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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Something I've been thinking about for a while but haven't had time to post yet:

I wonder if there is a way to house Indian rhinos and gibbons together - perhaps with the large towers like at Auckland Zoo within the rhino enclosures. Obviously the rhinos can't climb them and the gibbons can't get down.

My idea stems from the fact that Kaziranga National Park (the Indian rhino "stronghold") has Hoolock Gibbons.

Obviously the region doesn't have Hoolock Gibbons - but the zoo has the new pairing of white cheeked gibbons which don't geographically live that far away from that area.

That far-Eastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Western Myanmar area is a biodiversity hotspot and I think there is something to work with here - in that MZ have (or have access to) enough species from near that area without being exactly from that area:

Snow Leopards and Red Pandas live a few 100 kilometres north (perhaps less).

Small Clawed otters live there.

Tigers live there (but not Sumatran tigers)

Gibbons live there (but not the gibbon species at MZ)

Binturong live there (it wouldn't be hard to get some back)

Clouded Leopard live there (they have been discussed here extensively)

Hog Deer live there (but not Axis Deer - they live further West)

Francois Langurs live close enough to there (in China). Kaziranga NP has Golden Langurs, but a nearby replacement langur is possible with Francois Langurs.

Several species of small feline live there.

I'm kinda thinking out loud, but I think there is something to work with here: I'm visualising the elephant area staying fairly similar but housing Indian Rhino and hog deer with gibbons using ropes and platforms overhead.

This also has the benefit of expanding the orangutan and gibbon area to some degree.

I think this could work with the theme of a biodiversity hotspot where the Indian Subcontinent meets Southeast Asia.

This would mean devoting the area entirely to Asia and that means no okapi and no bongo (not in that part of the zoo anyway) - but okapi could go into the former mandrill area or the former tapir area.

Curious to hear what others think.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The Okapi would require two of the elephant exhibits - one for the bull and one for the cow. The Eastern bongo (small herd) would then take up the third exhibit, so there’d be no room for Indian rhinoceros under these plans. It’d greatly enhance the zoos African rainforest collection though!

The peccary and tapir exhibits could be combined to house either another pair or a single bull, to breed with first generation daughters in the breeding herd.
Click to expand...

To me the most logical space for okapi would be the former mandrill exhibit - within the African rainforest area. If you need 2 enclosures (one for the male and one for the female) then the 2nd pygmy hippo exhibit could work - an okapi and a pygmy hippo could rotate through it.
 
The more I think about okapi, the more questions marks I have as to how to possibly display them well. They are shy, and I presume would spend a lot of time at the back of whichever enclosure they are in. They like tree cover which makes things harder for the visitors to see them. I think they would be really difficult to display well. My five questions on this are:

1. How do you display them in a way that is acceptable to them (the okapis)?

2. How do you display them in a way that works for the public (so they can see them)?

3. Can they be displayed together with another species?

4. Can they rotate with another species (such as pygmy hippo or bongo)?

5. What enrichment will they require (and can this be used near where the public see them)?

While they are an amazing animal, I could realistically see the exhibit becoming a flop unless this is very, very well thought out...
 
Grant Rhino said:
To me the most logical space for okapi would be the former mandrill exhibit - within the African rainforest area. If you need 2 enclosures (one for the male and one for the female) then the 2nd pygmy hippo exhibit could work - an okapi and a pygmy hippo could rotate through it.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I don’t think the former Mandrill (current cassowary) exhibit would be large enough for an Okapi if they’re looking for floor space that is not only exceptional by current standards; but will be suitable in 20 years time. The elephant exhibit is the only option for Okapi space wise imo without demolishing other exhibits (I’d gladly submit Growing Wild for redevelopment :D).
 
Grant Rhino said:
The more I think about okapi, the more questions marks I have as to how to possibly display them well. They are shy, and I presume would spend a lot of time at the back of whichever enclosure they are in. They like tree cover which makes things harder for the visitors to see them. I think they would be really difficult to display well. My five questions on this are:

1. How do you display them in a way that is acceptable to them (the okapis)?

2. How do you display them in a way that works for the public (so they can see them)?

3. Can they be displayed together with another species?

4. Can they rotate with another species (such as pygmy hippo or bongo)?

5. What enrichment will they require (and can this be used near where the public see them)?

While they are an amazing animal, I could realistically see the exhibit becoming a flop unless this is very, very well thought out...
Click to expand...

1. and 2. The best view I’ve ever got of Okapi was at London Zoo. The female was browsing from a feeder installed right by the public viewing area, which meant I got a great view of her newborn calf. My advice to Melbourne Zoo would be to place the tree cover and the browse stations (the two things they desire most) near public viewing areas; and offer indoor viewing. They will have the open expanse of the paddock to wander out into if they desire privacy.

3. No, they’re a solitary species and prefer to be housed alone (the exception is a pair mating or a mother and calf).

4. Rotating with Eastern bongo is a great idea. I’d consider Pygmy hippopotamus impractical as they’d require a pool, which would be unused by the Okapi and could even be dangerous if the Okapi took fright.

5. Enrichment appears to be mostly food based, so absolutely these items could be placed near public viewing areas.
 
I agree the okapi exhibit will have to be well thought out, but I back MZ to execute that. My plan:
Bull pen is used for bull Indian Rhino
Females held in the enclosure with the most water
Tapir gets the elephant barn and off display elephant exhibit next to it
Pair of Bongo held in the second Pygmy hippo exhibit with renovations(rotated with okapi if they decrease the water size
Okapi replace tapir and peccary enclosure(peccaries combined to house cow, tapir holds bull)
Mandrill reclaim their old exhibit
Final exhibit for Orangutan overhead pathway
Issues?
 
This plan is overall great but
I think Melbourne will get a female hippo in the future, they are probably looking for a suitable mate or why would the exibit still be bear. I think the bongo I more likely then okapi but I don't think without any serious development they can all be included, I think we scratch Indian rhino and just have a male hari, then it leaves two elephant exhibits available Malian tapir in barn exibit mandrills return gibbon and orangutan aboreal development, okapi in one of the elephant exibits and bonog in the tapir and peccarie
 
austrlain zoo gower said:
This plan is overall great but
I think Melbourne will get a female hippo in the future, they are probably looking for a suitable mate or why would the exibit still be bear. I think the bongo I more likely then okapi but I don't think without any serious development they can all be included, I think we scratch Indian rhino and just have a male hari, then it leaves two elephant exhibits available Malian tapir in barn exibit mandrills return gibbon and orangutan aboreal development, okapi in one of the elephant exibits and bonog in the tapir and peccarie
Click to expand...

If Melbourne do end up acquiring Bongo and Okapi; there's really no doubt they'll go in the current elephant enclosures. They could rotate all three exhibits imo
 
austrlain zoo gower said:
This plan is overall great but
I think Melbourne will get a female hippo in the future, they are probably looking for a suitable mate or why would the exibit still be bear. I think the bongo I more likely then okapi but I don't think without any serious development they can all be included, I think we scratch Indian rhino and just have a male hari, then it leaves two elephant exhibits available Malian tapir in barn exibit mandrills return gibbon and orangutan aboreal development, okapi in one of the elephant exibits and bonog in the tapir and peccarie
Click to expand...
Is Hari a Rhino? If so then my plan stays the same, but Bongo takes the orangutans expansion and they expand onto the island. Everything mentioned above regarding the apes remains
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I agree the okapi exhibit will have to be well thought out, but I back MZ to execute that. My plan:
Bull pen is used for bull Indian Rhino
Females held in the enclosure with the most water
Tapir gets the elephant barn and off display elephant exhibit next to it
Pair of Bongo held in the second Pygmy hippo exhibit with renovations(rotated with okapi if they decrease the water size
Okapi replace tapir and peccary enclosure(peccaries combined to house cow, tapir holds bull)
Mandrill reclaim their old exhibit
Final exhibit for Orangutan overhead pathway
Issues?
Click to expand...

There’s not enough space to accomodate all those species. Melbourne will have to decide what route they’re going to take and focus on housing either Indian rhinoceros OR Okapi in two of the elephant exhibits. Okapi would be preferable as Eastern bongo could occupy the third exhibit and rotate with the Okapi. They’re both attractive species and would bring in the crowds.

Pygmy hippopotamus are too different in their needs from Okapi to work as a rotational exhibit.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Is Hari a Rhino? If so then my plan stays the same, but Bongo takes the orangutans expansion and they expand onto the island. Everything mentioned above regarding the apes remains
Click to expand...

Hari is the juvenile Indian rhinoceros at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. It’d actually be my preference to see Melbourne Zoo import a new breeding pair (unrelated to Dubbo’s pair), so the entire population isn’t descended from one line.
 
austrlain zoo gower said:
I think bongo and okapi and Malayan tapir is the best option and orangutan and gibbon aboreal platform and if malign tapir happen the orangutan could go with the tapir
Click to expand...

I'm on the other side of the fence - I'm hoping for Indian rhino and an Asia/India theme. I'm still very skeptical about any species of tapir at the zoo long term (based on all issues raised earlier in this thread).

I still feel okapi could fit somewhere else with the rhinos in the elephant area.
 
Another question: How big is the old elephant exhibit?

I don't mean the one the elephants are in now - I mean the really old one over the other side of the zoo next to the Japanese Garden. It is currently the location of the overnight tent experience. I had a quick look at it yesterday (well as much of it as I could see) but it's too hard to see how big it is exactly, and I've never actually been in there.

I remember it fairly well from when I was younger, and I'd be amazed if the barn there (with the elephant sign) isn't heritage listed.

Is it possible to do something different with this?

I still haven't totally given up on my hotel idea (maybe replace the tents with the hotel) or could it be used for a larger animal?

I'm actually a bit surprised that nobody has mentioned this former exhibit.
 
Grant Rhino said:
I'm on the other side of the fence - I'm hoping for Indian rhino and an Asia/India theme. I'm still very skeptical about any species of tapir at the zoo long term (based on all issues raised earlier in this thread).

I still feel okapi could fit somewhere else with the rhinos in the elephant area.
Click to expand...

A pair of Okapi and a single bull Indian rhinoceros (e.g. the juvenile at Dubbo) could work - housed across the three elephant yards, though I’d prefer them to commit to one or the other and use the additional space to include a geographically appropriate co-speices.

Either Okapi, rotating with an Eastern bongo herd; or Indian rhinoceros mixed with Chital, Indian hog deer etc.

Malayan tapir don’t appear viable when you consider the infrastructure needed to remediate the issue of the sun will not only be needed at Melbourne, but any other facility that wants to hold them in Australasia. It’s hard to imagine the other zoos queuing up to take surplus when the Brazilian tapir (albeit less striking) can go into a basic paddock with a pool and a tree.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Unfortunately I don’t think the former Mandrill (current cassowary) exhibit would be large enough for an Okapi if they’re looking for floor space that is not only exceptional by current standards; but will be suitable in 20 years time. The elephant exhibit is the only option for Okapi space wise imo without demolishing other exhibits (I’d gladly submit Growing Wild for redevelopment :D).
Click to expand...

Okay so the mandrill space is out (which I guess is good in that mandrill may be able to come back one day). So how about the tapir/peccary area being redeveloped into a specialist okapi area? This leaves the elephant area for the rhinos and friends. Is the tapir/peccary area big enough for a pair of okapi and a possible baby?
 
I believe they can fit all species, provided they are not all breeding programs. One Okapi can be held off display, therefore opening 2 elephant paddocks for rhinos. Bongo would be where the tapir and peccary are now, and tapir of course on the barn. Mandrill reclaim the old exhibit. Potentially the okapi could be rotated between themselves and the bongo in both exhibits. Wishful thinking and chances this happens are low, but there is certainly enough space for them all imo
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top