This is what I really love about Monarto: the vast open spaces and big herds. I love how arid it is too - it's one of those places that can't be judged by the species list. Without visiting it you don't really get a picture of how good it is. The red soil in itself plays a huge role there.
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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This is what I really love about Monarto: the vast open spaces and big herds. I love how arid it is too - it's one of those places that can't be judged by the species list. Without visiting it you don't really get a picture of how good it is. The red soil in itself plays a huge role there.
PaddyRickMFZ
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They should import more females and swap the zoos’ occupants around imo
Monarto is a spectacular zoo, though I resent how much is behind pay walls. Double the entry if you want (and allow all access), but don’t make visitors think twice about whether they want to see something. Werribee gets points here as though they run the delux tour (paid), the safari bus is free.
PaddyRickMFZ
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My bad, I didn’t see the bison. What do you mean waterbuck aren’t really on display?
Re Giraffes: I completely disagree with this. I think giraffes are extremely popular (well they are with pretty much anyone I ever go to either zoo with). The enclosure at MZ is fine for 1 or 2 giraffes. What I do agree with though is that WORZ could have a breeding group and MZ could have spare males (though I wouldn't trust zebras around giraffe calves). MZ without giraffes wouldn't be quite the same in my view.
RE Gorillas: I think MZ has the better gorilla enclosure by a mile! It looks like a rainforest. Could they swap them around though? (breeding group to WORZ and males to MZ)? Maybe - but I'd want to know what gorilla experts think first as I have no idea.
Werribee wins imo. They also have Koalas of which Monarto don't have, and Gorillas and Hippos are two of the biggest attractions a zoo could have. In comparison, Monarto only have one species that I think would give Werribee a run for their money, and that's the Chimps. Their troop which is growing quite quickly is getting to be one of the best in the region - and should soon be rivalling Taronga's in size.
Also if you consider Werribee will soon be adding Hyena and Elephants, they will possibly be beginning to reach Dubbo's tier too.
I mean that they are not really featured as such. There are very few of them, and they are in enclosures where other species take the limelight away from them (nyala in the waterhole and giraffe/zebra/rhino on the savannah). I actually can't recall which one they are in at the moment - it's been about a month since I was there last.
This is an example of what I mean when I say that ungulates look better in large herds where possible.
Waterbuck are on display, on the Lower Savannah but tend to spend their time in the marshes which are out of safari view.
Definitely. Melbourne Zoo have an impressive exhibit but I can’t foresee them importing anymore than two female gorillas in years to come. Werribee would allow them the space to manage a larger troop and accomodate offspring into adulthood - which will become an increasingly common requirement of zoos breeding this species; as placements become more difficult and the alternative is not breeding.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Yeah, and big call here, WORZ has better enclosures than Dubbo. This could be me and only me, but I low key feel like Dubbo exhibits kinda look like off display holding pens(many exceptions ofc)
PaddyRickMFZ
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I’m my most recent trip they were in a marsh that was very much in view, so I feel like if u look for them, u can find them
The interesting thing about this is that although Dubbo has far more species than both WORZ and Monarto, it's my least favourite of the three. That said, I do like the place a lot, and it's easily in my top 10 favourite Australian zoos.
My only criticism of Dubbo is that a lot of the enclosures look the same as one another - although that has changed a lot in recent years. It's still an excellent zoo.
Re. Gorillas, Werribee I think recently constructed a Gorilla quarantine facility a few years ago. Possibly indicating future imports?
Also the size of Werribee's exhibit really helps with their bachelor males, who require their own space and thus much more than a breeding herd. I think the current set ups should remain the same (breeding at Melbourne, bachelor at Werribee). Melbourne's exhibit is big enough for a mid sized group of ten gorillas.
From what I’ve seen of Dubbo, I’d agree with that. They will surely lag behind Werribee and Monarto as they lack the x-factor in future planning the other two have demonstrated. Their planned integrated Savannah is unimaginative and lacking in biodiversity.
It sounds like gorillas would be quarantined at Werribee, then transferred to Melbourne if that’s the case. With three males aged 23, 24 and 40 years old, Werribee will likely soon find themselves with a pair of bachelor males occupying their vast exhibit.
With Taronga building a (smaller) bachelor facility, I’d argue this would be better utilised by Werribee’s two remaining males (once Motaba passes); and Taronga’s bachelor troop (which will contain three to four younger males) could be transferred to Werribee in their place.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Werribee should certainly hold the largest quantity of animals, and it could be great if they had refurbishments to make the enclosure look reminiscent to MZ
Melbourne’s exhibit was an award winning architectural masterpiece - with the high quality exhibit we see today being testament to an exhibit that’s stood the test of time.
Werribee’s exhibit is different, but still offers them vast open spaces which seem under-utilised by three bachelor males. A larger bachelor troop (the Taronga exchange I propose above) would at least give them four young males, who would make for a more interactive exhibit.
The benefits of silverbacks is they’re easy for visitors to spot from a distance. A mother with a newborn would have a stronger desire for privacy and the experience might dissapoint.
I'd agree with that. Hopefully it indicates future imports from overseas. Unfortunately Motoba does have a heart condition which will limit his lifespan. Being 39, he's definitely getting into his twilight years.
Werribee's enclosure though is meant to reflect Gorillas on the Savannah theming. So whilst it was never always going to have a rainforest feel to it, I think it has disappointed with the lack of shade structures, trees ect. Just a lot of open space. I would've preferred something where at least some part of the exhibit was wooded (preferably near the viewing glass area). It would give the gorillas some privacy and would provide a unique viewing experience where visitors can view the gorillas out in the open (at the front of the zoo), and in the woods/forest on the other side. Just my take on improving the exhibit.
As Zoofan15 also alludes to, the MZ gorilla enclosure is an amazing enclosure and even with the best refurbishments imaginable, designed by the best designer in the world, the WORZ gorilla enclosure would take a minimum of 10 years to even look almost as nice as the MZ one.
Part of the problem here is the existing landscape of both properties: MZ have had a well established rainforest type landscape for decades but WORZ simply doesn't.
Personally I've always felt that gorillas don't really suit WORZ (or WORZ doesn't really suit gorillas) - and part of that is the existing landscape. That said, they are too important not to have - so this means a less forested exhibit. WORZ (or any zoo) can only work with what it's got.
The exhibit may be useful down the line for other species though.
If Taronga plan to work as a bachelor facility (and potentially Monarto too), Werribee could definitely backflip on Gorillas and look into holding Chimpos (preferably) or even Hamadryads Baboons if that can't be worked out. The enclosure would perfectly suit either species design wise.
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