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

[PaddyRickMFZ]

There’s no Xenarthra IRA to my knowledge and sadly, it will be a long way off. The Hippopotamus IRA is next, with most people agreeing Giraffidae will follow. The latter will at least allow the import of Okapi - something I’m hoping Taronga and Melbourne will collaborate on.

I’m aware of that. If the hippo IRA finished in 2024, the giraffes may only tak 2 more years, and since MZ expressed interest in Xenarthra they could easily follow, and I can’t imagine an aardvark IRA would take that long

 

[Zoofan15]

I’m aware of that. If the hippo IRA finished in 2024, the giraffes may only tak 2 more years, and since MZ expressed interest in Xenarthra they could easily follow, and I can’t imagine an aardvark IRA would take that long

New Zealand has recently completed their Giraffe/Okapi IRA, so some of the information in that may be helpful in completing one for Australia. The Xenarthra IRA is uncharted territory for both - but should be comparatively simple as it doesn’t pertain to livestock biosecurity in the way ungulate species do.

 

[Jambo]

Please tell me you are kidding! AARDVARK, GIANT ANTEATER, SUN BEAR, KOMODO DRAGON and SPOTTED HYENA! We got stuck with a Tassie devil, why is that a new one. The coati didn’t have a perfectly good exhibit already, and the Sumatran tiger isn’t held elsewhere in the zoo. I’m desperately hoping that if IRA’s are completely for Xenarthra and Aardvarkia or some **** then it may be reconsidered for the carnivore precinct. Would you consider it a possibility? I have been a thorough advocate for both species. aardvarks are subtly popular, and giant anteaters are infamous for being the weirdest animal in the world. Sun bear is extremely popular and I wouldn’t put it past Melbourne to consider them as a replacement(albeit if they do they’ll just build another lion exhibit and some meerkat exhibits).

I agree. There’s a lot that went under the raft and would’ve made the precinct (and Melbourne) so much better as a collection. Instead we ended up with a whole bunch of double ups. Growing Wild was also one that had very high expectations amongst the zoo community and we saw how that turned out.

I’m confident Sun Bears will be considered going forward as a replacement for the elephants. The lack of individual availability is likely why they were scrapped but if there are individuals valuable going forward I see no reason why Melbourne won’t pursue them.

Thanks for ruining my day at the thought of an amazing zoo that was unbelievably close to eventuating. Also, where would the giant anteater and aardvark have been held?

Not sure, but I imagine Melbourne would’ve likely acquired just one or the other and possibly given them an enclosure around where the Coati are now. That would’ve still left space for Sun Bears, Snow Leopards and Komodos as was the plan; with Sun Bears where the Tigers are and Komodos around the Tasmanian Devil area.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Theo

I agree. There’s a lot that went under the raft and would’ve made the precinct (and Melbourne) so much better as a collection. Instead we ended up with a whole bunch of double ups. Growing Wild was also one that had very high expectations amongst the zoo community and we saw how that turned out.

I’m confident Sun Bears will be considered going forward as a replacement for the elephants. The lack of individual availability is likely why they were scrapped but if there are individuals valuable going forward I see no reason why Melbourne won’t pursue them.


Not sure, but I imagine Melbourne would’ve likely acquired just one or the other and possibly given them an enclosure around where the Coati are now. That would’ve still left space for Sun Bears, Snow Leopards and Komodos as was the plan; with Sun Bears where the Tigers are and Komodos around the Tasmanian Devil area.

Theoretically that would still allow space for both species. Aardvarks in between the lions and dingos, and anteater in that area as you stated. I also wish there was a species below the path there. Having clouded leopard where the coati are and giant anteater below the path is pretty interesting. Now, I know im gonna regret this later but please tell me why everyone thought Growing Wild would be great… last time I checked kookaburras, tortoises and meerkats aren’t exactly alluring

 

[Zoofan15]

Now, I know im gonna regret this later but please tell me why everyone thought Growing Wild would be great… last time I checked kookaburras, tortoises and meerkats aren’t exactly alluring

Slender-tailed meerkats are considered highly enabling (along with otters etc). I imagine they and the tortoises found favour for being conspicuous species you’re guaranteed to see.

Kids haven’t got the attention span to spend any length of time searching for an animal; and they make a hell of a lot of noise, so you don’t want a species that will run for cover as soon as they hear the kids coming.

Growing Wild was a nice idea in theory (and sounds perfectly engaging when hyped up in an annual report); but in reality, I agree it’s something we’d all like to see scrapped.

 

[Zoofan15]

Theoretically that would still allow space for both species. Aardvarks in between the lions and dingos, and anteater in that area as you stated. I also wish there was a species below the path there. Having clouded leopard where the coati are and giant anteater below the path is pretty interesting.

I really wish Melbourne Zoo would follow some sort of geographic theming. With the exception of Australian natives, there’s very little theming beyond biomes e.g. rainforest.

I’m not sure if Zoos Victoria think they’re being clever (since zoos have been arranging exhibits by continent for years), but tbh it just comes across as jumbled and detracts from their attempts to immerse people in a geographic zone. Auckland excel at this - with a safari track (African precinct), jungle track (South East Asian precinct) etc.

The import of sloths and anteater would add value to a South American precinct - which could include Maned wolf; and we’ve already identified Sloth bear housed in conjunction with Dhole etc.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I really wish Melbourne Zoo would follow some sort of geographic theming. With the exception of Australian natives, there’s very little theming beyond biomes e.g. rainforest.

I’m not sure if Zoos Victoria think they’re being clever (since zoos have been arranging exhibits by continent for years), but tbh it just comes across as jumbled and detracts from their attempts to immerse people in a geographic zone. Auckland excel at this - with a safari track (African precinct), jungle track (South East Asian precinct) etc.

The import of sloths and anteater would add value to a South American precinct - which could include Maned wolf; and we’ve already identified Sloth bear housed in conjunction with Dhole etc.

This bright precinct, Would also benefit from collared peccary. Also, the Xenarthra IRA opens up opportunities for several species of anteater, and obviously armadillo. Jambo just seemed to be alluding to a better precinct that he was impressed by, and im all but certain that if the original plans are what is the result, he would not have been excited

 

[Zoofan15]

This bright precinct, Would also benefit from collared peccary. Also, the Xenarthra IRA opens up opportunities for several species of anteater, and obviously armadillo. Jambo just seemed to be alluding to a better precinct that he was impressed by, and im all but certain that if the original plans are what is the result, he would not have been excited

Both Collared peccary (scrubland) and Maned wolf (grasslands) would have added variety to a South American precinct, which would otherwise be very rainforest based.

I’d similarly like African precincts that acknowledge Africa doesn’t end with the Savannah. Meerkats from the desert, baboons from the mountains, Sitatunga from the wetlands and bongo from the rainforest are just four examples of what could be used - though I agree baboons and Sitatunga are best off at Werribee.

 

[Jambo]

Theo

Theoretically that would still allow space for both species. Aardvarks in between the lions and dingos, and anteater in that area as you stated. I also wish there was a species below the path there. Having clouded leopard where the coati are and giant anteater below the path is pretty interesting. Now, I know im gonna regret this later but please tell me why everyone thought Growing Wild would be great… last time I checked kookaburras, tortoises and meerkats aren’t exactly alluring

This bright precinct, Would also benefit from collared peccary. Also, the Xenarthra IRA opens up opportunities for several species of anteater, and obviously armadillo. Jambo just seemed to be alluding to a better precinct that he was impressed by, and im all but certain that if the original plans are what is the result, he would not have been excited

It was going to be a far better precinct, both collection wise and on the part of visitor experience too. I remember seeing the original plans and was blown away by them. This was of course after Growing Wild had been completed and is what is today and I was very disappointed it did not eventuate.

It seemed to be that the precinct had been changed to make it more children orientated and a lot was removed (it was meant to take up the space extending back to the former elephant enclosure). I’m not sure exactly why...doubt funding was an issue and (most) of the species were already within the collection.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

It was going to be a far better precinct, both collection wise and on the part of visitor experience too. I remember seeing the original plans and was blown away by them. This was of course after Growing Wild had been completed and is what is today and I was very disappointed it did not eventuate.

It seemed to be that the precinct had been changed to make it more children orientated and a lot was removed (it was meant to take up the space extending back to the former elephant enclosure). I’m not sure exactly why...doubt funding was an issue and (most) of the species were already within the collection.

Apologies, but what were the plans/ where can I find them?

 

[Jambo]

Apologies, but what were the plans/ where can I find them?

I have a very vague memory, I saw them almost a decade ago. But I believe I have something somewhere that I’ll have to go try and find in my notes. I do remember a few of the species and the general design which I’ll go into detail in another post, but I’ll try find something first.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I’ve just discovered it was initially planned to hold quokka…

 

[Zoofan15]

It was going to be a far better precinct, both collection wise and on the part of visitor experience too. I remember seeing the original plans and was blown away by them. This was of course after Growing Wild had been completed and is what is today and I was very disappointed it did not eventuate.

It seemed to be that the precinct had been changed to make it more children orientated and a lot was removed (it was meant to take up the space extending back to the former elephant enclosure). I’m not sure exactly why...doubt funding was an issue and (most) of the species were already within the collection.

I really wish zoos would get out of this mindset of catering to children at the expense of being a zoo. Children will already come in the droves by virtue of it being free admission - they don’t try and be a playground, animatronic dinosaur village and mini golf course all wrapped into one.

Regionally, Zoos Victoria are the worst by far; but Auckland Zoo have threatened to phase Hamadryas baboon, Cheetah and Serval to build a nature play area that will surely hold the kid’s attention for all of two minutes. Give them a basic playground (somewhere out the way) and be done with it.

 

[Jambo]

I’ve just discovered it was initially planned to hold quokka…

Yes they actually held them for a period of time in the enclosure that was initially for Mara.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Hav

I really wish zoos would get out of this mindset of catering to children at the expense of being a zoo. Children will already come in the droves by virtue of it being free admission - they don’t try and be a playground, animatronic dinosaur village and mini golf course all wrapped into one.

Regionally, Zoos Victoria are the worst by far; but Auckland Zoo have threatened to phase Hamadryas baboon, Cheetah and Serval to build a nature play area that will surely hold the kid’s attention for all of two minutes. Give them a basic playground (somewhere out the way) and be done with it.

Having 2 younger brothers under the age of 10, neither used the playground at MZ, and they’re definitely not zoo people like myself. I’ve also noticed they don’t really care what’s in the playground, provided there is a playground and it’s not 800 years old. In fact in Tasmania the younger one played on a playground that had just a slide. Not even a slide and a platform, just a slide with a pole, the slide was literally free standing

 

[Zoofan15]

Hav

Having 2 younger brothers under the age of 10, neither used the playground at MZ, and they’re definitely not zoo people like myself. I’ve also noticed they don’t really care what’s in the playground, provided there is a playground and it’s not 800 years old. In fact in Tasmania the younger one played on a playground that had just a slide. Not even a slide and a platform, just a slide with a pole, the slide was literally free standing

I’ve always said Auckland Zoo are smart as they put the playground in the middle of the zoo. You walk half the zoo, the kids see the playground and wanna go on it, then it’s done, you move on.

Some idiot built Hamilton’s at the start, so not only do parents have to do the playground twice, they get badgered the whole way around to go back to it.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I’ve always said Auckland Zoo are smart as they put the playground in the middle of the zoo. You walk half the zoo, the kids see the playground and wanna go on it, then it’s done, you move on.

Some idiot built Hamilton’s at the start, so not only do parents have to do the playground twice, they get badgered the whole way around to go back to it.

Certified Melon

 

[Jambo]

Couldn’t find anything unfortunately but from memory it was four themed precincts around a river.

First was to be the Kalahari Desert (Meerkats), then followed by the Seychelles (Aldarban Tortoises), and then the Treetops (Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Squirell Monkeys) and lastly the burrows (Wombat and Echinda).

The design really appealed to me more than the species though. The plan was for the entrance to be underground and then take you up to into the Meerkats appearing right next to them after going past their burrows!

The paths were going to be very windy and unpredictable (much more appealing to children imo); going uphill for the Meerkats, going above ground for the Treetops, and going underground for the burrows. Overall, it seemed to be me like a very interesting concept and it’s a big shame it never eventuated.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Couldn’t find anything unfortunately but from memory it was four themed precincts around a river.

First was to be the Kalahari Desert (Meerkats), then followed by the Seychelles (Aldarban Tortoises), and then the Treetops (Tree Kangaroo, Koala, Squirell Monkeys) and lastly the burrows (Wombat and Echinda).

The design really appealed to me more than the species though. The plan was for the entrance to be underground and then take you up to into the Meerkats appearing right next to them after going past their burrows!

The paths were going to be very windy and unpredictable (much more appealing to children imo); going uphill for the Meerkats, going above ground for the Treetops, and going underground for the burrows. Overall, it seemed to be me like a very interesting concept and it’s a big shame it never eventuated.

I agree. Great design, awful species list(imo)

 

[Jambo]

I agree. Great design, awful species list(imo)

The zoo were obviously selecting species already at the zoo that were small and would interest children.

If all of those Australian species went there, I don’t see why they didn’t add a Kangaroo walkthrough as well and scrap the Australian Bush precinct.