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

[austrlain zoo gower]

Heres what i would do if i was incharge

Gorrila Rainforest

The Ring Tailed Lemur exibit is very nice so that shouldn't change to keep with the Theme i would add leopard Toroise and some species of african Bird
The Ruffed lemurs can stay and maybe have a breeding pare for more lemurs and making the exibit no so bland
The western lowland Gorilla exibit is great however the additon of some more femals would be great as they could breed and fill the exibit becuase they only have 3 gorrils currently
The pygmy Hippo exibit also is nice but would like to have a breeding pare to fill both exibits and maybe a small species of moneky also
The old mandril and cassoward exibit currenly lays bare, i would like to see mandrill added back but they could do some small renovastions to incorparete the pair of colobus monekys which are in a small exhibit with bad viewing or bongo
Tree tops apes and monekys
Cotton top tamarins can remain in the first exibit, 2nd and 3rd currently house spider monkey these can stay or move to another part of the Zoo ( will discus in trail of the elpahtns)
The white cheeked gibbons also live in a an exibit and they could expand this to incorparte the colobus money exibibt once they move to another area, the empore tamarin can stay, and the last exibit which has been empty for years can have slow loris or pygmy marmoset

In a perfect would tree top apes could be referbished to actuly include monkeys from rainforest africa so new exibits for the colobus, and veret monkey

Overall this would make the precint great and make the trail feel complete

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

The Main Trail

The Main Trail is intereseting becuase it is kinda of the leftovers area, with the loss of zebras and Tapir some exibits look bland here is what i would do.

Turn the girrafe, babbon, tapir and peccary area into an african savahna precinct, Giraffe stay and zebra and nyala incoprted to an expanded exibit with the former bongo exhibit, babbon stay and the tapir and peccarie exibit incorportating meerkats, fennec fox and cape porcupine.

This would inprove the main trail and it could be turned into the Wilds of africa precinct as the zoo is missing animals from thre african savahhna

Platypus

The platypus are fine where they are becuase they are kinda of a bridge where you walk so you can have a rest and view them however i would incroprate more info about them becuase the area is rather bland

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Trail of the elephant
As everybody know the elephants are going to an incredible new exibit at werribee This leaves the 3 exibits empty

Asian small clawed otters can remain and same with sumatran tiger, a breeding pare can be incorprated in this exibit, The first and second asian elepant exibit will be home to a pare of Indian Rhinos, Blackbuck with more foligae included. The last exibit would be home to malaysian Tapir with the exibit replanted with shade and they already have a pool there.
The squrrel monekys can go into the tree top apes and monekys and binturong can make a retun into that exibit
The orangutan Sancuty would be an exiting expansion, first the the island in the middle of the trail home to ibis and into the tapir exibit would be the siamang second home or White cheekd gibbon with the tapir

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Carnivores trail

This trail has kinda falling apart with the depart of Wild dogs and Coati

Dingos need to go and i only see them as a temporaty replacment, wild dogs could return or maned wolf could be incoporated back into the exibit, lions stay. Coatis are being phased out it has been speculated he recently required bintorngs are proably going in there however i would rather have servel of caracal, snow leoapard stay and the tigers go and replace with sun bears or amur leaopard, tasmian devils can stay

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Gorilla Rainforest
Ring Tailed Lemur
Leopard Tortoise
African Bird species
Ruffed Lemur
Western Lowland Gorilla
Pygmy Hippo
Mandrill
Bongo
Cotton top Tamarin
Spider Monkey
Slow Loris
Colobus
Emporer tamarin

Trail of the elephants - Renamed Gateway to Asia
Asian Small Clawed otter
Sumatran Tiger
Indian Rhino
Blackbuk
Malayan Tapir
White cheeked gibbon
Siamang
Orangutan
Binturong

Growing Wild - Tranformed into South Amercia
Capybara
Giant anteater
Flamingo
Maned wolf

Main Trail - Africa
Zebra
Giraffe
Nyala
Babbon
cape porcupine
Fenec fox
Meerkat
Platypus
Red Panda

Carnivores
African Wild dog
Lion
Serval
Snow leoaprd
Sun bear
Tasmain Devil
Amur leopard

Wild Sea
Pelican
Seal
Little penguin
Macaronie Penguin

Austrlaian Bush
Koala
Avery
Goana
Emu
Kanagroo
Wombat
Echinda

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Growing wild definetly needs changing small cats would work

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

So something exciting is coming soon? At least we know it’s Binturong, which will be a good addition to the Carnivores precinct. Due to their age, I’m guessing the coati may be living out their remaining days off display (if they’re still alive).

If it says something exiting is coming soon we have to expect squirrel monkey

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Binturong will be a nice addition, though the coati will be missed. It’s also worth noting that South America is no longer represented in the mammals housed in the predator precinct:

African lion - Africa
Sumatran tiger - Asia
Snow leopard - Asia
Binturong - Asia
Dingo - Australasia
Tasmanian devil - Australasia

More reinforcement as to why Maned Wolf should replace the dingo

 

[Zoofan15]

There’s been lots of good ideas from everyone - many of which are realistic, a few that are idealistic and a few that are unfeasible.

To address a few points:

Leopard:

Amur leopards will not happen. These are a CITES I species and require the support of the ZAA to import them. There’s zero chance of this being given when Sri Lankan leopard are the subspecies of leopard the region is focussed on. Uptake from the others zoos besides Darling Downs Zoo and the National Zoo has been underwhelming though I remain hopeful Melbourne (among others) will participate in the Sri Lankan leopard breeding programme.

Rhinoceros:

Melbourne is a small city zoo. Indian rhinoceros have been proposed in the past and remain a possibility, though I’m of the opinion this is less likely in the face of plans to expand the orangutan area. What I can guarantee is no African species of rhinoceros will be coming to Melbourne Zoo. The Southern white rhinoceros is semi-social and it makes more sense to accomodate them in herds at Werribee (as they’re currently doing).

Zebra:

Zebras will not return to Melbourne Zoo. They’re a hassle to integrate with other hoof stock and they don’t generate the interest to justify housing them in their own exhibit.

Okapi:

I really hope Okapi can one day be housed at Melbourne Zoo. The Giraffe IRA is years away, so whether they could import via New Zealand is an option I’d encourage them to explore. I think their could potentially be a bright future for this species via the housing of a pair at Taronga, Melbourne and possibly Auckland. Sourcing them will be a challenge, but two or three pairs within the region would allow exchange of first generation offspring between the zoos.

Small cats:

A number of zoos are phasing out Serval and sadly, I believe this is the beginning of the end for this species. Clouded leopard and Caracal have a bright future; though I have my doubts for Fishing cat, which has hardly thrived. Whether Fishing cat would be replaced with another species of small cat is debatable.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

There’s been lots of good ideas from everyone - many of which are realistic, a few that are idealistic and a few that are unfeasible.

To address a few points:

Leopard:

Amur leopards will not happen. These are a CITES I species and require the support of the ZAA to import them. There’s zero chance of this being given when Sri Lankan leopard are the subspecies of leopard the region is focussed on. Uptake from the others zoos besides Darling Downs Zoo and the National Zoo has been underwhelming though I remain hopeful Melbourne (among others) will participate in the Sri Lankan leopard breeding programme.

Rhinoceros:

Melbourne is a small city zoo. Indian rhinoceros have been proposed in the past and remain a possibility, though I’m of the opinion this is less likely in the face of plans to expand the orangutan area. What I can guarantee is no African species of rhinoceros will be coming to Melbourne Zoo. The Southern white rhinoceros is semi-social and it makes more sense to accomodate them in herds at Werribee (as they’re currently doing).

Zebra:

Zebras will not return to Melbourne Zoo. They’re a hassle to integrate with other hoof stock and they don’t generate the interest to justify housing them in their own exhibit.

Okapi:

I really hope Okapi can one day be housed at Melbourne Zoo. The Giraffe IRA is years away, so whether they could import via New Zealand is an option I’d encourage them to explore. I think their could potentially be a bright future for this species via the housing of a pair at Taronga, Melbourne and possibly Auckland. Sourcing them will be a challenge, but two or three pairs within the region would allow exchange of first generation offspring between the zoos.

Small cats:

A number of zoos are phasing out Serval and sadly, I believe this is the beginning of the end for this species. Clouded leopard and Caracal have a bright future; though I have my doubts for Fishing cat, which has hardly thrived. Whether Fishing cat would be replaced with another species of small cat is debatable.

Fishing Cat could work in an enclosure similar in concept to the Platypus House.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I'd still like to see a species of baboon in a shared exhibit with giraffe, nyala, and maybe an ostrich or some other suitable contrasting species.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'd still like to see a species of baboon in a shared exhibit with giraffe, nyala, and maybe an ostrich or some other suitable contrasting species.

Hamadryas baboon with infant nyala might not end well, but it’d be interesting to see them mixed with giraffe.

Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands mix them with elephants! Something for Werribee to consider…


Photo by @MagpieGoose

 

[Zoofan15]

I wouldn't make so bold a claim myself.

I would move the entire Hamadryas troop to Werribee, and import founders for a Gelada troop. Connecting all enclosures in that row into one "big" savannah exhibit.

Gelada/Baboons at Werribee:

It’d be nice to see Gelada return to the region; or better yet, Chacma baboon - ironically harder to source considering they were the most common baboon species within Australasian zoos and circuses throughout the 20th Century.

There’d need to be some degree of separation to prevent hybridisation and it was noted that Wellington’s Hamadryas troop were highly stressed when housed in an exhibit adjacent to Chacma baboon (arrangement of exhibits by taxonomy), so there’s that to consider; but with five large paddocks within the elephant exhibit, it wouldn’t be hard to achieve this.

Elephant Complex - Phase 2:

The reduction of the number of elephant complex paddocks suggest they’re trying to accomodate increases construction costs, so with that in mind this would probably be a future project. Fences that can keep elephants out are one thing; but an extensive remodelling of those fences would be needed to keep out/in the smaller baboons.

Surely something to consider as a second phase to the elephant complex though!

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Gelada/Baboons at Werribee:

It’d be nice to see Gelada return to the region; or better yet, Chacma baboon - ironically harder to source considering they were the most common baboon species within Australasian zoos and circuses throughout the 20th Century.

There’d need to be some degree of separation to prevent hybridisation and it was noted that Wellington’s Hamadryas troop were highly stressed when housed in an exhibit adjacent to Chacma baboon (arrangement of exhibits by taxonomy), so there’s that to consider; but with five large paddocks within the elephant exhibit, it wouldn’t be hard to achieve this.

Elephant Complex - Phase 2:

The reduction of the number of elephant complex paddocks suggest they’re trying to accomodate increases construction costs, so with that in mind this would probably be a future project. Fences that can keep elephants out are one thing; but an extensive remodelling of those fences would be needed to keep out/in the smaller baboons.

Surely something to consider as a second phase to the elephant complex though!

I was thinking Gelada for an expanded pathlong Giraffe enclosure at Melbourne.

Hamadryas to Werribee to share the Elephant enclosure - completely agree that an upgraded fence would be necessary.

 

[Zoofan15]

I was thinking Gelada for an expanded pathlong Giraffe enclosure at Melbourne.

Hamadryas to Werribee to share the Elephant enclosure - completely agree that an upgraded fence would be necessary.

Integrating Hamadryas baboons into the Werribee complex could even be done in stages as funding permits upgrades to the fencing. One paddock could be opened up to them initially, with the shared fence line with the adjacent paddock reducing costs when insulating the next paddock for them.

A troop numbering in the hundreds could eventually be accomodated - with the option to transfer them between paddocks.

 

[Jambo]

ok thank you im annoying i get it what fantasy things should we talk about? Roi Yim being Luk Chaies best friend plus Luk chai is the father of roi yim

I will certainly aim to get a photo of the Binturong when I next visit (although I can't guarantee that being anytime soon).

Luk Chai is indeed the father of Roi Yim but they have not been introduced yet.

 

[StoppableSan]

Integrating Hamadryas baboons into the Werribee complex could even be done in stages as funding permits upgrades to the fencing. One paddock could be opened up to them initially, with the shared fence line with the adjacent paddock reducing costs when insulating the next paddock for them.

A troop numbering in the hundreds could eventually be accomodated - with the option to transfer them between paddocks.

Yeah, personally I'm not really the biggest fan of this - the mix makes sense at Beekse Bergen given both species' similar ranges, whereas just mixing ASIAN elephants with the Hamadryas baboons just seems like a novelty mix, even if Zoos Victoria states that they are an analogue for African elephants.

Wouldn't it make more sense to combine the current vervet monkey exhibit into the current gorilla exhibit and have that for Hamadryas baboons? Not only would it provide a significantly larger range for the baboons, that exhibit would also double as a kinetic, active entry experience for guests. In addition, the holding spaces present are already suited to primates, with only slight renovation needed to accommodate the baboons.

Past that, it'd also provide a good point of difference between Melbourne and Werribee - Melbourne could even connect the current Hamadryas baboon space to the current gorilla enclosure by way of Zoo360 style overhead passages.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah, personally I'm not really the biggest fan of this - the mix makes sense at Beekse Bergen given both species' similar ranges, whereas just mixing ASIAN elephants with the Hamadryas baboons just seems like a novelty mix, even if Zoos Victoria states that they are an analogue for African elephants.

Wouldn't it make more sense to combine the current vervet monkey exhibit into the current gorilla exhibit and have that for Hamadryas baboons? Not only would it provide a significantly larger range for the baboons, that exhibit would also double as a kinetic, active entry experience for guests. In addition, the holding spaces present are already suited to primates, with only slight renovation needed to accommodate the baboons.

Past that, it'd also provide a good point of difference between Melbourne and Werribee - Melbourne could even connect the current Hamadryas baboon space to the current gorilla enclosure by way of Zoo360 style overhead passages.

Yes, that’s fair enough. The Asian elephants will indeed be representing their African counterparts, though for the record I don’t see Werribee’s objection to diversifying to hold Asian species. It’s not like we have the variety of African species available to overseas zoos.

I suppose it depends on whether they want to continue with gorillas at Werribee. Their bachelor troop is ageing and there could potentially be a cross roads towards phasing them out within the next decade or so. Gorillas will certainly have a future at Melbourne either way.

The best solution would probably be to create a whole new exhibit for Hamadryas baboon at Werribee. They’re comfortable at Melbourne for now and redevelopment will be focussed on the elephant exhibits; but long term, their row could be redeveloped.

The current gorilla and baboon exhibits are too far apart at Melbourne for linking them to work. Creating something within TOTE would be preferable, though I understand that’s earmarked for orangutan expansions.

 

[Jambo]

Wouldn't it make more sense to combine the current vervet monkey exhibit into the current gorilla exhibit and have that for Hamadryas baboons? Not only would it provide a significantly larger range for the baboons, that exhibit would also double as a kinetic, active entry experience for guests. In addition, the holding spaces present are already suited to primates, with only slight renovation needed to accommodate the baboons.

Past that, it'd also provide a good point of difference between Melbourne and Werribee - Melbourne could even connect the current Hamadryas baboon space to the current gorilla enclosure by way of Zoo360 style overhead passages.

I’ve always firmly believed the Baboons should’ve moved over to Werribee. The current gorilla enclosure at WORZ was (and still would be) perfect for them. It’s quite a large enclosure and the enclosure could certainly be used better than it currently is. I also agree on that statement re. Activity; baboons would certainly spice up that entrance exhibit a lot more. It’s not uncommon to miss the current bachelor males, who tend to hide off in the back of the exhibit or in the shelters.

Preferably, Taronga’s new complex and Orana should be able to accomodate the regions surplus males long term. Especially if Monarto decide to pursue them too. This would free up Werribee to hold baboons (or chimps) in the current gorilla habitat; giving them a strong point of difference from Melbourne.

I like the idea of implementing a Zoo360 pathway. The current baboon enclosure would require heavy renovations to accomodate gorillas but it is feasible.

Melbourne certainly has the chance to do something on a worldwide scale Zoo360 wise as they already have exhibits that could be used for primates and carnivores on opposite sides of the zoo.

 

[Zoofan15]

I’ve always firmly believed the Baboons should’ve moved over to Werribee. The current gorilla enclosure at WORZ was (and still would be) perfect for them. It’s quite a large enclosure and the enclosure could certainly be used better than it currently is. I also agree on that statement re. Activity; baboons would certainly spice up that entrance exhibit a lot more. It’s not uncommon to miss the current bachelor males, who tend to hide off in the back of the exhibit or in the shelters.

Preferably, Taronga’s new complex and Orana should be able to accomodate the regions surplus males long term. Especially if Monarto decide to pursue them too. This would free up Werribee to hold baboons (or chimps) in the current gorilla habitat; giving them a strong point of difference from Melbourne.

I like the idea of implementing a Zoo360 pathway. The current baboon enclosure would require heavy renovations to accomodate gorillas but it is feasible.

Melbourne certainly has the chance to do something on a worldwide scale Zoo360 wise as they already have exhibits that could be used for primates and carnivores on opposite sides of the zoo.

Werribee’s bachelor gorilla exhibit seems greatly under-utilised imo. The males are ageing and daily interactions would be comparatively sedentary compared to a bustling Hamadryas baboon troop; or failing that, a younger troop of bachelor gorillas.

Prior to Fikiri’s death at Taronga, I was in favour of Kibali and his three sons transferring to Werribee and their three males occupying Taronga’s smaller bachelor exhibit. This is completely up in the air following talk Taronga could be phasing out gorillas, so I won’t go too far down this road; but in short, I very much agree with yourself and @StoppableSan that Werribee’s gorilla exhibit could be put to better use.

I’d really like to see Melbourne’s redevelopment focus on rainforest species. The Adelaide/Monarto masterplan *was* perfect prior to the recent alterations and example of how a city zoo and an open range zoo can compliment each other, rather than the city zoo mirroring the open range zoo on a reduced scale. Melbourne is renowned for its Western lowland gorillas, Snow leopards and Sumatran tigers. They should refine their exhibition of these species and evolve to accomodate Sri Lankan leopard and other rainforest species.