Werribee Open Range Zoo Future of Werribee Open Range Zoo (Speculation/Fantasy)

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Jambo

Jambo

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I thought a designated thread would be invaluable to filter discussion in the news thread that doesn’t necessarily correlate to news.

Especially with Werribee’s increasing developments scheduled for the coming years (starting with the elephants); there’s certainly a lot of discussion that will be undertaken. :)
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I’m thinking about the AWD breeding and the hyenas may replace them entirely in that section. The exhibit was pretty siezeable. Are there any other species you guys think would suit the expansion/are on the cards
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Yes, as they’ve mentioned an intention to breed African wild dogs and that’d be difficult to achieve when housed in proximity to hyena. Non breeding packs of both could rotate (I maintain Werribee won’t breed hyena), but aside from Altina, most zoos would even struggle to breed African wild dogs when housed adjacent to a pack of that species.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes, as they’ve mentioned an intention to breed African wild dogs and that’d be difficult to achieve when housed in proximity to hyena. Non breeding packs of both could rotate (I maintain Werribee won’t breed hyena), but aside from Altina, most zoos would even struggle to breed African wild dogs when housed adjacent to a pack of that species.
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It’s a large area of space they have for the waterhole trail, so I guess we just have to hope they won’t have neighbouring exhibits and BOH facilities. :D
 
Zorro said:
I would like to see a pair of Indian rhinos as part of the Asian plan put in here they are a big attraction, live for decades and are truly impressive. :cool:
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Since they have no apparent interest in black rhinoceros, I can indeed see this eventuating a decade or so from now. Monarto will be building up an Asian plains precinct; and Werribee could do the same with Asian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, niglai, Indian antelope etc.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Since they have no apparent interest in black rhinoceros, I can indeed see this eventuating a decade or so from now. Monarto will be building up an Asian plains precinct; and Werribee could do the same with Asian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, niglai, Indian antelope etc.
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Add in a water buffalo and suddenly not all eyes are on the elephants, leaving a somewhat balanced trail. No one wants to walk half an hour for 1 species
 
Jambo said:
It’s a large area of space they have for the waterhole trail, so I guess we just have to hope they won’t have neighbouring exhibits and BOH facilities. :D
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Does anyone know what will happen to the current woodlands exhibit? It seems that there will only be 2 species in the waterhole at this stage, which is thoroughly disappointing. Ideally they’d expand to include yngulates and eventually species not already held in the zoo
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
At this stage viewing of the wolf dogs is difficult, so I anticipate the lions will be expanded backwards, leaving the classic lion-hyena Combo
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This would work well considering lions would breed uninhibited by hyena and Werribee won’t be breeding hyena. I’m anticipating Werribee will house a retired breeding pride of lions in addition to a large breeding pride long term. I’m tipping the transfer of Melbourne’s males to end this up; hopefully combined with Billabong females.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
At this stage viewing of the wolf dogs is difficult, so I anticipate the lions will be expanded backwards, leaving the classic lion-hyena Combo
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The enclosure is large which is expected for an open range facility. I guess you just have to be happy with not being able to view them all the time. What about when the elephants come to their 50 acre pastures! You certainly wouldn’t be able to view all of them every time you visit. :D

Also the Lion complex can’t be expanded further back; that’s bordering Werribee river zone.
 
Jambo said:
The enclosure is large which is expected for an open range facility. I guess you just have to be happy with not being able to view them all the time. What about when the elephants come to their 50 acre pastures! You certainly wouldn’t be able to view all of them every time you visit. :D

Also the Lion complex can’t be expanded further back; that’s bordering Werribee river zone.
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Can it be expanded into the waterhole? Or maybe left? I doubt they’d replace the AWD with just lions
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Can it be expanded into the waterhole? Or maybe left? I doubt they’d replace the AWD with just lions
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PaddyRickMFZ said:
Does anyone know what will happen to the current woodlands exhibit? It seems that there will only be 2 species in the waterhole at this stage, which is thoroughly disappointing. Ideally they’d expand to include yngulates and eventually species not already held in the zoo
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I believe the Waterhole/Woodlands drive through will remain and will be the opening drive through exhibit apart of the Safari. I assume it will house the species it currently houses; maybe alongside Dromedary Camel and Scimitar Horned Oryx (who otherwise will be left without an exhibit). Bachelor Zebras may go into this area as well, so that’s a reasonable mix.

Re. The Lion exhibit, it can’t be expanded left as well as that’s the too of the Australian complex and wouldn’t allow for Safari viewing on that side. I think it’s very likely that if they want an expansion, it will have to be where the current AWD exhibit is.
 
Jambo said:
I believe the Waterhole/Woodlands drive through will remain and will be the opening drive through exhibit apart of the Safari. I assume it will house the species it currently houses; maybe alongside Dromedary Camel and Scimitar Horned Oryx (who otherwise will be left without an exhibit). Bachelor Zebras may go into this area as well, so that’s a reasonable mix.

Re. The Lion exhibit, it can’t be expanded left as well as that’s the too of the Australian complex and wouldn’t allow for Safari viewing on that side. I think it’s very likely that if they want an expansion, it will have to be where the current AWD exhibit is.
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Interesting that the plan says there will be amendments to the woodlands if it remains relatively unchanged. How would they conduct the safari as such so you could see the lions? The AWD aren’t currently visible
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Interesting that the plan says there will be amendments to the woodlands if it remains relatively unchanged. How would they conduct the safari as such so you could see the lions? The AWD aren’t currently visible
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I’d like to see a tunnel similar to the one at Monarto, which places visitors in the cage (surrounded by the lions). It’s a popular concept that’s been around for a while, but it works, so why not?

Lions don’t need the space people imagine. Studies by Zoos Victoria have shown giraffes explore every inch of their exhibit; while lions will typically do a patrol and then settle on one or two favourites spots.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Interesting that the plan says there will be amendments to the woodlands if it remains relatively unchanged. How would they conduct the safari as such so you could see the lions? The AWD aren’t currently visible
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The AWD enclosure is slightly viewable, but I imagine this would require them removing the current fence line in that enclosure and replacing it with a hidden moat. That would be the only way. I believe there’s a decent amount of space in between the current bus path and the fence line to do this. The bus route wouldn’t need altering.

The Meerkats were the only alteration I read that were going to be apart of the woodlands. Since they’re getting an enclosure at the bus stop which is at the start of the woodlands, I’d imagine that’s where the connection comes in.
 
Jambo said:
The AWD enclosure is slightly viewable, but I imagine this would require them removing the current fence line in that enclosure and replacing it with a hidden moat. That would be the only way. I believe there’s a decent amount of space in between the current bus path and the fence line to do this. The bus route wouldn’t need altering.

The Meerkats were the only alteration I read that were going to be apart of the woodlands. Since they’re getting an enclosure at the bus stop, which is at the start of the woodlands, I’d imagine that’s where the connection comes in there.
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I actually really like the idea of the large meerkat exhibit by the bus stop. Though I find the species in general overrated, they’ll provide something to view while waiting for the bus and seeing them in a large mob (potentially in excess of 20 meerkats) will be a variation from the single digit groupings typically seen in zoos.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I actually really like the idea of the large meerkat exhibit by the bus stop. Though I find the species in general overrated, they’ll provide something to view while waiting for the bus and seeing them in a large mob (potentially in excess of 20 meerkats) will be a variation from the single digit groupings typically seen in zoos.
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One constant complaint Werribee have received is the wait times for the Safari buses (especially on popular days).

The Meerkat exhibit will certainly help alleviate this; and would certainly help keep the kids in line there engaged. ;)
 
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