Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2022 (Speculation / Fantasy)

[Zoofan15]

When kamina arrived at ddz they said
Kamina is a young female Pygmy Hippopotamus - one of only five specimens of her species in Australia. Fortunately Pygmy Hippos like to live alone as the other four are all related to her.

At the moment the law does not permit the import of Hippos so it is not possible to import a mate for her or any of the other four.

We are working with industry colleagues to assist the government to amend the law to permit such an import. but it will be several years before this will be accomplished.

In the meantime Kamina is being waited on hand and foot
There would only be a bit of inbreeding as it isn’t like for example obi breeding with now deceased petra

That update was from years ago. Plans change. If Melbourne are receiving a female Pygmy hippopotamus in the near future, it'll be a transfer from within the region.

Yes I was a real shame that someone didn’t go out to recapture her I believe she was feral for about 6 to 7 years just a real waste of a potential breeding female. It will depend on what the estimated timeline for a possible importation if and when Kamina would be paired up.

She was shot in 2009, so yes around five years.

Another possibility is that Kambiri could be transferred from Taronga to breed with Felix.

Fergus and Kambiri have proved an adequate pair, but not an outstanding pair with only two calves produced in their decade together. For a species that can potentially reproduce at much greater intervals than what we've seen at Taronga, a switch may prove beneficial.

Taronga may be happy to decrease their Pygmy hippopotamus holdings for the next few years, with their Congo precinct hopefully beginning construction in the near future (it's still in the planning phase).

 

[Zorro]

That update was from years ago. Plans change. If Melbourne are receiving a female Pygmy hippopotamus in the near future, it'll be a transfer from within the region.


She was shot in 2009, so yes around five years.

Another possibility is that Kambiri could be transferred from Taronga to breed with Felix.

Fergus and Kambiri have proved an adequate pair, but not an outstanding pair with only two calves produced in their decade together. For a species that can potentially reproduce at much greater intervals than what we've seen at Taronga, a switch may prove beneficial.

Taronga may be happy to decrease their Pygmy hippopotamus holdings for the next few years, with their Congo precinct hopefully beginning construction in the near future (it's still in the planning phase).

It would not be that hard to place two pygmy hippos into another zoo for a while I am sure there would be another zoo happy to display them for a year or two

 

[Zoofan15]

It would not be that hard to place two pygmy hippos into another zoo for a while I am sure there would be another zoo happy to display them for a year or two

The freeing up of space at Taronga may be beneficial, but first and foremost it could prove strategic to the breeding programne by switching up a pair that haven't reached their full potential by trying the female with a different male.

Pairing Felix and Kambiri at Melbourne could in turn produce a male calf that would be more distantly related to Kamina at DDZ than her sire or a male calf (full brother) born within Taronga’s existing pair.

 

[Jambo]

As much as I want to have a baby Pygmy hippo in the near future I can’t see ddz and mz wanting to inbreed Pygmy hippo and even if they did the hippo couldn’t be a pair for obi as Felix’s is his dad seeing and importation if 2 to 4 hippos would be great one one for Melbourne Adelaide and ddz do you think there will be another calf for Taronga
Are kambiri and Felix realated

Inbreeding has already taken place within the region, with the whole population descending from four founders. If imports cannot be sourced for now, inbreeding is the only option for saving the regions population of pygmy hippos right now. Inbred hippos are better than none right?

Kambiri and Felix are related. Kambiri's great grandparents are the same as Felix's grandparents on his father's side. Felix is also Fergus's full brother, so genetic wise, she's breeding with the same male anyways. Maybe it would be best to give Felix a chance. He's a proven breeder, and breed rather quickly after he was introduced to Petre. Maybe him and Kambiri will prove a more efficient pair.

 

[Zoofan15]

How Australasia's Pygmy Hippopotamus are Related

The population descends from four founders:

1.0 Pi (1969) imported from the USA 1970
0.1 Carolyn (1971) imported from the USA 1972
0.1 Diana (1973) imported from the USA 1975
1.0 Timmy (1980) imported from the USA 1981

Pi and Carolyn were the parents of Janice (1977) and Frank (1981).

Pi and Diana were the parents of Henry (1979).

Henry and Janice were the parents of Petre (1984).

Frank and Diana were the parents of Fluffy (1991).

Frank and Fluffy were the parents of Felix (2006) and Fergus (2009).

Timmy and Petre were the parents of Kambiri (2010).

Fergus and Kambiri are the parents of Kamina (2017).

Felix and Petre are the parents of Obi (2015).

Additional information on Page 3 of this thread: Pygmy Hippo history Austral(asian) region

 

[Zorro]

How Australasia's Pygmy Hippopotamus are Related

The population descends from four founders:

1.0 Pi (1969) imported from the USA 1970
0.1 Carolyn (1971) imported from the USA 1972
0.1 Diana (1973) imported from the USA 1975
1.0 Timmy (1980) imported from the USA 1981

Pi and Carolyn were the parents of Janice (1977) and Frank (1981).

Pi and Diana were the parents of Henry (1979).

Henry and Janice were the parents of Petre (1984).

Frank and Diana were the parents of Fluffy (1991).

Frank and Fluffy were the parents of Felix (2006) and Fergus (2009).

Timmy and Petre were the parents of Kambiri (2010).

Fergus and Kambiri are the parents of Kamina (2017).

Felix and Petre are the parents of Obi (2015).

Additional information on Page 3 of this thread: Pygmy Hippo history Austral(asian) region

It would make common sense to look around now at potential animals to see what is available and where some can sourced from,I believe there are quite a few pygmy and river hippos living in Asian zoos perhaps worth looking into

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

They might even breed obi and kambiri togeather as in my opinion the enclosure the obi lives in at adleade zoo isn’t the best but if Felix doesn’t breed with another Pygmy it will be a waste of a Pygmy hippo

 

[Jambo]

They might even breed obi and kambiri togeather as in my opinion the enclosure the obi lives in at adleade zoo isn’t the best but if Felix doesn’t breed with another Pygmy it will be a waste of a Pygmy hippo

Felix would be far more likely as Melbourne have the space for a female and for breeding, of which Adelaide dosen't.

In regards to the empty enclosure on the left side, i'd rather it at least have something rather than being empty. Carp were quite nice. Otters would suit the enclosure really well (and I believe have been in there in the past), although would give Melbourne yet another double up. Capybara would also be nice, and easy to import from within the region.

 

[Zoofan15]

They might even breed obi and kambiri togeather as in my opinion the enclosure the obi lives in at adleade zoo isn’t the best but if Felix doesn’t breed with another Pygmy it will be a waste of a Pygmy hippo

I doubt that'd happen as Obi is Kambiri's closest relative (they're half siblings) out of the three males in the region. Fergus and Felix are more distant relatives and Felix is a proven bull. Felix and Kambiri are the obvious pairing imo given the factors I've listed.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Melbourne zoo imports
mandrills
Malayan tapir breeding pare
Indian rhinoceros
Blackbuk
Golden lion tamarin
Tiger breeding pare
Colubus monkey breeding pare
Pygmy hippo female
White faced saki in my opinion
Slow loris
Bintarong
Bongo
Fennec fox
Cape crested porcupine
Sun bear
Komodo dragon
Maned wolf
Red panda breeding pare

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Here are my trail lists
Gorrila rainforest
ring tailed lemur
black and white ruffed lemurs
Western lowland gorrila
Pygmy hippo

tree top apes and monkeys
Cotton top tamarins
Emperor tamarin
Slow loris
White cheeked gibbon
White face saki monkey
Black and white colubus monkey
Lion tamarin (If enough space)
tree kangaroo ( don’t they have one of display
Are the consure thing still there

Trail of the elephants
Asian small clawed otters
Sumatran tiger
Malayan tapir
Indian blackbuk
Indian rhino
Water buffalo (maybe)
Siamang
Hybrid orangutan
Sumatran orangutan
Bintarong
Squirrel monkey

Lion gorge
African wild dog or maned wolf
African Lion
Serval
Snow leopard
Sun bear
Komodo dragon

main trail(In my opinion I think it should be turned into a small African Savannah
Giraffe
Zebra
H baboons
Fennec fox
Meerkat
Cape created porcupine
Platypus( would like to be in the Australian area but won’t be likely

‘Growing wild ( turned into a little South American area )
Capybara
Mara
Some sort of other small animals
Coati ( if they still have them could be moved back)

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Does anyone have the following info
Tree tops apes and monkeys map or planing or exhibit layout ( could relay use it
It the area where they used to have coatis in growing wild still there in belive in 2014 it was there
Layout of Malayan tapir and peccaries area is there a backstage area and if so is there any photos are maps
Snow leopard habit plans and tiger habitat at lion gorge can seem to find them
Any of these would be appreciated

 

[Jambo]

Melbourne zoo imports
mandrills
Malayan tapir breeding pare
Indian rhinoceros
Blackbuk
Golden lion tamarin
Tiger breeding pare
Colubus monkey breeding pare
Pygmy hippo female
White faced saki in my opinion
Slow loris
Bintarong
Bongo
Fennec fox
Cape crested porcupine
Sun bear
Komodo dragon
Maned wolf
Red panda breeding pare

Mandrills - It seems an import is feasible, so this may be very likely.
Malayan tapir breeding pair - I'd like to see it but unlikely due to them not suiting the Melbourne weather.
Indian rhinoceros - Quite likely, especially as a replacement for the elephants.
Blackbuck - Quite likely, especially as a replacement for the elephants.
Golden lion tamarin - Possible option as another monkey species. Endangered, and they would have the support of the region.
Tiger breeding pair - Melbourne will also likely be getting the chance to breed tigers again. A new pair will likely be formed, but this may be after the deaths of both Hutan and Indrah.
Colubus monkey breeding pair - Possibility...although Melbourne did stop breeding a decade ago and many have thought they were on the phase out list. With Adelaide continuing with them though, Melbourne may finally have the support within the region that they need.
Pygmy hippo female - Likely in the future, especially once Felix gets on in age.
White faced saki in my opinion - Not sure about them, i've never heard of any zoo in the Australian region holding them.
Slow loris - Possibility. Perth have them as an ambassador species, Melbourne could very well use them in the same way.
Binturong - I'd like to see them re-imported, although Melbourne did pretty much phase them out so not sure whether they'll want to get them back.
Bongo - Unlikely; they were phased out, so i'd imagine if Zoos Vic wanted them again, they'd be at Werribee.
Fennec fox - I'd like to see them at Melbourne. They have the support through other zoos in the region.
Cape crested porcupine - Quite likely. They'd do well in a mixed species enclosure with meerkats.
Sun bear - 50/50 chance. If the region can succeed in breeding them, than this could be a possibility, but judging on success so far, i'm not so sure.
Komodo dragon - Melbourne have shown interest in them in the past, and especially with the new babies at ARP, this could be Melbourne's chance to finally gain this species.
Maned wolf - Melbourne have phased them out, and i'm not sure they'll be wanting them back.
Red panda breeding pair - They already have a breeding pair.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Thanks for the feedback agree with you
Can you give me any answers for the question above mainly the tree top apes enquirey



Agree about the tapir as they have been phased out of zoos in Australia but still would love to see them
Didn’t know about the red panda breeding pare as I thought they were to old to have o spring
Maned wolf would be could but they have also been phased out
Sun bear is a real maybe
Bongo is unlikely but could be possible at Werribee
Surprisingly white faced saki are popular in zoos in Europe and Singapore has a breeding group (I think)
Tiger breeding might happen in the next 7 year if the survive that long that would free the exhibit at carnivore trail for something
Colubus breeding is unlikely would be good
All in all if Melbourne imported most or some of these animals in the next 10 or so years there collection would be massively improved I have visited the zoo about 5 times from 2016 to 2022 I have seen it change a lot the collection in 2016 was great they now have an average size collection but as the visitors we can’t just give them grieve Taronga, Sydney and wester plains have no collection to what they has in the 2000s

 

[Zoofan15]

Mandrills - It seems an import is feasible, so this may be very likely.
Malayan tapir breeding pair - I'd like to see it but unlikely due to them not suiting the Melbourne weather.
Indian rhinoceros - Quite likely, especially as a replacement for the elephants.
Blackbuck - Quite likely, especially as a replacement for the elephants.
Golden lion tamarin - Possible option as another monkey species. Endangered, and they would have the support of the region.
Tiger breeding pair - Melbourne will also likely be getting the chance to breed tigers again. A new pair will likely be formed, but this may be after the deaths of both Hutan and Indrah.
Colubus monkey breeding pair - Possibility...although Melbourne did stop breeding a decade ago and many have thought they were on the phase out list. With Adelaide continuing with them though, Melbourne may finally have the support within the region that they need.
Pygmy hippo female - Likely in the future, especially once Felix gets on in age.
White faced saki in my opinion - Not sure about them, i've never heard of any zoo in the Australian region holding them.
Slow loris - Possibility. Perth have them as an ambassador species, Melbourne could very well use them in the same way.
Binturong - I'd like to see them re-imported, although Melbourne did pretty much phase them out so not sure whether they'll want to get them back.
Bongo - Unlikely; they were phased out, so i'd imagine if Zoos Vic wanted them again, they'd be at Werribee.
Fennec fox - I'd like to see them at Melbourne. They have the support through other zoos in the region.
Cape crested porcupine - Quite likely. They'd do well in a mixed species enclosure with meerkats.
Sun bear - 50/50 chance. If the region can succeed in breeding them, than this could be a possibility, but judging on success so far, i'm not so sure.
Komodo dragon - Melbourne have shown interest in them in the past, and especially with the new babies at ARP, this could be Melbourne's chance to finally gain this species.
Maned wolf - Melbourne have phased them out, and i'm not sure they'll be wanting them back.
Red panda breeding pair - They already have a breeding pair.

Melbourne’s Sumatran tigers have a non breeding reccomendation due to a hereditary issue, so given a new breeding pair would require four tigers to be kept seperate (as well as potential cubs), I agree they’ll likely won’t receive new tigers until their’s pass on within the next decade.

In the meantime, Auckland Zoo, Taronga Zoo and Australia Zoo will act as the breeding hubs for Sumatran tiger, supported by Adelaide Zoo and Hamilton Zoo who are planning to breed in the near future (Hamilton Zoo are receiving a male this year).

 

[Jambo]

Here are my trail lists
Gorrila rainforest
ring tailed lemur
black and white ruffed lemurs
Western lowland gorrila
Pygmy hippo

tree top apes and monkeys
Cotton top tamarins
Emperor tamarin
Slow loris
White cheeked gibbon
White face saki monkey
Black and white colubus monkey
Lion tamarin (If enough space)
tree kangaroo ( don’t they have one of display
Are the consure thing still there

Trail of the elephants
Asian small clawed otters
Sumatran tiger
Malayan tapir
Indian blackbuk
Indian rhino
Water buffalo (maybe)
Siamang
Hybrid orangutan
Sumatran orangutan
Bintarong
Squirrel monkey

Lion gorge
African wild dog or maned wolf
African Lion
Serval
Snow leopard
Sun bear
Komodo dragon

main trail(In my opinion I think it should be turned into a small African Savannah
Giraffe
Zebra
H baboons
Fennec fox
Meerkat
Cape created porcupine
Platypus( would like to be in the Australian area but won’t be likely

‘Growing wild ( turned into a little South American area )
Capybara
Mara
Some sort of other small animals
Coati ( if they still have them could be moved back)

That's a nice list.

Here's what i'd like to see trail wise:

Congo Gorilla Rainforest:

• Ring Tailed Lemur
• Masked Lovebirds
• Black and White Ruffed Lemur
• Western Lowland Gorilla
• Pygmy Hippo
• Mandrill
• Black and White Colobus

From here the rest of the Treetop trail will represent Asia, Australia and South America:

• Tree Kangaroo and Echidna
• White Cheeked Gibbon
• Golden Lion Tamiran
• Cotton Top Tamiran
• Black Handed Spider Monkey
• Bolivian Squirrel Monkey
• Capuchins

Asian Trail of the Tigers

• Asian Short Clawed Otters
• Sumatran Tigers
• Malayan Tapir
• Blackbuck
• Indian Rhino
• Binturong
• Sumatran Orangutans
• Siamang

Australian Bush

• Koala
• Great Flight Aviary
• Cassowary
• Tasmanian Devil
• Lace Monitor
• Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat
• Brolga
• Orange Bellied Parrot
• Kangaroos and Emus
• Kookaburra

Carnivores Trail

• African Lion
• Reticulated Python
• Coati
• Snow Leopards
• Sun Bear
• Komodo Dragon

Sea Lion Shores

• Australian Sea Lions
• New Zealand Fur Seals
• Little Penguin
• Fiordland Penguin

African Savannah Trail

• Giraffe
• Zebra
• Ostrich
• Nyala
• Hamadryads Baboon
• Fennec Fox
• Meerkat
• Crested Porcupine

South American Trail

• Coati
• Capybara
• Jaguar
• Llama
• Alligator
• Amazon bird aviary

Main Trail

• Aldabra Giant Tortoise
• Platypus
• Red Panda
• Reptile House

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Nice idea your tree top apes list is similar to the collection around 2014 as they has tree kangaroo and echidna (allthought I bet nobody realy saw the echidna)
The South American trail and African Savannah would be a great amount of improvement
Some feedback
Alligator and lama in my opinion wont be coming sone were will the South American zone be going assuming in growing wild
What will be going in the first exhibit on carnivores trail
Also I keep asking is there any plans for tree top apes and monkeys the exhibit layout the plans when it was built ect

 

[Jambo]

Can you give me any answers for the question above mainly the tree top apes enquirey

I don't know of any specific maps, but I have a general idea of the enclosure layout. I could try to draw one for you if you want.

Nice idea your tree top apes list is similar to the collection around 2014 as they has tree kangaroo and echidna (allthought I bet nobody realy saw the echidna)
The South American trail and African Savannah would be a great amount of improvement

I did see their echidna once. It's the only time i've ever seen one out and about they'll normally hiding, even at Healsville.

I agree. The South American Trail mainly surrounds mostly completely new imports, besides their Coati so that would be great in regards to new species. The African Trail is pretty simple. They just need to add some enclosures for Meerkat, Crested Porcupine and Fennec Fox. The space will be there, especially once the Peccary and Malayan Tapir die out.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Agree could you please draw it up I would really appreciate it but would of Melbourne zoo have to release a building plan but still draw it up
I can’t see Malayan tapir and peccaries staying for more the six years they would have died out by then that would leave those enclosures vacant I wounded if they would put an animal in there for time being as for growing wild there are 3 meerkat enclosures and when i visited only 2 were inhabited also is the coati area still there are has it been replace but plese to the drawings

I will trie to look for the plans

 

[Jambo]

Alligator and lama in my opinion wont be coming sone were will the South American zone be going assuming in growing wild
What will be going in the first exhibit on carnivores trail

Alligators could be sourced from within the region easily. Melbourne had plans for Llama about a decade ago, to use them as ambassador animals. Obviously this never ended up, but they would be a great species that the public could interact with.

I would use it to join up to the current African Lion enclosure with an overhead pass. The enclosure itself dosen't have a lot of space, so it would be nice to give the Lions a little more.