This is the end of the exhibit with natural substrate and some branches. This exhibit has been vastly improved over the last couple of years but I think a better solution would be to destroy it and ship the baboons out to Werribee.
This is the end of the exhibit with natural substrate and some branches. This exhibit has been vastly improved over the last couple of years but I think a better solution would be to destroy it and ship the baboons out to Werribee.
This is the end of the exhibit with natural substrate and some branches. This exhibit has been vastly improved over the last couple of years but I think a better solution would be to destroy it and ship the baboons out to Werribee.
This just seems too straightforward, doesn't it? In a new, open enclosure at Werribee they become a feature exhibit and get a vastly improved lifestyle into the bargain. There's about 20 of them there and they would be an engrossing, entertaining exhibit at a zoo where the director admits more animals are needed. At Melbourne they're a seldom visited, even more rarely appreciated species.
The problem is that it isn't a fence, it's a fully enclosed cage. Which would also be fine except that it's much too low. The climbing opportunities are actually more limited in this enclosure than they could be.
Aside from that, there is no particularly husbandry problem with the cage. But it fails as a zoo attraction at Melbourne - not only because of its appearance but because of its location. It's in the far corner of the 'empty quarter' of Melbourne Zoo. The only other exhibits in the entire southeastern quadrant of the zoo are the little penguins, tamarins, tree kangaroos, red pandas, a pair of cockatoos, macaws on the other side of the zoo bistro and (much closer to the zoo entrance) meerkats. It's easily the least visited portion of the zoo.
Doesn't the fact that it's a cage add climbing structures itself? I agree with Animal, I see no problems with this exhibit, but like you said, the location is the main problem.
Doesn't the fact that it's a cage add climbing structures itself? I agree with Animal, I see no problems with this exhibit, but like you said, the location is the main problem.
CGSwans has a point though. Mesh for primates usually does mean increased climbing oppurtunities, however the roof on this cage looks a bit low which means the monkeys are restricted in how high they can climb
if one of the aims of keeping animals in zoos is to engender respect for them then enclosures like this fail. they actually counter-act this message and also create a sense of negativity towards zoos in the minds of visitors
if one of the aims of keeping animals in zoos is to engender respect for them then enclosures like this fail. they actually counter-act this message and also create a sense of negativity towards zoos in the minds of visitors
if one of the aims of keeping animals in zoos is to engender respect for them then enclosures like this fail. they actually counter-act this message and also create a sense of negativity towards zoos in the minds of visitors
third that. many of us might see it as "not that bad in terms of enrichment etc" but as i believe the above statement to be true - this exhibit is a total fail and shouldn't be on display.
instead the baboons should be moved to werribee and this exhibit can be renovated and screened from public display to be used for the short term holding of surplus primates. for example moving yonaton and his son here would allow for a new male mandrill to reinstate melbourne/adelaides breeding program.
Below is an extract from Zoos Victoria's Annual Report of 2008/09:
"Plans are being drawn up to relocate the Hamadryas Baboon troop to a new display within the African Bush area of the zoo. This relocation from the old baboon display will provide visitors with more opportunity to observe the behaviour of these amazing animals."
Is the 'African Bush' the primate section of the zoo or near the bongo and giraffe exhibit's?
