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

[Jambo]

Thanks for the list, although I believe we discussed a few extra things. Okapi of course near the eastern bongo, as I doubt the bongo can replace that itself. You may have missed a few primates on the gorilla trail, but that’s not of importance really. We also agreee on capybara and giant anteater in the South American precinct, and many other treetop mammals such as coati, anteaters and kinkajous to name a few. To save you time I would just label that miscellaneous treetop mammals. With okapi and bongo occupying the giraffe and zebra enclosures, there may be some space to work with, so I’d ask for some brainstorming on that front. Just me but I’d love to see Himalayan tahr encircling the red panda exhibit. I believe I drew a diagram recently. Really great that you were able to spend the time writing that up

All of the monkeys that are missing from the Treetop trail were moved into the South American precinct. All besides the White Cheeked Gibbon, who we can say would be moved to the Japanese Island in that case.

 

[Jambo]

With okapi and bongo occupying the giraffe and zebra enclosures, there may be some space to work with, so I’d ask for some brainstorming on that front.

If they want decent sized enclosures, the current Giraffe/Zebra enclosures would be good enough for them. Especially as Bongo need a fair bit of space and Okapi are elusive who need space away from the public.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

If they want decent sized enclosures, the current Giraffe/Zebra enclosures would be good enough for them. Especially as Bongo need a fair bit of space and Okapi are elusive who need space away from the public.

I forgot okapi would require 2, likely 3 enclosures to breed and feel comfortable. Sorry I didn’t mean individual species of monkey were missing, I was just indicating there are now a lot of spare exhibits

 

[Jambo]

I forgot okapi would require 2, likely 3 enclosures to breed and feel comfortable. Sorry I didn’t mean individual species of monkey were missing, I was just indicating there are now a lot of spare exhibits

Ideally that would allow the Black and White Colobus to have more space, and could even mean the Mandrill enclosure could be expanded too.

 

[Zoofan15]

Thanks for the list, although I believe we discussed a few extra things. Okapi of course near the eastern bongo, as I doubt the bongo can replace that itself. You may have missed a few primates on the gorilla trail, but that’s not of importance really. We also agreee on capybara and giant anteater in the South American precinct, and many other treetop mammals such as coati, anteaters and kinkajous to name a few. To save you time I would just label that miscellaneous treetop mammals. With okapi and bongo occupying the giraffe and zebra enclosures, there may be some space to work with, so I’d ask for some brainstorming on that front. Just me but I’d love to see Himalayan tahr encircling the red panda exhibit. I believe I drew a diagram recently. Really great that you were able to spend the time writing that up

The ideas are my personal preferences (not a summary of our combined ideas). The idea of this exercise is for everyone to make this list - including what they want.

Empty/vacated exhibits indicate the expansion of existing exhibits into those areas.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Ideally that would allow the Black and White Colobus to have more space, and could even mean the Mandrill enclosure could be expanded too.

Could there be an overhead pathway all the way from the mandrill exhibit to a couple of treetop exhibits that will be conjoined? I personally believe the pair at MZ will move to WORZ, and that leaves half of the enclosures for another primate

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

The ideas are my personal preferences (not a summary of our combined ideas). The idea of this exercise is for everyone to make this list - including what they want.

Empty/vacated exhibits indicate the expansion of existing exhibits into those areas.

I see. I’m pretty lazy so I probably can’t be bothered, but who knows. Would be great to see what we come up with together, and maybe Zoos Vic could take a page out of our books

 

[Zoofan15]

I forgot okapi would require 2, likely 3 enclosures to breed and feel comfortable. Sorry I didn’t mean individual species of monkey were missing, I was just indicating there are now a lot of spare exhibits

Okapi will be added in replacement of the Indian rhinoceros under my plans, so aren’t shown on the 2028 species list.

The giraffe/zebra exhibit will accomodate a large herd of Eastern bongo.

 

[Jambo]

Could there be an overhead pathway all the way from the mandrill exhibit to a couple of treetop exhibits that will be conjoined? I personally believe the pair at MZ will move to WORZ, and that leaves half of the enclosures for another primate

There could and that would be a nice idea imo.

I do think that might be the case too and if we're correct (and Mandrills don't return), Lemurs, Gorillas and Pygmy Hippos would be the only African species left within that trail!

My idea was to convert the latter half into a mini South American precinct, especially as realistically Growing Wild won't be demolished anytime soon.

 

[Zoofan15]

I see. I’m pretty lazy so I probably can’t be bothered, but who knows. Would be great to see what we come up with together, and maybe Zoos Vic could take a page out of our books

That’s why I made the template, so people can easily add remove species as they see fit. Only one of the precincts underwent a total overhaul under my plans - Growing Wild was scrapped in favour of the South American precinct (with most of the South American species moving into this precinct.

The only exception was Maned wolf (not a rainforest species), which will instead be the canid representative in the Lion Gorge/Predator precinct.

 

[Jambo]

I see. I’m pretty lazy so I probably can’t be bothered, but who knows. Would be great to see what we come up with together, and maybe Zoos Vic could take a page out of our books

It's very individual though. We all have our own ideas. For example, @Zoofan15 wants to see Indian Rhinos and Sri Lankan Leopards replace the elephants. I on the other hand, would like to see the area used for Sloth Bears and as an extension for the Orangutans. It varies, so I think we'd struggle to put together such a list.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

It's very individual though. We all have our own ideas. For example, @Zoofan15 wants to see Indian Rhinos and Sri Lankan Leopards replace the elephants. I on the other hand, would like to see the area used for Sloth Bears and as an extension for the Orangutans. It varies, so I think we'd struggle to put together such a list.

Interesting you would rather see the exhibits repurposed for orangutans. I assumed that with access to the adjacent island there would be enough space. On the sloth bear front, we all want to see sloth bears, but would prefer them in the carnivore precinct as it is more unlikely than any of the other animals mentioned to eventuate

 

[Jambo]

Interesting you would rather see the exhibits repurposed for orangutans. I assumed that with access to the adjacent island there would be enough space. On the sloth bear front, we all want to see sloth bears, but would prefer them in the carnivore precinct as it is more unlikely than any of the other animals mentioned to eventuate

That would be enough space for another female and resulting offspring, but I'd like to see the complex expanded even more to hold more than one breeding female. That's just my personal preference.

The current Tiger enclosure would be a little small for Sloth Bears though and a considerable part of it is taken up by a pool. It's clearly designed for Tigers, and I'd imagine they'd stay there long term.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Going with the regionalised rainforest schema, he Great Flight Aviary and direct return walk could become a small Australian Rainforest walk with Tree Kangaroo, and Cassowary returned to the Aviary, and Koala etc in exhibits long that trail. The rest of the Australian area could be converted to a South American Rainforest area.
Kangaroo and emu can be put into a fenced area encompassing the entire lawn area near the Railway entrance.


Or...
maybe we aren't thinking big enough. The State Hockey and Netball Centre can move to somewhere else (don't care where) and the Zoo can expand out across that entire site, and the field beside it

 

[Jambo]

Going with the regionalised rainforest schema, he Great Flight Aviary and direct return walk could become a small Australian Rainforest walk with Tree Kangaroo, and Cassowary returned to the Aviary, and Koala etc in exhibits long that trail. The rest of the Australian area could be converted to a South American Rainforest area.
Kangaroo and emu can be put into a fenced area encompassing the entire lawn area near the Railway entrance.


Or...
maybe we aren't thinking big enough. The State Hockey and Netball Centre can move to somewhere else (don't care where) and the Zoo can expand out across that entire site, and the field beside it

That's a good idea. Maybe the top area where the Tapir/Peccary are now could be for a Kangaroo/Emu enclosure?

Unfortunately that areas not entirely large though, but would be of reasonable size for some monkey species, Capybara, Coati and maybe Brazilian Tapirs.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

African Rainforest (formerly Gorilla Rainforest):

2028:

Pygmy hippopotamus
Western lowland gorilla
Mandrill (replaces cassowary)
Barbary Macaque
Elephant shrew
Red ruffed lemur
Ring-tailed lemur and Black and White ruffed lemur

Asian Rainforest (formerly Trail of the Elephants):

2028:

Malayan Sun Bear(on rotation with Sumatran tiger)
Asian small-clawed otter
Sumatran orangutan
Hybrid orangutan
Siamang
Indian rhinoceros bull (elephant paddock)
Indian rhinoceros cow (elephant paddock)
Sri Lankan leopard (elephant paddock)
Malayan tapir (elephant barn)

Central Trail:

2028:

Nepalese red panda
Himalayan Tahr(adjacent to red panda)
Tanuki(near the Japanese gardens)
Platypus
Eastern bongo (replaces giraffe and zebra)
Hamadryas baboon
Fennec fox (replaces tapir)
African civet (replaces tapir)
Cape porcupine (replaces peccaries)
Slender-tailed meerkat (replaces peccaries)

Australian Bush:

2028:

Dingo
Tasmanian devil
Eastern grey kangaroo
Southern hairy-nosed wombat
Koala

Wild Sea:

2028:

Australian sea lion (breeding colony)

Lion Gorge:

2028:

African lion
Sumatran Tiger(on rotation with Malayan Sun Bear)
Snow leopard
Maned wolf (replaces Dingo)
Clouded leopard (replaces coati)
I know it’s not a mammal but-
Komodo Dragon(replaces Tasmanian devil)

South American Rainforest (formerly Growing Wild):

2028:

Jaguar
{Brazilian tapir
Capybara
Giant Anteater
Black-handed spider monkey
Golden Lion tamarin
Emperor tamarin
Cotton-top tamarin
Brown-nosed coati
Nine Banded Armadillo
Two toed sloth
Patagonian Mara
Tamandua
Silky Anteater}
Night Monkey
Kinkajou
Bush dog
Collared Peccary

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Going with the regionalised rainforest schema, he Great Flight Aviary and direct return walk could become a small Australian Rainforest walk with Tree Kangaroo, and Cassowary returned to the Aviary, and Koala etc in exhibits long that trail. The rest of the Australian area could be converted to a South American Rainforest area.
Kangaroo and emu can be put into a fenced area encompassing the entire lawn area near the Railway entrance.


Or...
maybe we aren't thinking big enough. The State Hockey and Netball Centre can move to somewhere else (don't care where) and the Zoo can expand out across that entire site, and the field beside it

Let’s be honest here, who actually watches either of those sports

 

[Zoofan15]

Going with the regionalised rainforest schema, he Great Flight Aviary and direct return walk could become a small Australian Rainforest walk with Tree Kangaroo, and Cassowary returned to the Aviary, and Koala etc in exhibits long that trail. The rest of the Australian area could be converted to a South American Rainforest area.
Kangaroo and emu can be put into a fenced area encompassing the entire lawn area near the Railway entrance.


Or...
maybe we aren't thinking big enough. The State Hockey and Netball Centre can move to somewhere else (don't care where) and the Zoo can expand out across that entire site, and the field beside it

I did consider an Australian rainforest precinct, but tbh didn’t want to put too greater emphasis on native species as they’re comprehensively covered by Healesville and Kyabram.

At a minimum, Melbourne should fulfil the expectations of international visitors in displaying a Koala, a kangaroo, a Dingo, a Tasmanian devil and a wombat; but anything else (bar the Platypus on the Central Trail) is overkill imo.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I did consider an Australian rainforest precinct, but tbh didn’t want to put too greater emphasis on native species as they’re comprehensively covered by Healesville and Kyabram.

At a minimum, Melbourne should fulfil the expectations of international visitors in displaying a Koala, a kangaroo, a Dingo, a Tasmanian devil and a wombat; but anything else (bar the Platypus on the Central Trail) is overkill imo.

That's fair enough - My proposed Australian Rainforest would literally be the Great Flight Aviary, the exhibit on the way in, and the exhibits that are directly adjacent to the GFA on the return to main trail. The bigger Australian species you listed would occupy predominantly unused (zoologically) lawn areas near the Railway Entrance.

 

[Zoofan15]

That's fair enough - My proposed Australian Rainforest would literally be the Great Flight Aviary, the exhibit on the way in, and the exhibits that are directly adjacent to the GFA on the return to main trail. The bigger Australian species you listed would occupy predominantly unused (zoologically) lawn areas near the Railway Entrance.

The Great Flight Aviary is an asset to Melbourne Zoo. The fact it’s still fully functional for its original purpose is astounding. It’s continuation as an aviary to house native birds seems like the best use for it, though it’d be interesting to explore housing either tree kangaroos or koalas within it.