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

[Zorro]

I guess the changes we see in the masterplans are for the most part reflective of the dynamic nature of the zoo industry.

In the past decade, sun bears have became a species that the region has identified for phase out (based on multiple justifiable reasons); and it’s no longer perceived as ethical to hold elephants in city zoos.

As an example of this, Taronga mentioned plans to build an elephant trail traversing their zoo close to a decade ago in their masterplan. I suspected they put this near the end to give them time to assess the current mood - and consequently in this time, decided to discontinue with elephants (in line with Melbourne, Auckland and Perth).

I can't keep up with some of the directions, Now phasing out Sun bears after other species were phased out for this species, so as I understand it our region (not including SW Polar bears/ Adelaide's Panda pair) are close to a bear free region?, so where to now?. I am finding this hard to bear.

 

[Jambo]

I can't keep up with some of the directions, Now phasing out Sun bears after other species were phased out for this species, so as I understand it our region (not including SW Polar bears/ Adelaide's Panda pair) are close to a bear free region?, so where to now?. I am finding this hard to bear.

Yes, and Melbourne wasn't the only facility phasing out their Brown Bears for Sun Bears - Taronga did too.

I imagine Sloth Bears or even Andean Bears may be considered in the future. Sloth Bears are a great fit for any Indian themed precinct; and can even be displayed at open range zoos as well - whereas Andean Bears would a great fit for any South American precinct, and could be the 'star' of the precinct.

 

[Zorro]

Yes, and Melbourne wasn't the only facility phasing out their Brown Bears for Sun Bears - Taronga did too.

I imagine Sloth Bears or even Andean Bears may be considered in the future. Sloth Bears are a great fit for any Indian themed precinct; and can even be displayed at open range zoos as well - whereas Andean Bears would a great fit for any South American precinct, and could be the 'star' of the precinct.

I believe Adelaide also phased out their brown bears as well.

 

[Jambo]

I believe Adelaide also phased out their brown bears as well.

All of our major zoos did; even Perth going back into the 80's I believe.

It's a shame this species has been phased out as they're quite a charismatic bear species - and suit the Australian climate to an extent, unlike some of the other bear species.

 

[Zorro]

All of our major zoos did; even Perth going back into the 80's I believe.

It's a shame this species has been phased out as they're quite a charismatic bear species - and suit the Australian climate to an extent, unlike some of the other bear species.

It sounds like bad planning to phase out the regions bears species for one then phase that out as well?.

 

[Jambo]

It sounds like bad planning to phase out the regions bears species for one then phase that out as well?.

Well, things change rather quickly - back a decade or two ago when the decision to phase out Brown Bears were made; the problems we have now with the Sun Bears weren't as evident as they are today.

It was always a risk to attempt to create a population out of rescued individuals - all of whom have been affected in some sort of way due to their upbringings.

 

[Zorro]

Well, things change rather quickly - back a decade or two ago when the decision to phase out Brown Bears were made; the problems we have now with the Sun Bears weren't as evident as they are today.

It was always a risk to attempt to create a population out of rescued individuals - all of whom have been affected in some sort of way due to their upbringings.

Things can change quickly if one wants that, They could of kept some browns bears back instead of just wiping the slate clean with them, its another mistake by the powers that be, just like phasing out all the Langur species for again 1 species that has not gone further than 1 zoo in the region (bar 2 spare males) after being here for years now, there's no quick change here.

 

[Zoofan15]

Well, things change rather quickly - back a decade or two ago when the decision to phase out Brown Bears were made; the problems we have now with the Sun Bears weren't as evident as they are today.

It was always a risk to attempt to create a population out of rescued individuals - all of whom have been affected in some sort of way due to their upbringings.

It’s a real shame the sun bear breeding programme never flourished as it potentially could have done. Wellington Zoo bred five litters (including two sets of twins) from the mother raised pair they imported from the San Diego Zoo in 1992 and the female subsequently bred with a second male in 2006 to produce a cub. The former pairing being an example of the potential of a socially normal pair.

Australia as a whole struggled to get things together. Multiple bears were held between Taronga and Adelaide with seemingly no initiative to swap bears around when it became evident no breeding would result; while Perth has held a reproductively viable pair for years but claim they’re not allowed to breed because of space limitations.

Brown bears are large animals and part of the rationale for phasing them out would be public image, large bears pacing around a small exhibit isn’t a good look. Interestingly, I think some of the open range zoos could do well with bears. They may not fit the Savannah vibe, but even Werribee is diversifying to Asian elephants etc. It’s not beyond the realms to imagine one of the open range zoos housing Sloth bears down the line.

 

[Zorro]

It’s a real shame the sun bear breeding programme never flourished as it potentially could have done. Wellington Zoo bred five litters (including two sets of twins) from the mother raised pair they imported from the San Diego Zoo in 1992 and the female subsequently bred with a second male in 2006 to produce a cub. The former pairing being an example of the potential of a socially normal pair.

Australia as a whole struggled to get things together. Multiple bears were held between Taronga and Adelaide with seemingly no initiative to swap bears around when it became evident no breeding would result; while Perth has held a reproductively viable pair for years but claim they’re not allowed to breed because of space limitations.

Brown bears are large animals and part of the rationale for phasing them out would be public image, large bears pacing around a small exhibit isn’t a good look. Interestingly, I think some of the open range zoos could do well with bears. They may not fit the Savannah vibe, but even Werribee is diversifying to Asian elephants etc. It’s not beyond the realms to imagine one of the open range zoos housing Sloth bears down the line.

Since I have been following the regions zoos for 5 decades now its become obvious to myself one of the main problems in a region with limited amounts of large zoos (as compared to Europe and the USA) is the lack of real commitment to different species, with the chopping and changing and this zoo takes the high road while that zoo take the low road I believe is counter productive.

The importing of very small numbers of different antelopes is a classic example, major zoos that import 1 pair of bongos (for example) and the odd one here and there is hardly going to cement any animal species in a region for long.

We also know with our ultra strict quarantine laws the door can open and close in quick time and perhaps with little warning. We need a better and more co-ordinationed way of managing our animal populations. The resent importation of Nyala from South Africa by New Zealand zoos is a shining example of how this can be done in a correct and a professional way.

In my view there is no reason why this can not be replicated again with cooperation between a group of zoos, I hope with the now completed IRA for bovines we can do this in a better way so its a win win for everyone!

 

[Zoofan15]

Since I have been following the regions zoos for 5 decades now its become obvious to myself one of the main problems in a region with limited amounts of large zoos (as compared to Europe and the USA) is the lack of real commitment to different species, with the chopping and changing and this zoo takes the high road while that zoo take the low road I believe is counter productive.

The importing of very small numbers of different antelopes is a classic example, major zoos that import 1 pair of bongos (for example) and the odd one here and there is hardly going to cement any animal species in a region for long.

We also know with our ultra strict quarantine laws the door can open and close in quick time and perhaps with little warning. We need a better and more co-ordinationed way of managing our animal populations. The resent importation of Nyala from South Africa by New Zealand zoos is a shining example of how this can be done in a correct and a professional way.

In my view there is no reason why this can not be replicated again with cooperation between a group of zoos, I hope with the now completed IRA for bovines we can do this in a better way so its a win win for everyone!

I agree. While I resent the homogenisation of species held across the region’s main zoos, I can’t deny it’s essential to the sustainability of breeding programmes and I believe more and more emphasis will be placed on this going into the future.

There’ll always be an element of zoos doing their own thing - Auckland holding the only Bornean orangutans in the region; while all the other holders hold Sumatran orangutan for example; but if we were to do bears again as a region, I don’t doubt we’ll see greater coordination regionally. Either nobody holding bears; or everyone importing Sloth bears for example (the logical replacement).

 

[Swanson02]

They may not fit the Savannah vibe, but even Werribee is diversifying to Asian elephants etc. It’s not beyond the realms to imagine one of the open range zoos housing Sloth bears down the line.

I think Sloth bears in a large mallee drive-through exhibit at Monarto would be great. Monarto doesn't have that many future options for carnivores in drive-through exhibits (Leopards and Maned wolves would be too reclusive) so I think bears would be a great option. Sloth bears can also live in small groups (which Monarto would have no trouble accommodating in a large exhibit). Furthermore, Sloth bears have been held in mixed exhibits with ungulates and monkeys so could be paired with a species or two to make the exhibit even more exciting.

 

[Zorro]

I think Sloth bears in a large mallee drive-through exhibit at Monarto would be great. Monarto doesn't have that many future options for carnivores in drive-through exhibits (Leopards and Maned wolves would be too reclusive) so I think bears would be a great option. Sloth bears can also live in small groups (which Monarto would have no trouble accommodating in a large exhibit). Furthermore, Sloth bears have been held in mixed exhibits with ungulates and monkeys so could be paired with a species or two to make the exhibit even more exciting.

This is an interesting idea which I believe has merit but since the region appears to have given up with the species I believe its to little to late unfortunately!

 

[Jambo]

This is an interesting idea which I believe has merit but since the region appears to have given up with the species I believe its to little to late unfortunately!

The region hasn't given up on Sloth Bears; I think you misread it as being Sun Bears.

Sloth Bears seem to be a great fit for most of our regions zoos; and I doubt once the Sun Bears are finally phased out, we won't receive a replacement.

 

[Zorro]

The region hasn't given up on Sloth Bears; I think you misread it as being Sun Bears.

Sloth Bears seem to be a great fit for most of our regions zoos; and I doubt once the Sun Bears are finally phased out, we won't receive a replacement.

My bad.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think Sloth bears in a large mallee drive-through exhibit at Monarto would be great. Monarto doesn't have that many future options for carnivores in drive-through exhibits (Leopards and Maned wolves would be too reclusive) so I think bears would be a great option. Sloth bears can also live in small groups (which Monarto would have no trouble accommodating in a large exhibit). Furthermore, Sloth bears have been held in mixed exhibits with ungulates and monkeys so could be paired with a species or two to make the exhibit even more exciting.

I really like this idea - especially holding a small group of them in a large exhibit. They’re a semi-social species that’s capable of cohabiting with others of their species.

They were a species I greatly enjoyed seeing at the Singapore Zoo Night Safari considering they were highly active at night. I mention this as I’ve long believed there’s a potential for Monarto to develop the region’s first night safari down the line.

In any case, it’d make for an exciting and novel exhibit (especially if other species could be added) and long term would compliment other South Asian species like Indian elephant and Indian rhinoceros.

 

[Zorro]

I agree. While I resent the homogenisation of species held across the region’s main zoos, I can’t deny it’s essential to the sustainability of breeding programmes and I believe more and more emphasis will be placed on this going into the future.

There’ll always be an element of zoos doing their own thing - Auckland holding the only Bornean orangutans in the region; while all the other holders hold Sumatran orangutan for example; but if we were to do bears again as a region, I don’t doubt we’ll see greater coordination regionally. Either nobody holding bears; or everyone importing Sloth bears for example (the logical replacement).

Back in the 70s this was called a - cooperative stocking policy. which would make sense especially when there were an even smaller number of zoos at that time holding exotic animals which was far less than we have today!

 

[Zoofan15]

Back in the 70s this was called a - cooperative stocking policy. which would make sense especially when there were an even smaller number of zoos at that time holding exotic animals which was far less than we have today!

The 1970’s would have been an interesting era as CITES came into effect in 1975, meaning there were species zoos could no longer source directly from the wild - causing them to rely on what was already in the captive population.

It explains why global captive populations of speices like Sumatran tiger and Western lowland gorilla are becoming increasingly inbred. The former was complicated by decades of zoos hybridising different species of tiger; and the latter by a comparative lack of captive breeding prior to this decade.

 

[Zorro]

The 1970’s would have been an interesting era as CITES came into effect in 1975, meaning there were species zoos could no longer source directly from the wild - causing them to rely on what was already in the captive population.

It explains why global captive populations of speices like Sumatran tiger and Western lowland gorilla are becoming increasingly inbred. The former was complicated by decades of zoos hybridising different species of tiger; and the latter by a comparative lack of captive breeding prior to this decade.

Yes the hybridising of tigers was an unfortunate mistake but time has moved on and zoos continue to evolve. This also affected the US population of Asian lions which suffered the same fate. Taronga's asian lion population I believe it was the reason as to why they were phased out. I believe that Taronga did try to obtain lions directly from India at a later date but were unsuccessful.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yes the hybridising of tigers was an unfortunate mistake but time has moved on and zoos continue to evolve. This also affected the US population of Asian lions which suffered the same fate. Taronga's asian lion population I believe it was the reason as to why they were phased out. I believe that Taronga did try to obtain lions directly from India at a later date but were unsuccessful.

Considering it wasn’t until 1985 that the AZA issued a moratorium on breeding hybrid orangutans (with Bornean and Sumatran previously regarded as the same species) - with other regions to follow suit, it’s surprising that the international captive population of orangutans is as genetically healthy as it is.

Being a long lived species with long inter-generational gaps helps, which is an advantage Sumatran tigers don’t have. Taronga was breeding litters of tigers they believed to be purebred Sumatrans up until the arrival of Nico and Meta in 1979. These likely descended from two purebred Sumatran tigers imported from the wild in 1954, which subsequently bred with hybrids believed to be Sumatran.

 

[Zoofan15]

The Future of Orangutans at Melbourne Zoo

Following the death of Wanita at Auckland Zoo this year, Melbourne Zoo are now one of only two facilities (and the only main zoo) in the region to hold hybrid orangutans:

0.1 Kiani (24/06/1978) Bobby x Olga
0.1 Gabby (01/01/1990) Santan x Kiani

Mogo Zoo of course hold the other two:

1.0 Jantan (11/07/1987) Perang x Judy II
0.1 Willow (09/05/1985) Perang x Wendy

Due to her age and ill health, it’s unlikely Kiani will be around much longer, but her 32 year old daughter could potentially live another three decades.

Personally, I’d prefer to see Gabby transferred to Mogo Zoo once Melbourne are on the verge of importing a female to pair with Malu. This would mean having all the hybrids in the region held at a single non breeding facility and free up space at Melbourne Zoo for the next generation of purebred Sumatran orangutans.

Gabby’s purpose at the moment is to provide companionship to Malu, though they’re not a closely bonded pair and the relationship between Gabby and her mother seems to have deteriorated of recent.

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely Mogo are unlikely to agree to this all the time Willow is alive and well. Her and Jantan are a closely bonded pair and they’d be keen not to disrupt that by bringing in a second female.