Sadly, it wouldn't surprise me. The "something exciting is coming soon" sign will warn us porcupines or more meerkats are just around the corner.
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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Sadly, it wouldn't surprise me. The "something exciting is coming soon" sign will warn us porcupines or more meerkats are just around the corner.
PaddyRickMFZ
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If something exciting is coming soon, that rules out porcupines because they are a new species. They will probably just fill it with meerkats. One thing I have noticed is that Werribee meerkat population seems to have diminished a bit, can someone inform me how many remain at the facility
They've never had a large group. Right now they have three or four siblings who were born at the zoo between 2015 and 2017 to Werribee's former breeding pair.
On that note, I'd genuinely love to see a large mob of meerkats in an equally large exhibit. Their mobs can reach 20 meerkats plus, though female competition is fierce and requires dispersal.
Werribee plans to build one of the worlds largest Meerkat exhibits within the new Safari Station, which will hopefully mean it would need to accommodate a very large group of Meerkats (30,40+). The idea behind it is to give the visitors who are waiting for the safari something to look at, which sounds like a very exciting concept.
PaddyRickMFZ
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That’s very interesting. Might I ask where you discovered this information, I’d don’t think it was on the masterplan, but I’m open to correction
It was on the masterplan that was in the members newsletter a few years ago.
It'd be great to see a group that size. Female meerkats are typically evicted by the dominant female at around two years, but males can usually be retained to build up numbers. Crucially, they'll need a few holders to take surplus females (which can usually live in same sex groups).
They'll still have the exhibit next to the cafe and you can't forget Growing Wild at Melbourne which has three exhibits too.
PaddyRickMFZ
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I mean we’re all hoping growing Wild soon won’t have three exhibitsThey'll still have the exhibit next to the cafe and you can't forget Growing Wild at Melbourne which has three exhibits too.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I assume you guys have seen this, but I just saw this, Grand plans for Werribee Open Range Zoo | Wyndham
I’m not sure if stuff is still planned, but things like a walking safari and other northern hemisphere animals is extremely intriguing. It also indicates wild dog and cheetah breeding. Please can someone validate this?
I’m not sure if stuff is still planned, but things like a walking safari and other northern hemisphere animals is extremely intriguing. It also indicates wild dog and cheetah breeding. Please can someone validate this?
That's the masterplan and most, if not all, are still planned.
The new on foot safari trail will hopefully allow the Lower Savannah to be viewed from the walking trail.
And the Northern Hemisphere area will be on the Upper Savannah (featuring Bisons and Mongolian Wild horses).
It's also good to see that Werribee do hopefully plan to breed both Wild Dogs and Cheetah too!
PaddyRickMFZ
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Pretty cool how you should be able to walk in the exhibit with those species. The thing that caught my eye most was, ‘bison and other northern hemisphere animals’. Seems to insinuate they have more animals planned there, potentially the aforementioned grey wolves
Also, was looking at Victorian government developments and in January it was confirmed the sky safari is still in the works
I don't think you'd be able to walk exactly in the exhibit, but I imagine a raise boardwalk might be present.Pretty cool how you should be able to walk in the exhibit with those species. The thing that caught my eye most was, ‘bison and other northern hemisphere animals’. Seems to insinuate they have more animals planned there, potentially the aforementioned grey wolves
'Bison and other northern hemisphere animals' probably just refers to Bison + Mongolian Wild Horse, but hopefully I'm wrong here! Don't think there'd be any interest in American deer, so perhaps maybe Grey Wolves.
Wishful thinking, but I would really like to see that happen, especially if they were viewable on the safari.Skysafari should be exciting. I've been on Taronga's and it's quite the experience. I'd imagine there'd be some sort of new central area down near the Werribee River (where the river trail is now). Perhaps some new cafes or the like, leading onto a new trail that loops around the Lower Savannah.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
It is stated that the visitors will be on a raised boardwalk, so hopefully no rhino goring will occur, but who knows… we have covered that we would all love to see some more American animals, namely bears, wolves and wolverines, but maybe pronghorn or prairie dogs could be good compliments for the bison? Fallow deer would fit nicely but are a feral species and likely won’t be considered, but who knows if they are willing to display camelsI don't think you'd be able to walk exactly in the exhibit, but I imagine a raise boardwalk might be present.
'Bison and other northern hemisphere animals' probably just refers to Bison + Mongolian Wild Horse, but hopefully I'm wrong here! Don't think there'd be any interest in American deer, so perhaps maybe Grey Wolves.
Skysafari should be exciting. I've been on Taronga's and it's quite the experience. I'd imagine there'd be some sort of new central area down near the Werribee River (where the river trail is now). Perhaps some new cafes or the like, leading onto a new trail that loops around the Lower Savannah.
Raised boardwalks are a great way to observe rhinoceros. They're unphased by people above them and you get a scope of their immensely size from that perspective. It's done at Hamilton Zoo and visitors find it trolling to watch them go under the bridge connecting the exhibit.
I don't think you'd be able to walk exactly in the exhibit, but I imagine a raise boardwalk might be present.
'Bison and other northern hemisphere animals' probably just refers to Bison + Mongolian Wild Horse, but hopefully I'm wrong here! Don't think there'd be any interest in American deer, so perhaps maybe Grey Wolves.
Skysafari should be exciting. I've been on Taronga's and it's quite the experience. I'd imagine there'd be some sort of new central area down near the Werribee River (where the river trail is now). Perhaps some new cafes or the like, leading onto a new trail that loops around the Lower Savannah.
I'm really excited to see what Werribee can do with the SkySafari concept. It's a huge attraction at Taronga Zoo and will be phenomenal implented on the scale of an open range zoo.
With funding limited, it may be worth building it in stages. A simple network with the option to add on as funds allow.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
It’s just occurred to me, in that article it was stated that Wild Dog and cheetah facilities would be moved to the waterhole for breeding, doesn’t that mean that the current facilities for both species would be open? Is that potentially why the masterplan says ‘hyenas/Wild dogs’, basically saying that the hyenas would take that exhibit. Considering the association with lions and hyenas I’m not against that idea. Does that potentially open up the cheetah exhibit for a new species? Maybe a porcupine or other African wild cat, such as a caracal or black footed cat. Maybe the servals could finally be put in display?
My interpretation is that the waterhole exhibits will contain the breeding facilities. African wild dogs won't breed when housed next to hyena; and most zoos have at least two packs to manage breeding (which also breed poorly when housed adjacent). Iy makes sense to house th non breeding pack near the hyenas; and the breeding pack away from them.
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