The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
It was a little bizarre! There was a young woman on te lower terrace viewing area sketching him(?) for a good hour or so
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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PaddyRickMFZ
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It’s just ironic. FYI it is a she, and I hope the woman made a good drawing to represent a beautiful animals. Unfortunately she has arthritis so will likely not be around as long as SemangkaIt was a little bizarre! There was a young woman on te lower terrace viewing area sketching him(?) for a good hour or so
Melbourne Zoo has always had a park vibe - for one it’s built within a park. It has always preserved a large amount of green space, which combined with vegetation has contributed to its green atmosphere.
North American zoos have a huge variety of species they can utilise in their zoos. This means when it comes to creating mixed species exhibits, there’s a number of options to suit what species can be integrated; whereas here, we’re limited as to what can be imported/what’s in the country. Therefore the North American zoos will always have that advantage of a more diverse range of species per land space.
The Sleepy Hippo
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It's original name was the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens.
I would like MZ to make a greater effort on its planting and exhibit design as I feel they have been going backwards in this area for 10+ years.
MZ had been a standout within Australia for it's botanic garden planting. The main drive is a shadow of it's former self, and the visual impact on entry at both entrances is severely lacking to my mind.
Historically, Melbourne have also been a leader in naturalistic exhibits.
In 1967, almost every zoo in the region confirmed their big cats to cages. This was the year Melbourne Zoo opened the Lion Park - a large grassed exhibit that instead placed the visitors in the cage.
Other species followed, with the Gorilla Rainforest being another example in 1990, with the old baboon cages demolished around this time.
Article on the demolition of the Lion Park:
This article contains details of the Lion Park, including this note re. public submissions: No one spoke for the lions
I became aware of plans for the Predator Precinct when I clipped out a display ad from The Age late last year. It said Zoos Victoria had lodged an application with Heritage Victoria seeking permission ‘under Section 67 of the Heritage Act’ to demolish the Lion Park. People had 14 days to respond.
I meant to follow this up but never did. I contacted Heritage Victoria to ask for copies of public submissions but there were none. No one spoke for the lions or their old home, once so progressive, now old hat.
What a shame nobody at the time realised the value of the lion complex. Had they realised what a disappointment the Predator Precinct that replaced it would be, I can only imagine the number of public responses to this proposal.
Whether they would have listened to the submissions is another matter. I don’t doubt the almost 50 year Lion Park was in need of a refurb, but as a fully functional complex capable of holding a large number of lions, I’m sure everyone can agree the small exhibit that holds a single pair of males is a shadow of its predecessor.
This article contains details of the Lion Park, including this note re. public submissions: No one spoke for the lions
I became aware of plans for the Predator Precinct when I clipped out a display ad from The Age late last year. It said Zoos Victoria had lodged an application with Heritage Victoria seeking permission ‘under Section 67 of the Heritage Act’ to demolish the Lion Park. People had 14 days to respond.
I meant to follow this up but never did. I contacted Heritage Victoria to ask for copies of public submissions but there were none. No one spoke for the lions or their old home, once so progressive, now old hat.
What a shame nobody at the time realised the value of the lion complex. Had they realised what a disappointment the Predator Precinct that replaced it would be, I can only imagine the number of public responses to this proposal.
Whether they would have listened to the submissions is another matter. I don’t doubt the almost 50 year Lion Park was in need of a refurb, but as a fully functional complex capable of holding a large number of lions, I’m sure everyone can agree the small exhibit that holds a single pair of males is a shadow of its predecessor.
The Sleepy Hippo
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I do think the demolition of Lion Park was a HUGE mistake. It should have been refurbished (maybe extended) and then a trail built on from there.
The only good part of the predator precinct is the Snow Leopard enclosures.
I've been thinking that Indrah's enclosure could be used for Sri Lankan leopard, and Lion enclosure could be used for African Leopard. Rename the trail Leopard Gorge. (That's never going to happen)
The only good part of the predator precinct is the Snow Leopard enclosures.
I've been thinking that Indrah's enclosure could be used for Sri Lankan leopard, and Lion enclosure could be used for African Leopard. Rename the trail Leopard Gorge. (That's never going to happen)
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PaddyRickMFZ
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I’m fine with downsizing the lion exhibit if it meant for more diversity, but as we well know that was not the outcome. The predator precinct had some amazing potential, with sun bears, anteaters, aardvarks and hyenas, all firsts in Victoria. For some reason. I’m still hoping that if IRAs are complete and there are enough individual this could happen. @The Sleepy Hippo I like the idea of Sri Lankan leopard and African Leopard, but even I wouldn’t be able to appreciate both species. I’d prefer something that shares a similar environments. E.g. there could be Sri Lankan Leopards in the dingo enclosure if maned wolf are in a SA precinct, sun bears in Indrah’s and Dhole in the lion exhibit. This way we represent the jungles of Asia, and the public will be able to appreciate the individual species. I doubt most of the general public will even acknowledge a difference between African and Sri Lankan’s aside from the name/
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Are the zoo workers on strike on ANZAC Day?
No, the strike ended today according to this site:
Healesville Sanctuary and other zoo staff’s strike action continues
All three zoos in Victoria, including Healesville Sanctuary, will be experiencing hiccups these school holidays as staff members from the United Workers Union take a variety of industrial strike actions from Friday 7 April until Sunday 23 April.
There’s very few captive African leopards globally. Most, if not all the African leopards in the US are hybrids. Sri Lankan leopard is the subspecies supported by the ZAA and it’s becoming established in the region, so it’s commonsense for Melbourne Zoo to support this programme over any other subspecies.
Melbourne Zoo really need to make effective choices. Both us (and the general public) would appreciate seeing a greater diversity of species; but if they’re hellbent on larger exhibits for fewer species, they need to be realistic of what the visitors actually want (i.e. high profile animals). Adelaide’s Savannah is an example of what nobody wants. The general public would have been far more captivated by a gorilla complex or a lion park.
The number of species in the region capable of being a complex on their own are basically big cats, bears, elephants and great apes. Anything else requires a supporting act (supporting exhibits).
PaddyRickMFZ
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I
Id even say all great apes except for gorillas can’t make their own complexes
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
I thought their plan did include a Lion park in front of the Savannah?
Both a chimpanzee park or orangutan forest would be a huge attraction if done on a large scale.
Taronga’s Chimpanzee Park opened in 1980, housing 20+ chimpanzee and remains one of their biggest attractions; while Auckland Zoo’s Orangutan Park (1987-2017) was their most expensive exhibit upon construction in 1987 and drew huge crowds right up until its closure. Perth’s orangutan complex is similarly one of their main attractions.
No, their current plans are for an average sized exhibit housing a small bachelor pride. I’d define a lion park as a large exhibit (on the scale of the space allocated for the savannah) housing a large breeding pride.
The Sleepy Hippo
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@PaddyRickMFZ I agree that it isn't going to happen, as I indicated in the post, but maybe a Clouded Leopard would suffice in the Coati exhibit (which I'm confident is an idea I stole from you 
). I'm just angling for a Leopard Gorge, to pair with Leopard Lodge. I think those three species would be different enough, especially considering two of those "leopards" are not actually leopards...
Maybe I would put the Sri Lankan Leopard in the African Lion enclosure, and Dhole in the Dingo exhibit, allowing for a lead into Clouded Leopard and Snow Leopards. And then Sun bears in Indrah's enclosure. "Something Exciting" in the Devils enclosure.
@Zoofan15
Agreed on Great Apes that if done properly with interconnected, interesting enclosures with innovative viewing experiences, any could stand alone.
Understand what you meant by a Lion Park now, and think that for Adelaide to build one would be an absolute waste, seeing as they only have the two zoos, and regardless of what they may build at Adelaide, it will never compare to the largest Lion enclosure in Australia, that you can drive through, only an hour up the road. (And Im sure you agree on that too)
). I'm just angling for a Leopard Gorge, to pair with Leopard Lodge. I think those three species would be different enough, especially considering two of those "leopards" are not actually leopards...Maybe I would put the Sri Lankan Leopard in the African Lion enclosure, and Dhole in the Dingo exhibit, allowing for a lead into Clouded Leopard and Snow Leopards. And then Sun bears in Indrah's enclosure. "Something Exciting" in the Devils enclosure.
@Zoofan15
Agreed on Great Apes that if done properly with interconnected, interesting enclosures with innovative viewing experiences, any could stand alone.
Understand what you meant by a Lion Park now, and think that for Adelaide to build one would be an absolute waste, seeing as they only have the two zoos, and regardless of what they may build at Adelaide, it will never compare to the largest Lion enclosure in Australia, that you can drive through, only an hour up the road. (And Im sure you agree on that too)
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Ultimately, infant great apes are what draw the crowds. Auckland’s orangutan exhibit is never more popular than when they have an infant and Taronga and Wellington’s succession of chimpanzees births are what makes their respective exhibits so engaging. By building a complex, it allows for the holding of a larger number of apes and statistically speaking, more breeding recommendations.
Yes, I do agree re. building a lion exhibit at Adelaide. My opinion is if a zoo can’t designate the space to holding a pride, they might as well not bother - and personally would rather see the lions phased out for Sri Lankan leopard (since lions can be seen at Monarto). It was for this reason, I was disappointed with their idea to build an African Savannah at Adelaide. Gorillas were the logical choice and the plan they should have stuck with.
The Sleepy Hippo
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If they do build an Asiatic Lion enclosure somewhere in TOTE (or if they do use Hutan's enclosure as I would like to see), I think they should build something similar to Lion Park's bridge, and reuse the historic Lion Park sign at that enclosure.
Actually probably better realised at Werribee, with an expanded Lion enclosure there.
Actually probably better realised at Werribee, with an expanded Lion enclosure there.
I’d like to see Asiatic lion at Melbourne Zoo. It can be argued both Melbourne and Adelaide should phase out lions, as their respective open range counterparts both hold them - but Asiatic lions add some variation to Melbourne’s collection; they’re an endangered species; and they compliment other South Asian species the zoo may acquire e.g. Sri Lankan leopard.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
To clarify this, what I think would be better realised at Werribee is the reuse of the Lion Park sign, and creating similar caged bridge like was in Lion Park, which would take you over an expanded enclosure, or between two Lion enclosures, one with a breeding pride, and the other with a bachelor pride. If possible two breeding prides would be awesome!
That would also be good to see. I know one of the criticisms of the bridge was that it placed the visitor above the lion (looking down), which felids dislike. However this could be remedied by either tinted windows or a tunnel at ground level intersecting the two exhibits you describe in your example.
I’d love to see two breeding prides. The founder males of one pride could swap with the founder males of the other pride after a decade of breeding to sire cubs to first generation females born in each other’s prides. Alternatively the second exhibit could manage the retirement of lionesses from the breeding pride - as new males are brought in to sire the next generation.
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