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

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PaddyRickMFZ said:
Th

That was the exact mix I was suggesting, albeit with the addition of asiatic lions and Leopards
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The benefit of these species (lions, tigers, bears and leopards) is that they’re generally not subject to stress from shared exhibit space (rotational exhibits) or adjacent housing.

This concept could never be attempted with small felids in the mix, but the above combination should have no issues.
 
Jambo said:
The current exhibit can hold up to 40, so considering they’re only around halfway there at the present time there shouldn’t be space issues anytime soon.
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I’m of the option they’ll breed around 8-10 infants from Chad (aged 18 years) and then cease breeding until he passes (statistically speaking around six years from now). Very interested to know what’s happened to the five males from the troop that likely can’t be integrated with Chad.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The benefit of these species (lions, tigers, bears and leopards) is that they’re generally not subject to stress from shared exhibit space (rotational exhibits) or adjacent housing.

This concept could never be attempted with small felids in the mix, but the above combination should have no issues.
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I’d like to propose my plan. A male tiger In Hutan’s exhibit, the female built in the largest elephant pen, neighbouring the female sloth bear with a path between the two, while the off display area would hold babies or the mum when they grow up. Asiatic lions would occupy 1 exhibit, the bull pen. The other pen would incorporate about 600m for sloth bear and 300 for a bachelor SL leopard (they are seemingly abundant), keep in mind this will also be tall with a variety of climbing opportunities
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m of the option they’ll breed around 8-10 infants from Chad (aged 18 years) and then cease breeding until he passes (statistically speaking around six years from now). Very interested to know what’s happened to the five males from the troop that likely can’t be integrated with Chad.
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Hence the suggestion of WORZ for excess. Several up and coming precincts, need filler space and everyone loves the baboons
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Hence the suggestion of WORZ for excess. Several up and coming precincts, need filler space and everyone loves the baboons
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I think Melbourne also needs to look at castration of male infants. It was used effectively at Wellington Zoo and unless they’re fortunate to get a succession of female infants, they’ll need to address the issue of gender imbalance. A harmonious troop is where all prime aged males have their own harem. Adolescent and prime aged males without females are troublemakers.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Really makes me want Australia to breed them. Great to have an insurance ‘colony’
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All regions (not just Australasia) need to be mindful of preserving what we have. There’s many species which are dwindling in our zoos that we can’t readily source more of (we can’t just go and catch up a bunch of Syrian bears for example).

Polar bears in North American are another example given wild bears are functionally sterile.
 
Zoofan15 said:
All regions (not just Australasia) need to be mindful of preserving what we have. There’s many species which are dwindling in our zoos that we can’t readily source more of (we can’t just go and catch up a bunch of Syrian bears for example).

Polar bears in North American are another example given wild bears and functionally sterile.
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You mean catch or import? I was literally suggesting a founding population of 4 bears, then swapping the offspring for more diverse bears, that way it’s a win win
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
You mean catch or import? I was literally suggesting a founding population of 4 bears, then swapping the offspring for more diverse bears, that way it’s a win win
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Catch. Europe needs to breed them so they don’t die out altogether or lose so many founder lines that the population becomes inbred.

I don’t know what state the genetics of their population is, but I’m sure they could supply us with two pairs to breed as a starting point.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Catch. Europe needs to breed them so they don’t die out altogether or lose so many founder lines that the population becomes inbred.

I don’t know what state the genetics of their population is, but I’m sure they could supply us with two pairs to breed as a starting point.
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That would require us to have interest, and I don’t know why we wouldn’t. I’ve stated multiple times this would be an amazing time for MZ to acquire bears, not to mention a variety of zoos undergoing overhauls.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
That would require us to have interest, and I don’t know why we wouldn’t. I’ve stated multiple times this would be an amazing time for MZ to acquire bears, not to mention a variety of zoos undergoing overhauls.
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What might limit the possibility of acquiring Syrian bears (over Sloth bears for example) is a forecast of their future in other regions. We may be able to source them now, but is it likely they’ll be a genetically viable captive population overseas to import from when we need more Syrian bears.

Sloth bears are held by a multitude of zoos globally and are breeding readily. That may give them the edge when it comes to identifying our next bear species.
 
Zoofan15 said:
What might limit the possibility of acquiring Syrian bears (over Sloth bears for example) is a forecast of their future in other regions. We may be able to source them now, but is it likely they’ll be a genetically viable captive population overseas to import from when we need more Syrian bears.

Sloth bears are held by a multitude of zoos globally and are breeding readily. That may give them the edge when it comes to identifying our next bear species.
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The reasons you stated for Syrian brown is exactly why I hope it happens sooner rather than later. If MZ don’t identify them as a quality replacement, which they certainly are, then I fear the population may be too far gone. Wonderful and attractive species and I really hope it never comes to that, but Australia really could be the key
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
The reasons you stated for Syrian brown is exactly why I hope it happens sooner rather than later. If MZ don’t identify them as a quality replacement, which they certainly are, then I fear the population may be too far gone. Wonderful and attractive species and I really hope it never comes to that, but Australia really could be the key
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One of the best things about them is they represent a geographic area poorly represented in our region’s zoos. Both Persian leopard and Syrian brown bears used to be abundant in the region, which is now heavily focussed on African and Asian species.

North American species have similarly taken a dive considering we once had American black bears, Grey wolves, Puma, California sea lions etc.
 
If Syrian Brown Bear did return my suggesed second gorilla exhibit could be a good location and space to display them!

Do I remember right that Sun Bears are being phased out in the region? (Could be misinformed)
If so, what was the reasoning? I was reading that they are the second rarest bear species after the Marsican Bear.
 
Zoofan15 said:
One of the best things about them is they represent a geographic area poorly represented in our region’s zoos. Both Persian leopard and Syrian brown bears used to be abundant in the region, which is now heavily focussed on African and Asian species.

North American species have similarly taken a dive considering we once had American black bears, Grey wolves, Puma, California sea lions etc.
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I’d love to see our zoos implement American precincts as a priority. WORZ for example I could see an Amazon preceinct ad I have described many times, while a North American trail would have Puma, moose, bears, beavers, sea lions, wolves, wolverines, etc. unfortunately no birds Ofc. what other species would you suggest for a middle eastern precinct
 
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