Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo Historic Map

[Zoofan15]

And are you saying that Darling Downs has more species that Melbourne now? (Genuine question, I would not know).

Comparing mammals, birds and reptile species they’re about even (109 versus 121), though it should be noted DDZ have acquired several more species (mainly mammals) in the 18 months since this list was compiled and continue to so. They’re therefore steadily steaming ahead.

As of 2020, Darling Downs Zoo had:

35 species of mammal
58 species of birds
16 reptiles

Melbourne Zoo has:

35 species of mammal
38 species of bird
48 species of reptile

 

[MRJ]

Comparing mammals, birds and reptile species they’re about even (109 versus 121), though it should be noted DDZ have acquired several more species (mainly mammals) in the 18 months since this list was compiled and continue to so. They’re therefore steadily steaming ahead.

As of 2020, Darling Downs Zoo had:

35 species of mammal
58 species of birds
16 reptiles

Melbourne Zoo has:

35 species of mammal
38 species of bird
48 species of reptile

Really? How interesting.

 

[Jambo]

Comparing mammals, birds and reptile species they’re about even (109 versus 121), though it should be noted DDZ have acquired several more species (mainly mammals) in the 18 months since this list was compiled and continue to so. They’re therefore steadily steaming ahead.

As of 2020, Darling Downs Zoo had:

35 species of mammal
58 species of birds
16 reptiles

Melbourne Zoo has:

35 species of mammal
38 species of bird
48 species of reptile

Melbourne has steadily lost mammal species. They had at least 25 more, 15-20 years ago! At least they still have a phenomenal reptile collection.

 

[Zoofan15]

Really? How interesting.

Even I was shocked how many bird species they have on site. Their growth has been astronomical - especially over the past five years or so and many more species are planned.

They will soon be one of the leading zoos in the region in terms of species.

 

[Jambo]

Even I was shocked how many bird species they have on site. Their growth has been astronomical - especially over the past five years or so and many more species are planned.

They will soon be one of the leading zoos in the region in terms of species.

It's shocking to see Melbourne with just 16 bird species. You'd expect a zoo like them to have at least double.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's shocking to see Melbourne with just 16 bird species. You'd expect a zoo like them to have at least double.

Its really declined in recent years. I assumed it was just the mammal species, but the bird collection has similarly dwindled. It’s nice to see they’ve leargely maintained their reptile collection though, with new species like the Basilisk imported (and bred) in recent years.

They could even be interested in False gharial down the line given replacements for the elephant herd are now under consideration.

 

[steveroberts]

'Back in the day' Melbourne really was the number one when it came to Great Apes and Felids (its so impressive that the Lion Park was built back in 1967..and a disappointment MZ actually regressed back to spatially smaller less grand exhibits for their Lions after they oddly decided to close down that exhibit). By comparison I think Perth Zoo had the most impressive 'collection' of Gibbons and I think probably Bears too (albeit archaic exhibits but the norm' for the time). When it came to Taronga at the time what comes to my mind first is they were the only big city zoo in Australia to still have at least one species of Elephant, Rhino and Hippo all at the same time still throughout most of the 1980s (Perth and Adelaide still had a Black Rhino each in the very early '80s). There are of course a multitude of other animals that could be mentioned when comparing these zoos, I'm just jumping to some of the big mammal examples.

 

[Jambo]

Its really declined in recent years. I assumed it was just the mammal species, but the bird collection has similarly dwindled. It’s nice to see they’ve leargely maintained their reptile collection though, with new species like the Basilisk imported (and bred) in recent years.

They could even be interested in False gharial down the line given replacements for the elephant herd are now under consideration.

16 bird species is not quite what I expected, especially for a major zoo like Melbourne. They have the Great Flight Aviary (and that would point them to only have ten I think in the GFA discounting the Penguins, Cassowary and four South East Asian bird species). Which is a dramatic drop, only a decade ago I believe I could name at least 20-25 in the GFA.

 

[Jambo]

'Back in the day' Melbourne really was the number one when it came to Great Apes and Felids (its so impressive that the Lion Park was built back in 1967..and a disappointment MZ actually regressed back to spatially smaller less grand exhibits for their Lions after they oddly decided to close down that exhibit). By comparison I think Perth Zoo had the most impressive 'collection' of Gibbons and I think probably Bears too (albeit archaic exhibits but the norm for the time). When it came to Taronga at the time what comes to my mind first is they were the only big city zoo in Australia to still have at least one species of Elephant, Rhino and Hippo all at the same time still throughout most of the 1980s (Perth and Adelaide still had a Black Rhino each in the very early '80s). There are of course a multitude of other animals that could be mentioned when comparing these zoos, I'm just jumping to some of the big mammal examples.

I agree. Melbourne’s felid collection especially was one to be admired today. Their Great Ape collection was also impressive, with three of the four species (not bonobo), although Taronga did too.

The reduction of the exhibit size for the Lions I think comes down to the fact they only now hold a small bachelor group, rather than the large breeding pride they had back in the day. Still, it would’ve been awesome if Lion Park was still around.

 

[steveroberts]

..., although Taronga did too.

Yeah until Buluman and Betsy moved to Melbourne in 1980 (funnily enough in the Gorilla studbook their move to Melbourne was marked as a loan from Taronga for the first 12 years) and until December 1996 MZ was the only zoo in our region with three of the four Great Apes like you said (I agree with all the points you mentioned).

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah until Buluman and Betsy moved to Melbourne in 1980 (funnily enough in the Gorilla studbook their move to Melbourne was marked as a loan from Taronga for the first 12 years) and until December 1996 MZ was the only zoo in our region with three of the four Great Apes like you said (I agree with all the points you mentioned).

I’d assume that was a term of phrase given there was never any question of them returning. Melbourne’s exhibit was a vas upgrade on their cages at Taronga and Taronga shifted their focus to chimpanzee, with the open air exhibit opening that same year.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 Yes the opening of Chimp Park later that year was a big turning point in Taronga's overall changed improvements over the following decades, it seems that Buluman and Betsy's move to Melbourne was not coincidental timing then as the completion of Chimp Park really was a groundbreaking exhibit for Taronga and a clear indication of their commitment to focus on Chimpanzees (Orangutans very much a second tier still stuck in the old cages for another 13-14 years).

 

[Jambo]

I’d assume that was a term of phrase given there was never any question of them returning. Melbourne’s exhibit was a vas upgrade on their cages at Taronga and Taronga shifted their focus to chimpanzee, with the open air exhibit opening that same year.

It was initially a loan; but due to both of their ages at the beginning of the 90's, the choice was made for them to just remain at Melbourne.

Taronga always wanted to focus on gorillas, and so within a few years were able to organise an import from the Netherlands.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 Yes the opening of Chimp Park later that year was a big turning point in Taronga's overall changed improvements over the following decades, it seems that Buluman and Betsy's move to Melbourne was not coincidental timing then as the completion of Chimp Park really was a groundbreaking exhibit for Taronga and a clear indication of their commitment to focus on Chimpanzees (Orangutans very much a second tier still stuck in the old cages for another 13-14 years).

Yes apparently it was a collaboration for the good of the species (gorillas didn’t thrive in pairs), combined with an agreement between them to focus on gorillas and chimpanzees respectively. Melbourne subsequently phased out chimpanzee a decade later with the transfer of two females to Taronga and the euthanasia of their young male.

Taronga were dedicated to breeding orangutans, which were sadly discovered to be hybrids.

 

[Jambo]

@Zoofan15 Yes the opening of Chimp Park later that year was a big turning point in Taronga's overall changed improvements over the following decades, it seems that Buluman and Betsy's move to Melbourne was not coincidental timing then as the completion of Chimp Park really was a groundbreaking exhibit for Taronga and a clear indication of their commitment to focus on Chimpanzees (Orangutans very much a second tier still stuck in the old cages for another 13-14 years).

Definitely. Taronga had (and still does) have one of the best chimp enclosures worldwide; and one of the largest troops within captivity. Their troop was and still is incredibly famous, and i'd imagine that (and their large numbers) was behind the construction of the then new, Chimp Park.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 Oh yes I just found out earlier reading how you mentioned poor Ernie the Melbourne Chimp was euthanised in Feb' 1993 as he couldn't be placed at another zoo. Yeah keeping Gorillas in pairs was never going to be a good idea (but again a norm' for that era, even Durrell had a pair originally at Jersey), nor was it for Chimpanzees (with Perth Zoo keeping only a female-male pair Lollypop and Jamie for the last sixteen years of their Chimp keeping when not including the year with the Taronga trio from mid 98-mid 99; back to Lollypop and Jamie, its no wonder I heard from Tetrapod that they had some noticeable behavioral problems as they weren't living in the very necessary familial group dynamic that Chimps' and Gorillas need). I was disappointed today too to read and learn about Rigo's long isolated living at Melbourne, that was really sad.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 Oh yes I just found out earlier reading how you mentioned poor Ernie the Melbourne Chimp was euthanised in Feb' 1993 as he couldn't be placed at another zoo. Yeah keeping Gorillas in pairs was never going to be a good idea (but again a norm' for that era, even Durrell had a pair originally at Jersey), nor was it for Chimpanzees (with Perth Zoo keeping only a female-male pair Lollypop and Jamie for the last sixteen years of their Chimp keeping when not including the year with the Taronga trio from mid 98-mid 99; back to Lollypop and Jamie, its no wonder I heard from Tetrapod that they had some noticeable behavioral problems as they weren't living in the very necessary familial group dynamic that Chimps' and Gorillas need). I was disappointed today too to read and learn about Rigo's long isolated living at Melbourne, that was really sad.

It’s very sad considering Ernie’s parents were founders (one now no longer represented) and he was such a valuable animal. He was likely a purebred Western chimpanzee.

Interestingly chimpanzees bred well in pairs at several zoos, though the social dynamics weren’t ideal and led to problems. Hamilton’s troop (descended from a small troop at Auckland) are an example of this - the previous alpha being a tyrant who assumed the role by default (no other adult male until his sons matured).

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 It really is an absolute crying shame about Ernie, really really frustrating to say the very least. Wish some wealthy person could have funded his transfer to an overseas zoo where he could have lived within a group of other actually confirmed Western Chimpanzees, possibly even a smaller numbered group even if he was the only male until he sired offspring as I know its very difficult to integrate a non-natal male into a troop compared to new females as per Chimpanzee's way in the wild with males remaining in their mother's maternal family (your excellent biography on Snowy being a prime example of the difficulties).

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 It really is an absolute crying shame about Ernie, really really frustrating to say the very least. Wish some wealthy person could have funded his transfer to an overseas zoo where he could have lived within a group of other actually confirmed Western Chimpanzees, possibly even a smaller numbered group even if he was the only male until he sired offspring as I know its very difficult to integrate a non-natal male into a troop compared to new females as per Chimpanzee's way in the wild with males remaining in their mother's maternal family (your excellent biography on Snowy being a prime example of the difficulties).

It’s a great shame considering how inbred the population was becoming - several of the females were the offspring of Jojo and Auckland’s pair were half siblings of Jojo via their shared father (Bobby). Wellington bred a father to his daughter seven times and then imported three of Jojo’s offspring themselves.

Thanks, I appreciate that!

 

[Zorro]

Its really declined in recent years. I assumed it was just the mammal species, but the bird collection has similarly dwindled. It’s nice to see they’ve leargely maintained their reptile collection though, with new species like the Basilisk imported (and bred) in recent years.

They could even be interested in False gharial down the line given replacements for the elephant herd are now under consideration.

So what's happened to their Philippine crocodile project now?