Western Plains also holds Sumatran tigers, albeit in a pine forest environment. It's still really nice welfarewise from what I've seen, and what I hope to see if and when I eventually make the flight down under.
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Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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It does indeed look stunning. Bearing in mind the number of tigers is restricted by what social groupings they tolerate (Dubbo have never exceeded three tigers in one grouping), an exhibit like this isn’t necessarily space efficient when could fit multiple small exhibits in here; however, efficiency of space isn’t an issue in an open range zoo and indeed Werribee could create something equally spectacular.
Photo taken by @akasha
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One slight hurdle with this is that Werribee closed their Serval enclosure (many years ago they were on display) because visitors “never saw them” and I’d assume perhaps Servals may not have been the best choice for a display to begin with. But if that is anything to go off I personally can’t see WORZ going down the feline route aside from their current species being Cheetah, African Lion and Serval.
This is an interesting suggestion. But I’d say that the only “new” animals that Werribee are choosing to potentially acquire are African as previously discussed. There is an argument to say that Melbourne was always going to place Elephants at WORZ the question was always just going to be when. The Bison and the ‘Plains’ area are all species already kept, they just need to find space to display them thanks to the Elephant project. I think some consideration may need to be had to the likelihood that Werribee display the Asian Elephants almost as if they are a replacement for their African counterparts to fit into the rest of the zoo theme. I just wonder if the interps displays will be focussed on juxtaposing the two species as a way to justify their surrounding with other African species.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I understand what you are trying to say, but I personally don’t believe the failed display of one Felid spells the end of any future exports. If several other species are trialled and also yield little success, then fair enough, but I don’t believe measures that drastic should be taken. Also, you may be right about them representing their African counterparts, as one of the less educated staff members at WORZ seemed as though she didn’t know the Elephants weren’t African. I asked about future diversity in terms of other continents, and she said, “we are sticking with the African theme, as you can see we got elephants” or something along those lines. Wasn’t exactly encouraging for me to hear
PaddyRickMFZ
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What is the plains section? Because if im not wrong all species held near the bison are pre-existing. Also, it has been indicated to me that an Asian complex will not follow the elephants, which I dearly hope was a misinterpretation on my part
I think it’s great to have these incredible concepts and theories. But thinking practically is also necessary with these types of things. Although Werribee has the space to create an incredibly diverse collection I just can’t see it happening within the next 5 years or so. The Elephants alone would be an incredible expense to move and build a new setup for.
And with MZ I really do enjoy reading all the various concepts that everyone comes up with. But my gut says they’ll just go with whatever they can find on the excess list at other zoos within the region. Hence why I suggested Komodo Dragons as a potential answer considering ARP will have three that by the time Elephants move and development happens will be just about adult size.
And with MZ I really do enjoy reading all the various concepts that everyone comes up with. But my gut says they’ll just go with whatever they can find on the excess list at other zoos within the region. Hence why I suggested Komodo Dragons as a potential answer considering ARP will have three that by the time Elephants move and development happens will be just about adult size.
If that’s the case, I’d say that’s a reflection on the exhibit rather than on the species. Serval are generally an active species that I’ve seen on almost visit to zoos that hold them.
The exhibit need not be massive and can allow them some degree of privacy without offering them option to remove themselves from sight.
These are Wellington and Auckland’s exhibits - with the Serval seen patrolling to the top left on the image above; and inside the overturned pot on the image below.
I was referring to the Bison Plains exhibit, which yes indeed will not feature any new species. The Bison however represent a different continent, as will the elephants. I don’t really count the Indian antelope as they’re merely shoehorned into the African Savannah with most visitors believing they’re from that geographic area.
To be honest, I doubt Zoos Victoria are thinking beyond the masterplan. I think your interpretation is correct that what they’ve planned for (received funding for) is what’s going to happen and there’s no plans for anything else; but a decade from now, it’s more than possible for that to change. With Monarto’s progress and Dubbo planning for the future, I doubt Werribee will stagnate after constructing what they have outlined.
Don't worry - there is no way in the world MZ will be getting rid of snow leopards. As I said earlier, MZ without snow leopards is like a pub with no beer.
When was this? I thought they've always only been used for encounters/displays.
I never quite understood this - and I will try to find out when I'm at WORZ next:
Obviously I know that this was the reason they went off display, but was it a question of:
1. Visitors never see servals
OR
2. Visitors never see these particular individual servals
I don't know the answer to this - but it is something to consider. Not all animals from the same species have the same personality. Any pet owner knows this.
We all know that a zoo has to work with what it has when it comes to species, but a zoo also has to work with what they have when it comes to individual animals.
I will try to find out more details in any case.
RE India:
I'm surprised (and disappointed) that more Australian zoos don't take Indian themed exhibits more seriously - it's such a diverse country with so many different climates and so many different animals. It's certainly my favourite country to visit.
I think the reason for this is that South East Asian animals are seen as "more striking", "prettier", "more tropical" etc - and the fact that animals such as elephants, tigers, otters and monkeys live in both India and SE Asia makes SE Asian species the natural choice. Note that India doesn't have orangutans or tapirs - so in other words with SE Asia you get more bang for buck.
That said, with SE Asia you don't get snow leopards, red pandas, Indian rhinos etc - so it can be argued both ways...
RE South America:
I agree that the interesting species from South America seem to be the arboreal ones. For example, I think it's fair to say that marmosets, tamarins and squirrel monkeys are much cuter than macaques and langurs for example. Therefore zoos have decided to go with South American monkeys rather than old world monkeys more often than not. On top of this, wild macaques are very easy to see in places like Thailand, Malaysia and Bali - popular holiday destinations for Australians.
So it makes sense to me why Australian zoos display monkeys from South America and then carnivores from Asia and Africa (where there are more choices).
I do wish India would get represented more than it does though.
I'm surprised (and disappointed) that more Australian zoos don't take Indian themed exhibits more seriously - it's such a diverse country with so many different climates and so many different animals. It's certainly my favourite country to visit.
I think the reason for this is that South East Asian animals are seen as "more striking", "prettier", "more tropical" etc - and the fact that animals such as elephants, tigers, otters and monkeys live in both India and SE Asia makes SE Asian species the natural choice. Note that India doesn't have orangutans or tapirs - so in other words with SE Asia you get more bang for buck.
That said, with SE Asia you don't get snow leopards, red pandas, Indian rhinos etc - so it can be argued both ways...
RE South America:
I agree that the interesting species from South America seem to be the arboreal ones. For example, I think it's fair to say that marmosets, tamarins and squirrel monkeys are much cuter than macaques and langurs for example. Therefore zoos have decided to go with South American monkeys rather than old world monkeys more often than not. On top of this, wild macaques are very easy to see in places like Thailand, Malaysia and Bali - popular holiday destinations for Australians.
So it makes sense to me why Australian zoos display monkeys from South America and then carnivores from Asia and Africa (where there are more choices).
I do wish India would get represented more than it does though.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I agree with you entirely. I hope that by the time the elephants move in, they will at least unveil some new species, whether as a concept or actually in exhibit. I doubt something like hyena would eventuate before elephants arrive, but there needs to be at least something on the walking trail imo. Whether that be Nyala or what. I like the idea of having some woodland antelope in that section tbh, like having Nyala, Bongo and Greater/Lesser Kudu all displayed near each other to give that forest vibe. I feel as though sitatunga near the waterhole would also make a lot of sense to me. Potentially, if the Nyala do indeed move to the walking trail then sitatunga could replace them, because there would likely be very little biodiversity in that part of the safari. Would love to see the return of forest buffalo as well and some previously abandoned antelope species such as sable, and the aforementioned kudu
I would say it’s also gone in the favour of South American primates that they’re small. Tamarins, marmosets etc. can be held by any zoo as they don’t take up much space and are inexpensive to feed compared to great apes and baboons. Their popularity also means they’re widely available; which combined with a lack of import restrictions, means they appeal to Australasian zoos.
Historically, Jaguar were a challenge to breed compared to lions and tigers with only sporadic success. Breeding took off in the 1970’s and 1980’s and with multiple zoos breeding, it was difficult to offload the surplus. Melbourne imported the last Jaguar into the region in 1997. Had she bred (as was the intention), it’s interesting to contemplate how things may have turned out differently.
Though Eastern bongo or Sitatunga would be my preference, I’d consider Lowland nyala a more likely option. Many zoos holding this species have multiple exhibits to accomodate surplus bulls, so that seems the most likely outcome imo.
I’m hopeful we’ll see Eastern bongo at Melbourne at least. They’re not easy to source, so a pair is probably the best we can hope for; or a female to pair with one of our males (not ideal as our population descends from just 2.1 bongo).
It would have to be B) Servals in general. Werribee have had theirs off display for a while now (or ever since I've visited), and their sisters arrived a while after I began visiting.
PaddyRickMFZ
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As I was told, Bongo should return to MZ, but I could be wrong, that’s just what I was told. Lowland Nyala have been confirmed for the walking trail but I hope some more species accompany them
It sounds likely when you consider the facts suggest there’s not a large surplus of Eastern bongo overseas for us to import. While I’d love to see a large herd established at Werribee, if a pair is what they can source, they might as well hold them at Melbourne; and exhibit a large herd of nyala (which breed like rabbits) at Werribee.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I agree. Just quickly though, are forest buffalo or Cape buffalo able to be imported. Forest buffalo could be a good addition to the woodland section of the safari, and Cape buffalo could be interesting for the lower savannah provided they can cohabitate. I am also inclined to ask about the availability of both species around the world. In an ideal world Water Buffalo could have an exhibit in the new waterhole precinct
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