughs lemur exibit maybe an import of Gorrila when Adelaide imports as they are keen to house them as says in their materplan.
Pygmy Hippo remain, a female would be great, but for the meanwhile Asian Small clawed otter as @Jambo suggested or in my preference Semanka as it would be really unique to see tapir underwater, or you could put the 4 baby small clawed otter (not baby’s anymore) into the exibit and keep Paula and the others one in the exibit.
Zillie moved to the great flight aviary and mandrill imported with Adelaide into the exibit
Tree top apes largely unchanged cotton-top tamarins in the first, black handed spider monkey in 2 and 3, emperor tamarins in 4 and colobus monkey in a joint overhead bridge 5 and 6 and white cheeked gibbon moved to the Japanese island, they probably wont be but it would be great to see them in that exibit White faced saki or another species of monkey in exibit 7 and tree shrew or Pygmy Marmoset, or slow loris, marmoset most likely in the last exibit 8

Trail of the elephants coming soon

Great ideas, i'll maybe get something up like this later about what i'd deem best for Melbourne to do with the Gorilla Rainforest going forward.

Just re. Semangka; the exhibit would be a little too small for Semangka imo - going back to when Arturo was going to move in, I was a little shocked myself as he would have limited space (keep in mind half of the enclosure is water!). Despite being a species that often frequents bodies of water, they're not a mostly aquatic mammal like the Pygmy Hippo.

White Faced Sakis are also least concern, and I'd imagine Melbourne would go for an endangered monkey species if they do plan to obtain some more down the line.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Yeah Malyan Tapirs aren’t that aquatic, so otters are the better option, what faced saki monkeys are intriguing and unique so could fit into one of the categories, the thing with semanka is she spends a 70 percent of her day in the green shed sleeping so could be viable, but understand what you are saying,
Gibbons dont have to be moved but might be better for the all party involved including the animals
I would love to see what you come up with as you know this is all just what we think is cool and the best so all of this probalry wont happen

 

[Zoofan15]

Asian Small clawed otter into the exibit would be great, but malyan tapir even better, as the exibibt is a decent size and otters would look tiny in the exibit

My plan after seeing the Old Master Plan

Gorilla Rainforest
Lemurs and Gorilla Largely unchanged, as somebody suggested can’t remember Leopard tortoise in the walkthroughs lemur exibit maybe an import of Gorrila when Adelaide imports as they are keen to house them as says in their materplan.
Pygmy Hippo remain, a female would be great, but for the meanwhile Asian Small clawed otter as @Jambo suggested or in my preference Semanka as it would be really unique to see tapir underwater, or you could put the 4 baby small clawed otter (not baby’s anymore) into the exibit and keep Paula and the others one in the exibit.
Zillie moved to the great flight aviary and mandrill imported with Adelaide into the exibit
Tree top apes largely unchanged cotton-top tamarins in the first, black handed spider monkey in 2 and 3, emperor tamarins in 4 and colobus monkey in a joint overhead bridge 5 and 6 and white cheeked gibbon moved to the Japanese island, they probably wont be but it would be great to see them in that exibit White faced saki or another species of monkey in exibit 7 and tree shrew or Pygmy Marmoset, or slow loris, marmoset most likely in the last exibit 8

Trail of the elephants coming soon

Golden lion tamarin house:

I’d like to see Melbourne Zoo acquire Golden lion tamarins. They’re an endangered species, yet are only held at handful of zoos throughout the region. Those that have had the most success breeding them are those that have held multiple pairs. Adelaide Zoo once held several pairs and bred a large number of offspring throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Potentially, they could be housed in one of the outdoor monkey exhibits, but I’d rather see a designated tamarin house built. The house would contain at least three or four indoor exhibits connected to outside runs; as well as keeper facilities, with windows to allow visitors a view of inside.

By housing multiple pairs, breeding success would be enhanced via being able to swap tamarins in and out of pairs; as well as having backs up on site if one half of a pair died (a frequent obstacle in breeding faced by zoos housing a single pair).

 

[Josh F]

There was a lot of negativity toward the educational spaces at ZV establishments. I think what mustn’t be forgotten is that during the school year just about every day of the week a different school group or three goes through these zoos. Often these groups book for particular talks or experiences which take place in many of these ‘offshoot’ rooms. This is something that will always be a part of ZV establishments into the future I believe.

I’m also slightly surprised to see so much distaste towards native species. There are many that ZV across its four locations could display that aren’t currently that would be incredibly engaging and fit many of the categories that they look for. If there’s one dare I say good thing about Australia’s incredibly high extinction rate, it’s that there are many endangered species that could be displayed and form part of various captive breeding/captive breeding for release programs.

I’m personally surprised that ZV dropped Eastern Barred Bandicoots after they were reclassified as Critically Endangered rather than extinct in the wild and would personally say that perhaps that is jumping the gun on that species, as well as the lack of displaying for Plains-wanderer which are kept at WORZ contributing to captive bred for release programs as well.

 

[Jambo]

After considerable thought, I have stumbled upon an idea that I think should really be considered by Melbourne. It revolves around their iconic Rainforest precinct which has been the most illustrious precinct Melbourne's ever established. Now, with some parts of it beginning to age, and the elephants moving out - a lot of changes are set to be made. Here's what I'd like to see be done going forward.

Post 1: The Rainforests: A Speculatory look

*new species in bold

Part I: Africa

The Gorilla Rainforest will be renamed 'The African Rainforest'.

Not much will be changed here, but there will be some changes and acquisitions.

Red Ruffed Lemurs should be acquired, to join the Ring Tailed Lemurs in the walkthrough aviary. African Lovebirds would also be a nice fit.

Next is the Gorillas. Two or three additional females would be very beneficial to the future of this troop.

I would then *temporarily* house the four young Asian Short Clawed Otters in the first Pygmy Hippo enclosure, with the goal of obtaining a female Pygmy Hippo for this enclosure though.

The next enclosure currently houses Cassowary, and I would repurpose it for the zoo's Black and White Colobus. A nice large exhibit, for a small family group.

Part II: South America

This includes the second half of the 'Gorilla Rainforest' - the Treetop Trail.

Here, the exhibits will remain mostly the same with some changes. The B+W Colobus and White Cheeked Gibbon will have all moved elsewhere leaving a considerable amount of empty exhibits. Here's my proposed order:

1. Cotton Top Tamarin
2. Black Handed Spider Monkey
3. Black Handed Spider Monkey
4. Golden Lion Tamarin + Agouti
5. Squirrel Monkey + Capybara
6. Squirrel Monkey + Capybara
7. Emperor Tamarin
8. Pygmy Marmoset

The only exhibit changes here would be renovating a pathway between exhibits 5 and 6 to allow it be an interconnected exhibit. Exhibit 6 should hopefully provide ground viewing (with a renovation that's occurring as we speak); which would allow good viewing of the Capybara.

~~~~~~~~~

My next post will include Asia and Australia.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Golden lion tamarin would be a great option, a don think a tamarin house willl be built though

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

I think the exibits are to small for capybara, but moving colobus is a great idea, agouti however could be houses in these exibits, what about putting the colobus in the cassowary exibit while mandrills are not being imported with mouse deer, colobus and mouse deer and s mall species of ground bird would be great