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

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The Sleepy Hippo said:
Rail Gate users represent!!!
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Rail Gate is far better. Less crowded, more parking, and you usually get to avoid the crowds at the beginning that all go directly into Gorilla Rainforest or TOTE. I come in most times at around 10ish and head straight to Carnivores and I'm usually one of the only ones there!

I would assume getting in early is probably why I tend to see the carnivores active.:p
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I really miss the old coati exhibit where all were easily seen and seemed to suit the enclosure better
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The Sleepy Hippo said:
Where was that?
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PaddyRickMFZ said:
Is it great seeing them in the wild? The coatis were in growing wild, or what is now growing wild. I remember it being a nice little area
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The Coatis weren't in Growing Wild. Their enclosure is actually still there. It's down a path beside the old elephant barn next to the Japanese Garden. I wouldn't be surprised if the Coatis were indeed moved back there.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m not a fan of Zoos Victoria’s phase out criteria, as it’s harder for exotics to fit two of the five categories. Exotics are immediately excluded from Recovery and Research; and from there have to fit two of the following: Ambassador, Ark and Enabling.

Ambassador (face of conservation campaign) and Ark (endangered) basically go hand in hand, as conservation campaigns typically exist to protect endangered species. Therefore if an exotic isn’t endangered, it doesn’t fit.

Enabling has been subjective from the get go. Mandrill apparently wasn’t enabling; neither are vervet monkeys. Yet, meerkats are considered enabling enough to remain in the collection, without fitting a second category.
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Its likely another fad idea that will past in a few years!
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m not a fan of Zoos Victoria’s phase out criteria, as it’s harder for exotics to fit two of the five categories. Exotics are immediately excluded from Recovery and Research; and from there have to fit two of the following: Ambassador, Ark and Enabling.

Ambassador (face of conservation campaign) and Ark (endangered) basically go hand in hand, as conservation campaigns typically exist to protect endangered species. Therefore if an exotic isn’t endangered, it doesn’t fit.

Enabling has been subjective from the get go. Mandrill apparently wasn’t enabling; neither are vervet monkeys. Yet, meerkats are considered enabling enough to remain in the collection, without fitting a second category.
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But Meerkats are easy to get and cheap to feed! ;)
 
Zorro said:
Its likely another fad idea that will past in a few years!
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I certainly hope so. The Zoos Victoria species criteria has undergone some revision over the past decade, with a fifth category now added (it begun with four); and a requirement that species must fit into two categories to remain in the collection. Unless it’s meerkats…
Zorro said:
But Meerkats are easy to get and cheap to feed! ;)
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Yes, I feel like cost effectiveness is an unmentioned sixth category (and fair enough if it is, zoos need to be viable financially). Meerkats and otters rate as among the most engaging on socials and in person (at least you always see them), so that would likely be their saving grace.
 
Jambo said:
That's very interesting. I usually manage to see all; Indrah's the one who always seems to get me. I've only ever seen her once or twice within the last few years, once the foliage has grown. I've been told by keepers that she spends most of her time along the back fenceline in the shade.

There always seems to be a Tassie running around in the first enclosure you come across; that individual is very active. If you don't see any, you can usually rely on looking into the burrows and there's usually one (or both) lying in there; especially on cold days. Melbourne did acquire three sisters recently of which I assume have been moved into the second exhibit and they would obviously be far more easier to spot now as a group.
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It sounds like Indrah is a poor fit for that exhibit. With regards to Sumatran tigers in the region, I’ve seen the personality fit of a tiger accomodated in multiple ways:

Nisha and Malu at Auckland Zoo initially hated the tiger pit (as did their sister, Molek). Malu had the most trepidation about it and it was decided the more confident Nisha would be retained when it came to sending one of them to Perth.

Assiqua didn’t thrive at the open range zoo, so the decision was made to house her at Taronga instead once Shiva passed.

Mencari at Hamilton Zoo was similar to Indrah (hid behind bamboo), so she was rotated, with her brother Jaka going on display during the day. In her later years, the vegetation was pruned back and it actually made her more confident. In her later years, she had no fear of the crowds and fully utilised her exhibit.
 
Jambo said:
That's very interesting. I usually manage to see all; Indrah's the one who always seems to get me. I've only ever seen her once or twice within the last few years, once the foliage has grown. I've been told by keepers that she spends most of her time along the back fenceline in the shade.

There always seems to be a Tassie running around in the first enclosure you come across; that individual is very active. If you don't see any, you can usually rely on looking into the burrows and there's usually one (or both) lying in there; especially on cold days. Melbourne did acquire three sisters recently of which I assume have been moved into the second exhibit and they would obviously be far more easier to spot now as a group.
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Now i could be wrong, but I think the foliage has been ever so slightly cut back, potentially renovation preparation or just for confidence as stated? Anyway, if someone visits soon please remember to confirm
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Now i could be wrong, but I think the foliage has been ever so slightly cut back, potentially renovation preparation? Anyway, if someone visits soon please remember to confirm
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That would be the best solution in terms of encouraging her to overcome her fear of the public. Not a total removal of foliage (total exposure); but a gradual acclimatisation to being viewed by visitors.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Now i could be wrong, but I think the foliage has been ever so slightly cut back, potentially renovation preparation or just for confidence as stated? Anyway, if someone visits soon please remember to confirm
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I was under the impression it's actually continuing to grow forward, giving her more space to hide!

It would make sense for Melbourne to cut it back though and control the growth. They wouldn't want to encourage Indrah hiding all of the time.
 
Jambo said:
I was under the impression it's actually continuing to grow forward, giving her more space to hide!

It would make sense for Melbourne to cut it back though and control the growth. They wouldn't want to encourage Indrah hiding all of the time.
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It probably would have worked better if Indrah had remained in the TOTE trail, where she grew up and Hutan (the more confident male) had moved to the exhibit in the carnivores trail. The snow leopards and lions in close proximity may even be unsettling her.
 
Zoofan15 said:
It probably would have worked better if Indrah had remained in the TOTE trail, where she grew up and Hutan (the more confident male) had moved to the exhibit in the carnivores trail. The snow leopards and lions in close proximity may even be unsettling her.
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Initial plan was for Hutan to be sent over, but again we have a case of an individual who won't be crate trained!
 
Jambo said:
Initial plan was for Hutan to be sent over, but again we have a case of an individual who won't be crate trained!
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That damn Adelaide giraffe. If he’s hungry enough, he’d go in the crate for food. At least when these tigers pass, more consideration can be given to sourcing confident tigers. Handraised tigers are almost out of supply, but have long made popular display animals .
 
Jambo said:
Small enclosure, but I reckon three or four at max. It used to hold their breeding group; and they had twenty something at one point, although not sure if all were put on display at the same time.
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I assume the litters were separated until microchipped, so paternity ID could be established; and then mixed for socialisation, as many zoos received Coati from multiple litters.
 
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