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

[Jambo]

You should know my opinion on domestic species by now and I couldn’t agree more. The problem is the fact that the general public come to Australian zoos hellbent on seeing a kangaroo. They likely wouldn’t consider that, as much as u would love it. Considering 4 zoos in Victoria hold said species I’m not sure why they are regarded so highly wothin

Again, international tourists. They want to see a Koala. They want to see a Kangaroo. The main zoos have to accomodate this.

I’m sure it would be a similar story if you visited a Chinese zoo expecting to see a Panda and it turns out they don’t have one.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

You should know my opinion on domestic species by now and I couldn’t agree more. The problem is the fact that the general public come to Australian zoos hellbent on seeing a kangaroo. They likely wouldn’t consider that, as much as u would love it. Considering 4 zoos in Victoria hold said species I’m not sure why they are regarded so highly wothin

There are bus trips from cruise ships to Healesville. There would still be Australian species to see, like Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus, Wombat, Quokka, maybe echidna, and a cassowary... just not the coat of arms...

 

[Jambo]

I am meaning that the deadspace between the rotunda and Leopard Lodge could be converted from deadspace to keeper areas. There is a redundant path to nowhere between the cafe and the lodge and the back of the devils. This is wasted public access area that has little use. The area around the rotunda between it and the toilets and south lawn could remain, but the path and space beyond could all be fenced/built over for keeper space behind the devils current enclosure.

That’s true but isn’t a very small/skinny amount of space. Don’t know what else they could add there that’s substantial enough; even a Komodo Dragon enclosure.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

There would certainly be enough room in the Carnivores precinct to build a decent sized exhibit for a single Komodo dragon. With several zoos in the region holding breeding pairs, it may be beneficial to have Melbourne Zoo as a non breeding holder.

If they want to breed them however, my vote would be for the Malayan tapir/Collared peccary exhibit space. I don’t know the exact dimensions, but it’s more than big enough to build two large Komodo dragon exhibits and keeper facilities. Given we’ve yet to identify any standout idea of what could replace the tapir/peccaries in this space, I’d suggest Komodo dragon are the best option to date.

Odds of probability are that the peccaries will outlive the tapir by five years, so it may be best to replace the tapir with “something exciting” like a Tasmanian devil that can easily move out once the peccaries pass. Then take the opportunity to redevelop the whole area.

The elephants will leave the biggest hole in the collection, which funding should be prioritised for versus the tapir/peccary row, which is a lower priority and can wait another decade.

With that in mind, they could delay acquiring Komodo dragon until this time - which would also allow time to assess whether the breeding of hatchlings at the ARP (a regional first) was a fluke or the genesis of a successful breeding programme; and therefore whether Melbourne are needed as a breeding facility.

Semangka should live at least another decade, so unless she is moved within the next couple of years I don’t see anything happening until then

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

There are bus trips from cruise ships to Healesville. There would still be Australian species to see, like Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus, Wombat, Quokka, maybe echidna, and a cassowary... just not the coat of arms...

Sorry I didn’t articulate that very well. I am very much on your side. I’m just not sure if the zoo would be

 

[Jambo]

There are bus trips from cruise ships to Healesville. There would still be Australian species to see, like Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus, Wombat, Quokka, maybe echidna, and a cassowary... just not the coat of arms...

But it takes up a lot of time. That’s 2 hours there, 2 hours back. Pretty much a whole day trip. Especially as some may only be here for a few days, they’d prefer the close proximity of Melbourne where they can spend half a day there.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

It’s a small area so even if they took away everything else (besides the GFA) they’d only be left with something big enough for a very small complex.

It wouldn't need to be small, as it could actually include the leftover Australian bush area, the Hamadryas Babboon enclosure, the Tapir/Peccaries enclosure, and that small part of lawn between RH and Tap/Pec

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Sorry I didn’t articulate that very well. I am very much on your side. I’m just not sure if the zoo would be

I realise, I was just illustrating that they won't be without enabling and ambassador species, just not the coat of arms

 

[Zoofan15]

There are bus trips from cruise ships to Healesville. There would still be Australian species to see, like Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus, Wombat, Quokka, maybe echidna, and a cassowary... just not the coat of arms...

What they should ideally go for with regards to natives is the bare minimum at Melbourne; above and beyond at Healesville.

The international market will come to Melbourne Zoo and come away complaining that one of Australia’s most prestigious zoos didn’t even have a Kangaroo/Koala/Emu. You could probably add Dingo and Wombat to this list of must haves.

Anything beyond that is unnecessary and by housing them at Healesville, you encourage visitors to visit both.

 

[Jambo]

It wouldn't need to be small, as it could actually include the leftover Australian bush area, the Hamadryas Babboon enclosure, the Tapir/Peccaries enclosure, and that small part of lawn between RH and Tap/Pec

That’s a good amount of space then. Especially if they get rid of the Giraffes and Zebra too.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Or if we really insist that lazy tourists need be accommodated I'd place the emu and kangaroo on the south lawn.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

That’s a good amount of space then. Especially if they get rid of the Giraffes and Zebra too.

What is all this space going to?

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

But it takes up a lot of time. That’s 2 hours there, 2 hours back. Pretty much a whole day trip. Especially as some may only be here for a few days, they’d prefer the close proximity of Melbourne where they can spend half a day there.

I think the cruise bus tours include visiting the Yarra Valley when they go to Healesville.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

What is all this space going to?

Well that would depend of what happens to TOTE and Wild Seas...

 

[Zoofan15]

So in the space of this evening’s chat, we’ve gone to demolishing peccary/tapir row, Wild Seas and the giraffe/zebra paddocks, TOTE, a Hamadryas baboon exhibit, the Tasmanian devil exhibit and unused lawn space.

That escalated quickly!

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Well that would depend of what happens to TOTE and Wild Seas...

I just meant that you included all that space so you must have had somewhat of a plan in mind. Is it an entirely new precinct? Potentially set in either America? Or even both…

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

So in the space of this evening’s chat, we’ve gone to demolishing peccary/tapir row, Wild Seas and the giraffe/zebra paddocks, TOTE, a Hamadryas baboon exhibit, the Tasmanian devil exhibit and unused lawn space.

That escalated quickly!

Welcome to the speculation thread

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

So in the space of this evening’s chat, we’ve gone to demolishing peccary/tapir row, Wild Seas and the giraffe/zebra paddocks, TOTE, a Hamadryas baboon exhibit, the Tasmanian devil exhibit and unused lawn space.

That escalated quickly!

Hamdryas/giraffe enclosures don't necessarily need be demolished but could be a part of a precinct depending on what goes there.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Maybe this is where I fit in my chimpanzee friends
Or if TOTE does see a majority orangutan expansion, this could be a place for bears...

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I just meant that you included all that space so you must have had somewhat of a plan in mind. Is it an entirely new precinct? Potentially set in either America? Or even both…

Well I had originally thought a good while back that this could be a South American rainforest precinct, keeping with the rainforest theme across that side of the Zoo. (My reduced Australian precinct potentially being renamed to Daintree Rainforest)
But then when it was discussed that Wild Seas could be converted to a Tropical dome to house South American species, which I quite love. Until yesterday I did not realise that Wild Seas may have a use by date. I had expressed the idea of ZV opening a new site as a ZV Aquarium site, but I had not actually thought Wild Seas would actually go any time soon.
Then again, TOTE was built and opened only 20 years ago so if Wild Seas goes in 10 years time it wouldn't be unprecedented.