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

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PaddyRickMFZ said:
I agree. Does that mean if they find a cure to the disease u mentioned it could be potentially overturned. Also, if suids are quarantined in NZ I thought that maybe the government would allow them through. I was told that the Peccaries were related, were u wanting them to breed knowing this? Because I personally believe it would be worth it
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At this point in time, there’s no treatment or vaccine available for this disease and they’re not willing to accept any risk to Australia’s agricultural industry. This decision may be reviewed if a vaccine is developed, but that’s unlikely.

Sadly, New Zealand cannot import Suidae either for the same reasons as Australia.
 
Zoofan15 said:
On that note, it’s a great shame the peccaries were never relocated to Werribee years ago, with a large scale breeding operation set up. Melbourne advised their group are non reproductive. I’m not sure if this referred to the male being castrated (in which case the decision is irreversible); or whether they’re reproductively viable and choosing not to breed. Since there’s no way back with this phase out, they really should rethink if there’s still potential to breed.
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Peccary were at Werribee actually! They had a group derived from Melbourne but their last individuals died out there in the 90's. They were held in a Petting Zoo sort of enclosure where guests could pet the Peccaries. It's a shame this wasn't still around today as petting the last Peccaries in the country would be a very special encounter.
 
Jambo said:
Peccary were at Werribee actually! They had a group derived from Melbourne but their last individuals died out there in the 90's. They were held in a Petting Zoo sort of enclosure where guests could pet the Peccaries. It's a shame this wasn't still around today as petting the last Peccaries in the country would be a very special encounter.
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Is it bad for me to admit when the peccary came up to the side of the enclosure I pet it and he started sniffing my hand
 
Jambo said:
Peccary were at Werribee actually! They had a group derived from Melbourne but their last individuals died out there in the 90's. They were held in a Petting Zoo sort of enclosure where guests could pet the Peccaries. It's a shame this wasn't still around today as petting the last Peccaries in the country would be a very special encounter.
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Wow, I never knew Werribee held them. There was previously a reasonably sized population throughout the region with 41 peccaries bred at Melbourne Zoo alone from 1973 to 2012. They’re highly inbred of course, but like the Indian antelope and Barbary sheep, you have to work with what you have.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Is it bad for me to admit when the peccary came up to the side of the enclosure I pet it and he started sniffing my hand
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I've seen a lot of the public do that, and although I've never physically touched a Peccary they have came quite close!:p I would consider that experience more as something to treasure anyhow as they won't be around very soon.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Wow, I never knew Werribee held them. There was previously a reasonably sized population throughout the region with 41 peccaries bred at Melbourne Zoo alone from 1973 to 2012. They’re highly inbred of course, but like the Indian antelope and Barbary sheep, you have to work with what you have.
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So are you suggesting we keep the inbred line going if the male isn’t cast rated. What a travesty that MZ bred so many peccaries and we are down to the last 3
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
So are you suggesting we keep the inbred line going if the male isn’t cast rated. What a travesty that MZ bred so many peccaries and we are down to the last 3
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100%. Inbred peccary are better than no peccaries at all. The entire regional population were bred from a pair imported by Wellington Zoo from Canada in 1969. Wellington Zoo’s last three peccaries died in 2011.
 
Zoofan15 said:
100%. Inbred peccary are better than no peccaries at all. The entire regional population were bred from a pair imported by Wellington Zoo from Canada in 1969. Wellington Zoo’s last three peccaries died in 2011.
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Is it one male and 3 females? If so that population could be sustained for quite a while tbh. Also, Aardvarks aren’t banned are they? An anteater IRA would be pretty good for both Victorian zoos, especially with a new waterhole and walking trail(this is provided the list gets amended, which doesn’t seem overly difficult
 
Zoofan15 said:
They have 2.1 Collared peccary:

1.0 Messi (2010)
1.0 Jabali (2012)
0.1 Nina (2012)

Jabali and Nina are littermates; Messi is their half sibling.

They’re getting on in years, but potentially there would still be time if reproductively viable.
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Apparently peccaries can live until about 25, so there is possibly a decade left. Just doing some research they can get to 30!
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Also, Aardvarks aren’t banned are they? An anteater IRA would be pretty good for both Victorian zoos, especially with a new waterhole and walking trail(this is provided the list gets amended, which doesn’t seem overly difficult
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Yes, they’re unable to be imported. It’s disappointing as they feature in so many South American precincts at zoos in Europe and the US and are fascinating creatures.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Apparently peccaries can live until about 25, so there is possibly a decade left
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Their reproductive lifespan (especially that of the female) would be shorter than that though - probably mid to late teens for a regularly breeding female. Early teens is about as late as you’d want to leave first time breeding and even then, chances may not be great. She’s 11 and well past her reproductive prime.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Are they banned, or just not on the live import list? Aardvarks complimenting the African section and Tamanduas+ G Anteater in SA section
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Aardvarks are not on the live import list and there's no IRA in place to allow them to be imported. I’m not aware of a specific reason for this e.g. a disease or threat to biosecurity, so would assume a lack of interest from zoos (I’m open to correction here).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Their reproductive lifespan (especially that of the female) would be shorter than that though - probably mid to late teens for a regularly breeding female. Early teens is about as late as you’d want to leave first time breeding and even then, chances may not be great. She’s 11 and well past her reproductive prime.
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They would presumably be past their prime, with with a life span that reaches 30, if predict there would be enough time to breed, not that in an exoert
 
Zoofan15 said:
Aardvarks are not on the live import list and there's no IRA in place to allow them to be imported. I’m not aware of a specific reason for this e.g. a disease or threat to biosecurity, so would assume a lack of interest from zoos (I’m open to correction here).
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Well that’s actually good news. This means that if you are right, Werribee could express interest and get them added to the list(not saying that’s gonna happen)
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
They would presumably be past their prime, with with a life span that reaches 30, if predict there would be enough time to breed, not that in an exoert
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Females can conceive as young as eight months of age, so at 11 years old, Nina is well last her prime. Maximum lifespan is around 25 years, so there’s no harm in trying to breed from her if that was an option. It’s regrettable they don’t intend to.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Females can conceive as young as eight months of age, so at 11 years old, Nina is well last her prime. Maximum lifespan is around 25 years, so there’s no harm in trying to breed from her if that was an option. It’s regrettable they don’t intend to.
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Is there a chance that both females could breed. Albeit past their prime, I certainly wouldn’t count it out. If the male isn’t castrated it would be foolish not to
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Is there a chance that both females could breed. Albeit past their prime, I certainly wouldn’t count it out. If the male isn’t castrated it would be foolish not to
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I thought Messi was a female, but she’s a male so they have 2.1 Collared peccary:

1.0 Messi (2010)
1.0 Jabali (2012)
0.1 Nina (2012)

I don’t know what their reproductive status is sorry.
 
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