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

[Zoofan15]

I would be more than happy to see the return of MT but they need to address the eye problem issue first.

Inadequate housing was the reason for this; and I believe this can easily be fixed with proper shielding of sunlight (through tarps, ect.). Melbourne already implemented this for Semangka prior to her death, and after spending years off display, they noted she was finally comfortable with venturing outdoors and on display.

It might pay to have the tapir exhibit primarily indoors. The elephant barn was proposed as a solution, if that could be remodelled; or even something purpose built. If not, it shouldn’t be hard to literally shade the entire exhibit. Given the chance, Malayan tapir will happily bask in the sun and shielding 90% of it would just lead to them finding the 10% that isn’t. They don’t know what’s good for them.

 

[Zorro]

It might pay to have the tapir exhibit primarily indoors. The elephant barn was proposed as a solution, if that could be remodelled; or even something purpose built. If not, it shouldn’t be hard to literally shade the entire exhibit. Given the chance, Malayan tapir will happily bask in the sun and shielding 90% of it would just lead to them finding the 10% that isn’t. They don’t know what’s good for them.

should I assume any return of MT back into the region at this time is just speculation?.

 

[Zoofan15]

should I assume any return of MT back into the region at this time is just speculation?.

Essentially yes, though @PaddyRickMFZ was told by staff of an intention to import 10 Malayan tapir by Melbourne Zoo. How developed those plans were and whether they eventuate is anyone’s guess.

Wellington Zoo announced they’d be importing African wild dogs later that year in 2014 and never did; Adelaide said they’d acquire Sri Lankan leopard and have now abandoned those plans. Still waiting on Auckland’s hippo import (promised 2016) and flamingo aviary (promised 2014)!

 

[Zorro]

Essentially yes, though @PaddyRickMFZ was told by staff of an intention to import 10 Malayan tapir by Melbourne Zoo. How developed those plans were and whether they eventuate is anyone’s guess.

Wellington Zoo announced they’d be importing African wild dogs later that year in 2014 and never did; Adelaide said they’d acquire Sri Lankan leopard and have now abandoned those plans. Still waiting on Auckland’s hippo import (promised 2016) and flamingo aviary (promised 2014)!

I believe you forgot Australia zoos bull elephant/s.

 

[Jambo]

It might pay to have the tapir exhibit primarily indoors. The elephant barn was proposed as a solution, if that could be remodelled; or even something purpose built. If not, it shouldn’t be hard to literally shade the entire exhibit. Given the chance, Malayan tapir will happily bask in the sun and shielding 90% of it would just lead to them finding the 10% that isn’t. They don’t know what’s good for them.

should I assume any return of MT back into the region at this time is just speculation?.

Essentially yes, though @PaddyRickMFZ was told by staff of an intention to import 10 Malayan tapir by Melbourne Zoo. How developed those plans were and whether they eventuate is anyone’s guess.

Wellington Zoo announced they’d be importing African wild dogs later that year in 2014 and never did; Adelaide said they’d acquire Sri Lankan leopard and have now abandoned those plans. Still waiting on Auckland’s hippo import (promised 2016) and flamingo aviary (promised 2014)!

There seems to be great confidence amongst keepers Malayan Tapirs will return to the region once adequate housing for them can be sorted out and zoos can get their heads around how to keep them out of the sun, but it can be done.

In saying that, it's not confirmed, lots of plans and aspirations have fallen through as mentioned so this should just be taken with a grain of salt for now.

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe you forgot Australia zoos bull elephant/s.

They’re already allowed two cows to lapse into the non-reproductive status attributed to cows that don’t produce their first calf by the recommended age and further stalling with see the younger two go the same way. I too am pessimistic we’ll see this import eventuate.

 

[Zorro]

They’re already allowed two cows to lapse into the non-reproductive status attributed to cows that don’t produce their first calf by the recommended age and further stalling with see the younger two go the same way. I too am pessimistic we’ll see this import eventuate.

I would be more than surprised if it ever did happen, Importing "IF" it had to be 4 animals would of been better having 1.3 elephants.

 

[Zoofan15]

I would be more than surprised if it ever did happen, Importing "IF" it had to be 4 animals would of been better having 1.3 elephants.

Considering the elephants came from a facility with multiple elephants on site, getting the cows in calf prior to export would have also made sense. Whether they’d have produced bull calves or cows should have been irrelevant as the gestation combined with the time staff felt comfortable handling the bull calves (anywhere from 2-6 years) would have equated to more than enough time to build the bull facilities/implement PC when working with the bull calves.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Going off your plan for two tiger exhibits, I’d like to see the following combination of exhibits in the Carnivores precinct:

Future Carnivores Precinct:

1. Snow leopard (breeding pair)
2. Asiatic lion (males) - replace African lion
3. Sloth bear - replace tiger
4. Maned wolf - replace dingo
5. Binturong
6. Tasmanian devil

Three continents are represented - with a marsupial, a canid, an ursid and two felids.

I'd like that, potentially with Tasmanian Devils incorporated into the Australian bush zone, and their space utilised with something else.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

The renovations weren't anything major; the sign was just put up to explain the absence of anything in the enclosure - Melbourne do this frequently.

Clouded Leopard would be nice for the enclosure; but obviously would require some modifications to make it suitable for them. Would they do well besides the Snow Leopards?

I actually think Dingo suit that enclosure quite well as it's on the small side and was therefore unsuitable (in my eyes) for African Wild Dogs. They would represent Australia within the precinct and the enclosure fits well for this imo as visitors can view them both when entering the trail, and exiting it.

Especially with the push to properly recognise Victorian Dingos - that often are killed by farmers as "wild dogs".
Zoos Vic should pitch in in the campaign.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

T

I'd like that, potentially with Tasmanian Devils incorporated into the Australian bush zone, and their space utilised with something else.

You got any other suggestions? I wonder if a bird of prey or small predator would work. Anyone know if Pallas’ cats would be an option? They would undoubtedly be immensely popular with the public, I’m not well versed on their importation thouh

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

T

You got any other suggestions? I wonder if a bird of prey or small predator would work. Anyone know if Pallas’ cats would be an option? They would undoubtedly be immensely popular with the public, I’m not well versed on their importation thouh

A bird of prey would be awesome, but I'm sceptical that any of the truly exciting ones are available in Australia. I'd love a Shoebill, Condor. I'd also love a Maribou Stork - my favourite bird ever!

I'd love to see MZ house Banded Mongoose. Maybe send all Meerkats to their future enormous Meerkat enclosure (if still on the cards) and replace them with Banded Mongoose.

 

[Zoofan15]

T

You got any other suggestions? I wonder if a bird of prey or small predator would work. Anyone know if Pallas’ cats would be an option? They would undoubtedly be immensely popular with the public, I’m not well versed on their importation thouh

A bird of prey would be awesome, but I'm sceptical that any of the truly exciting ones are available in Australia. I'd love a Shoebill, Condor. I'd also love a Maribou Stork - my favourite bird ever!

I'd love to see MZ house Banded Mongoose. Maybe send all Meerkats to their future enormous Meerkat enclosure (if still on the cards) and replace them with Banded Mongoose.

I’d love to see Andean condor in the Carnivores precinct. Melbourne has declined to take any of the surplus from Taronga in the past (one was even exported), so unfortunately I don’t believe they have an interest in this species.

Pallas cat are theoretically possible to imported, but are CITES II and would require regional support. It’s not currently a ZAA species of interest, but long term it wouldn’t surprise me to see them give up on fishing cat. Clouded leopard and caracal are the future.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I’m actually just now thinking, the keeper said ‘goatey antelopey thing’ which means it might actually be a Barbary sheep. Essentially, I wouldn’t be certain of anything. I’d love to see Barbary at Melbourne, but Werribee would be better

 

[Zoofan15]

I’m actually just now thinking, the keeper said ‘goatey antelopey thing’ which means it might actually be a Barbary sheep. Essentially, I wouldn’t be certain of anything. I’d love to see Barbary at Melbourne, but Werribee would be better

Most people do confuse male Barbary sheep for goats!

I’d like to see Barbary sheep at Werribee, where there’s enough space to exhibit a large herd; but they thrive in rocky exhibits with varied topography, so there’s no reason Melbourne couldn’t accomodate this via a vertical expansion of their exhibit. If taking the place of the tapir, it’d just be a simple refurbishment though (no major renovations would take place until the peccaries pass). Perhaps they might be a short term replacement for tapir, while something larger is constructed at Werribee in a few years.

These days we’re used to seeing Barbary sheep in an open range setting, but Taronga, Auckland, Wellington etc. all used to have them; so it’d be an ironic twist to see them t return to a city zoo.

 

[Jambo]

I'd like that, potentially with Tasmanian Devils incorporated into the Australian bush zone, and their space utilised with something else.

Tasmanian Devils already do have an enclosure in the Australian Bush, and I've always thought they would be suitable for the current Peccary enclosure as well (once the Peccary's pass).

 

[Zoofan15]

Tasmanian Devils already do have an enclosure in the Australian Bush, and I've always thought they would be suitable for the current Peccary enclosure as well (once the Peccary's pass).

Don’t give them ideas. It’s bad enough we have them in the Australian Bush AND the Carnivores precinct. If we can phase them out of the Carnivores precinct, that’d be great; but I wouldn’t like to see them show up elsewhere. They’re a cool species, but one exhibit in the Australian Bush precinct is sufficient for a species Melbourne Zoo doesn’t even breed imo.

 

[Jambo]

Don’t give them ideas. It’s bad enough we have them in the Australian Bush AND the Carnivores precinct. If we can phase them out of the Carnivores precinct, that’d be great; but I wouldn’t like to see them show up elsewhere. They’re a cool species, but one exhibit in the Australian Bush precinct is sufficient for a species Melbourne Zoo doesn’t even breed imo.

I was just of the opinion that Tasmanian Devils would actually suit that particular enclosure really well.

Melbourne does hold a lot of surplus from Healesville and other facilities within the region (on and off display) so I would be surprised if they were cut down to only one enclosure in the Australian Bush, of which is small enough to only accommodate a single devil.

In saying that, I'd like to see them at Werribee too. A large enclosure there for a large group of siblings would be great to have.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Tasmanian Devils already do have an enclosure in the Australian Bush, and I've always thought they would be suitable for the current Peccary enclosure as well (once the Peccary's pass).

I just hope to god they cut it down to the size be Australian bush exhibit. Aggravating double ups that people don’t really care for. Ideally your growing wild idea would come to fruition though

 

[Zoofan15]

I just hope to god they cut it down to the size be Australian bush exhibit. Aggravating double ups that people don’t really care for. Ideally your growing wild idea would come to fruition though

The inability of the Australian Bush precinct to hold more than a single devil as @Jambo mentioned is a good point though, but probably indicative that that exhibit should go, rather than the exhibit capable of housing more than one. A transfer to Growing Wild (with all other TD exhibits phased out) does indeed represent the ideal.