Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2025

[The Sleepy Hippo]

The redevelopment at Werribee was also formally announced way back in 2014, which is a life time ago for governments and animal management.

But, correct me if I'm wrong, that was only really the concept of we would move the elephants to Werribee "in the next ten years", and didn't include:

• the waterhole precinct,
• lion, cheetah, AWD expansions, or
• the gondola.

(But I could be very much misremembering and will admit I didn't do the quick google to check.)

 

[Zoofan15]

But, correct me if I'm wrong, that was only really the concept of we would move the elephants to Werribee "in the next ten years", and didn't include:

• the waterhole precinct,
• lion, cheetah, AWD expansions, or
• the gondola.

(But I could be very much misremembering and will admit I didn't do the quick google to check.)

That’s correct. Here’s one of many links:

Werribee Open Range Zoo Redevelopment

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 committed $84 million to transform Werribee Zoo into Australia’s leading open range zoo – including building a new home for the city’s much-loved Asian elephant herd, currently housed at Melbourne Zoo.

Werribee Zoo‘s Expansion delivers a world-class experience, with a new elephant sanctuary to house six Asian elephants, a new specially designed site for rhinos and bison, and a new waterhole experience.

 

[Jambo]

You don’t understand, I’m saying if they had specific plans for the space that required major capital works (rather than, say, Indian rhinos for which the existing exhibit is already more than sufficient) they would have announced those as part of the broader package of works at Werribee. That would have been an attractive option for the Vic Gov as well, as it enables them to spruik improvements at both sites and appeal to a broader section of the community.

My guess is they were looking at rhinos (hence no capital works as part of the Werribee plan) but just haven’t been able to source any from overseas. Taronga had the luxury of an excess male at Dubbo - Zoos Vic doesn’t have that.

To piggyback off what @The Sleepy Hippo said, there would have been little point in announcing plans for a precinct if the funding wasn't there for it.

The only reason Werribee's masterplan was announced was because the State Government had expressed strong support and interest in the project - they really wanted to improve Werribee so that it could be a strong, attractive destination in the west. The growing population on the west side really needs things to do and see there, and so splashing money on Werribee Zoo was a well rounded solution to that. I imagine we can expect to see further improvements at Werribee soon; they're just waiting for the funding to come through.

I talked to a keeper years back and was told that they didn't believe Indian Rhino were a candidate for replacement. Obviously we also now know that it would be difficult to acquire the species anyway (even though there's a surplus now over in Europe).

My thinking is that Melbourne have a huge redevelopment of the area in mind, but are awaiting for the green light from the state gov before they announce those plans. In the meantime, they'll likely just leave the area empty. It does seem like they're playing the long game atm. Even on the recent masterplan, the area is just labelled as 'elephant redevelopment' with no further explanation.

 

[Zoofan15]

I will say though that TOTE is not the location for Fighting Extinction displays (assuming they are referring to the 20 priority species). The place for that is Growing Wild and Australian Bush.

I fully agree. In addition to Growing Wild and Australian Bush, they also have their sister zoos Healesville and Werribee, the latter of which is ideal rewilding exhibits.

These are the 27 focus species:

Local Threatened Species | Zoos Victoria

Many are species housed at Melbourne Zoo already. The elephant paddocks represent a rare opportunity to redevelop a sizeable area of land that the zoo can’t expect to have again for many decades. It would be an absolute waste to fill it with exhibits for species that can be housed in the reptile house (replacing non-endangered exotics where possible); or the aforementioned sister sites.

 

[Jambo]

But, correct me if I'm wrong, that was only really the concept of we would move the elephants to Werribee "in the next ten years", and didn't include:

• the waterhole precinct,
• lion, cheetah, AWD expansions, or
• the gondola.

(But I could be very much misremembering and will admit I didn't do the quick google to check.)

Nothing of the sort was announced that far back, although it was mentioned there was discussions internally around that time that the elephants would move to Werribee eventually.

In 2019 they announced the elephants would move across, alongside those complimentary precincts you've mentioned. None of those have been built yet; again, due to a lack of funding. It's possible some have been scrapped, or put on the back burner. It'll be interesting to know whether the state gov (and Zoos Vic) are still keen on continuing with carrying out this masterplan. My guess is that they'll end up just doing a select few that they still see as priorities.

 

[OzZooJoy]

Yeah, found the wrong information, read that the architects were signed on in 2018, not 2014, but budget announcement was in 2020 budget. Sorry about the incorrect information.

 

[That Aussie Guy]

Would you happen to have a copy of the Melbourne Zoo (as well as any other ZoosVic) Masterplan? I can only seem to find the conservation species one, as opposed to any regarding zoo development.

 

[Zoofan15]

Would you happen to have a copy of the Melbourne Zoo (as well as any other ZoosVic) Masterplan? I can only seem to find the conservation species one, as opposed to any regarding zoo development.

Here you go:

Zoos Victoria masterplan:



This comes from the 2024-2027 Corporate Plan:

https://cdn-site.zoo.org.au/media/1x1ld5br/zoos_victoria_corporate_plan_2024-2027.pdf

 

[WhistlingKite24]

The 2024/2025 Inventory List has been released for Melbourne Zoo [https://zoos-prod-cdn.azureedge.net/media/vkndji4d/zv-inventory-2024-25.pdf]. Notable developments are below:

• As it has been covered several invert species have been added to the zoo’s collection including native snails [Atherton Tableland Bicoloured Snail, Fraser’s Banded Snail, Bundaberg Banded Snail], a Black Sand Scorpion, a Golden Huntsman and a Social Huntsman (which died) among fluctuating orb weaver numbers, a pair of Fringed Jumping Spiders, a Murray River Crayfish, twenty Australian Land Hermit Crabs, Cybister sp. [giant diving beetles] and Egyptian Beetles.

• Fiddler Beetle and Giant Water Spider are no longer present with other invert numbers of course fluctuating regularly.

• A second species of seahorse were acquired with 15.0 Shorthead Seahorses. Some of the new species acquired so far for the new Wild Sea tanks include 27 Agassiz's Glassfish, 10 Banggai Cardinalfish, a Flame Angelfish, seven Ocellaris Clownfish, seven Blue-Green Chromis, twenty Purple-spotted Gudgeon and a Yellow Tang. Blue-lined Hulafish and Tasmanian Blenny have died out.

• Two Eastern Dwarf Frogs were acquired though a single one remained by the end of the reporting period and two Desert Tree Frogs were acquired in total. Frog breeding included 324 Spotted Tree Frogs, five Stuttering Frogs, 15 Watson’s Tree Frogs and 3054 Baw Baw Frogs!

• Four (2.2) Hermann’s Tortoises arrived growing their population to six. Two new turtle species was received in the form of 0.0.3 Broad-shelled Turtles and 1.0 Northern Snake-necked Turtle.

• Reptile births/hatchings included five Macleay’s Watersnakes, four Black-headed Pythons, four (2.1.1) Reticulated Pythons, seven Corn Snakes, two Centralian Knob-tailed Geckoes, 15 Frilled Dragons, a Boyd’s Forest Dragon, two Veiled Chameleons with 32 chameleons being transferred out to other zoos and just over 60 hatchings combining the holdings of Canberra and Victoria Grassland Dragons. Three additional Red-barred Dragons arrived (two survived).

• The original male Giant Madagascar Giant Day Gecko has died but they did import the seven new ones. Two male Tokay Geckos are still recorded.

• All the remnant Melbourne-only exotic reptiles remain but three species were lost - Philippine Sail-finned Water Dragon (already known), Tiger Snake and Pygmy Mulga Monitor.

• Pheasants arrived at Melbourne for a brief period – four (2.2) Silver and four (0.0.4) Golden Pheasant but they all died. An Indian Peafowl was momentarily present as well.

• An additional four (1.3) Blue-billed Ducks arrived. Two (1.1) Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves, three (1.2) Noisy Pittas, four (2.1.1) Little Penguins, four (1.3) Pied Stilts and 0.2 Tawny Frogmouths hatched. Actually three (1.2) Regent Parrots arrived at the zoo along with the new 1.1 pair of Australian Ringnecks. The last Helmeted Honeyeater was transferred out.

• Interestingly one of Melbourne zoo’s echidna is listed as the western subspecies – specifically the female. The Fat-tailed Dunnarts came from Kyabram.

• 2.0 Ringtail Lemurs died, a new female Cottontop Tamarin arrived and a male tamarin died. They housed 13.0 Ring-tailed Lemurs and 2.2 Cottontop Tamarins at the end of the reporting period. Two female spider monkeys left the zoo leaving a troop of 2.1 as per previous discussions upthread.

• 23 (11.12) New Holland Mice were bred at Melbourne.

 

[Jambo]

Two Eastern Dwarf Frogs were acquired though a single one remained by the end of the reporting period

I did note seeing two when I visited in September, so it's possible the zoo has since re-acquired another - will need to double check on that.

Two new turtle species was received in the form of 0.0.3 Broad-shelled Turtles and 1.0 Northern Snake-necked Turtle.

That's interesting. I've yet to see either species, so I assume they were initially off display; hopefully they've since been moved onto display (in the Reptile House presumably).

Two male Tokay Geckos are still recorded.

That's good to know - I have recorded one on display on each of my visits this year. They're a highly territorial species, so the other must be off display.

An additional four (1.3) Blue-billed Ducks arrived. Two (1.1) Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves, three (1.2) Noisy Pittas, four (2.1.1) Little Penguins, four (1.3) Pied Stilts and 0.2 Tawny Frogmouths hatched. Actually Three (1.2) Regent Parrots arrived at the zoo along with the new 1.1 pair of Australian Ringnecks. The last Helmeted Honeyeater was transferred out.

I've only ever seen the single (female?) Rose Crowned Fruit Dove in the Butterfly House in it's usual corner. The other must be off display (or good at hiding). Same goes for the Noisy Pitta; I've only ever seen one, so there must be a breeding group off display. Also good to hear confirmation re. the two Tawny Frogmouth chicks, which a volunteer mentioned to me back in June, but I think I forgot to report that on here!

Just a note - the male Australian Ringneck sadly passed, so there's just the female left.

2.0 Ringtail Lemurs died, a new female Cottontop Tamarin arrived and a male tamarin died. They housed 13.0 Ring-tailed Lemurs and 2.2 Cottontop Tamarins at the end of the reporting period. Two female spider monkeys left the zoo leaving a troop of 2.1 as per previous discussions upthread.

That makes sense regarding the Cotton Top Tamarins. Melbourne were down to a sibling group as of last year, and they presumably disappeared. It seems one of the males passed away, one was re-paired with the female from Perth (who live on display), and then the remaining sibling pair are being kept off display.

It's also interesting to have confirmation that Melbourne's two female Spider Monkeys (presumbly mother and daughter) were transferred out. I do wonder where to (there's a few facilities regionally with reasonable sized facilities). And their transfer out does leave Melbourne in a predicament with three Spider Monkeys (an older male, a non breeding female and a young male). A phase out looks likely...

 

[Zoofan15]

It's also interesting to have confirmation that Melbourne's two female Spider Monkeys (presumbly mother and daughter) were transferred out. I do wonder where to (there's a few facilities regionally with reasonable sized facilities). And their transfer out does leave Melbourne in a predicament with three Spider Monkeys (an older male, a non breeding female and a young male). A phase out looks likely...

Two female spider monkeys left the zoo leaving a troop of 2.1 as per previous discussions upthread.

It does indeed appear Melbourne Zoo are working towards a phase out of spider monkeys. It’s one of the few phases outs I’m in favour of given the small size of their exhibit doesn’t support the holding of a larger, regularly breeding troop.

There’s countless possibilities, but Auckland Zoo have recently transferred out two females, reducing their troop to six female spider monkeys. It wouldn’t surprise me if they acquired Oren (1998) and Izumi (2020) from Melbourne Zoo.

Due to his hand-raised background, I doubt an overseas zoo would be interested in importing Izumi alone (high chance he’s a behavioural non-breeder); but Oren is a proven breeder and doesn’t appear to be related to Auckland’s troop. At 27 years, he’s past his prime; but for a species that can reach 50 years in captivity, surely has some life left in him yet.

 

[Jambo]

Update on Tambi the Giraffe Calf:

At just 3.5 months old he’s already hit 200kg, gaining just over a kilo a day, and now stands around 2.5 meters tall.

Since he started taking carrot treats from keepers in early October, his training has really taken off. He’s already mastered targeting and tactile training, had voluntary dental X-rays with our specialist, and received his first vaccination through hand injection. Now, whenever he spots keepers, he’s on the lookout for carrot!

Tambi’s personality is blossoming too. He’s curious, playful, and loves exploring enrichment and browse, plus he’s settling in beautifully with the herd. Lately he’s been spending most nights on display (weather permitting), often curled up with Dad at the front of the habitat, or resting under the shelter with Mum and Aunty Iris.

It's interesting to hear that Melbourne gives their Giraffes outdoor access at night - presumably they're one of the species that can be seen during the Roar'N'Snore night tours.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's interesting to hear that Melbourne gives their Giraffes outdoor access at night - presumably they're one of the species that can be seen during the Roar'N'Snore night tours.

Most city zoos bring their giraffes inside at night; but this time of year, Melbourne Zoo are obviously confortable allowing them to stay out.

Auckland Zoo has a yard adjoining their night house (comparable in size to some 20th century exhibits!) that enables them the options of complete confinement (to the house); access to the yard; or access to the paddock. It’s been used when managing breeding e.g. the mother and newborn calf have been confined to the house and yard; while the rest of the herd are out on exhibit (sometimes overnight).

 

[marmolady]

Gorge Wildlife Park was the recipient of the two spider monkeys. Does anyone know which two were transferred? From my brief glimpses, my guess was Isobella and Elena, but I haven’t had confirmation.

 

[Jambo]

Gorge Wildlife Park was the recipient of the two spider monkeys. Does anyone know which two were transferred? From my brief glimpses, my guess was Isobella and Elena, but I haven’t had confirmation.

Thanks for that confirmation @marmolady, and that was my guess. It was mentioned not too long ago that they were looking at acquiring additional females.

My assumption was that it was mother and daughter, Isobella and Elena. The other female, Estella, has never bred, so if the intention was to send Gorge two breeding individuals, the mother and daughter (one of which is proven), would make the most sense.

 

[Zoofan15]

Gorge Wildlife Park was the recipient of the two spider monkeys. Does anyone know which two were transferred? From my brief glimpses, my guess was Isobella and Elena, but I haven’t had confirmation.

Thanks for that confirmation @marmolady, and that was my guess. It was mentioned not too long ago that they were looking at acquiring additional females.

My assumption was that it was mother and daughter, Isobella and Elena. The other female, Estella, has never bred, so if the intention was to send Gorge two breeding individuals, the mother and daughter (one of which is proven), would make the most sense.

Isobella (2009) and Elena (2018) are the most likely candidates. Aside from being a proven breeder, Isobella was imported from France, so there could be some interest in placing this founder in a breeding situation again.

Although spider monkeys are a female dispersal species, many zoos have kept female lines together (namely Auckland Zoo who have bred from the same family for decades, swapping out males as and when required).

 

[Jambo]

Gorge Wildlife Park was the recipient of the two spider monkeys. Does anyone know which two were transferred? From my brief glimpses, my guess was Isobella and Elena, but I haven’t had confirmation.

It's been confirmed by @That Aussie Guy that the two females that transferred out to Gorge are indeed mother and daughter, Isobella and Elena.