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

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Australian biosecurity restrictions prohibit birds due to the risk of diseases like avian botulism to the poultry industry. It’s a stance that won’t change, so we have to make do with the species we have.

Unfortunately, little thought was given to what bird species we wanted to hold long term in the region. Even as a mammals fan, there’s so many bird species I’d like to see in the region. Our Andean condor population has been reduced to five closely related birds; and species like the Rhea and the Humboldt penguins have disappeared from the region. All would make great additions to this complex.

Of course… ofc it’s warranted but it really does make me wish we had less bio security in some ways. I’m a mammal person as well, but I have always loved toucans, and I presume there are none in the region. Also, where are these Andean condors held? Given we’ve inbred basically every species ever imported, inbreeding one more can’t be that bad can it? I agree they would make a great addition to the complex

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Giant anteater are a strong possibility long term (10-15 years is a reasonable assumption) as an IRA could be processed after priority species. I’m also hopeful Brazilian tapir will be imported into the region in the short term (next five years).

Melbourne Zoo have confirmed via email they have no plans to breed their Collared peccary, so we will sadly see this species disappear from the region within the decade. It would have been nice to see them in the aviary, but the Brazilian tapir are an obvious substitute. They cohabit well with spider monkeys - as they did at Hamilton Zoo for many years.

That’s extremely disappointing to hear. That is really confusing that they would prefer to let a species be completely eradicated from the region that spend little money to breed them. Completely illogical to me, but I’m certainly not an expert opinion. When you emailed MZ, what did you email them on to find out about that. The only email I could find was customer service, and they didn’t even know about the hyenas. When I spoke to a keeper at WORZ, he may have been referring to Brazilian Tapir when he said a Malayan Tapir import of up to 10 individuals was on the cards. I would prefer to not see Malayan Tapir disappear from the region, but I am still a fan of their Brown relative. Who knows, they might even be considering another species like Baird’s

 

[Zoofan15]

Of course… ofc it’s warranted but it really does make me wish we had less bio security in some ways. I’m a mammal person as well, but I have always loved toucans, and I presume there are none in the region. Also, where are these Andean condors held? Given we’ve inbred basically every species ever imported, inbreeding one more can’t be that bad can it? I agree they would make a great addition to the complex

No, we don’t have toucans in the region,

Andean condor have been held at Taronga Zoo for decades. The population descends from a pair imported in 1947 (the bird import ban came into effect in 1949), which produced 1.1 offspring in 1979. This sibling pair subsequently produced 1.3 chicks in the 2000’s and early 2010’s (1.2 of which remain in the region).

Andean condor are currently held at Feathered Friends and Taronga Zoo, with one holding the retired breeding pair; and one holding the younger sibling pair (who are a potential breeding pair). There’s also a surplus young female, who could be subbed into the breeding pair if her sister doesn’t breed with their brother.

 

[Zoofan15]

That’s extremely disappointing to hear. That is really confusing that they would prefer to let a species be completely eradicated from the region that spend little money to breed them. Completely illogical to me, but I’m certainly not an expert opinion. When you emailed MZ, what did you email them on to find out about that. The only email I could find was customer service, and they didn’t even know about the hyenas. When I spoke to a keeper at WORZ, he may have been referring to Brazilian Tapir when he said a Malayan Tapir import of up to 10 individuals was on the cards. I would prefer to not see Malayan Tapir disappear from the region, but I am still a fan of their Brown relative. Who knows, they might even be considering another species like Baird’s

My biggest annoyance with the Collared peccary is that they weren’t sent to a facility willing to continue (in)breeding them. Once they’re one, they’re gone.

My reply came from the customer service team. They vary in helpfulness (it’s a team of people) - but in most cases, they’ve taken the initiative to contact the relevant team on my behalf and source accurate and useful information.

Darling Downs Zoo are interested in importing Brazilian tapir, so I’d assume they’re focus species for the region. I’d love to see Malayan tapir eventuate however.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

My biggest annoyance with the Collared peccary is that they weren’t sent to a facility willing to continue (in)breeding them. Once they’re one, they’re gone.

My reply came from the customer service team. They vary in helpfulness (it’s a team of people) - but in most cases, they’ve taken the initiative to contact the relevant team on my behalf and source accurate and useful information.

Darling Downs Zoo are interested in importing Brazilian tapir, so I’d assume they’re focus species for the region. I’d love to see Malayan tapir eventuate however.

Do you believe MZ would have enough space to breed the peccaries, with 2 enclosures plus the Pygmy hippo one. Even WORZ could breed them and send some offspring back to MZ, and continue the population for years to come

 

[Zoofan15]

Do you believe MZ would have enough space to breed the peccaries, with 2 enclosures plus the Pygmy hippo one. Even WORZ could breed them and send some offspring back to MZ, and continue the population for years to come

Absolutely - they have an excellent set up for breeding and historically, have bred 41 peccaries from 1973 to 2012.

Werribee have previously held them and the two could indeed establish a breeding operation either at both or one of these facilities. Personally, I’d focus breeding at Melbourne and then transfer two or three young peccary to Werribee to grow a large colony.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Absolutely - they have an excellent set up for breeding and historically, have bred 41 peccaries from 1973 to 2012.

Werribee have previously held them and the two could indeed establish a breeding operation either at both or one of these facilities. Personally, I’d focus breeding at Melbourne and then transfer two or three young peccary to Werribee to grow a large colony.

I agree. If MZ don’t wanna breed them, let someone else do it and continue the population. Don’t let a species die out just bcs u can’t be bothered. Werribee could have another one of their walk in peccary things they apparently had until a hypothesised aviary could be built

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree. If MZ don’t wanna breed them, let someone else do it and continue the population. Don’t let a species die out just bcs u can’t be bothered. Werribee could have another one of their walk in peccary things they apparently had until a hypothesised aviary could be built

Adult peccaries are a potentially dangerous species, but a boardwalk/walkthrough could work with barriers in place to prevent direct interaction with visitors.

They’d surely add variety to a South American aviary, but assuming the decision to cease breeding remains in place, they’d be elderly or passed on by the time such a complex was built.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Adult peccaries are a potentially dangerous species, but a boardwalk/walkthrough could work with barriers in place to prevent direct interaction with visitors.

They’d surely add variety to a South American aviary, but assuming the decision to cease breeding remains in place, they’d be elderly or passed on by the time such a complex was built.

That’s what I meant. Also, didn’t someone mention there had already been a peccary walkthrough at WORZ? And if so, how did it work. Also, for the Amazon aviary, the paths would certainly have to be elevated

 

[Zoofan15]

That’s what I meant. Also, didn’t someone mention there had already been a peccary walkthrough at WORZ? And if so, how did it work. Also, for the Amazon aviary, the paths would certainly have to be elevated

@Jambo gave this account:

They had a group derived from Melbourne but their last individuals died out there in the 90's. They were held in a Petting Zoo sort of enclosure where guests could pet the Peccaries. It's a shame this wasn't still around today as petting the last Peccaries in the country would be a very special encounter.

I don’t know the specifics, but there would have been a physical barrier between mature peccaries and the visitors.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I s

@Jambo gave this account:

They had a group derived from Melbourne but their last individuals died out there in the 90's. They were held in a Petting Zoo sort of enclosure where guests could pet the Peccaries. It's a shame this wasn't still around today as petting the last Peccaries in the country would be a very special encounter.

I don’t know the specifics, but there would have been a physical barrier between mature peccaries and the visitors.

i see. Maybe a fence kind of thing were you could scratch the peccaries back through it? Possibly similar to what we see with rhinos.then again they could have just been bottle raised and very tame, but that seems unlikely

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

This might seem like a really stupid question to you guys, but we wouldn’t be able to pass an IRA on any of the members of Suidae would we? Given that Taronga expressed interest in Babirusa once they had already banned, does that indicate some sort of loophole?

 

[Zoofan15]

I s

i see. Maybe a fence kind of thing were you could scratch the peccaries back through it? Possibly similar to what we see with rhinos.then again they could have just been bottle raised and very tame, but that seems unlikely

That sounds likely; otherwise, direct contact would be possible with juveniles.

This might seem like a really stupid question to you guys, but we wouldn’t be able to pass an IRA on any of the members of Suidae would we? Given that Taronga expressed interest in Babirusa once they had already banned, does that indicate some sort of loophole?

No, it will never happen.

Auckland Zoo was granted an exemption to import flamingos (despite an overall ban of importing them) in 2001, but this was only achieved because the flamingos were hatched and raised entirely within a quarantine facility. It would be difficult to find a facility willing to/able to implement this with Suidae species.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Q

That sounds likely; otherwise, direct contact would be possible with juveniles.


No, it will never happen.

Auckland Zoo was granted an exemption to import flamingos (despite an overall ban of importing them) in 2001, but this was only achieved because the flamingos were hatched and raised entirely within a quarantine facility. It would be difficult to find a facility willing to/able to implement this with Suidae species.

Does that mean acquiring the species as a juvenile? Provided they do not have to be separated from other animals, warthogs and red river hogs could be an option at WORZ, and Babirusa could actually eventuate. I assume there is something else I’m missing though

 

[Zoofan15]

Q

Does that mean acquiring the species as a juvenile? Provided they do not have to be separated from other animals, warthogs and red river hogs could be an option at WORZ, and Babirusa could actually eventuate. I assume there is something else I’m missing though

The flamingos were hatched and raised in isolation prior to import into New Zealand as juveniles. For peccaries, the equivalent would be a female giving birth within the quarantine facility and then the offspring exported as juveniles.

Aside from the issue of finding a facility willing to cooperate with this, I doubt it would even be possible under Australian biosecurity. I don’t know what exemption Auckland Zoo were granted, but it took five years of planning and has never been repeated - at Auckland or elsewhere in the region.

So in short, no it isn’t an option.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

The flamingos were hatched and raised in isolation prior to import into New Zealand as juveniles. For peccaries, the equivalent would be a female giving birth within the quarantine facility and then the offspring exported as juveniles.

Aside from the issue of finding a facility willing to cooperate with this, I doubt it would even be possible under Australian biosecurity. I don’t know what exemption Auckland Zoo were granted, but it took five years of planning and has never been repeated - at Auckland or elsewhere in the region.

So in short, no it isn’t an option.

I mean… people do like pigs tho

 

[Zoofan15]

I mean… people do like pigs tho

Even so. Finding a facility to cooperate with this is the easy part. I’m not even sure there would be a way to negate the quarantine/import requirements, so it could be a non starter before it even began. The fact Taronga considered Babirusa suggests it *MAY* be viable, but it took Auckland Zoo five years to organise their flamingo import, so it’d come down to the question of whether Zoos Victoria felt it was worth the effort.

To our knowledge, they have reproductively capable (albeit ageing) peccaries now, so they’re certainly not gonna go to the above lengths to import more when they’ve only recently decided to phase out their current peccaries.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

it pains me when a zoo had the last of a species left and won't darn give them to another zoo to breed, I'm sure many smaller zoos would love to have peccaries to breed

 

[Zoofan15]

it pains me when a zoo had the last of a species left and won't darn give them to another zoo to breed, I'm sure many smaller zoos would love to have peccaries to breed

It frustrates me too given the uniqueness of the situation - we can never source more. The Andean condors are in the same boat, though at least there’s an initiative to breed the young birds we have.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Even so. Finding a facility to cooperate with this is the easy part. I’m not even sure there would be a way to negate the quarantine/import requirements, so it could be a non starter before it even began. The fact Taronga considered Babirusa suggests it *MAY* be viable, but it took Auckland Zoo five years to organise their flamingo import, so it’d come down to the question of whether Zoos Victoria felt it was worth the effort.

To our knowledge, they have reproductively capable (albeit ageing) peccaries now, so they’re certainly not gonna go to the above lengths to import more when they’ve only recently decided to phase out their current peccaries.

I was more referring to other members of Suidae, as I feel as though when situations are dire MZ will take initiative. It would kinda be a disgrace if they didn’t. I was hoping red river hogs and warthogs would spice up WORZ a bit, and add something very suitable to the ‘waterhole’. As impossible as it is is seems a decent idea in thought to me