Unless I'm mistaken, I don't believe that Peccaries are a species of pig, but in this instance I assume the same legislation applies.
Melbourne Zoo The Future of Zoos Victoria 2025 (Speculation/Fantasy)
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Unless I'm mistaken, I don't believe that Peccaries are a species of pig, but in this instance I assume the same legislation applies.
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
As stated on the Tapir and Adelaide Zoo thread, They are planning on importing 2 tapir from Europe hopefully arriving next month.
I am wondering weather these tapir may end up going to Melbourne as Adelaide already have 2 individuals, would they have the space to hold.2 more whilst the other 2 are getting on in age, it could be quite a few years before they pass.
I am wondering weather these tapir may end up going to Melbourne as Adelaide already have 2 individuals, would they have the space to hold.2 more whilst the other 2 are getting on in age, it could be quite a few years before they pass.
The tapir is a 2.5 year old male named Lupo:
https://www.vienna.at/farewell-lupo-tapir-from-zoo-schmiding-moves-to-australia/9365324
https://www.vienna.at/farewell-lupo-tapir-from-zoo-schmiding-moves-to-australia/9365324
1.0 Lupo (October 2022)
Adelaide Zoo have the following tapir:
Exhibit 1: Arturo (2006) Male Brazilian tapir
Exhibit 2: Chiquita (2002) Female Brazilian tapir
Exhibit 3: Jelita (2000) Female Malayan tapir
If Chiquita and Jelita were integrated (as has been discussed), there’s the potential for the incoming male Adelaide plan to receive in the vacant exhibit. The
With regards to Melbourne Zoo, we know they intend to import a pair, so they certainly have the space to do so now the elephants are gone. The bull elephant paddock will presumably be the home of one half of the pair. They’re a solitary species and Hamilton Zoo attributed the failure of their pair to breed to the fact they were housed together (familiarity lessened their attraction to each other). With this in mind, I’d be surprised to see them occupy the same exhibit; yet I’d be surprised to see Melbourne Zoo allocate two large elephant paddocks each to a Brazilian tapir. I wonder if something like the old Eastern bongo exhibit would be utilised; or long term, redevelopment of the peccary/tapir row.
There’s the potential for Melbourne Zoo to hold them across all three long term:
Bull elephant paddocks: Male tapir
Old Eastern bongo exhibit: Female tapir
Peccary/tapir row: First generation offspring (long term)
I had wondered whether Adelaide instead intend to pair the new pair up with their current pair; ie. the male Lupo with Chiquita and then the new female with Arturo. Chiquita's only in her early 20's so may still be able to breed - and it would be good to give Arturo the chance to also breed.
In regards to Melbourne, I'd imagine they'd utilise the former Tapir enclosure, potentially moving the Peccaries elsewhere in the meantime and redeveloping that whole area for a new complex. Another possibility is the former elephant pool paddock however they'd need to update the fencing and build new BOH facilities there.
ReturnOfPaddyRick
Well-Known Member
I believe they were still considered suidae when the ban came into action, so they can’t be imported (don’t take my word for it). Whether a zoo wants to hold peccaries enough to stress their reclassification is probably unlikely.
That’s correct that they’re no longer classed as suidae, but still can’t be imported. There seems to be very little support for this species regionally in any case, hence the cessation of breeding at Melbourne, who could have easily supplied other holders from their group of 1.2.
I don’t really buy into this theory of Melbourne ceasing breeding because of the genetic bottleneck they’ve reached (the entire peccary population was founded from a single pair). Indian antelope have been inbred for the last century in Australian zoos; as have Barbary sheep. If they wanted them that much, they could continue inbreeding.
It appears to be another case of the phase out culture continuing within our major zoos!
They could look at adding some other species to the mix in the long term - Blackbuck have been floated as an option. However I do think that it would be really interesting if they could somehow pull off a mix with Water Buffalo, or even better, Indian Rhino!
I had hoped they would have looked at acquiring Indian rhinoceros in the here and now. The cows have three paddocks plus the fidget spinner paddock, which is beyond their wildest dreams. Allocating one of the paddocks to rhinos would have done nothing to detract from their experience and would have been preferable at this stage rather than reducing their available space as the herd grows.
I’m excited for the future introduction of Indian antelope nonetheless!
With the Blackbuck soon to leave, and the female Ostrich now moved elsewhere in the zoo, I was pondering about what the future of the Waterhole drive through part of the Safari tour would look like.
Indian Rhino and Water Buffalo would be perfect additions here - and would make great use of the lake. Additionally, the large exhibit at the beginning of the Elephant trail (also viewable on the safari bus) would also be suitable.
In saying that, Indian Rhino are unlikely to appear in any other collections regionally besides Taronga and Dubbo until there's changes in management.
Its "sounds" like "some" in their management are jealously guarding the Indian rhino as "their" species!
Unfortunately - to the dismay of a lot of other facilities.Its "sounds" like "some" in their management are jealously guarding the Indian rhino as "their" species!
The other thing I’d like to see long term at Werribee (after the hyena, lion expansion etc) is a Sumatran tiger complex - similar to Dubbo’s. It’d nicely support the operations at Melbourne.
However great it would be to see such a complex at Melbourne, I would be very, very surprised. Werribee's management seems quite set on mantaining the 'African Safari' theme.
Yes, there’s undoubtedly greater priorities at this point in time, which is fair enough.
That said, I do much prefer Dubbo’s model of geographic diversity, especially considering how many African species (especially birds) are unavailable for import/acquisition.
This is very old hat thinking on their part "they" are actually holding back the species due to this mind set, so much for conservation!.Unfortunately - to the dismay of a lot of other facilities.
I think you may find this mindset also includes Francois Langurs, Persian Onagers, and even Dholes in the past! prestige before conservation!
This is very old hat thinking on their part "they" are actually holding back the species due to this mind set, so much for conservation!.
I think you may find this mindset also includes Francois Langurs, Persian Organs, and even Dholes in the past! prestigious before conservation!
Cooperation is definitely for the benefit of the long term durability of coordinated regional breeding programmes. Many have failed due to only one holder failing to ensure succession.
That said, some can exists as extensions of European populations (Auckland’s Bornean orangutan being one such example).
Melbourne needs a two decade or longer plan to revamp the entire zoo. So much wasted space, i degress. I actually think it would be better to see Werribee take the baboons. While melbourne builds a tiger complex comparable to Taronga zoo's. Then they could hold a decent number and potentially have periodic breeding. The exhibits at taronga also allow for easy viewing and good enrichment for the cats themselves.
Keeping them seperate geographically to a degree would enable to Melbourne to focus on SEA and SA species. Which tend to be smaller and more suited to melbourne. With the exception of werribee obtaining greater one horned rhino. But then that fits the safari feel they are going for.
This is very old hat thinking on their part "they" are actually holding back the species due to this mind set, so much for conservation!.
I think you may find this mindset also includes Francois Langurs, Persian Onagers, and even Dholes in the past! prestige before conservation!
This is one of the majour reasons our species in zoos have quite literally gone down the shitter. How many langur species were phased out for a species no other zoo appears to be taking on. Im hoping Adelaide will import either more duskies once there elderly ones pass or francious langurs. They sure as **** aint getting them from Taronga.
Even sumatran tigers, we have regional private zoos giving away space to generics because the sumatran tiger program can't assign them any tigers. Like we have a shortage or they are hard to breed.
This greatly frustrates me too. The reason given was that there wasn’t a surplus of Sumatran tigers, but what I don’t get is why they couldn’t just breed another litter from one of the breeding pairs in the region (e.g. Clarence and Kartika at Taronga).
Hamilton’s initial trio of Sumatran tiger cubs (transferred in from Wellington) weren’t planned to ever breed, they were bred so Hamilton could display the species. Worst case scenario, we’d have non-breeding Sumatrans at Sydney, Ballarat etc. occupying spaces now occupied by generics.