Healesville Sanctuary Healesville Sanctuary News

The Sleepy Hippo said:
And of all the Zoos Vic's zoos, Healesville Sanctuary would possibly be the best to start a Night Tour at. So many of our species are technically nocturnal and would be FAR better viewed at night when active.
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I mean, I get what you’re saying but I don’t personally agree. Our natives being nocturnal is a great point, and it makes sense for them to be incorporated into a night safari, but an exclusively native safari probably wouldn’t be worth the investment. I’d rather see a new facility, potentially Geelong as stated be out towards a night safari with exotics and natives
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I mean, I get what you’re saying but I don’t personally agree. Our natives being nocturnal is a great point, and it makes sense for them to be incorporated into a night safari, but an exclusively native safari probably wouldn’t be worth the investment. I’d rather see a new facility, potentially Geelong as stated be out towards a night safari with exotics and natives
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It's not really a big investment. It would be the equivalent of running any of their Animal Encounters.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
I think a new large aviary with a flock of critically endangered Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos would be amazing. (There are a couple newly homed in the great flight aviary at MZ).

I lived for several years in Edenhope in the West Wimmera and would frequently walk a bush track up above Lake Wallace where you could reliably see flocks of RTBC at around 4pm. They are utterly gorgeous, looking spectacular when in flight, and have (what I describe as) the most melodious screech of all cockatoos.

Healesville would be perfect to house and breed this critically endangered (and gorgeous) bird!

**Clarification**
I am speaking South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) which has only an estimated 500-1000 left, and is only found in South-eastern SA - South-western Victoria.
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Having seen a few of this subspecies in the Little Desert late last year I would have to agree they are an awesome bird for sure.
 
Can someone confirm that Healesville do not have Cassowaries? Seems like the best location for Zillie to me if not
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Can someone confirm that Healesville do not have Cassowaries? Seems like the best location for Zillie to me if not
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That is correct. HS do not have Cassos at the moment. But I also think that we may have to accept that Zillie may well be a long term fixture in the Rainforest walk as much as many would rather have Mandrills or something along those lines. I can’t see MZ moving her across to HS anytime soon given that they have modified that enclosure with her in mind.
 
Josh F said:
That is correct. HS do not have Cassos at the moment. But I also think that we may have to accept that Zillie may well be a long term fixture in the Rainforest walk as much as many would rather have Mandrills or something along those lines. I can’t see MZ moving her across to HS anytime soon given that they have modified that enclosure with her in mind.
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A very attractive species so I hope they are in the plans. Just, not in MZ’s African Rainforest…
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
A very attractive species so I hope they are in the plans. Just, not in MZ’s African Rainforest…
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It’s hardly an African rainforest really, half of the Apes/Monkeys aren’t from the African continent which is all part of that same walk. It’s really only the Gorillas and Lemurs that make it ‘African’ even the reptiles and birds along the path aren’t African species.
 
If it is to become an African rainforest wouldn't several of the tree top walk inmates need to be relocated too?

Josh F said:
That is correct. HS do not have Cassos at the moment. But I also think that we may have to accept that Zillie may well be a long term fixture in the Rainforest walk as much as many would rather have Mandrills or something along those lines. I can’t see MZ moving her across to HS anytime soon given that they have modified that enclosure with her in mind.
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I'd love to see Zillie returned to the GFA, and for several to be housed at Healesville too.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
If it is to become an African rainforest wouldn't several of the tree top walk inmates need to be relocated too?



I'd love to see Zillie returned to the GFA, and for several to be housed at Healesville too.
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I think the GFA space probably wouldn’t pass husbandry guidelines these days because it was a relatively small space that she was able to walk in. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing the second Tassie Devil enclosure in the native section turned into an enclosure for her but I can’t see it happening any time soon. HS should definitely get at least another one. I reckon those front two pens, the first one which originally held a Casso and the second one which holds Emus could be used for a Casso breeding pair perhaps.
 
Josh F said:
That is correct. HS do not have Cassos at the moment. But I also think that we may have to accept that Zillie may well be a long term fixture in the Rainforest walk as much as many would rather have Mandrills or something along those lines. I can’t see MZ moving her across to HS anytime soon given that they have modified that enclosure with her in mind.
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The Sleepy Hippo said:
If it is to become an African rainforest wouldn't several of the tree top walk inmates need to be relocated too?



I'd love to see Zillie returned to the GFA, and for several to be housed at Healesville too.
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Zillie will probably remain at Melbourne; I don’t see her moving to Healesville anytime soon.

Recently found out Healesville haven’t had them since 2019 when their last individual died. In saying that, we can’t forget Kyabram also has some cassowaries too.

Josh F said:
I think the GFA space probably wouldn’t pass husbandry guidelines these days because it was a relatively small space that she was able to walk in. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing the second Tassie Devil enclosure in the native section turned into an enclosure for her but I can’t see it happening any time soon. HS should definitely get at least another one. I reckon those front two pens, the first one which originally held a Casso and the second one which holds Emus could be used for a Casso breeding pair perhaps.
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The GFA enclosure is certainly of amiable size for her. It’s almost of similar size to her current enclosure so it’s not that much of a difference.

The second Tassie Devil enclosure is tiny. I assume you mean it’ll be used to link in with the GFA part?

Cassowary should definitely return to Healesville, and I think they will eventually. Perhaps a purpose built complex for them would be best.
 
Josh F said:
It’s hardly an African rainforest really, half of the Apes/Monkeys aren’t from the African continent which is all part of that same walk. It’s really only the Gorillas and Lemurs that make it ‘African’ even the reptiles and birds along the path aren’t African species.
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I didn’t even know there were reptiles tbh. Pygmy hippos, gorillas, 2 species of lemurs seems pretty African to me. I kinda count treetop apes and monkeys as a mini precinct. I know it’s on the same walk, but it’s not really gorilla rainforest
 
Jambo said:
Zillie will probably remain at Melbourne; I don’t see her moving to Healesville anytime soon.

Recently found out Healesville haven’t had them since 2019 when their last individual died. In saying that, we can’t forget Kyabram also has some cassowaries too.


The GFA enclosure is certainly of amiable size for her. It’s almost of similar size to her current enclosure so it’s not that much of a difference.

The second Tassie Devil enclosure is tiny. I assume you mean it’ll be used to link in with the GFA part?

Cassowary should definitely return to Healesville, and I think they will eventually. Perhaps a purpose built complex for them would be best.
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Combining the area of the Lace Monitor enclosure and the Tassie devil enclosure could form quite an impressive display for a Casso or two.
 
Jambo said:
Zillie will probably remain at Melbourne; I don’t see her moving to Healesville anytime soon.

Recently found out Healesville haven’t had them since 2019 when their last individual died. In saying that, we can’t forget Kyabram also has some cassowaries too.


The GFA enclosure is certainly of amiable size for her. It’s almost of similar size to her current enclosure so it’s not that much of a difference.

The second Tassie Devil enclosure is tiny. I assume you mean it’ll be used to link in with the GFA part?

Cassowary should definitely return to Healesville, and I think they will eventually. Perhaps a purpose built complex for them would be best.
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Josh F said:
Combining the area of the Lace Monitor enclosure and the Tassie devil enclosure could form quite an impressive display for a Casso or two.
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Holding Southern cassowary at Healesville and phasing them out of Melbourne Zoo is commonsense imo.

Though I’m sure most of us would agree cassowaries are more exciting than a Koala or a kangaroo, the average international tourist is more aware of (and excited by) these two species and wouldn’t necessarily miss cassowary.

I’d assess international interest as follows:

Category One:

Koala
Kangaroo
Saltwater crocodile

Category Two:

Dingo
Tasmanian devil
Wombat
Platypus
Quokka

Category Three:

Cassowary
Kookaburra
Echidna
 
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Zoofan15 said:
Holding Southern cassowary at Healesville and phasing them out of Melbourne Zoo is commonsense imo.

Though I’m sure most of us would agree cassowaries are more exciting than a Koala or a kangaroo, the average international tourist is more aware of (and excited by) these two species and wouldn’t necessarily miss cassowary.

I’d assess international interest as follows:

Category One:

Koala
Kangaroo
Saltwater crocodile

Category Two:

Tasmanian devil
Wombat
Platypus
Quokka

Category Three:

Cassowary
Kookaburra
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Tbf I’d move platypus up a tier because of their rarity, but seems about right. Echidna and dingo would also be tier 3
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Tbf I’d move platypus up a tier because of their rarity, but seems about right. Echidna and dingo would also be tier 3
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I’ve added in Echidna and Dingo. I’d actually put Dingo as Category Two. They’re popular with international tourists and in the same league as Tasmanian devil and Wombat in terms of how iconic they are. My tiers of popularity would look very different and include pinnipeds for a start.
 
Let's not forget that international visitors only make up about 10% of MZ visitors each year.
I wouldn't use their interest as a basis of which Australian fauna are held.

Cassowaries would be one if not two tiers higher if talking the 90% that are domestic visitors.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Let's not forget that international visitors only make up about 10% of MZ visitors each year.
I wouldn't use their interest as a basis of which Australian fauna are held.

Cassowaries would be one if not two tiers higher if talking the 90% that are domestic visitors.
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Which is simultaneously further evidence that cassowaries shouldn’t be held at MZ, and very little natives as well
 
Cassowaries should be kept at MZ. They are one of the best native species we currently have displayed there. I just also think we should have a breeding pair or more at Healesville.

I'd like Healesville to have regionally themed areas.
One for the Daintree with an aviary for birds found there, Tree kangaroos and cassowary.
A tasmanian section etc.
 
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