Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Re. The antelope and bush dogs
Red Lechwe are beautiful animals and should be considered with sitatunga in a marsh exhibit near the waterbuck imo. Congo buffalo are a cool species and would catch the attention of visitors more than antelope. I’d love to see the return of greater kudu to the woodland section of the safari. Nilgai would be ideal if they choose to go for an Indian theme near the elephants, and the gazelles could liven up the lower Savannah or another exhibit if there are no cohabitation issues. Gemsbok kinda got eliminated from contention when the arid section of the safari was abandoned though.
Re. Bush dogs
Bush dogs being available is a massive plus and could be a possibility, maybe housed at Growing Wild since children would likely enjoy them until a hypothetical South American section is built. Would be a point of difference from Aussie zoos and a draw card. Considering messages I saw on the incompatible species thread they are not an option in the rest of the aviary, but could add variety to a hypothetical carnivorous section.

 

[Zoofan15]

Re. The antelope and bush dogs
Red Lechwe are beautiful animals and should be considered with sitatunga in a marsh exhibit near the waterbuck imo. Congo buffalo are a cool species and would catch the attention of visitors more than antelope. I’d love to see the return of greater kudu to the woodland section of the safari. Nilgai would be ideal if they choose to go for an Indian theme near the elephants, and the gazelles could liven up the lower Savannah or another exhibit if there are no cohabitation issues. Gemsbok kinda got eliminated from contention when the arid section of the safari was abandoned though.
Re. Bush dogs
Bush dogs being available is a massive plus and could be a possibility, maybe housed at Growing Wild since children would likely enjoy them until a hypothetical South American section is built. Would be a point of difference from Aussie zoos and a draw card. Considering messages I saw on the incompatible species thread they are not an option in the rest of the aviary, but could add variety to a hypothetical carnivorous section.

Nilgai would a good addition to Werribee - ideally housed with Indian antelope, so they can create an authentic Indian mixed species exhibit.

My preference would be to see Indian rhinoceros housed at Werribee Open Range Zoo after a 10 year stint at Melbourne Zoo as an interim replacement for Asian elephant the Okapi can be imported.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Nilgai would a good addition to Werribee - ideally housed with Indian antelope, so they can create an authentic Indian mixed species exhibit.

My preference would be to see Indian rhinoceros housed at Werribee Open Range Zoo after a 10 year stint at Melbourne Zoo as an interim replacement for Asian elephant the Okapi can be imported.

Are there any cohabitation issues between Nilgai and blackbuck? Or something like a chousingha? I heard the males are quite territorial. I also like the concept of gaur in that section of the zoo, as it’s vulnerable in the wild

 

[Zoofan15]

Are there any cohabitation issues between Nilgai and blackbuck? Or something like a chousingha? I heard the males are quite territorial. I also like the concept of gaur in that section of the zoo, as it’s vulnerable in the wild

No, they cohabit well. Some zoos house male and female Nilgai seperate (as they live in the wild), but I’ve known others to keep them in the same exhibit. Having two exhibits of male Nilgai/male Indian antelope and female Nilgai/female Indian antelope could be an ideal way to limit breeding however.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

No, they cohabit well. Some zoos house male and female Nilgai seperate (as they live in the wild), but I’ve known others to keep them in the same exhibit. Having two exhibits of male Nilgai/male Indian antelope and female Nilgai/female Indian antelope could be an ideal way to limit breeding however.

That’s great then. Do you believe they would have a place on the safari, or would they not work out with the ostriches? Or, do you just think they should move the blackbuck out and have both species in traditional enclosures near the elephants and hopefully other Asian animals

 

[Zoofan15]

That’s great then. Do you believe they would have a place on the safari, or would they not work out with the ostriches? Or, do you just think they should move the blackbuck out and have both species in traditional enclosures near the elephants and hopefully other Asian animals

There shouldn’t be any cohabitation issues with the ostriches, but my preference would be to see them housed geographically - Nilgai and Indian antelope together or in adjacent exhibits in close proximity to the Asian elephant complex.

Zoos should attempt to educate visitors instead of shoehorning Indian antelope into African savannahs.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

There shouldn’t be any cohabitation issues with the ostriches, but my preference would be to see them housed geographically - Nilgai and Indian antelope together or in adjacent exhibits in close proximity to the Asian elephant complex.

Zoos should attempt to educate visitors instead of shoehorning Indian antelope into African savannahs.

I agree, I’ve always disliked the presence of blackbuck on the safari. My personal preference would be to move the blackbuck to an exhibit on the walking trail, accompanied by Nilgai. A couple of exhibits near the waterhole would house water dwelling antelope, such as waterbuck, marsh buck and Red/Nile Lechwe. Following that, I’d love the woodland part of the safari to be stocked with woodland antelope, e.g. Nyala, Bongo(unlikely), Greater/Lesser Kudu and Bushbuck as wells as Congo Buffalo. It would be nice to have some smaller antelope species in the lower Savannah, such as Addra and Thomsons gazelle, springbok or impala.

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree, I’ve always disliked the presence of blackbuck on the safari. My personal preference would be to move the blackbuck to an exhibit on the walking trail, accompanied by Nilgai. A couple of exhibits near the waterhole would house water dwelling antelope, such as waterbuck, marsh buck and Red/Nile Lechwe. Following that, I’d love the woodland part of the safari to be stocked with woodland antelope, e.g. Nyala, Bongo(unlikely), Greater/Lesser Kudu and Bushbuck as wells as Congo Buffalo. It would be nice to have some smaller antelope species in the lower Savannah, such as Addra and Thomsons gazelle, springbok or impala.

Sounds like a good plan. I know a number of ZooChatters are keen to see Thompson’s gazelle come to Werribee.

I think Eastern bongo will have a future at Werribee and that they’ll hold a decent sized herd, but I believe his will begin at Melbourne with a pair. This is likely the numbers they’ll be able to source and Melbourne could easily accomodate them over the next decade, while they build herd numbers up.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

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Sounds like a good plan. I know a number of ZooChatters are keen to see Thompson’s gazelle come to Werribee.

I think Eastern bongo will have a future at Werribee and that they’ll hold a decent sized herd, but I believe his will begin at Melbourne with a pair. This is likely the numbers they’ll be able to source and Melbourne could easily accomodate them over the next decade, while they build herd numbers up.

I hope eastern Bongo have a future at WORZ, but I am confident they will return to Victoria sometime soon, at MZ I was told. I know some people on here are not a fan of having many bovids, but creating an environment filled with diversity you could see in Africa is very appealing to me, with creatures big and small. One type of antelope I love are woodland antelope, so I would love to see them expand on their holding of Nyala into other species, some previously held

 

[Zoofan15]

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I hope eastern Bongo have a future at WORZ, but I am confident they will return to Victoria sometime soon, at MZ I was told. I know some people on here are not a fan of having many bovids, but creating an environment filled with diversity you could see in Africa is very appealing to me, with creatures big and small. One type of antelope I love are woodland antelope, so I would love to see them expand on their holding of Nyala into other species, some previously held

I too would like to see Werribee expand their ungulate collection. While the general public may not find antelopes as enabling as elephants or big cats, I feel like even the general public would appreciate seeing diversity within an ungulate collection that goes beyond giraffes and rhinos.

This is Werribee’s chance to develop a point of difference - exhibiting antelopes from a range of different biomes.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I too would like to see Werribee expand their ungulate collection. While the general public may not find antelopes as enabling as elephants or big cats, I feel like even the general public would appreciate seeing diversity within an ungulate collection that goes beyond giraffes and rhinos.

This is Werribee’s chance to develop a point of difference - exhibiting antelopes from a range of different biomes.

I agree they have a chance to develop a point of difference after the IRA, but any bovid can be added to the import list correct? Not that they would need to, but something like a gerenuk would attract interest from the public, and Nile Lechwe could further diversify a hopefully brimming waterhole precinct

Edit: Are Lechwe Males of either species territorial, because it would be interesting to hold both species together, maybe with another water dwelling antelope such as waterbuck/sitatunga, as apparently males of the species can’t cohabitate. Not that they would fit anywhere, but I personally find tsessebes very unique and could make a good addition to any zoo

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree they have a chance to develop a point of difference after the IRA, but any bovid can be added to the import list correct? Not that they would need to, but something like a gerenuk would attract interest from the public, and Nile Lechwe could further diversify a hopefully brimming waterhole precinct

Edit: Are Lechwe Males of either species territorial, because it would be interesting to hold both species together, maybe with another water dwelling antelope such as waterbuck/sitatunga, as apparently males of the species can’t cohabitate. Not that they would fit anywhere, but I personally find tsessebes very unique and could make a good addition to any zoo

That’s correct, with adding bovids to the live import list a comparatively simple process compared to processing an IRA.

Usually male lechwe are only territorial during the rutting season, but others are territorial for extended periods throughout the year. Males and females typically live seperate, so females in a mixed species exhibit with a male held seperate would work well.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

That’s correct, with adding bovids to the live import list a comparatively simple process compared to processing an IRA.

Usually male lechwe are only territorial during the rutting season, but others are territorial for extended periods throughout the year. Males and females typically live seperate, so females in a mixed species exhibit with a male held seperate would work well.

Do you think it would be possible to mix all 4 species if they were all females? Apart from maybe 1 species containing males, likely Nile Lechwe as they are endangered

 

[Zoofan15]

Do you think it would be possible to mix all 4 species if they were all females? Apart from maybe 1 species containing males, likely Nile Lechwe as they are endangered

Yes, females of the antelope species we’ve discussed can cohabit without issue. Hybridisation can occur though if you had males to the mix e.g. the male lechwe you propose adding above would hybridise with the female Waterbuck - which is something the zoo would want to avoid.

Historically Scimitar-horned oryx/Gemsbok hybrids were bred at Auckland Zoo; and there’s surely been other such incidences in the region.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Yes, females of the antelope species we’ve discussed can cohabit without issue. Hybridisation can occur though if you had males to the mix e.g. the male lechwe you propose adding above would hybridise with the female Waterbuck - which is something the zoo would want to avoid.

Historically Scimitar-horned oryx/Gemsbok hybrids were bred at Auckland Zoo; and there’s surely been other such incidences in the region.

Is suppose that if they are separated from the males anyway, there is no reason for them not to be on contraception, and therefore would hopefully lead to no hybridisation, but increasing their numbers

 

[Zoofan15]

Is suppose that if they are separated from the males anyway, there is no reason for them not to be on contraception, and therefore would hopefully lead to no hybridisation, but increasing their numbers

Yes, there’s many ways it could be managed. A male of one species could be used to used to sire several first generation daughters and then be removed, while his daughters remain in the exhibit on contraception while another species breeds.

Alternatively, Werribee could exhibit them in smaller, seperate exhibits or pair them with larger ungulates: Indian rhinoceros with Indian antelope, Giraffe with Waterbuck and Southern white rhinoceros with Lowland nyala.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Yes, there’s many ways it could be managed. A male of one species could be used to used to sire several first generation daughters and then be removed, while his daughters remain in the exhibit on contraception while another species breeds.

Alternatively, Werribee could exhibit them in smaller, seperate exhibits or pair them with larger ungulates: Indian rhinoceros with Indian antelope, Giraffe with Waterbuck and Southern white rhinoceros with Lowland nyala.

That would be cool, but it would be ideal if they were near the waterhole, and giraffe likely won’t be leaving the Savannah. Having Waterbuck, Marshbuck, and both species of Lechwe side by side could be interesting, while Nyala remain in their existing habitat, hopefully accompanied by other woodland antelope. I like the idea of having neighbouring exhibits for Nilgai and Indian rhino with paths connecting the two that only blackbuck can fit through(juveniles would have to be controlled of coursed). It would then be interesting for smaller species of gazelle accompany the existing animals in the massive lower Savannah, adding some liveliness. It’s a great exhibit, but the landscape is a bit stagnant. Additions such as Thomson gazelle, springbok and impala would create movement and introduce a more engaging exhibit imo. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m actually kinda sad to see Texas Longhorn phased out. Then again, they may have a plan for them somewhere in the future unless they already confirmed they would be phased out

 

[Zoofan15]

That would be cool, but it would be ideal if they were near the waterhole, and giraffe likely won’t be leaving the Savannah. Having Waterbuck, Marshbuck, and both species of Lechwe side by side could be interesting, while Nyala remain in their existing habitat, while being accompanied by other woodland antelope. I like the idea of having neighbouring exhibits for Nilgai and Indian rhino with paths connecting the two that only blackbuck can fit through(juveniles would have to be controlled of coursed). It would then be interesting for smaller species of gazelle accompany the existing animals in the massive lower Savannah, adding some liveliness. It’s a great exhibit, but the landscape is a bit stagnant. Additions such as Thomson gazelle, springbok and impala would create movement and introduce a more engaging exhibit imo. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m actually kinda sad to see Texas Longhorn phased out. Then again, they may have a plan for them somewhere in the future unless they already confirmed they would be phased out

I like your suggestion of a filter fence. Auckland Zoo used one of these in their Savannah to allow Springbok to cross between the giraffe and rhino paddocks.

As a domestic, I imagine Texas longhorn were designated as phase out. They’re impressive, but Werribee is focused on exotics.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I like your suggestion of a filter fence. Auckland Zoo used one of these in their Savannah to allow Springbok to cross between the giraffe and rhino paddocks.

As a domestic, I imagine Texas longhorn were designated as phase out. They’re impressive, but Werribee is focused on exotics.

I just figured they helped set the scene for wildlife in Africa, as we know WORZ are a big fan of supporting the locals and giving an insight not only for the animals, as seen by various African huts scattered around and the beads for wildlife.
Don’t get me wrong though, I’d their phase out allows another exotic to be exhibited, I’m all for it

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

As a domestic, I imagine Texas longhorn were designated as phase out. They’re impressive, but Werribee is focused on exotics.

After having worked and safari'd in Uganda several years ago I do wish that Werribee had some Ankole Longhorns. They were mighty impressive. I did a Mountain Gorilla trek in Bwindi and after saw an Ankole Longhorn with full length horns right up close and to me it was up their with the Gorilla.
I guess that asthey are domestic they probably wouldn't meet the exotic/wild themeing, but they are African...