PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Have you seen the Kyabram Master Plan? If not it may answer a couple of your questions
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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Was this the one written prior to ZV take-over or has there been a new one? If it is the pre-ZV one I'd take it with a grain of salt.
Keeping in mind that a change in 'ownership' will also lead to a change in standards and practices which may halt the initial expansion of the KFP collection potentially as well.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I’m not entirely sure when the master plan was made, I implore you to do some research on that. I can say however that Kyabram did receive a grant from the government in October 2022 that included ‘improved animal exhibits, predator-proof fencing and pathways’. Link here:Kyabram Fauna Park Ready To Welcome Visitors And Wildlife | Premier of Victoria
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Regarding Kyabram Fauna Park, my suspicion is that it will become a prominent space, and base of operations or their Fighting Extinction Priority Species program. As it expands further with predominantly native species endemic to Victoria, this park will have ample breeding space for many species.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
In fairness they are spending a colossal ammount of money on the current upgrade. I think it is expected that they will be primarily be consolidating for several years once all phases of the redevelopment conclude. Especially seeing as money and focus will then be put into the longterm precinct upgrade back in Melbourne, and when that is underway I presume a focus will be given to Healesville and Kyabram.
It's a big balancing and juggling act running three cohesive yet in some (many) ways competing Zoos.
I feel like that’s the issue with Zoos Victoria - their zoos are competing with each other rather than complimenting each other.
The most overt example is Melbourne Zoo’s heavy focus on natives - despite having Healesville and Kyabram solely dedicated to natives; and Werribee holding native species as well.
At most Melbourne needs to have a handful of ambassador animals, which will satisfy the international tourists - who will be encouraged to visit Healesville if they want to see anything beyond a koala and a kangaroo.
Werribee is an open range zoo - so fair enough use their many acres for off display bred for release boot camps and wildlife hospitals; but take out the kangaroos - 99% of visitors to Werribee have already been to Melbourne and seen this species.
On the subject of competing zoos, the exception to two sister zoos holding the same species should be only when it’s assisting the breeding of an endangered or critically endangered species.
Werribee Open Range Zoo have a herd of bachelor giraffe which holds little value to Melbourne Zoo. Most of their bulls have come from other zoos within the region (serving the needs of the regional breeding programme) rather than acting as an overflow from Melbourne Zoo.
Giraffe aren’t an endangered species and so holding them at Melbourne is done for no greater reason than a perception the general public expect to see a giraffe on their visit. The herd adds little value to the region (if they didn’t breed them, someone else would) given their giraffe are as inbred as all the others.
An acceptable example would be a large breeding pack of African wild dogs held at Werribee, with males retained and surplus female offspring (they’re a female dispersal species) held at Melbourne.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I think the spare acres should be used as a point of diversifying as opposed to off display wildlife. Plains wanderer is an example. Great that WORZ is breeding a critically endangered but the public are never gonna be invested if they can’t see it. Even if you have some animals that re not genetically viable they should be put on display.
Re. Wild Dogs
The exhibit at WORZ is amazing, and could easily accomodate a breeding pack with few of any extensions. Considering Kyabram wish to house carnivore rotational exhibits, it’s my assumption Zoos Vic will start breeding Wild Dogs and Kyabram will accommodate the spares, considering MZ phased them out not long ago.
@The Sleepy Hippo
They will invest a large sum of this money into entirely new precincts, e.g. the waterhole. If they are spending all this money on an entirely new biome in a sense, new animals are just expected to come with it. With a new walking trail there have to be some exhibits(I’m not saying they should come straight away, just that they should be in the works). Following that, they need some exhibits to fill up the waterhole (no pun intended) and likely some other species exclusive to the sky safari, and potentially another near bison plains. Basically, they will be forced to fill a bunch of space and enclosures, the question is what species are gonna do that. How can you expect the general public to stay interested if they’re walking for 5-10 minutes without seeing any wildlife?From what I know, the hyena exhibit may be on the existing walking trail and how much space can a cape porcupine really occupy. They need some more species in there, it’s just a matter of when
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What would be really interesting is to give visitors a photo chart of all the mammal species Melbourne Zoo could feasibly hold (within the constraints of IRA’s, live import lists, what the ZAA would realistically support) and see what species they choose.
The average visitor doesn’t know what an Eastern bongo is, but would surely enjoy seeing one. Ask visitors what they want to see and they’ll say elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers and bears because they’re easy answers; but give them options and I’m confident we’ll see a more diverse range of answers.
Zoos Victoria love education so much, demonstrate it by educating the visitors beyond the basics.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I absolutely love that idea. Almost as much as my KFC one. Would they just put pollls in their newsletters and at the zoo? I’d hope the general public would see the critically endangered tag next to eastern bongo and strive to save it, but chances are they won’t. Would be Ana amazing idea if we could rely on the general public to make good decisions, and not just ask for more giraffes
I think a touch screen photo board would work best with visitors able to drag species they want into the box. You’d still get some element of “It’s not a zoo unless it has XYZ”, but you’d at least see their desire to visit a more diverse range of species than the general public are given credit for.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Do you think a good idea would be too 10 animals, and it’s an elimination similar to Ark Survival Evolved new Dino poll(you should look up the format if you don’t know what it is). Hopefully they would determine 3 winners and implement all 3 scattered throughout the elephant exhibits. Potentially a repeat could occur at WORZ
Voting options should be limited. If you give the general public too many options, it’ll overwhelm them. People will want the biggest and best species, so if you want diversity, you’ll need to divide them into categories.
I’d suggest three categories (each with four options to choose from):
1) Felids
2) Large Ungulates
3) Medium Ungulates
The medium ungulates category would include species like Eastern bongo or Malayan tapir which would be otherwise outcompeted by Sri Lankan leopard and Indian rhinoceros in the other two categories.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
That’s a good idea, but it means only one of Bongo or Tapir could be voted in. Maybe Bongo could just be implemented at a latter stage of development, or Tapir could just be an extra animal since they could just inhabit the barn
I gave Malayan tapir as an example of a medium sized ungulate, but thinking further about it, it could indeed be an extra as it’d occupy the barn.
The voting would therefore apply to the three paddocks and the visitors would get Malayan tapir whether they like it or not.
Medium ungulate options could include Eastern bongo, Sitatunga, Lowland nyala; though I’m sure we’re all in agreement Eastern bongo would be the best fit. Giant sable antelope would be better suited to an open range zoo due to their temeprament.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
We are indeed in agreement Eastern Bongo should return to Melbourne, the real question is where. The public would no doubt vote Sri Lankan leopard in, which would occupy 1 exhibit, meanwhile Indian Rhino would likely occupy the other 2. Then again, MZ have apparently expressed a genuine interest which suggests to me that they will occupy an exhibit and Sri Lankan Leopard will likely miss out. Would Giant Sable antelope be difficult to source? If they could be sourced they certainly fit into Zoos Vic’s categories, becoming a like for like replacement for Addax. Of course everything I heard from the staff member has to be taken with a grain of salt, but I heard lowland Nyala would be cancelled. Sitatunga would be a great addition to the waterhole precinct as we have discussed
The three spaces we’ve previously identified for Eastern bongo are:
1. Collared peccary and tapir exhibits
2. Giraffe and zebra exhibit
3. One of the three elephant exhibits
Option 2 would be my preference by Option 1 and Option 3 are more likely. Option 3 means they’d be housed adjacent to the Indian rhinoceros and would tie in nicely with Okapi if they replaced the rhinos a decade from now.
Sri Lankan leopard could still come to Melbourne Zoo - replacing Sumatran tiger in one of their two exhibits.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I’d prefer a Sun Bear over another species of wild, but I certainly hope SL Leopard do get implemented. I really hope the peccary row doesn’t get repurposed, because it houses my 2 favourite species at the park. I really hope they set up a peccary breeding centre somewhere in Vic, the species will be sorely missed. I am perfectly on board with you though. I believe the ail of the elephants should remain Asian, and there is no need for giraffes and zebras at MZ, and a much better replacement conservationally and logically would be Bongo and Okapi. Considering neither species takes up that much space, it leaves manoeuvrability for another tropical African species
Malayan sun bear would be a suitable replacement for Sumatran tiger within the Carnivores precinct. While omnivorous, they’re classed as carnivores and as an ursid species, add some variety to the precinct. The Sumatran tiger exhibit within Trail of the Elephants is far more impressive - despite being over 30 years old.
It’s my belief Melbourne Zoo will refurbish Peccary Row upon the deaths of the last peccaries, which will probably occur within the decade. If it’s their intention to phase them out, I see no reason to delay the inevitable. Transfer them to Werribee to either breed or live out their retirement years and refurbish the space as part of the post-elephant overhaul.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I have now realised that that row should be repurposed. Semangka should be moved to the barn and the peccaries to WORZ to breed. Agreed there is no reason to delay the inevitable, or even sacrifice that species for no reason instead of breeding them at WORZ. Could make a great Brazilian tapir exhibit imo, please remind me the other options that have been discussed apart from bongo and okapi
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