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

[Grant Rhino]

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

I would've thought that if the zoo was going to bring in either Indian rhino or okapi then they would want to be breeding them. Both species are simply too important to not try to breed. The effort and cost it would take to acquire either wouldn't be worth it if breeding was not the intention.

I would assume that if either of these species come to MZ then MZ will be hell bent on breeding them. I'd be surprised if they weren't.

 

[Zoofan15]

I would've thought that if the zoo was going to bring in either Indian rhino or okapi then they would want to be breeding them. Both species are simply too important to not try to breed. The effort and cost it would take to acquire either wouldn't be worth it if breeding was not the intention.

I would assume that if either of these species come to MZ then MZ will be hell bent on breeding them. I'd be surprised if they weren't.

I agree. There’s no way North American would spare an Okapi to come to Australia as a non breeding animal. It’d be a pair or nothing, likely in conjunction with Taronga holding an unrelated pair - with the first generation offspring either paired at a third zoo or returned to North America.

Indian rhinoceros are almost at capacity in Europe, to the point where breeding has been halted. With this in mind, it may be permissible for Dubbo’s bull to come to Melbourne as a non breeding bull. He could always be paired a decade or two down the line if there was a desire to do so.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

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.

I believe the sun will be solved if placed in the barn and allowed outside on select days, as I observed in zoos internationally

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

May as well keep the current tapir enclosure to house a breeding female, peccaries back of house added to the normal exibit a small pool sun shades and foliage for a male and boom you have a breeding group of tapir. Indian rhino, okapi and deer species in the elephant exibits, bongo I think might not be able to fit, but you have to sacrifice, and orangutan and gibbon exibit expansion onto the island

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

We shouldn’t give up on tapir, if Melbourne does it right then it will be find, PadyRickMFZ plan would also work great

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I would've thought that if the zoo was going to bring in either Indian rhino or okapi then they would want to be breeding them. Both species are simply too important to not try to breed. The effort and cost it would take to acquire either wouldn't be worth it if breeding was not the intention.

I would assume that if either of these species come to MZ then MZ will be hell bent on breeding them. I'd be surprised if they weren't.

As I said, one of the okapi would be held off display when not breeding, not every animal has to be in public view, with one or the other having a bull off display. I hope they pursue both breeding, as Okapis tend to be solitary right? Or can they live in conjunction? If so it works out even better. I just believe pulling off all those species would be great. Bongo and Tapir almost solve themself with the barn and Peccary section, while the Rhino and Okapi could be manoeuvred. If need be, one of the hippo exhibits could be remodelled to house okapi

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I o

May as well keep the current tapir enclosure to house a breeding female, peccaries back of house added to the normal exibit a small pool sun shades and foliage for a male and boom you have a breeding group of tapir. Indian rhino, okapi and deer species in the elephant exibits, bongo I think might not be able to fit, but you have to sacrifice, and orangutan and gibbon exibit expansion onto the island

I personally think the tapir should be in the barn, which solves a lot of problems. Bongo can fit where u suggested the tapir go

 

[Grant Rhino]

Indian rhinoceros are almost at capacity in Europe, to the point where breeding has been halted.

This is totally understandable, but it troubles me in some ways. This is a species in need of our help (not that others aren't) and I do feel that zoos with the means to do so have some sort of duty to at least consider breeding them.

I realise that this isn't how business works or how zoos work, but the idealist in me would like to think that Australasian zoos would at least consider beginning a breeding program for Indian rhinos.

I will add that Australian zoos are doing a great job with white rhinos and black rhinos - so I guess they can't do everything for every species all at once.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

I guess it is easy to do your suggestion

 

[Zoofan15]

This is totally understandable, but it troubles me in some ways. This is a species in need of our help (not that others aren't) and I do feel that zoos with the means to do so have some sort of duty to at least consider breeding them.

I realise that this isn't how business works or how zoos work, but the idealist in me would like to think that Australasian zoos would at least consider beginning a breeding program for Indian rhinos.

I will add that Australian zoos are doing a great job with white rhinos and black rhinos - so I guess they can't do everything for every species all at once.

I see your point. For the foreseeable, the region will surely be focussed on the Australian Rhino Project - with the import of 35 Southern white rhinoceros. Once that’s concluded in about five years from now, there may be scope for Monarto to come onboard, but in the meantime, I think Melbourne, Perth and potentially Werribee are the only facilities that would consider Indian rhinoceros.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I see your point. For the foreseeable, the region will surely be focussed on the Australian Rhino Project - with the import of 35 Southern white rhinoceros. Once that’s concluded in about five years from now, there may be scope for Monarto to come onboard, but in the meantime, I think Melbourne, Perth and potentially Werribee are the only facilities that would consider Indian rhinoceros.

Obviously @Grant Rhino would know more than me, but I was told Werribee would not consider Indian Rhinos. That leaves Melbourne as the only possible Victorian holder. I hope Melbourne does not just expand pre-existing animals, that would be a major disappointment when orangutans could just be expanded into the wetland, and gibbons could be moved around to access the rhinos, with siamangs returned to their original island.

 

[Zoofan15]

Obviously @Grant Rhino would know more than me, but I was told Werribee would not consider Indian Rhinos. That leaves Melbourne as the only possible Victorian holder. I hope Melbourne does not just expand pre-existing animals, that would be a major disappointment when orangutans could just be expanded into the wetland, and gibbons could be moved around to access the rhinos, with siamangs returned to their original island.

That’s a shame. Since Werribee is only 45 minutes away, the space problem could be solved by housing the bull Indian rhinoceros at Werribee and transferring the cow there for breeding - to return pregnant to Melbourne. This would enable the cow and calf to live cohesively in one of the elephant paddocks, freeing up the other two.

 

[Grant Rhino]

Obviously @Grant Rhino would know more than me, but I was told Werribee would not consider Indian Rhinos. That leaves Melbourne as the only possible Victorian holder. I hope Melbourne does not just expand pre-existing animals, that would be a major disappointment when orangutans could just be expanded into the wetland, and gibbons could be moved around to access the rhinos, with siamangs returned to their original island.

I've never been told by anyone at WORZ that WORZ won't hold Indian rhinos - but I've also never been told by anyone there that they will hold them either. I don't think I've ever asked in fact.

The speculation here (on this thread) is about whether MZ decide to aquire them. However, MZ and WORZ are both essentially part of the same business (Zoos Victoria) and it's quite common for species that start off at one to end up at the other.

If they are on WORZ's radar, then I would think that only the powers that be (at the top) would know about this. That said, I think the big discussions about these things will be happening at MZ (not at WORZ) - because that is where the vacant space will be once the elephants leave.

My personal guess: If they end up at MZ replacing the elephants, then they will end up at WORZ within 15 years.

 

[Grant Rhino]

That’s a shame. Since Werribee is only 45 minutes away, the space problem could be solved by housing the bull Indian rhinoceros at Werribee and transferring the cow there for breeding - to return pregnant to Melbourne. This would enable the cow and calf to live cohesively in one of the elephant paddocks, freeing up the other two.

I think this is an excellent idea (as long as she is crate trained). I have no idea if it will ever happen or not, but I'd absolutely love it if it did. Seeing Indian rhinos alongside elephants is one of the best spectacles nature has to offer!

 

[Josh F]

Just a question though, from the perspective of the general public do we think that going from one very large mammal to another relatively large mammal any better of an improvement upon why the elephants themselves were moved. Is it possible that after 10-15 years people will be uncomfortable with Rhino in city zoos leading to a need to redo the space again. Are there other options that may bring in as much public support that aren’t potentially problematic from a public perception perspective.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think this is an excellent idea (as long as she is crate trained). I have no idea if it will ever happen or not, but I'd absolutely love it if it did. Seeing Indian rhinos alongside elephants is one of the best spectacles nature has to offer!

Since females of this species can often live cohesively together (as they have at Basel and Whipsnade), it may be worth keeping a female herd at Werribee long term (10-15 years away) and housing the bull at Melbourne; but in the short term, it’d be preferable to have calves being born at Melbourne to boost visitation. Werribee will have elephant calves and lion cubs.

 

[Zoofan15]

Just a question though, from the perspective of the general public do we think that going from one very large mammal to another relatively large mammal any better of an improvement upon why the elephants themselves were moved. Is it possible that after 10-15 years people will be uncomfortable with Rhino in city zoos leading to a need to redo the space again. Are there other options that may bring in as much public support that aren’t potentially problematic from a public perception perspective.

For the most part, rhinoceros seem to fly under the radar when it comes to their exhibition in city zoos. Felids and bears pace and elephants are highly intelligent animals, living in large multigenerational herds.

I don’t expect rhinoceros to attract any negative publicity, no more so than giraffe etc. The elephant paddocks are more than large enough to accomodate a pair of Indian rhinoceros.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Just a question though, from the perspective of the general public do we think that going from one very large mammal to another relatively large mammal any better of an improvement upon why the elephants themselves were moved. Is it possible that after 10-15 years people will be uncomfortable with Rhino in city zoos leading to a need to redo the space again. Are there other options that may bring in as much public support that aren’t potentially problematic from a public perception perspective.

I feel like they need something large enough to fill the shoes vacated by elephants. If rhinos are no longer fit for city zoos they can be easily sent to Werribee

 

[Grant Rhino]

Just a question though, from the perspective of the general public do we think that going from one very large mammal to another relatively large mammal any better of an improvement upon why the elephants themselves were moved. Is it possible that after 10-15 years people will be uncomfortable with Rhino in city zoos leading to a need to redo the space again. Are there other options that may bring in as much public support that aren’t potentially problematic from a public perception perspective.

Really good question, but I think that the public puts elephants on a far higher pedestal than rhinos. Elephants (like whales, dolphins and great apes) seem to be up on the highest level next to humans when it comes to these things. For example, whales and dolphins have legal rights as "non human people" in some countries. I think that sentiment also applies to elephants to a lot of people too - but I don't think most people would put rhinos into that bracket.

I really think rhinos and elephants are not on the same level. Elephants are in a different league.

 

[Zoofan15]

I feel like they need something large enough to fill the shoes vacated by elephants. If rhinos are no longer fit for city zoos they can be easily sent to Werribee

Agreed. The public will be expecting something impressive to replace the elephants and Indian rhinoceros are the most feasible of the high profile options. Melbourne already have Western lowland gorilla and Snow leopard. Along with Giant panda and the departing elephants, these are the biggest crowd pullers, with large felids, orangutans, chimpanzees, bears and rhinoceros on the next tier.

A large chimpanzee exhibit would be an exciting addition to Melbourne. Some would be of the option they’re better suited to Werribee, but I’d prefer to see Werribee build a sizeable Hamadryas baboon exhibit and Melbourne acquire chimpanzees. Phasing out the baboons from Melbourne would free up even more space.