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

[Jambo]

It crossed my mind last time I was at MZ that the outer sections of the main roundabout could be converted to enclosures to house smaller animals, whether being koalas, tree kangaroo, possums, red panda etc. (I'm sure others could come up with more exciting species).

Would also love to see Indian Peafowl, Congo Peafowl and Guinea Fowl roaming MZ.

I also think that the historic enclosures that they use to show progress, could be used to house a small species of some kind.

It’d be great to see Guinea fowl free range Melbourne Zoo. Auckland Zoo have previously had free ranging Jungle fowl, though I haven’t seen them in some time. Peafowl have free ranged several zoos and invariably become something of a nuisance, so Guinea fowl would be my preference.

Some smaller species would be nice. Red ruffed lemur (an upcoming focus species for the region would be nice); as well as Binturong.

There's a lot of space to the left (before the Orangutans) that is unused. It's probably the biggest part (and does include those older orangutan cages from 50+ years ago).

Guinefowl already roam Melbourne. They only have a small group which tend to hang out in the Giraffe enclosure.

Melbourne also used to have free roaming Peafowl. They had a small aviary for them directly opposite the cow elephant enclosure and another one which currently holds the Squirrel Monkeys. They had about three or four to my knowledge but were all gone by around 2015. Most likely sent to another facility as I doubt they all would've died at the same time. One of the Peafowl used to hang out around the Elephants a lot and were quite popular amongst the public. The others tended to hang around the main aviary (which had its door open). I did notice none really ventured far from that area though which was interesting.

I also think that bit of open land across the path from the Giraffe Lookout Cafe, on the corner of the roundabout, beside the Platypus house, could also be converted to an enclosure for a smaller species.

Tree kangaroo would be a suitable fit, also being from Queensland and not requiring a huge amount of room.

Size wise, tamarins would be perfect, but lack any geographical link to the Platypus, or neighbouring exhibits.

That space is currently in use as some sort of kids play area isn't it?

It's a bit too small for Tree Kangaroos imo; but could fit.

I was hoping for something more of an African theme to fit in with the Giraffe's right next door. Perhaps this could serve as a large Meerkat/Porcupine exhibit?

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Upon revision, if my list was to eventuate it would be pushed back a little after 2028 to accommodate IRAs for Xenarthra and Giraffes. As stated it would rely on ZAA support for Jaguar and the collared peccary would need to first be exported to another facility to breed, before offspring returning here to complete the precinct. I am still hopeful that when the situation gets dire, MZ will consider allowing the peccaries to breed

 

[Jambo]

Love the list.

I think a breeding colony of Australian Sea Lion would be off the cards, only because Wild Seas is pretty much exclusively populated by rescues, and the permanent occupants are only the ones that after rehabilitation are unable to survive in the wild.

Is the South American list meant to be all present, or a list of all potentials for that section? I'm not sure Growing Wild would be big enough to house all the species listed. It is a physically smaller precinct in the zoo.

Taronga and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium are focussed on breeding Australian sea lion, so there’s probably not a need to have a third breeding facility in the region with rescues coming in.

Growing Wild definitely couldn’t accomodate everything on that otherwise impressive list, but the restrictions within the region would take care of that in any case. Jaguar likely wouldn’t get ZAA support, Giant anteater don’t have an IRA and Collared peccary are being phased out. Most of the primates could be accomodated and we all hope for renewed interest in Brazilian tapir.

There's no way Melbourne would breed their Seals. The exhibits far too small and if anything, I'd actually argue there's greater chance Melbourne would phase them out rather than breed them.

 

[Jambo]

I am still hopeful that when the situation gets dire, MZ will consider allowing the peccaries to breed

Situation is already dire as it is!

 

[Zoofan15]

There's no way Melbourne would breed their Seals. The exhibits far too small and if anything, I'd actually argue there's greater chance Melbourne would phase them out rather than breed them.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Melbourne Zoo phase out their pinnipeds as Auckland Zoo and Adelaide Zoo are also planning to do. Though not in the same league of cetaceans, they’re certainly a species that is subject to criticism from the general public with regards to their husbandry.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Situation is already dire as it is!

I mean all animals are of breeding age and there are 2 females. Likely next weekend I’ll try to find out some more info and hopefully it’s still up on the air

 

[Zoofan15]

Upon revision, if my list was to eventuate it would be pushed back a little after 2028 to accommodate IRAs for Xenarthra and Giraffes. As stated it would rely on ZAA support for Jaguar and the collared peccary would need to first be exported to another facility to breed, before offspring returning here to complete the precinct. I am still hopeful that when the situation gets dire, MZ will consider allowing the peccaries to breed

Situation is already dire as it is!

Given the age of the remaining animals and the fact there’s only three of them, peccaries are already last chance saloon. Zoos Victoria have stated they’re non breeding, so we can assume this species will die out within the decade. It’s a sad but inevitable loss to the region.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Given the age of the remaining animals and the fact there’s only three of them, peccaries are already last chance saloon. Zoos Victoria have stated they’re non breeding, so we can assume this species will die out within the decade. It’s a sad but inevitable loss to the region.

When did Zoos Vic state this? I thought it was just zoochatters that assumed they wouldn’t be bred

 

[Zoofan15]

When did Zoos Vic state this? I thought it was just zoochatters that assumed they wouldn’t be bred

No, it was confirmed to me via email. It’s Zoos Victoria’s stance and won’t change. It’s not the news I wanted to hear, but it’s something we’ll all have to accept unless the import rules change (which there’s no reason to believe will happen). Were these restrictions not in place, we could have a genetically health peccary population and import species like Babirusa.

 

[Jambo]

When did Zoos Vic state this? I thought it was just zoochatters that assumed they wouldn’t be bred

No, it was confirmed to me via email. It’s Zoos Victoria’s stance and won’t change. It’s not the news I wanted to hear, but it’s something we’ll all have to accept unless the import rules change (which there’s no reason to believe will happen). Were these restrictions not in place, we could have a genetically health peccary population and import species like Babirusa.

I've been told the same, and Zoos Vic have had this stance for more than a decade now and stood by it ever since. It's a little bit too late now imo. Harsh reality, but they will very much be the last Peccary in the region.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Melbourne Zoo phase out their pinnipeds as Auckland Zoo and Adelaide Zoo are also planning to do. Though not in the same league of cetaceans, they’re certainly a species that is subject to criticism from the general public with regards to their husbandry.

If MZ do phase out pinnipeds, what do they do with the majority of Wild Seas? Its relatively new, and pinnipeds leaving would leave a huge hole in that precinct. Will penguins be moved to a better enclosure, and the precinct demolished?

 

[Zoofan15]

If MZ do phase out pinnipeds, what do they do with the majority of Wild Seas? Its relatively new, and pinnipeds leaving would leave a huge hole in that precinct. Will penguins be moved to a better enclosure, and the precinct demolished?

The masterplan implied it’d be completely scrapped, which I think is the most likely outcome. The seal pool isn’t huge and isn’t going to get any bigger (literally and with regards to perceptions of animal welfare/exhibit standards).

It’s possible the penguins may receive a new exhibit elsewhere in the zoo, or even phased out as well since they have no apparent link to any other species at the zoo.

 

[Jambo]

If MZ do phase out pinnipeds, what do they do with the majority of Wild Seas? Its relatively new, and pinnipeds leaving would leave a huge hole in that precinct. Will penguins be moved to a better enclosure, and the precinct demolished?

I don't really know.

One option is looking to potentially house sharks or something in that enclosure.

But I think the best option would to demolish the whole precinct and give the Penguins a better enclosure in Growing Wild. They would give Growing Wild a major boost and would bring visitors back through that trail which currently lacks notable species to do that.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I

If MZ do phase out pinnipeds, what do they do with the majority of Wild Seas? Its relatively new, and pinnipeds leaving would leave a huge hole in that precinct. Will penguins be moved to a better enclosure, and the precinct demolished?

I believe this conversation was had before, and false gharial were thrown up as an option. Not sure what else to make of it aside from that, and there isn’t a ton of space to make an exhibit out of. Potentially a felid or bear species is all they could fit. Then again they could make it like a tropical walkthrough with multiple levels

 

[Zoofan15]

I don't really know.

One option is looking to potentially house sharks or something in that enclosure.

But I think the best option would to demolish the whole precinct and give the Penguins a better enclosure in Growing Wild. They would give Growing Wild a major boost and would bring visitors back through that trail which currently lacks notable species to do that.

Both good options. The Bull sharks at Sydney Zoo are a popular attraction and with the exception of the National Zoo and Aquarium, no other zoo in the region exhibits sharks.

It would be good to a large exhibit developed in Growing Wild (taking out whatever they can to accomodate this). Many zoos have small colonies of Little blue penguins (5-15 birds), but a colony of 20+ would be both achievable and highly enabling from a visitor perspective.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

No, it was confirmed to me via email. It’s Zoos Victoria’s stance and won’t change. It’s not the news I wanted to hear, but it’s something we’ll all have to accept unless the import rules change (which there’s no reason to believe will happen). Were these restrictions not in place, we could have a genetically health peccary population and import species like Babirusa.

I believe you informed me of this in the past, but is it possible that import rules do change? If a facility thought a suide or caprine was vital for their collection, surely the government would approve it if the correct materials were used to handle it. If there was to be a vaccine for a deadly virus Australian pigs were susceptible to, surely they could be vaccinated. We also discussed that the pregnant female could give birth under quarantine conditions as an option if a facility was hellbent on acquiring it. Caprines are equally as big of a blow to the region as suids, but I dare to imagine the prospect of a Savannah with warthogs and a Congo mixed exhibit with red river hogs. Visayan warty pigs, babirusas etc. would make great additions to Asian precincts, and peccaries are of course great to have in a South American precinct

 

[Zoofan15]

I

I believe this conversation was had before, and false gharial were thrown up as an option. Not sure what else to make of it aside from that, and there isn’t a ton of space to make an exhibit out of. Potentially a felid or bear species is all they could fit. Then again they could make it like a tropical walkthrough with multiple levels

False gharial are a good option, with a tropical dome being an excellent replacement.

There’s not enough room to exhibit bears here, but a small felid could be an option. It’s quite close to the lion exhibit, so a Clouded leopard or Fishing cat may make for a poor display animal. My vote would be for Serval or Caracal; or perhaps a Red ruffed lemur exhibit.

 

[Jambo]

I

I believe this conversation was had before, and false gharial were thrown up as an option. Not sure what else to make of it aside from that, and there isn’t a ton of space to make an exhibit out of. Potentially a felid or bear species is all they could fit. Then again they could make it like a tropical walkthrough with multiple levels

Pools wayyy to deep for the Gharial and they wouldn't be much of a sight just sitting at the bottom.

A tropical walkthrough's a nice idea though. Especially if they go with something like 'Rivers of the Tropical North' with native Australian fish/turtles/ (in the current Penguin enclosure) and then Saltwater/Freshwater Crocodile being the star attractions in the current Seal enclosure.

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe you informed me of this in the past, but is it possible that import rules do change? If a facility thought a suide or caprine was vital for their collection, surely the government would approve it if the correct materials were used to handle it. If there was to be a vaccine for a deadly virus Australian pigs were susceptible to, surely they could be vaccinated. We also discussed that the pregnant female could give birth under quarantine conditions as an option if a facility was hellbent on acquiring it.

Theoretically that’s all true, but it’s hard to imagine the interest being there to go to such lengths, which require extreme effort (and funding). They have an option here and now to breed them, so their decision not to only reinforces their statement that they have no plans - long or short term to continue with them.

A point of interest we previously discussed was Taronga publicly expressing an interest in Babirusa. Whether this was an oversight or an indication they intended to seek an exemption to importing them, I don’t know; but there could potentially be scope to do so if the interest was there. They would be of great interest to the visitors.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

False gharial are a good option, with a tropical dome being an excellent replacement.

There’s not enough room to exhibit bears here, but a small felid could be an option. It’s quite close to the lion exhibit, so a Clouded leopard or Fishing cat may make for a poor display animal. My vote would be for Serval or Caracal; or perhaps a Red ruffed lemur exhibit.

If the entire building was destroyed, are you sure there is not enough space for a larger felid. It’s pretty hard to judge but still seems decent sized. Of the species you mentioned fishing cat would be my preference. Albeit elusive, several could be housed in such a space. As for serval and caracal, I’d prefer to see both housed at WORZ long term(preferably on display). One of the keepers potentially hinted at more felid species, and caracal would be the far and away best option. I’m still of the opinion clouded leopard would be a great addition to the carnivore precinct with renovations to the coati exhibit. It’s still appropriate for one leopard though, and the theming of the playground nearby fits nicely indeed