From my visit to Werribee...

[Zoofan15]

This is what people need to consider when speculating on whether any particular species will end up at MZ or WORZ: Does it fit into 2 of these categories or not? If the answer is no, then it is highly unlikely that Zoos Victoria would bring them in.

We have heard so much speculation and so many opinions on everything from Indian rhinos, to tapirs, to porcupines, to fennec foxes, to okapis and bongos and leopards etc. But when you use this "chart" (so to speak) you will eliminate most species I would think.

Let's do a test run:

Name: Fennec Fox
Recovery: NO
Ark: NO
Ambassador: NO
Enabling: YES
Research: NOT SURE - BUT PROBABLY NOT

Judging by the criteria, it suggests that Fennec Fox will not be coming to MZ or WORZ any time soon.

That said, this is a rough guide - perhaps the enabling aspects of fennec fox outweigh the other criteria in the eyes of the powers that be, or maybe the view that "they are cheap and easy to get, so why not" may sway a decision. Of course there may be individual members of management who specifically push for certain animals and that may get one species across the line etc - but if that is the case then it would be the exception rather than the rule.

Note that Black rhino would tick YES to the first 3 boxes - but then they would be far more difficult and expensive than fennec foxes - so it's not a perfect science.

The sixth category:

That’s very true and to expand on your idea, we can actually create a sixth category: Feasible - Can the species be accommodated within the space Melbourne Zoo has available? Is it suited to display in a city zoo? Is it cost effective when you consider how else funding could be allocated?

When we use this sixth category, we can rule out black rhinoceros (not suited to a small city zoo), Giant panda (astronomical rental costs that detract from other projects) and Common hippopotamus (not suited for a city zoo and require water filtration infrastructure almost equivalent to the exhibit space needed) among a multitude of examples - all of which would appear to otherwise fit Zoos Victoria’s criteria.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

It was reported that a hyena clan was to be added to Werribee at the same time the Elephants and Gondola were first announced. A Werribee zoo redevelopment map to memory had them in the vicinity of the Wild Dogs and Hippos. Reporting also indicated a second Lion enclosure to memory.

Do you mean they will be added with the Elephants, or did I misinterpret that. I was under the impression that the lion exhibit would be getting an expansion. Also, I would hope that a large portion of the walking trail towards the elephants would be finished

 

[Jambo]

It appears there were integration issues with the nyala on the Savannah and since they don’t make for a crowd pulling exhibit on their own, I’m guessing they’ve been scrapped independently of a decision to acquire Eastern bongo - which do make for an impressive stand alone exhibit and are an endangered species.

They were never integrated into the main savannah to my knowledge, they're just displayed in the waterhole/woodland precinct as they're 'woodland' animals, and the loss of Waterbuck in the exhibit left it with just Blackbuck and Ostrich.

The Southern cassowary exhibit is an option for a single bull - and would compliment the Pygmy hippopotamus nicely. It may be beneficial to hold a medium to large breeding herd at Werribee; with a surplus founder bull imported (held at Melbourne) to sub into the breeding herd to cover the first generation daughters - simultaneously giving Melbourne an opportunity for a new species.

The current Cassowary exhibit isn't suitable for Bongo atm unfortunately, and wouldn't give them enough space imo (even a single male). It would be better suited to Black and White Colobus imo, or even as an extension to the Pygmy Hippo exhibits.

 

[Jambo]

It was reported that a hyena clan was to be added to Werribee at the same time the Elephants and Gondola were first announced. A Werribee zoo redevelopment map to memory had them in the vicinity of the Wild Dogs and Hippos. Reporting also indicated a second Lion enclosure to memory.

Yeah, so that would be around 2025 once the gondola is completed. The waterhole was meant to be completed around this time too.

The second lion enclosure would allow the Lions to be viewed from the Safari. I'm assuming they may be looking to build it where the wooded area is in between the Waterhole drive through exhibit and the Werribee river. That would be the only feasible location.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

They were never integrated into the main savannah to my knowledge, they're just displayed in the waterhole/woodland precinct as they're 'woodland' animals, and the loss of Waterbuck in the exhibit left it with just Blackbuck and Ostrich.

The current Cassowary exhibit isn't suitable for Bongo atm unfortunately, and wouldn't give them enough space imo (even a single male). It would be better suited to Black and White Colobus imo, or even as an extension to the Pygmy Hippo exhibits.

I remember the waterbuck in the waterhole area, and I was under the impression they had been phased out when I was no longer able to spot them there. That was until yesterday when I saw them, and I’m still confused as to why they got moved. The waterhole seemed like a perfect environment imo

 

[Jambo]

I remember the waterbuck in the waterhole area, and I was under the impression they had been phased out when I was no longer able to spot them there. That was until yesterday when I saw them, and I’m still confused as to why they got moved. The waterhole seemed like a perfect environment imo

If we're speaking about the waterbuck; not sure why they moved but it can be speculated that they indeed got moved for cohabitation issues, i'm assuming with the female ostrich that arrived a few years ago or even the group of blackbuck that has only been breeding there for a few years now.

It was always wonderful to see the waterbuck use the waterhole, but at least they get more space in the lower savannah and have access to the acres of marshes down there.