PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
That’s a bit of a shame, but that means even if one peccary is castrated there I chance for the other. Following that I hope the baby is a female if that eventuates
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Probs should’ve mentioned this earlier but if jaguars aren’t an option Spectacled Bear could be the crowned jewels. That would mean, with our plans, ZV would have:
Sloth Bear
Sun Bear
Asiatic Black Bear
Syrian(?) Brown Bear
Andean(Spectacled) Bear
That’s a world class bear collection and amazing draw card for WORZ or MZ if they consider even close to that
Sloth Bear
Sun Bear
Asiatic Black Bear
Syrian(?) Brown Bear
Andean(Spectacled) Bear
That’s a world class bear collection and amazing draw card for WORZ or MZ if they consider even close to that
Though I’d be impressed (and surprised) if Melbourne acquired even two of these species, as @Grant Rhino said - all it takes if for management to identify their appeal to the public; and so I’m hopeful we may see at least one other species than sun bear imported. Most bear species would require the support of the ZAA and I’m confident there’d be other species on board with one other (probably Sloth bear).
Messi is a female.
Last conversation I had with keepers, they weren't planning to breed them unfortunately.
Andean Bears do fit the forest theme better though imo, and would also be the main attraction of a potential South American precinct; which most regional zoos should/would be looking into next.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I agree. Probably the more realistic of the left field options. A South American precinct featuring a pair of Jaguar and Andean bear would be absolutely amazing. Even a Himalayan section at Werribee where they import more snow leopards and red pandas to add diversity to the region, and have 2 amazing precincts
Messi is a female.
I got the same answer re. breeding but was interested to know if they’re still reproductively viable (i.e. if the male is intact).
A zoo like Altina could have done great things with this species if Melbourne had negotiated to transfer them somewhere that would breed while they were still young.
I'd *assume* they are still intact. The females will likely be on contraception. That's usually Melbourne's approach; I've never heard of them ever vasectomising an animal. Usually that stuffs done at Werribee with the antelope who breed like rabbits.
From what I hear, the Jaguar at Melbourne Zoo (especially the male, who was melanistic) were very popular with visitors. It’s a regrettable phase out, especially since Melbourne Zoo imported the female in 1997 with the intention of breeding.
Auckland Zoo bred this species so well they had to cease breeding due to an inability to place the offspring. With Melbourne, Taronga and Adelaide in the same boat, the population dwindled.
Werribee also castrate the giraffe in the bachelor herd which is unusual. Hamilton Zoo don’t do this and to my knowledge, neither do Dubbo or Monarto. None of the giraffes coming into Werribee are genetically valuable, so it’s no big deal - and presumably is done to make them more docile versus a vasectomy, where the male still behaves as if it was unaltered.
I'd assume it would have something to do with Werribee's males being in a large, mixed species habitat. Monarto's males aren't mixed with any other species to my knowledge, and Hamilton's are only mixed with Zebra?
Hamilton’s giraffes are mixed with zebra, Indian antelope and ostrich. Waterbuck also used to inhabit this exhibit prior to their their transfer to Auckland Zoo. Historically, the only problem arose from an aggressive Grant’s zebra stallion, who chased a juvenile giraffe into a fence, leading to its euthansia.
That’s possible re. Werribee’s giraffe, though I’m also thinking since adult bulls like Antony (Perth) have joined in the past, they may have been predisposed to engage in dominance behaviour as they adjusted to life in a bachelor herd. Hamilton’s was built up soley by transferring in juvenile bulls.
Nice idea..but will never happen unfortunately. The Himalayan precinct idea is really great and creative but don't think it will happen unfortunately, Snow Leopards, Red Panda and very inbred Himalayan Tahr are our token Himalayan species and have a feeling it will likely remain that way, would be nice to see some Pallas Cats again like Adelaide once had and would be great to see Takins etc but think it's likely never going to happen sadly unless one of us became a multi millionaire.
With Bears think Sun Bears should always remain our primary Bear species, closest Bear in proximity to Australia, the perpetual SE Asian theme most Aus zoos promote, rescue stories. If we're lucky we might see East Asian Black Bears and return of some Syrian Brown Bears someday. Would love to see Sloth Bears and Andean Bears but very difficult and sadly unlikely which sucks heaps.
Re:Wildebeest even if there was a cure or vaccine for said disease, knowing Australian government they'd still keep the ban in place (they're extremely strict) getting suidae into Australia now is like getting snakes into NZ.
I don't know if Peccary can have their sperm imported but it the makes are casfrated at Melbourne maybe try artificially inseminate the female with thawed out frozen sperm from a male Peccary from overseas (don't think ZooVic would want to pay for such an undertaking though) best we can do is cherish our last 3 Peccaries at MZ (cool that it sniffed your hand and they were in a letting pen capacity at Werribee in the '90s).
It’s a great shame Australia no longer has Himalayan monal. I see from posts on here that both Taronga and Melbourne used to have them. They’re stunning birds - and a species that nicely compliments the handful of Himalayan mammal species we have in the region.
Sadly, the Suidae ban covers reproductive materials and therefore no semen has been imported into Australia since the 1990’s. The decision to not breed was made by Zoo Victoria, so it’s unlikely they’d go back on this (regrettable) decision. Enjoy the last three peccaries while you can everyone!
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
Melbourne Probably won't do any serious development to lion gorge for the next 5 years, this is a relatively new precinct this is why I think sun bear is a viable option in the tiger exibir as little work will have to be done, do replace coati, imo I think they should import more as they are so unique they could import binturong, imo should be in the squirrel monkey exibit, or even servel
@austrlain zoo gower @Zoofan15
Yeah true considering the recency of some of the exhibits it is viable to have a few cool exotic mammals that can be sourced like some of the ones you guys mentioned to occupy some of the exhibits that won't reach their upgrade timeframe for a few more years. Agree with you ZooFan about Monals (would of imported a bunch between 1990-1995 if was a collection manager at one of the zoo's at the time). Go Wellington though with their little Himalayan precinct.
Melbourne's Orangutan exhibit being opened in 2006 if remember right means we're reaching the timeframe where some 15-25 m talk climbing frames and climbing ropes leading to the bull Elephant yard or 'Ibis' island would be an excellent decision for ZoosVic in keeping with the progressive era we're in with exhibit upgrades/remodellings etc (not to be mean with this comment but MZ's current Orang exhibit looks like it would of been more impressive if it had been built in the early to mid 1980s).
Yeah true considering the recency of some of the exhibits it is viable to have a few cool exotic mammals that can be sourced like some of the ones you guys mentioned to occupy some of the exhibits that won't reach their upgrade timeframe for a few more years. Agree with you ZooFan about Monals (would of imported a bunch between 1990-1995 if was a collection manager at one of the zoo's at the time). Go Wellington though with their little Himalayan precinct.
Melbourne's Orangutan exhibit being opened in 2006 if remember right means we're reaching the timeframe where some 15-25 m talk climbing frames and climbing ropes leading to the bull Elephant yard or 'Ibis' island would be an excellent decision for ZoosVic in keeping with the progressive era we're in with exhibit upgrades/remodellings etc (not to be mean with this comment but MZ's current Orang exhibit looks like it would of been more impressive if it had been built in the early to mid 1980s).
Himalayan monal survived in small numbers throughout the private aviculture industry, but none are live today to my knowledge. New Zealand similarly have some in private aviculture. Hamilton Zoo exhibited them until 2020, but they never bred and neither have Wellington’s monal.
They’re clearly difficult to breed - at least within a display setting. Perhaps Melbourne should have tried breeding them off display like they did with their Temminck’s golden cat!
Yes, Melbourne’s orangutan exhibit opened in October 2006 and I agree, it’s looking very dated. It actually reminds me a lot of Auckland Zoo’s Orangutan Park, which opened in 1997, with its large back wall and wooden climbing structures. My impression of Auckland’s exhibit in the 2000’s was that of a modern looking exhibit - so presumably Melbourne’s was similarly impressive; but by today’s standards, neither are a patch on Auckland’s new exhibit.
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
Melbournes orangutan exibit priorities function over looks, i think a few more trees and plant would make a huge difference and a new expansion would bring it some new life, it does have some coll features like the indoor section.
I’m going to the zoo soon and are looking to do a couple of the behind the scences encounters are there any suggestions as i dont know which couple do, or any reviews
I’m going to the zoo soon and are looking to do a couple of the behind the scences encounters are there any suggestions as i dont know which couple do, or any reviews
The best thing Melbourne Zoo could do is extend their orangutan exhibit via an aerial pathway. It’s highly enriching for the apes and allows them to get out of their exhibit and demonstrate natural behaviours such as braciating. I’ve seen Charlie at Auckland Zoo transform from a sedimentary male, who rarely left the ground to an active orangutan making maximum use of his exhibit.
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