Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo history

[Jambo]

Nice to see the baboons and hippopotami too in the video! The cows would have been Genevieve and Henrietta; with Genevieve being the mother of Primrose at Werribee.

The two cows and the unknown bull!

It's also interesting to see part of the former Pygmy Hippo complex where these guys lived until their move to the current complex in 1992. I assume they also got run of the Common Hippo side following their transfer to Werribee in 1982.

The video shows a lone individual (perhaps then two year old Karla as the individual looks on the smaller side), and a young Janice (born 1977) with mum Carolyn.

 

[steveroberts]

Theres a fair few interesting black and white photos of the animals and accounts in this book about Melbourne Zoo over a century ago:

Almost Human : reminiscences from the Melbourne Zoo (published 1918)
written by author Annie R Osborn, from interviewing Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie (the overseer of the zoo in those days; later the zoo's director from 1923-1936).

Almost Human - reminiscences from the Melbourne Zoo.pdf

published by Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd.
The Smithsonian Libraries kept a copy of this (much appreciation to them for doing so).

* UPLOAD.EE - Almost_Human_-_reminiscences_from_the_Melbourne_Zoo.pdf - Download

 

[Mark O]

For what it's worth, I just came across this 5 part video (50 minutes in total) of someone's trip to the Melbourne Zoo in 1989 today.

This is by far the best footage of this period I've seen in terms of completeness. Part 5 ends stops at the hippos, so there isn't any footage of the south east part of the zoo (elephants, penguins, baboons), but every other part of the zoo is represented.

I found the following interesting:

• Vegetation other than dense bamboo around the treetop walk enclosures
• Fence hiding the Gorilla Rainforest construction (I somewhat remember this)
• The walk-through area with cape-barren geese, mara etc. I remember area, but could not remember where in the zoo it was (per the video, behind the aviaries between the snack bar and great flight aviary)
• How different the entrance to the Butterfly House was when it opened / before pre TOTE. Remembered it immediately on watching the video, over the decades I've gotten accustomed to how "tight" that area is now and had forgotten how it used to be.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

 

[Zoofan15]

For what it's worth, I just came across this 5 part video (50 minutes in total) of someone's trip to the Melbourne Zoo in 1989 today.

This is by far the best footage of this period I've seen in terms of completeness. Part 5 ends stops at the hippos, so there isn't any footage of the south east part of the zoo (elephants, penguins, baboons), but every other part of the zoo is represented.

I found the following interesting:

• Vegetation other than dense bamboo around the treetop walk enclosures
• Fence hiding the Gorilla Rainforest construction (I somewhat remember this)
• The walk-through area with cape-barren geese, mara etc. I remember area, but could not remember where in the zoo it was (per the video, behind the aviaries between the snack bar and great flight aviary)
• How different the entrance to the Butterfly House was when it opened / before pre TOTE. Remembered it immediately on watching the video, over the decades I've gotten accustomed to how "tight" that area is now and had forgotten how it used to be.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Thanks for sharing @Mark O. What I really like about this video is it offers a comprehensive look at the exhibits as well the animals compared to other historical videos that will show you several minutes of a close up of an otter, with zero context of the exhibit it’s in.

The primates were one of the highlights for me - Buluman the gorilla and the juvenile Mzuri; Ernie the younger male chimpanzee (his father Teddy would have been off camera or off exhibit) and the females June, Koko and Sandra; and the gibbons Tieu and Vang.

It was equally exciting to see the big cats - the newly formed lion pride of Kruger and Tsavo (young males in the corner); with the more formidable force of the mother and daughters trio (Jacquelin, Autumn and Juliana) in the sun. The note on the Jaguar cage mentioned ‘Lunoc’; but since Lunoc died in 1988, the melanistic Jaguar would have been the newly arrived Maya from Taronga Zoo. Frank and Poetry were the Sumatran tigers. It’s interesting to note they lived together full time. This video preceded their first litter by over a year, suggesting this wasn’t a breeding introduction; but rather their living situation.

The video can be dated between March 1989 (arrival of Maya) and June 1989 (death of Jacquelin).

 

[Jambo]

Very intriguing videos!

The Treetop Monkeys looks completely different with a vegetated floor versus a rather open canopy.

The species seem to be (in order of what looks to be the exhibits); White Cheeked Gibbon, Ring Tailed Lemur, Spider Monkeys, ? (appears to be Tree Shrew?), Javan Langur, Black and White Ruffed Lemurs, Black and White Colobus, Squirrel Monkeys and Golden Lion Tamarins. Could be wrong and open to correction but it appears that way from the footage which is jumbled ie. not in order.

It's also really interesting to finally see the old row of bird cages (something I've only heard about). Looks to be 20 or so cages; on the smaller side, but would've held an amazing collection of bird species. We also get to see the Ostrich/Cassowary/Brolga paddocks which were opposite.

@Mark O the walkthrough featuring the Mara, Red Kangaroo, Cape Barren Geese, Wallaroo and Guinea Fowl. was located just behind the row of bird cages I mention above. Running parallel to the existing boundary wall. It would roughly be where the main cow elephant paddock is today.

Also cool to see the array of hoofstock paddocks which were in the North West corner of the zoo. On the right of the path there were the zebras, three shown at the time (presumably males) and then another species of hoostock which looks to be Wapiti Deer. The left side then had Peccaries, Spotted Deer/Blackbuck, Bison/White Tailed Deer? and then a pair of Brazilian Tapir in the former Tapir exhibit!

There also appears to be a Maned Wolf in what was the Cheetah exhibit. I had assumed the Cheetahs were still around at this point. It's also really interesting to see the Lemur Islands which at this point were only fairly new. It's surprising to know that eventually those islands would become very very densely vegetated.

The Big cat cage order looked to be; Snow Leopard (Kalmia, born at Melbourne 1985), Cheetah (Caesar and Octavia), Puma (a pair are shown), Jaguar (Maya) and then Frank and Poetry the Sumatran Tigers in the final enclosure which is interestingly where Binjai was kept too prior to the opening of the Carnivores precinct. The final two enclosures I remember (that later held Snow Leopard) weren't shown. I'd assume they also held Snow Leopards at this time too. Three bears are also shown. I had always thought Melbourne had just the two (Roan and Honey). Would be interesting to know who the other was.

 

[Zoofan15]

Three bears are also shown. I had always thought Melbourne had just the two (Roan and Honey). Would be interesting to know who the other was.

I believe the third bear was one of Roan’s litter mates:

Roan (DOB 09/07/1985) was born at Adelaide Zoo and came to Melbourne Zoo in November 1985 along with his two littermates (further details unknown).

Honey (DOB 00/01/1987) was born at Berne Zoo and came to Melbourne Zoo in November 1987.

In the video, one of the bears is notably smaller/younger than the other two (pause at 11.51 on the fourth video), so this appears to be Honey; with the other two being Roan and his unknown sibling - who then died or transferred out sometime prior to Roan and Honey breeding in 1993.

 

[MRJ]

Yes, thank you @Mark O for sharing.

Just some comments:

? (appears to be Tree Shrew?), Javan Langur,

Yes the zoo kept tree shews there for a while. I am pretty sure the species of langur kept was the silvered lutung (same Genus - they were referred to as leaf monkeys back then).

It's also really interesting to finally see the old row of bird cages (something I've only heard about). Looks to be 20 or so cages; on the smaller side but would've held an amazing collection of bird species.

The cages were originally parrot breeding aviaries built with the advice of the Aviculture Society and are pretty typical of what a back-yard aviculturist might have built. They must have dated from the early '60's. At some point some of the aviaries were opened up to make larger habitat aviaries with a broader variety of birds. They were never great for a zoo, in that a safety porch ran down the front meaning visitors had to peer through two lots of wire, and the birds were mostly down the back in the dark.

The walkthrough predates the "fauna park" on the north side of the Great Flight Aviary (still there), and was an experiment in walk-throughs. I remember quite a variety of animals were tried in it over the years, including at one time brolgas.

Bison/White Tailed Deer?

Correct. Formerly there were only, but more, bison there. The numbers were reduced (sent to Werribee?) the exhibit was landscaped, white-tailed deer added, and the exhibit advertised as a North American exhibit.

There also appears to be a Maned Wolf in what was the Cheetah exhibit. I had assumed the Cheetahs were still around at this point.

Cheetahs had been moved on at this time.

I had always thought Melbourne had just the two (Roan and Honey). Would be interesting to know who the other was.

Presumably one of the two cubs they bred there. It became a real welfare issue in that eventually they were rotating the cubs and parents in the exhibit on a one day on one day off basis (leaving them locked in night quarters on the day off). This was solved by sending the cubs to Mogo and paying for the exhibit there.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yes, thank you @Mark O for sharing.

Just some comments:



Yes the zoo kept tree shews there for a while. I am pretty sure the species of langur kept was the silvered lutung (same Genus - they were referred to as leaf monkeys back then).



The cages were originally parrot breeding aviaries built with the advice of the Aviculture Society and are pretty typical of what a back-yard aviculturist might have built. They must have dated from the early '60's. At some point some of the aviaries were opened up to make larger habitat aviaries with a broader variety of birds. They were never great for a zoo, in that a safety porch ran down the front meaning visitors had to peer through two lots of wire, and the birds were mostly down the back in the dark.

The walkthrough predates the "fauna park" on the north side of the Great Flight Aviary (still there), and was an experiment in walk-throughs. I remember quite a variety of animals were tried in it over the years, including at one time brolgas.


Correct. Formerly there were only, but more, bison there. The numbers were reduced (sent to Werribee?) the exhibit was landscaped, white-tailed deer added, and the exhibit advertised as a North American exhibit.



Cheetahs had been moved on at this time.


Presumably one of the two cubs they bred there. It became a real welfare issue in that eventually they were rotating the cubs and parents in the exhibit on a one day on one day off basis (leaving them locked in night quarters on the day off). This was solved by sending the cubs to Mogo and paying for the exhibit there.

I believe you’re referring to the twin cubs - Spot and Stripe (later renamed Pooh and Huggie) who were born 1993 and indeed went to Mogo.

If so, @Jambo was asking who the three bears were in the 1989 video.

I’m open to correction, but I believe the one that looks notably smaller than the other two was Honey (born 1987); and the two full grown bears are Roan and one of the litter mates he transferred in with as cubs from Adelaide Zoo in 1985.

That’s interesting to know though that Zoos Victoria paid for the exhibit at Mogo. It was clearly of mutual benefit to both zoos. I understand they were an accidental litter and space was clearly an issue. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MRJ]

I believe you’re referring to the twin cubs - Spot and Stripe (later renamed Pooh and Huggie) who were born 1993 and indeed went to Mogo.

If so, @Jambo was asking who the three bears were in the 1989 video.

I’m open to correction, but I believe the one that looks notably smaller than the other two was Honey (born 1987); and the two full grown bears are Roan and one of the litter mates he transferred in with as cubs from Adelaide Zoo in 1985.

That’s interesting to know though that Zoos Victoria paid for the exhibit at Mogo. It was clearly of mutual benefit to both zoos. I understand they were an accidental litter and space was clearly an issue. Thanks for sharing.

Indeed, I was and am happy to admit my dates are way out. Fascinating there were three bears, I never saw that number. Do you know what happened to that bear? Re the cubs the recommendation was euthanasia, however the director of the time freely admitted on TV that he did not have the heart for it. However, it did end up causing a serious welfare issue, and they were probably quite happy to pay Mogo to get them out of it.

 

[Zoofan15]

Indeed, I was and am happy to admit my dates are way out. Fascinating there were three bears, I never saw that number. Do you know what happened to that bear? Re the cubs the recommendation was euthanasia, however the director of the time freely admitted on TV that he did not have the heart for it. However, it did end up causing a serious welfare issue, and they were probably quite happy to pay Mogo to get them out of it.

The only details I have is that 2.1 cubs born 09/07/1985 at Adelaide Zoo were transferred in to Melbourne Zoo in November 1985. One of these was Roan and while it was stated his siblings were deceased when he died in 2010, I don’t know what years they died unfortunately.

I did find out that Adelaide were gifted a pair of Syrian bears by Artis Zoo in 1978. This pair were the parents of Barney and Missy (born 1980); as well as the aforementioned triplets (born 1985).

Barney later lived with his niece and nephew (the 1993 Melbourne twins) at Cairns.

 

[Mark O]

Very intriguing videos!

It's also really interesting to finally see the old row of bird cages (something I've only heard about). Looks to be 20 or so cages; on the smaller side, but would've held an amazing collection of bird species. We also get to see the Ostrich/Cassowary/Brolga paddocks which were opposite.

Definitely. A couple of years back I found this article which has background information and a photo of those aviaries.

https://watchbird-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/watchbird/article/view/1496/1473

According to that article it was 15 cages (down from 52 in the 60's apparently).

The timing of the article is interesting (Jan 2000) in that it references the older aviaries in that area, which were still there at that point, but also the newer ones in Asian Rainforest (pre TOTE). Last year in Melbourne I made a special point to see the Asian Rice Patty aviary having read this article at some point during the pandemic, having no idea what/where it was. It's the first time I'd seen that aviary, turns out for decades I've walked right past it on the way to the tiger exhibit, never noticing it was there.

Back to the video - I remember the bank of aviaries pretty well, and the echidna/wombat exhibit extremely well, however oddly could not remember the rarities paddocks half as well - needing that article and the the 1989 video to trigger my memory. Those white on black signs really take me back.

Parts of Wildlife World Zoo in Phoenix really remind me of this era Melbourne Zoo, and that part of the video by the ratities enclosures makes me realize why: paddocks with mid height chain link fences.

 

[Mark O]

Hey weren't there cheetahs living in the 'cat alley' row after the ones you remember assume had moved to Dubbo and Werribee and maned wolf/wolves moved into those cheetah's exhibit?

Just because of these entries in cheetah studbook:

I believe so - they can be seen in the Part 4 video around the 8 minute mark. The maned wolf is in the original cheetah exhibit (the north most one in big cat alley), but there are two cheetah's in one of the middle enclosures, presumably between the snow leopard (to the north) and puma (to the south).

Snow leopards, cheetahs, puma, jaguar, Sumatran tigers and panther, definitely a peak time for variety in big cat alley!

 

[steveroberts]

some of the cheetahs who arrived a bit later and went to exhibit in 'cat alley':

BOBBY SB No.1404 M Birth 3 Mar 1983 d:349 & s:351
Born DE WILDT CHEETAH CENTRE PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
Transfer MELBOURNE 7 Oct 1983
Transfer DUBBO 29 Oct 1992
Death 17 Aug 1993

CAE SB No.1417 M Birth 30 May 1983 d:808 & s:983
Born DE WILDT CHEETAH CENTRE PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
Transfer MELBOURNE 7 Oct 1983
Transfer DUBBO 30 Oct 1992
Death 29 Apr 1994

then

NAKURU SB No.1776 M Birth 22 Oct 1988 d.1230 & s:1444 Born DUBBO WPZ
Transfer MELBOURNE 26 Oct 1992
Transfer WERRIBEE 31 Jul 2002
Death 9 Jul 2004

OVAMBO SB No.1777 M Birth 22 Oct 1988 d:1230 & s:1444 Born DUBBO WPZ
Transfer MELBOURNE 26 Nov 1992
Transfer WERRIBEE 31 Jul 2002 Transfer
Death 12 Jul 2003


the one's to leave earlier but arrived same time as Bobby and Cae (there were a bunch of individuals who passed away before too) and last in the exhibit that became the maned wolves exhibit were the cheetahs:

CAESAR/AUGUSTUS SB No.1444 M Birth 4 Jun 1983 d:712 & s:989
Born DE WILDT CHEETAH CENTRE PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
Transfer MELBOURNE 7 Oct 1983
Transfer DUBBO WPZ 22 Nov 1985
Death 11 Aug 1997

CLAUDIUS SB No.1405 M Birth ~1983 d:WILD & s:WILD Born TRANSVAAL ~ WILD
Capture 1983
Transfer DE WILDT CHEETAH CENTRE PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA 4 Jul 1983
Transfer MELBOURNE 7 Oct 1983 Transfer
Transfer DUBBO WPZ 8 Mar 1988
Transfer PERTH 31 Mar 1992
Death 7 Jul 1998

OCTAVIA SB No.1406 F Birth 4 Jun 1983 d:712 & s:989
Born DE WILDT CHEETAH CENTRE PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
Transfer MELBOURNE 7 Oct 1983
Transfer DUBBO WPZ 8 Mar 1988
Death 2 Oct 1990

I believe so - they can be seen in the Part 4 video around the 8 minute mark. The maned wolf is in the original cheetah exhibit (the north most one in big cat alley), but there are two cheetah's in one of the middle enclosures, presumably between the snow leopard (to the north) and puma (to the south).

Oh cheers Mark, so would be 2.0 Bobby & Cae the cheetahs in the video (great find btw). Lol can hear a guy say to his kid ''its not a dalmatian!!'' almost laughingly, his little kid obviously thought thats what cheetahs are called.

Snow leopards, cheetahs, puma, jaguar & Sumatran tigers, definitely a peak time for variety in big cat alley!

Yeah absolutely

 

[Jambo]

Yes the zoo kept tree shews there for a while. I am pretty sure the species of langur kept was the silvered lutung (same Genus - they were referred to as leaf monkeys back then).

In later years the Tree Shrews were kept in the smaller, final exhibit along the boardwalk. They died out fifteen ish years ago I'd say. I was under the impression they were Javans based on old ZC comments. They could have been wrong however!

Correct. Formerly there were only, but more, bison there. The numbers were reduced (sent to Werribee?) the exhibit was landscaped, white-tailed deer added, and the exhibit advertised as a North American exhibit.

Werribee's first animals (on display?) were said to have been Bison. This was back in 1982 from what I remember, so it would have made sense if majority of the breeding herd had been sent across then leaving a few surplus at Melbourne.

I’m open to correction, but I believe the one that looks notably smaller than the other two was Honey (born 1987); and the two full grown bears are Roan and one of the litter mates he transferred in with as cubs from Adelaide Zoo in 1985.

I may be wrong on this but I recall Honey may have been acquired with another bear from Switzerland, presumably a brother? But my memory may have been wrong. She arrived for the opening of the former Bear exhibit which opened in 1987.

An old post from @Pertinax mentions he saw three bears (two brothers and a sister). This may have been Roan and his other two siblings.

I believe so - they can be seen in the Part 4 video around the 8 minute mark. The maned wolf is in the original cheetah exhibit (the north most one in big cat alley), but there are two cheetah's in one of the middle enclosures, presumably between the snow leopard (to the north) and puma (to the south).

That Maned Wolf exhibit remained for a while, up until the last males passing in 2009. Although it the viewing was modified in later years.

 

[Mark O]

That Maned Wolf exhibit remained for a while, up until the last males passing in 2009. Although it the viewing was modified in later years.

Yeah, if I remember correctly it was a lot smaller in size by then than seen here in the 1989 video, which I think is the same footprint as when it was previously the cheetah exhibit. Certainly by the time the peccaries moved up behind it, I think the peccary enclosure took some of the area seen in the maned wolf exhibit in the video. If my memory can be trusted (and who knows if it can ) I think the footprint had shrunk even before the peccaries moved, maybe even back in the 90's. That enclosure being as big as it is in the video feels like more of an 80's thing as best as I can remember.

 

[Zoofan15]

I may be wrong on this but I recall Honey may have been acquired with another bear from Switzerland, presumably a brother? But my memory may have been wrong. She arrived for the opening of the former Bear exhibit which opened in 1987.

An old post from @Pertinax mentions he saw three bears (two brothers and a sister). This may have been Roan and his other two siblings.

I see @Pertinax mentioned in this thread that he saw Roan and his 1.1 siblings as adults:

A Tribute to Roan the Brown Bear [Melbourne Zoo]

With this in mind, I guess there’s two possibilities:

Honey (without or without another bear) was imported as a 10 month old cub and due to her size difference was kept seperate from the triplets/Roan until she reached maturity (circa 1990/1991). The small bear in the video was the female cub in the litter of three (with the size discrepancy due to males being larger than females).

Honey (without or without another bear) was imported and merged with the triplets. Three bears were seen in the 1989 video, but the other/s were off display.

I see from other posts that @Pertinax visited 1990, so I’m inclined to say the first option is the most probable as the second option doesn’t explain why Honey (and/or a possible sibling) weren’t on display with the triplets in 1990.

 

[Astrobird]

. I am pretty sure the species of langur kept was the silvered lutung (same Genus - they were referred to as leaf monkeys back then)

I remember the guide books showed the same photo if the langurs in different editions, and started off calling them Silvered leaf monkeys and then later, Ebony leave monkeys

 

[Jambo]

I see @Pertinax mentioned in this thread that he saw Roan and his 1.1 siblings as adults:

A Tribute to Roan the Brown Bear [Melbourne Zoo]

With this in mind, I guess there’s two possibilities:

Honey (without or without another bear) was imported as a 10 month old cub and due to her size difference was kept seperate from the triplets/Roan until she reached maturity (circa 1990/1991). The small bear in the video was the female cub in the litter of three (with the size discrepancy due to males being larger than females).

Honey (without or without another bear) was imported and merged with the triplets. Three bears were seen in the 1989 video, but the other/s were off display.

I see from other posts that @Pertinax visited 1990, so I’m inclined to say the first option is the most probable as the second option doesn’t explain why Honey (and/or a possible sibling) weren’t on display with the triplets in 1990.

It's possible Honey was only introduced to Roan following the passing of her sibling circa 1992. This would explain her conceiving for the first time the following year at the age of seven (a little later than usual).

Otherwise it would be interesting to know what happened to three bears. All three passing at such a young age is possible, but unlikely imo. It would make sense if another facility received them yet there isn't any trace of them elsewhere!

 

[Trua]

Think this info would help.

Adelaide's syrian bear pair were named [Eli and Felita]. Both arrived from Artis Zoo. Eli died aged 32 in 18/09/2008. He was born 22/01/1976. Felita died the year before.

 

[Zoofan15]

Think this info would help.

Adelaide's syrian bear pair were named [Eli and Felita]. Both arrived from Artis Zoo. Eli died aged 32 in 18/09/2008. He was born 22/01/1976. Felita died the year before.

Thanks for that. So the summarise:

Eli and Felita had two litters at Adelaide Zoo:

1.1 in 1980 (Barney and Missy) - sent to Perth Zoo
2.1 in 1985 (Roan and siblings) - sent to Melbourne Zoo

The fate of Roan’s siblings is unknown other than that they were mentioned to be deceased when Roan died 2010.

Roan bred with Honey (1987) in 1993 to produce 1.1 cubs named Huggie and Pooh (originally called Stripe and Spot). They went to Mogo Zoo.

Perth and Mogo Zoo relocated their bears to Cairns Wildlife Safari.

It's possible Honey was only introduced to Roan following the passing of her sibling circa 1992. This would explain her conceiving for the first time the following year at the age of seven (a little later than usual).

Otherwise it would be interesting to know what happened to three bears. All three passing at such a young age is possible, but unlikely imo. It would make sense if another facility received them yet there isn't any trace of them elsewhere!

I’m only aware of Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Cairns hold them; but that’s not to say there wasn’t a fifth holder/s.

Prior to @Pertinax saying he saw all 2.1 cubs as adults, I was inclined to believe one of the triplets died as a cub (they were hand raised), which wouldn’t be uncommon, with the second dying as an adult prior to 1989.