There wouldn’t be enough space for a medium or large exhibit. This was the site of the old Eastern bongo exhibit, with half then taken up by expanding the zebra exhibit into this area.
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Jambo
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There wouldn’t be enough space for a medium or large exhibit. This was the site of the old Eastern bongo exhibit, with half then taken up by expanding the zebra exhibit into this area.
It's only a small, narrow piece of the former Bongo enclosure that's left. It would suit a smaller species (like Peccary).
Thinking African theming though; it could be a suitable site for a mixed species enclosure containing Meerkat and Crested Porcupine. That's about it though imo.
PaddyRickMFZ
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There did still seem to be a decent amount of space near the baboons though, in fact most members of the public were looking inside the fence to try and find something, but it was of course to no avail
Like @Jambo said, there’d be room for a small species. Some zoos breed Cape porcupine off display, so off display exhibits for this species could be a good use for it, with the offspring going on display elsewhere once born.
Night monkeys on the night tour (at night 
):
As previously discussed re. Malayan tapir, it’d be nice if Melbourne had a handful of exhibits that were only utilised at night - for the purpose of introducing some novelty to the night tour beyond felids which are more active at night etc.
One idea I had was Night monkey. They’re being acquired by Wildlife HQ in the near future and as the world’s only truly nocturnal monkey, will surely be an exciting addition to their night tour.
Melbourne could easily acquire this species from the research labs (as Wildlife HQ will presumably do) and it’d add some variety to their South American collection - albeit not as dramatic as the regrettable phase outs, Jaguar and Maned wolf.
): As previously discussed re. Malayan tapir, it’d be nice if Melbourne had a handful of exhibits that were only utilised at night - for the purpose of introducing some novelty to the night tour beyond felids which are more active at night etc.
One idea I had was Night monkey. They’re being acquired by Wildlife HQ in the near future and as the world’s only truly nocturnal monkey, will surely be an exciting addition to their night tour.
Melbourne could easily acquire this species from the research labs (as Wildlife HQ will presumably do) and it’d add some variety to their South American collection - albeit not as dramatic as the regrettable phase outs, Jaguar and Maned wolf.
Yes it does look like an enclosure actually! It would suit two or three Nyala imo, so maybe that's where they were planned to go.
The enclosure being narrow would certainly be useful for some off display exhibits too. I'd struggle to see Crested Porcupines having access to the whole enclosure, its much too large for a small species like them.
Cape porcupine are apparently quite selective in who they breed with, so multiple exhibits could allow multiple pairings to be formed; though they’re not an endangered species and how many porcupettes does a zoo want to breed?
A pair or trio of Lowland nyala might work well. If there was more space to install a body of water, I’d prefer to see Sitatunga; but these would be better accommodated at Werribee, where they’d have space to exhibit them in the swamp habitat I proposed earlier in this thread.
austrlain zoo gower
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binturong or mouse deer could go in the old bongo exibit
PaddyRickMFZ
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Given the waterhole precinct soon being added to Werribee, the sitatunga prospect could actually eventuate. It would only be common sense to implement them. Re. The Nyala, would 1-2 bongo fit that area? Or is the consensus between us they should eventually replace zebra. Also, I don’t see cape porcupine happening given they are likely coming to Werribee, where there will be ample space for as many pairs as you could want
PaddyRickMFZ
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I like the prospect of both of those species, but replacing the squirrel monkey (with a possible expansion?) seems like the appropriate place for them
I’d favour Eastern bongo replacing zebra. Eastern bongo alongside Lowland nyala would lessen the appeal of the nyala from the visitor perspective; and the nyala are well suited to a mixed species exhibit at Werribee.
Extensive modifications would be needed to accommodate both species. I'd prefer for Binturongs to return back to their previous enclosure if they were to return.
The former Bongo enclosure was deemed to small, and considering it's been cut down further in size, Bongo would be unsuitable for the exhibit. They'd be better suited for the current Zebra enclosure which is around three times the size and gives them the space they need.
If Werribee are to obtain Crested Porcupine there's no reason why Melbourne might not be looking into obtaining them in the near future too. They're a species to watch out for going forward.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I personally see it unlikely that the species would be held at both zoos, bruh that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to happen. I’d love to see porcupine, Aardvark and Fennec fox etc. occupy that area next to what we hope will become a mini Congo precinct. More than possible that they move the Pygmy hippos out and put them there, to be replaced by something else
Aardvark aren’t on the live import list and there’s no IRA for them, so a shared Cape porcupine/Slender-tailed meerkat exhibit is the best we can hope for. They’re often paired as they can cohabit and are found in the same geographic area.
Zoos Victoria love double ups within Melbourne Zoo alone, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see a double up of Cape porcupine breeding at Werribee; with a single male held at Melbourne.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I more meant adding them to the live import list, which wouldn’t be overly difficult. Could make or break an area like that imo
They'd make a great addition I agree. I'm not aware of a specific reason why they can't be added to the live import risk once an IRA is in place.
I would just assume the Hippopotamus, Bovid IRA's were seen as greater priorities (for obvious reasons); with the Giraffidae IRA likely to follow (unconfirmed at this stage, but probable). Only one IRA will be completed at a time.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I don’t see it hapoening
for a while, but an anteater IRA of Aardvark, Giant Anteater and Tamandua could be very interesting for our proposed precincts
I agree. In terms of visitor appeal, a Giant anteater would be second only to Jaguar amongst zoo enthusiasts; and third in appeal to the general public after Jaguar and Maned wolf. All three species would make for a first rate South American precinct.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
And Tamandua are quite an under appreciated species, and would be great for diversifying the canopy, apart from primates, coatis and birds. I forgot to mention armadillos, which we know are very popular with the public, and silky anteater is a species I only just discovered then! Seems very interesting
Three-banded armadillo are held in several North American zoos. Not sure they’d go to the effort of importing them, but theoretically are a nice idea.
I really do think the ZAA should reconsider the Jaguar phase out. I find it hard to believe there wouldn’t be multiple zoos who’d consider acquiring this charismatic species if there was an opportunity to do so. The melanistic vairiant gives you two for the price of one in the minds of the general public, who regard black panthers with as much reverence of the white tiger - they’re major crowd pullers.
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