PaddyRickMFZ
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That would mean removing all the Australian birds though, yes?
Melbourne Zoo Future of Melbourne Zoo 2023 (Speculation / Fantasy)
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That depends. There’s several species that could cohabit with marsupials; but yes, if the colobus theoretically moved into this exhibit, they’d remove Australian birds. It’s divided into sections, so perhaps African grey parrots or similar could inhabit one part of it.
The Sleepy Hippo
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And in a dream reality flamingo would be in the first section where the main waterpool is, and hornbill. I could even see a Shoebill in my dreams...
Flamingoes would be great for the middle part; with Pygmy Hippo's occupying the middle. It's a shame they're another species that can't be imported.
The Sleepy Hippo
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Another huge benefit of such a move, other than connecting the two African themed spaces together, is that the Australian Bush zone, including GFA is larger than the Gorilla Rainforest area.
One entrance to the loop could be the GFA, and the other entrance could be a transplanting of the Lemur walkthrough...
One entrance to the loop could be the GFA, and the other entrance could be a transplanting of the Lemur walkthrough...
Turning the entire Great Flight Aviary into a flamingo aviary would be phenomenal. If the zoo wanted to breed them, a minimum of 40 birds is recommended (though late teens to early 20’s has worked at Auckland). The aviary would prevent their wings from being pinioned, enhancing breeding success.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Or maybe the dream Shoebill could occupy its own separate enclosure in the pond outside the GFA.
That would be a great link as lemurs are forest dwelling species from Madagascar and the Congo species are rain(forest) dwelling species from central Africa. It’s a nice compare/contrast.
That's a nice little enclosure I've always thought could suit Brolga (in line with the Australian theme), but could certainly also hold Shoebill in line with the proposed African theming of the area.
Where would you place the lemur walkthrough there?
I can only imagine the excitement if the 1949 bird import ban was ever lapsed again. It’s baffling when it last was, that so few zoos took advantage of such an incredible opportunity. At a minimum, it’d be nice to see imports allowed between Australia/New Zealand. Australia could have some flamingos and New Zealand could stock up their Brolga population (now at 1.2).
The Sleepy Hippo
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The section downhill from GFA, opposite the bottom half of the Giraffe enclosure. About 20metres deep.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
GFA - Flamingo, Grey Parrots, Pygmy Hippo and Black and White Colobus
Pond - Shoebill
Wombat Burrows - Pangolin/Aardvark/Honey Badger (One of)
Kangaroo enclosure - expanded for Gorilla breeding group
Exit space a lemur walk through
Baboons - Bonobo
Giraffe - Bongo and Okapi
Peccary and Tapir - Nocturnal House with Fennec Fox (and whatever else we said could go there - memory is lapsing)
And then there are several other enclosures that could be turned into a series of monkey enclosures/ additional Pygmy Hippo exhibits for breeding, with under water views. Maybe also African Dwarf Crocodiles
Pond - Shoebill
Wombat Burrows - Pangolin/Aardvark/Honey Badger (One of)
Kangaroo enclosure - expanded for Gorilla breeding group
Exit space a lemur walk through
Baboons - Bonobo
Giraffe - Bongo and Okapi
Peccary and Tapir - Nocturnal House with Fennec Fox (and whatever else we said could go there - memory is lapsing)
And then there are several other enclosures that could be turned into a series of monkey enclosures/ additional Pygmy Hippo exhibits for breeding, with under water views. Maybe also African Dwarf Crocodiles
I’m hopeful Melbourne Zoo will be one of the first to import red-ruffed lemur (an upcoming focus species of the ZAA).
It looks like black and white ruffed lemurs could be on the way out. Hamilton Zoo one of the main breeding hubs) has ceased breeding and most holders have non-breeding pairs. They can hybridise (and females are highly territorial), so I imagine few facilities will commit to holding both.
Melbourne could potentially house them with ring-tailed lemurs. This combination has worked well at Hamilton.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
On reflection I haven't considered Mandril in that listing, but potentially they could fit in somewhere still, or maybe the plant nursery could be relocated somewhere else on site, or could be located just outside the zoo...
This entire list is inspirational, but it particularly makes me wish we had bonobo in the region. It’s well recognised that common chimpanzees do best in multi-male/multi-female troops of a minimum of three adult males and four adult females. This makes them unsuitable for most city zoos (lack of space) and the reason attributed to their phase out. However, Bonobo can thrive in a grouping of a monogamous pair and their offspring. They’re ideal for city zoos!
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Maybe the empty exhibit and the two giraffe sections could be more evenly divided and mandrill can have an enclosure on that path, between bonobo and okapi
Adelaide had previously talked of importing more Mandrill when their elderly animals pass. A phase out seems inevitable, but if Melbourne renewed their interest in this species, I don’t doubt there’d be support. They’d be perfect for Auckland Zoo, who’ve debated an African forest exhibit recently.
PaddyRickMFZ
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What about koalas, devils and all the other Aussie exhibits? Surely if the mandrills occupied the baboon exhibits there’d be enough combined space there for a small bonobo troop. I was thinking that the platypus could be replaced by the dwarf croc if the Aussies move to growing wild, with bongo and okapi where you suggested. Could potentially be shared with Duiker and in an ideal world RRH.
I’d say aardvark would be most likely since Melbourne had interest in them in the past
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Does this space have any exhibits currently? Also, what would replace the lemur walkthroughs. More SA species?
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