Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2024

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Jambo said:
That would make more sense, the other two must've only arrived recently then. I presume since both Mek Kapah and Luk Chai have previously travelled they wouldn't need as much training as the mothers and calves, especially.

There's actually a crate outside the old elephant house, which I presumed was in fact the old crate to transfer Bong Su and Mek Kapah across to the new facility in 2003.

I do wonder if the crates being utilised by Luk Chai and Mek Kapah now will later be sent over to Perth to transfer their pair over to Monarto next year. I believe both individuals at Perth are already being crate trained, so that would rule out the initial idea from occurring if the crates are still there.
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Luk Chai would be well rehearsed in crate training from his transfer from Dubbo in December 2020; and prior to that, his transfer from Taronga to Dubbo. It’d be interesting to see how much Mek Kepah remembers two decades on; and the three cows imported from Thailand in 2006. Dokkoon, Mali and their calves were very enthusiastic about their crate training on my visits. There was clearly a motivating factor (i.e. food) at play as when the barn doors opened, they ran for the transport crates.

Perth Zoo are getting their own crates according to this article:

Relocation of Perth Zoo’s beloved elephants moves forward

Given the Melbourne/Werribee transfers will be happening 4-5 months ahead of the Perth transfers, it would have been good if they could have used Melbourne’s crates; though I’m guessing Perth want all the time they can get to ensure the elephants are fully trained. Putra Mas reportedly refused to cooperate with attempts to export him in 2000 to the US after all. Not unlike a certain giraffe. :rolleyes:
 
Jambo said:
Construction is nearing completion and from the looks of it, the finishing touches are being put in place at the moment.

I'd imagine they'd also be wanting to give the current exhibits at least a few more months to re-vegetate on top of what they've already had prior to the elephants arrival. It was still primarily dirt as of a few months back.

On the time of the move itself, I'm still told the aim is for December and the elephants will hopefully be moved the same day; which summer daylight hours will permit due to them needing pretty much the whole day for the three trips there and back.
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I was told today that they will now be moving in January.
 
SugarPlumLucy said:
I was told today that they will now be moving in January.
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Thanks for the update. I’m not surprised as Zoos Victoria recently alluded to being able to see the elephants at Melbourne Zoo until late 2024/early 2025.

Delaying the transfer until January 2025 is ultimately no big deal. It’s important to transfer the calves while they’re still of a size to fit in their mother’s crates, but a month of growing won’t inhibit this. The oldest calves turn two next month, so they’re rapidly approaching the EEHV danger zone, but Zoos Victoria are very proactive with testing, so they’re doing everything they can to mitigate any risks.
 
Asian elephant calf update:

An update from Melbourne Zoo that Roi-Yim and Aiyara have begun to grow tusks and tushes respectively. Roi-Yim’s began to come through first, followed by Aiyara’s.

1.0 Roi-Yim (25/11/2022) Luk Chai x Mali
0.1 Aiyara (16/11/2022) Luk Chai x Dokkoon

Reported on socials - check out the video for close up footage.
 
Elephant departures:

The elephants have made fantastic progress with their crate training and the complex is just weeks away from completion (with the latest update on the zoo’s socials being December/January given as a transfer date).

No opening date for the Werribee complex has been confirmed, but is estimated to be around a month after the last elephants arrive.

The transport order will be:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009)

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)

Please refer to the elephant population thread for a more detailed update.
 
Jambo said:
This is the space which was a 'elephant clearing section' designed to demonstrate how elephants damage undergrowth when they pass through forests. It's a shame that this is now gone as I did always appreciate the 'beware elephant' signs and the other designs that were placed there.

Considering the size of the construction site you'd hope its a small enclosure. It would have to be something appealing to keep visitor interest in the meantime though. I remain hopeful for a species like Komodo Dragon.
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Has anyone been to MZ recently? Do we know that this construction space is achieving?
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Has anyone been to MZ recently? Do we know that this construction space is achieving?
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I went a few weeks ago and there's still nothing there, just an empty fenced off area. There is a secondary path that looks like it has been built but it just goes straight behind the Elephant Hut towards the Butterfly House; probably taking into account the closure of thewhole elephant complex once they leave in the coming months, still giving visitors access to the Butterfly House.

Vegatation has also been cleared behind Hutan's enclosure, so you can now view the back of Hutan's enclosure from the top of the Gorilla enclosure. Not sure whether this is also in preparation for an entire overhaul of the whole Asian trail.
 
austrlain zoo gower said:
Hi All
Visiting Werribee tomorrow, hopefully going to see progress of the new elephant exhibit, along with baby rhino
Will upload photos after the day
Any questions that you would like me to ask
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Thanks for letting us know. I’d like to know the following if you get chance to ask:

Indication of African lion breeding plans. I’d assume Asali is back on contraception given no cubs have been forthcoming, but would be nice to know.

Any plans to receive additional Southern white rhinoceros cows via the Australian Rhino Project?

Names of the surviving African wild dogs (i.e. confirmation which of the brothers is still alive).
 
Small updates from my visit today, 27/11/24

Melbourne Zoo has a new species, Bell’s Hingeback Tortoises have moved into one of the former Meerkat enclosures (Meerkats are still in all other enclosures) in Growing Wild. These animals are likely from Werribee Zoo, must be a reason for why they are not still there with the Leopard Tortoises.

While I was in Growing Wild I did manage to see the Meerkat pups, they are healthy and happy, the herp/invert building was closed as usual on regular weekdays.

Three White-browed Woodswallows have moved in with the Pied Stilts including one chick.

Reptile species that weren’t on display but usually are and could either be held off display or absent from the collection include Arafura File Snake, Southern Pilbara Rock Monitor, Honduran Milk Snake, Ball Python, Giant Madagascar Day Gecko.

The tanks in wild seas have been completely re-done. The first tank is now a reef tank containing corals, Banggai Cardinalfish, Clownfish and Blue-green Chromis, the second remains empty, the third still has Pot-bellied Seahorses, the fourth has Neon and Bosesmani Rainbowfish and the last has hatchling Eastern Long-neck Turtles, a couple Murray-Darling Rainbowfish and an Algae Eater. While it is nice that these tanks finally get attention after being neglected for so long, it is a shame that they have departed from the Port Phillip Bay theme that wild seas was originally meant to have opting for tropical and even freshwater environments.


I forgot to go to the Frog House and I didn’t get to do Australian Bush as it started bucketing down rain.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
Elephant departures:

The elephants have made fantastic progress with their crate training and the complex is just weeks away from completion (with the latest update on the zoo’s socials being December/January given as a transfer date).

No opening date for the Werribee complex has been confirmed, but is estimated to be around a month after the last elephants arrive.

The transport order will be:

1.0 Luk Chai (2009)

A few days later:

0.1 Kulab (2000)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Kati (2023)

24 hours later:

0.1 Mek Kepah (1973)
0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Mali (2010)
0.1 Aiyara (2022)
1.0 Roi-Yim (2022)

Please refer to the elephant population thread for a more detailed update.
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Australia seems mercifully free of the EEHV virus. Is that correct?
 
Pertinax said:
Australia seems mercifully free of the EEHV virus. Is that correct?
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Initially, yes, it appeared that way however Taronga lost a young cow (Tukta) in 2018 and Melbourne lost a young bull (Man Jai) in 2023, both from EEHV.

Both individuals also weren't calves so to speak, Tukta was seven approaching eight and Man Jai was nine years of age.

But in total, out of the fourteen calves we have had born in the region; twelve reached the age of one. Three tragically passed, two of those mentioned above to EEHV. The remaining nine include Melbourne's three youngest calves (of whom are all around two years of age now).
 
Pertinax said:
Australia seems mercifully free of the EEHV virus. Is that correct?
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Australia has had two EEHV deaths to date:

0.1 Tukta (2010-2018)
1.0 Man Jai (2013-2023)

Overseas, many zoos have experienced EEHV deaths at or around weaning age; so Tukta’s death came as a surprise to me; and Man Jai’s even more so.

Melbourne’s staff advised me that they’re extremely proactive in testing for EEHV up to 15 years of age, as anything up to this age is still very much at risk - as these two deaths demonstrate.

Any loss is a blow to the breeding programme; but Tukta in particular represented the foundations of a matrilineal line that has since been reduced to her founder mother (who has no living offspring).
 
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