austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
yeah I can do multiple, I think I will do the elephant and orangutan behind the scenes thanks for the advice
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Jambo
- Start date
- Status
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a great ideayeah I can do multiple, I think I will do the elephant and orangutan behind the scenes thanks for the advice
If Europe are indeed phasing them out - it would help to send some over here wouldn't it?
If Europe are indeed phasing them out - it would help to send some over here wouldn't it?
It's hard to say. I imagine most facilities will be clinging to their remaining coati, knowing they can never get more. This isn't a phase out of the zoo's choice (where they're keen to offload the species andmove on).
I also should have mentioned the ban came into effect in 2016, so for a species that can breed in it's second year and lives an average of 10 years, the available coati would be well past their prime.
I would choose WORZ over MZ every single time, and so would most people I know. I've taken many, many people to both over the years and virtually all of them prefer WORZ. The reasons they give tend to be:
1. It's bigger and they like the wide open space
2. The enclosures are far bigger and better
3. There are bigger, more high profile animals (rhinos, the savannah exhibit etc)
4. There is a lot of native wildlife at WORZ (many, many bird species, lizards, wallabies etc)
5. The drive down the highway is a bit of an adventure in itself - it feels like you're going somewhere special out of the city.
6. MZ's "small" elephant complex is a turn-off to a lot of people (and of course this is being addressed as we know)
7. They like the borrowed landscape concept (ie where you can see gorillas behind the monkeys, oryx behind the cheetah, ostrich behind the hippos etc)
8. And one for the kids, the kids interactive play spaces are better at WORZ than the ones at MZ.
This is just my own personal experience - ie what the people I've gone with have told me. It may be different for other people. I even know some people who will gladly visit WORZ as it is known as an "open range" zoo, whereas they won't visit MZ because they don't like "zoos".
None of this means that MZ isn't a good zoo or a great zoo, but from the people I've spoken to (and who have been to both), virtually all prefer WORZ.
It’s good to hear your opinion and that of others. Werribee has some high profile species, though up until now I’d say Melbourne has been comparable. This my assessment of the main and secondary (mammal) attractions at each facility:
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Main attractions:
Western lowland gorilla
African lion
Common hippopotamus
Secondary attractions:
Giraffe
Southern white rhinoceros
African wild dog
Cheetah
Przewalski’s horse
Melbourne Zoo
Main attractions:
Asian elephant
African lion
Snow leopard
Western lowland gorilla
Orangutan
Secondary attractions:
Giraffe
Pinnipeds
Pygmy hippopotamus
Hamadryas baboon
In my mind, the turning point will be Melbourne conceding elephants to Werribee; along with Werribee acquiring hyena.
It's interesting - because yours is the opinion of a zoo enthusiast. My list is the opinion of the public (albeit a public with at least a bit of an interest in zoos). The most notable thing about these two list though is:
The first list (mine) contains hardly anything about the animal species on display, and more about virtually everything else.
The second is 100% about the animal species on display.
It's such a notable thing (neither a good a bad thing - just noticeable).
Melbourne have much more main attractions imo:
Gorilla
Sumatran Tigers
Orangutan
Asian Elephants
Giraffe
Seals
Snow Leopards
African Lions
That's not to mention the primate collection WORZ lacks.
I think the difference really comes with time and species to see. You can easily do Werribee in two hours, whereas it takes at least another hour or two to loop your way around Melbourne. Melbourne's extensive gardens also provide places to take long rests and general breaks - also something Werribee dosen't have. I do agree Werribee is more kid focused, but this is (I think) to make up for the lack of species). Kids will get bored after seeing all eleven species on the Main Trail in less than an hour.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Very interesting and cool that you have had that experience! I’m quite the opposite. I have a lot of acquaintances who are both zoo and non-zoo people, and the general consensus among us is that MZ is superior to WORZ. That’s not to say that will always be the case. WORZ’s best attribute is also ins one ways it’s worse. While the enclosures are beautiful and large, the animal collection pales inc comparison to MZ’s of course and therefore it is generally preferred. I am of the belief that WORZ could very soon overtake MZ after this expansion, but that is dependent on the new walking trails and the waterhole(which you would know more about than anyone). Although my dream of Nepalese and South American precincts will likely never eventuate, those 2 would definitely push it over the edge imo. I am hoping Elephants are the first step to a Werribee ‘coup’ of its cross town father zoo
Internationally, Melbourne Zoo has a much higher reputation. Nobody in New Zealand knows who Werribee Open Range Zoo are and they’ve long played second fiddle to Australia’s other open range zoos, which have more impressive collections.
I don’t expect this to change until the elephants transfer across. Operating one of the best elephant complexes in the world will surely put Werribee on the map and attract international visitors, which from what I’ve seen choose Melbourne over Werribee if staying for only a week or two.
Another note on Werribee versus Melbourne is that Melbourne has a long and impressive history with felids. Even though their collection has dwindled to African lion, Sumatran tiger and Snow leopard; it still exceeds Werribee in terms of attraction, which hold African lion, Cheetah and Serval - despite claims they're "crazy about cats." 
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
imo option I would visit MZ every day of the week, the only reason I would visit werabee would be when they get there elephant, and hyenas or if you were a big fan of African animals, Melbourne Zoo has animals from Asia, you still get to see animals from Africa, gorilla, giraffe, zebra, baboon ( Werribee doesn't have,) lion and pygmy hippo, and colobus.
Plus Melbourne Zoo grounds are one of the best in the world with beautiful foliage from all over the globe in a Melbourne climate
Plus Melbourne Zoo grounds are one of the best in the world with beautiful foliage from all over the globe in a Melbourne climate
Last edited:
Long term, Werribee will be wise to diversify (the Asian elephants and Bison are a good start). Even with the Bovid IRA, we’re very limited as a region as to what we can import and can never match the quality and diversity of African centric zoos overseas. I doubt they have Indian antelope on their savannahs.
Sitatunga swamp:
Looking at the species on the live import list, only Nilgai represent a represent a different content to Africa; but even within these constraints, there’s room to be creative.
African doesn’t end with the Savannah. Sitatunga are also known as the Marshbuck and inhabit swamps. Werribee could easily create an exhibit featuring a boardwalk passing over a swamp - a short walking trail to showcase this underrated ungulate in a unique setting.
Looking at the species on the live import list, only Nilgai represent a represent a different content to Africa; but even within these constraints, there’s room to be creative.
African doesn’t end with the Savannah. Sitatunga are also known as the Marshbuck and inhabit swamps. Werribee could easily create an exhibit featuring a boardwalk passing over a swamp - a short walking trail to showcase this underrated ungulate in a unique setting.
This is really interesting in itself:
Perception is reality in a lot of ways, but when you dig deep and have a really good look at WORZ vs Monarto, I think they actually have a very similar "list" (to put it in footy team terms):
Monarto (according to their website) displays 18 species of mammal.
WORZ displays 21 species of mammal.
Okay, so number of species is not that important at all in my view - but the fact is that WORZ displays more species than Monarto.
What is more important though is which species are displayed - so here are the numbers:
Displayed at WORZ only:
Gorilla
Vervet Monkey
Hippo
Serval
Koala
Grey Kangaroo
Tamar Wallaby
Camel
Displayed at Monarto only:
Chimpanzee
Black Rhino
Hyena
Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby
Tasmanian Devil
African Porcupine
Displayed at both:
Giraffe
Zebra
White Rhino
Lion
Cape Hunting Dog
Cheetah
Oryx
Blackbuck
Bison
Meerkat
Nyala
Prezwalski Horse
Obviously not all of these "point of difference" species mean that much to most people, but if you look at the big names it really comes down to:
Gorilla, Hippo, Vervet Monkey & Serval
vs
Chimpanzee, Black Rhino, Hyena & Tasmanian Devil
Who wins this? Well I don't know - but to me this seems very evenly matched...
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
In your comparison right there, Monarto would seem to take the edge, but when you consider the WORZ apparently plan to introduce Spotted Hyena and Cape Porcupine, Monarto’s point of difference dwindles. Also, I believe WORZ have bison, anole cattle(maybe not for long), and Waterbuck, not to mention an entire new walking trail and many other precincts featuring Elephants. I personally prefer WORZ over Monarto, but MZ over both.
Thanks for taking the time to write up these lists. I agree in terms of species Monarto and Werribee are very comparable. I think what gives Monarto the edge is the sheer size of their exhibits and the numbers in the groups.
Monarto hold the largest lion pride in Australia; Werribee have a trio;
Werribee hold five bachelor bull giraffe; Monarto have a herd of around 20 giraffe and regularly breed.
Werribee have a bachelor troop of three male gorillas; Monarto have the second largest chimpanzee troop in the region with several infants.
Through no fault of their own, Werribee’s Southern white rhinoceros herd haven’t bred in over a decade; Monarto have had several calves.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I agree that with the space at their disposal, WORZ need to increase their holding capacity, but they have indicated that with an expansion of the lion enclosure. Also, WORZ’s a gorilla exhibit is quite big, and they should easily fit more in. With the hopeful phase out of Guraffes from MZ it could mean WORZ may one day rival those numbers
I don't include cattle - they don't count.
I also didn't include things like waterbuck or addax as they aren't really on display in any real way.
I did include bison though - they are displayed at both zoos.
I love both WORZ and Monarto and I find them really hard to split - I love both for different reasons (they are my favourite and second favourite zoos in Australia - even though neither display my favourite species).
Giraffes should definitely move from Melbourne to Werribee. There’s really no reason Werribee can’t hold a breeding herd and it’d free up a lot of space at Melbourne for the sake of phasing out a species that is only low key interesting to the visitors (we’ve all seen a giraffe before).
I’d like to see Werribee hold a breeding troop of gorillas. The exhibit offers them more privacy than Melbourne and I can’t help but feel Otana (who like many silverbacks is sensitive to public intrusion) would have done better here. Melbourne can hold bachelor males.
- Status