Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo history

Zoofan15 said:
Nice to see the Common hippopotami too. I saw three, which must be 0.1 Genevieve (1955), 0.1 Henrietta (1961) and the male acquired in 1966; with Rangi having died in 1968 (tennis ball of course).
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It's interesting that no further hippos seem to have been born following Millie in 1969. As the video shows, the trio were kept together.

It's been speculated the unknown male sired Millie; but considering Rangi died the previous year, it's also possible he sired Millie shortly before his death.
 
Jambo said:
It's interesting that no further hippos seem to have been born following Millie in 1969. As the video shows, the trio were kept together.

It's been speculated the unknown male sired Millie; but considering Rangi died the previous year, it's also possible he sired Millie shortly before his death.
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If the zoo had no capacity to seperate mothers with their neonate offspring, it’s possible calves were born and killed by an exhibit mate within 24 hours (without it making the news). Zoos became a lot more conscious of their public image compared to the first half of the 20th Century, where deaths were as readily reported as any birth. Otherwise, perhaps the bull was a behavioural non-breeder. Genevieve was a proven breeder - producing Millie (1969) and Primrose (1990) among other calves.

Henrietta (1961) we know was hand-raised as her mother died the year she was born (tennis ball). Articles from 1966 state she was living separately from Rangi/Genevieve, who were housed together; but apparently the sisters were integrated by the time of this video in 1971. Females reach full size around 5-7 years, so they may have simply waited until Henrietta was mature (a wise precaution).
 
steveroberts said:
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Thanks for sharing @steveroberts. I’ve seen many photos of Ulli with an infant Mzuri over the years, but had no idea she was still working at Melbourne Zoo 56 years after starting her career there in 1969. Ulli to Melbourne Zoo is like Christine Tintinger to Auckland Zoo (who retired in 2024 after working there since 1979, most notably with primates).

I agree it’s good to preserve the historic exhibits (even if they’re required to via heritage listing) as a comparison against the modern exhibits. In the cage of the old ape and monkey houses, they take up very minimal room. I think it’s a great shame that Auckland and Wellington have since demolished their chimpanzee cage blocks, with Wellington’s being refurbished as an aviary for a brief time.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Thanks for sharing @steveroberts. I’ve seen many photos of Ulli with an infant Mzuri over the years, but had no idea she was still working at Melbourne Zoo 56 years after starting her career there in 1969. Ulli to Melbourne Zoo is like Christine Tintinger to Auckland Zoo (who retired in 2024 after working there since 1979, most notably with primates).

I agree it’s good to preserve the historic exhibits (even if they’re required to via heritage listing) as a comparison against the modern exhibits. In the cage of the old ape and monkey houses, they take up very minimal room. I think it’s a great shame that Auckland and Wellington have since demolished their chimpanzee cage blocks, with Wellington’s being refurbished as an aviary for a brief time.
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I believe that Ulli had played a huge roll in the evolution of the Gorilla troup at the Melbourne Zoo!
 
Zorro said:
I believe that Ulli had played a huge roll in the evolution of the Gorilla troup at the Melbourne Zoo!
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There’s been so many exciting milestones during this time period:

1973: Import of Rigo and Yuska
1980: Arrival of Buluman and Betsy
1984: Birth of Mzuri
1990: Opening of Gorilla Rainforest
1990: Import of Motaba
1991: Birth of Buzandi
1994: Birth of Bambuti
1997: Import of Julia and G-Anne
1999: Birth of Yakini
2000: Birth of Ganyeka and Johari
2013: Import of Otana
2013: Arrival of Kimya
2015: Birth of Kanzi

Mzuri was of course the first gorilla born in Australasia; with Buzandi being the second; and Bambuti the first female infant. Taronga’s first two infants sadly died as neonates in 1998 and 1999, so Melbourne’s trio of infants born 1999-2000 were only the fourth, fifth and sixth surviving infants of their species bred in the region.
 
Zoofan15 said:
There’s been so many exciting milestones during this time period:

1973: Import of Rigo and Yuska
1980: Arrival of Buluman and Betsy
1984: Birth of Mzuri
1990: Opening of Gorilla Rainforest
1990: Import of Motaba
1991: Birth of Buzandi
1994: Birth of Bambuti
1997: Import of Julia and G-Anne
1999: Birth of Yakini
2000: Birth of Ganyeka and Johari
2013: Import of Otana
2013: Arrival of Kimya
2015: Birth of Kanzi

Mzuri was of course the first gorilla born in Australasia; with Buzandi being the second; and Bambuti the first female infant. Taronga’s first two infants sadly died as neonates in 1998 and 1999, so Melbourne’s trio of infants born 1999-2000 were only the fourth, fifth and sixth surviving infants of their species bred in the region.
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Its a real shame that after all of the work and as you say milestones achieved that today in 2025 the zoo troup is down to just two in number, One could say they have gone backwards in a hurry in resent years unfortunately
 
Zorro said:
Its a real shame that after all of the work and as you say milestones achieved that today in 2025 the zoo troup is down to just two in number, One could say they have gone backwards in a hurry in resent years unfortunately
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I agree. It’s been a great shame to watch the troop dwindle to a father-daughter pair, which is far from ideal with regards to troop structure. I’m hopeful we’ll see the arrival of some new females this year - perhaps an exchange of Frala/Mbeli (Taronga) for Kanzi (Melbourne).

It’s fair to say Melbourne becoming a destination for several socially deficient gorillas has been a detriment to their attempts to build up a troop. The inability of their hand-raised females to rear infants brought a halt to breeding; and then they’ve had males like Rigo who performed poorly as a silverback; and Otana, who was intolerant of the hand-raised females (possibly due to his youth/inexperience).
 
Melbourne Zoo July 4 2001 (google earth)

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Melbourne Zoo Species List (1878)

Mammals:

African Lion - Felis Leo
Tiger - Felis Tigris
Panther - Leopardus Varius
Black Leopard - Felis Nigra
Leopard - Felis Leopardus
Hunting Leopard - Felis Jubata
Hyena - Hyena Striata
Yellow Fox - Vulpes Flavescens
Marsupial Wolves - Thylacinus Cynocephalus
Native Dog - Canis Dingo
Silver-backed Jackal - Canis Mesomelas
Tasmanian Devils - Sarcophilus Ursinus
Chacma Baboon - Cynocephalus Porcarius
Papion - Cynocephalus Sphinx
23 Monkeys of different varieties
Native Cats - Dasyurus Viverrinus
Moongus - Herpestes Griseus
English Hedgehog - Erinaceus Europceus
American Black Bear - Ursus Americanus
Native Bear - Phascolarctus Cinereus
Blotched Genett - Genetta Tigrina
Racoon - Procyon Lotor
White Rat - Mus Decumanus
Tangalung - Viverra Tangalunga
Wombats - Phascolomys Platyrhinus
Porcupine Ant-eater - Echidna Hystrix
Zebu - Bos Indicus
Alpaca - Auchenia Pacos
Large Kangaroo - Macropus Giganteus
Red Kangaroos - Macropus Rufus
Bennett’s Kangaroo - Halmaturus Bennetti
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby - Petrogale Xanthopus
Gloved Wallaby - Halmaturus Manicatus
Black Wallaby - Halmaturus Ualahatus
Paddymelon - Halmaturus Billardiera
Kangaroo Rat - Bettongia Cuniculus
Common Opossum - Phalangista Vulpina
Short-eared Opossum - Phalangista Canina
Sooty Opossum - Phalangista Fuliginosa
Small Flying Squirrel - Belideus Breviceps
Barasingha Deer - Cervus Duvaucelli
Sambur Deer - Cervus Aristotelis
Japanese Deer - Cervus Sika
Formosan Deer - Cervus Pseudaxis
Fallow Deer - Cervus Dama
Hog Deer - Cervus Porcinus
Deer from Mauritius - Cervus Rusa

Reptiles:

Boa Constrictor
Tiger Snake - Hoplocephalus Curtus
Large-scaled Snake - Hoplocephalus Superbus
Brown Snake - Diemonnia Superciliosa
Diamond Snake - Morelia Spilotes
Carpet Snake - Morelia Variegata
Iguana - Hydrosarus Varius
A number of Lizards

Birds:

Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus Torquatus
Japanese Green Pheasant - Phasianus Versicolor
Golden Pheasant - Phasianus Pictus
Copper Pheasant - Phasianus Scemmeringhii
Silver Pheasant - Phasianus Nycthemerus
Emu - Dromaius Novae Hollandiae
White Cockatoos - Cacatua Galerita
Rose Cockatoos - Plyctolophus Eos
Corella - Licmetis Tenuirostris
Leadbeater’s Cockatoo - Cacatua Leadbeaterii
Solomon Island Cockatoo - Cacatua Ophthalmica
Red and Blue Macaw - Ara Araganza
Blue and Yellow Macaw - Ara Ararauna
Green Festive Parrot - Chrysotis Festivus
50 Parrots of various kinds
Satin Bower Bird - Ptilonorhynchus Holosericeus
Bleeding-heart Dove - Calcenas Luzonica
Turtle Dove - Turtur Auritus
Native Companions - Grus Australasianus
Kagu - Rhinochetos Jubatus
Horned Owl - Bubo Bengalensis
Chestnut-faced Owl - Strix Castanops
Australian Eagle - Aquila Audax
4 Hawks, different kinds
White Hawk - Astur Novae Hollandiae
South Stone Plover - Edicnemus Grallarius
Weeka Rail - Ocydromus Australis
Raven - Corvus Corax
Magpie - Gymnorhina Leuconota
Pacific Gull - Larus Pacificus
Kakapo - Strigops Habroptilus
Crowned Pigeon - Goura Coronata
Wonga Wonga Pigeon - Leucosarcia Picata
20 Doves of various kinds
Canaries
Native Turkey - Otis Australasianus
Californian Quail - Callipepla Californica
White Swan - Cygnus Olor
Black Swan - Cygnus Atratus
Cape Barren Goose - Cereopsis Novae Hollandiae
Toulouse Goose
Paradise Duck - Casarca Variegata
Canadian Goose - Bernicla Canadensis
Maned Goose - Bernicla Jubata
Chinese Goose - Anser Cygnoides
Bar-headed Goose - Anser Indicus
Egyptian Goose - Chenalopex Egyptiaca
Magpie Goose - Anseranas Melanoleuca
Mandarin Duck - Aix Galericulata
Australian Black Duck - Anas Superciliosa
Shieldrake - Casarca Tadornoides
English Mallard - Anas Boschas
Indian Black Duck

Melbourne Zoo opened in 1862, so this is one of the earlier species lists. One of the most interesting things about a species list from 147 years ago is the seismic changes in taxonomy and naming of species that has occurred since. The big cats mentioned are now classified under the Panthera genus and outdated names like ‘Hunting Leopard’ (Cheetah) are no longer used.
 
steveroberts said:
Internet Archive has some old annual reports by the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria about Melbourne Zoo, from 1872-1934 fairly consistently, but also two about 1859 and 1860 when zoological collection was being established gradually. There's 26 documents - link & source: Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria Reports: Internet Archive: Digital Library.
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This is a really cool source. Had a quick look - and it appears there might be some interesting tit bits here.
 
Melbourne Zoo Species List (1886)

In addition to Thylacine (also mentioned in the 1878 species list), note the multiple subspecies of tiger, including the now extinct Javan subspecies.

Mammals:

1 Drill Monkey — Cynocephalus leucophaeus
16 (Crab-eating) Macaque Monkeys — Macacus cynomolgus
2 Pig-tailed Monkeys — Macacus nemestrinus
6 Rhesus Monkeys — Macacus rhesus
1 Entellus Monkey — Semnopithecus entellus
3 Bonnet Monkey — Macacus sinicus
1 Black-handed Spider Monkey — Ateles geoffroyi
1 Pigmy Ape — Cynocephalus hamadryas
2 Green Monkeys — Cercopithecus callitrichus
3 Lemurs — Lemur albifrons
1 (Agile) Gibbon — Dybolates agilis
2 (African) Lions — Felis leo
1 (Indian) Leopard — Felis leopardus
1 Ocelot — Felis leopardus
2 Black Leopards — Felis leopardus
1 Panther — Leopardus varius
8 (Indian) Tigers — Felis tigris
1 (China) Tiger — Felis tigris
1 (Javan) Tiger — Felis tigris
1 (Assam) Tiger — Felis tigris
1 (Asian) Striped Hyaena — Hyaena striata
2 Dingoes — Canis dingo
1 Tangalang — Mus tela firo
3 Ferrets — Mustela firo
1 Raccoon — Procyon lotor
2 Black Bears — Ursus americanus
2 Himalayan Bears — Ursus thibetanus
2 Brown Bears — Ursus arctos
1 Malayan Bear — Ursus malayanus
2 Foxes — Vulpes vulgaris
1 Burrowing Fox — Vulpes velox
1 Badger — Meles taxus
3 Raccoon-like Dogs — Nyctereutes procyonides
3 Viscachas — Lagostomus trichodactylus
6 Porcupines — Hystrix cristata
8 White Rabbits — Lepus cuniculus
30 White Rats — Mus decumanus
30 Guinea Pigs — Cavia cobaya
1 Copyu Rats — Myopotamus coypu
2 Palm Squirrels — Sciurus palmarum
2 Grey Squirrels — Sciurus carolinensis
2 Striped Squirrels — Sciurus palmarum
1 (Asian) Elephant — Elephas indicus
1 (Dromedary) Camel — Camelus dromedarius
4 Zebu — Bos indicus
2 Water Buffalo — Bubalus buffelus
2 Fallow Deer — Cervus dama
10 Formosan Deer — Cervus pseudaxis
1 Rusa Deer — Cervus rusa
9 Japanese Deer — Cervus nippon
6 Hog Deer — Cervus porcinus
1 Barasinga Deer — Cervus duvaucelli
2 Guarcons — Lama huanacchos
2 Mule Deer — Cariacus macrotis
2 Angora Goats — Capra angorensis
3 Wild Boars — Sus ludicus
1 Burrail Sheep — Ovis burheil
4 Wapiti Deer — Cervus canadensis
2 Llamas — Auchenia pacos
1 Mouflon — Ovis musimon
2 Zebras — Equus burchelli
1 Trotting Cattle — Bos indicus
2 Yaks — Poephagus grunniens
1 Ibex — Capra ibex
3 London Goats — Capra depressa
2 Indian Goats — Capra hircus var.
2 White Kangaroos — Macropus rufus var.
1 Black-faced Kangaroo — Macropus melanops
4 Red Kangaroos — Macropus rufus
4 Great Kangaroos — Macropus giganteus
2 Bennett's Kangaroo — Halmaturus bennettii
4 Black Wallabies — Halmaturus bicolor
4 Cloved Wallabies — Halmaturus manicatus
8 Short-tailed Wallabies — Halmaturus ualabatus
1 Paddy-melon — Halmaturus billardieri
4 Kangaroo Rats — Bettongia cuniculus
4 Common Opossums — Phalangista vulpina
2 Short-eared Opossums — Phalangista canina
2 Sooty Opossums — Phalangista fuliginosa
2 Ring-tailed Opossums — Phalangista viverrina
3 Short-headed Phalanger — Petaurus breviceps
2 Native Bears — Phascolarctus cinereus
4 Dasyures — Dasyurus viverrinus
4 Marsupial Wolves — Thylacinus cynocephalus
1 Hairy-nosed Wombat — Phascolomys latifrons
2 Wombats — Phascolomys platyrhinus
2 Devils — Sarophilus ursinus
2 Tiger Cats — Dasyurus maculatus
2 Porcupine Anteaters — Echidna hystrix
2 Platypi — Ornithorhynchus paradoxus

Reptiles:

4 Turtle — Chelodina longicollis
4 Tortoises — Testudo stellata
1 Black Snake — Pseudechis porphyriacus
1 Death Adder — Acanthophis antarctica
2 Copper-head Snakes — Hoplocephalus superbus
2 Brown Snakes — Diemenia superciliosa
2 Tiger Snakes — Hoplocephalus curtus
2 Rock Pythons — Python molurus
4 Carpet Snakes — Morelia variegata
1 Diamond Snake — Morelia spilotes
1 Carpet Snake
3 Iguanas — Hydrosaurus varius
3 Stump-tailed Lizards — Trachysaurus rugosus
5 Blue-tongued Lizards — Cyclodus gigas
1 Laced Lizard — Monitor gouldii
1 Holoderm Lizard — Helo-derma suspectum

Birds:

8 Wedge-tailed Eagles — Aquila audax
1 Egyptian Vulture — Neophron percnopterus
3 White-bellied Sea Eagles — Haliaeetus leucosternus
3 Whistling Eagles — Haliaeetus sphenurus
1 Black Falcon — Falco subniger
2 Allied Kites — Milvus affinis
2 Allied Harriers — Circus assimilis
1 White Hawk — Astur novæ hollandiæ
1 Goshawk — Astur approximans
4 Brown Hawks — Ieracidea berigora
1 Great Owl — Bubo maximus
2 Powerful Owls — Athene strenua
1 Chestnut-faced Owl — Athene castanops
1 Chestnut-faced Owl — Strix castanops
2 Horned Owls — Bubo virginianus var. pacificus
4 Boobook Owls — Athene boobook
2 Tawny-shouldered Podargus — Podargus strigoides
1 Cavier's Podargus — Podargus cinerius
2 Laughing Kingfishers — Dacelo gigas
1 Laughing Kingfisher — Dacelo novæ hollandiæ
2 White-necked Other Shrikes — Cracticus mentalis
2 Crows — Corvus australis
2 Grey-crow Shrikes — Strepera analis
5 Satin Bower Birds — Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus
1 Blackbird — Turdus merula
2 Whydah Birds — Vidua paradisaea
2 Starlings — Sturnus vulgaris
2 Tree-Bills — Cinclorhamphus elegans
15 Rice Birds — Padda oryzivora, var.
1 Fire-tailed Finch — Estrelda bella
3 Rocking Birds — Fringilla coelebs
1 Grey Finch — Fringilla coelebs
1 Chaffinch — Fringilla coelebs
10 Chestnut-eared Finches — Amadina castanotis
1 Velvet Hammer — Erythrura trichroa
12 Finches — Estrelda bichenovii
10 Mannikins — Lonchura castaneothorax
3 Java Sparrows — Padda oryzivora
6 Java Sparrows — Padda oryzivora
4 Cinnamon Finches — Amadina modesta
4 Baya Weaver Birds — Ploceus baya
3 Blue and Yellow Macaws — Ara ararauna
1 Red and Yellow Macaw — Ara ararauna
2 Red and Blue Macaws — Ara macao
1 Military Macaw — Ara militaris
3 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos — Cacatua galerita
1 Roseella Cockatoo — Cacatua galerita roseicapilla
4 Corella Cockatoos — Licmetis tenuirostris
10 Leadbeater's Cockatoos — Cacatua leadbeateri
15 King Parrots — Aprosmictus scapulatus
2 Green-cheek Parrots — Polytelis barrabandi
8 Rock-pebbler Parakeets — Polytelis melanura
1 Rosella Parrot — Platycercus eximius
3 Scarlet Lorys — Platycercus eximius
1 Cockatoo Parakeet — Nymphicus hollandicus
3 Roseate Parakeets — Euplectes chrysotis
2 Grass Parakeets — Neophema elegans
1 Collared Parrots — Psittacula krameri
2 Green Lorys — Electus polychlorus
12 Grass parrakets — Melopsittacus undulatus
2 Lowans — Leipoa ocellata
1 Chinese Pheasant — Phasianus nycthemerus
1 Gold Pheasants — Thaumalea picta
1 Ring-necked Pheasant — Phasianus torquatus
4 Green Pheasants — Phasianus versicolor
1 Common Pheasant — Phasianus colchicus
1 Reeves Pheasant — Polyplectron chinquis
1 Spangled Spurfowl and Ring-necked Pheasant — Pavo cristatus, var. Pavo spicifer
1 White Peafowl — Pavo cristatus var.
1 Golden Peafowl — Pavo cristatus, var.
1 Chinese Goose — Anser cygnoides
3 Spur-winged Pigeons — Pterocles senegallus
3 Rock Pigeons — Columba livia
2 Wonga Wonga Pigeons — Leucosarcia melanoleuca
4 Crested Doves — Ocyphaps lophotes
4 Bronze-ground Pigeons — Chalcophaps indica
2 Victoria Crowned Pigeons — Goura victoria
5 Bleeding-heart Doves — Gallicolumba luzonica
9 Crowned Pigeons — Goura coronata
2 Ostriches — Struthio camelus
2 Cassowaries — Casuarius australis
1 Emu — Dromaius novaehollandiae
2 Cassowaries — Casuarius Unappendiculatus
3 Bustard — Otis australis
8 Native Companions — Grus australasianus
4 Weak Rails — Gryllivorous sethionis
1 Sarus Crane — Grus antigone
3 Wattled Peewits — Lobivanellus lobatus
4 Southern-stone Plovers — Aedicnemus grallarius
4 White-fronted Herons — Ardea novaehollandiae
1 Heron — Threskiornis strictipennis
1 Nankeen Night-Herons — Nycticorax caledonicus
1 Golden Plover — Charadrius xanthoecephalus
10 Flamingoes — Phoenicopterus Antiquorum
2 White Swans — Cygnus olor
5 Black-necked Swans — Cygnus nigricollis
4 Black Swans — Cygnus atratus
4 Mandarin Ducks — Aix galericulata
6 Carolina Ducks — Aix sponsa
3 Black Ducks — Anas superciliosa
2 Paradise Ducks — Casarca variegata
3 Eider Ducks — Anas boschas
1 Black Ducks — Anas obscura
2 Teal — Querquedula crecca
2 Garganeys — Querquedula circia
2 Pintail — Dafila acuta
2 Wigeon — Mareca penelope
3 Red-crested Ducks — Netta rufina
2 Chestnut-coloured Sheldrikes — Casarca tadornoides
2 Canada Geese — Branta canadensis
6 Upland Geese — Chloephaga magellanica
2 Toulouse Geese — Anser cinereus
3 Chinese Geese — Anser cygnoides
3 Blue Geese — Chen caerulescens
3 Graylag Geese — Anser anser
8 White-fronted Geese — Anser albifrons
12 Jamieson's Gulls — Xema sabini
 
Zoofan15 said:
It’s fair to say Melbourne becoming a destination for several socially deficient gorillas has been a detriment to their attempts to build up a troop. .
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With females in particular, its often been difficult in the past for zoos to add additional females to a group without having to take the 'least desirable' i.e. the handraised ones, which were either problematic at their previous zoo or were handraised in a nursery situation. These were frequently the only ones available. There are several groups in Europe that still contain at least one handraised female, which remains something of an outsider in the social structure. A problem that will eventually resolve now that any 'orphan'(rejected) babies are routinely surrogated rather than being handraised which has become a thing of the past.
 
Pertinax said:
With females in particular, its often been difficult in the past for zoos to add additional females to a group without having to take the 'least desirable' i.e. the handraised ones, which were either problematic at their previous zoo or were handraised in a nursery situation. These were frequently the only ones available. There are several groups in Europe that still contain at least one handraised female, which remains something of an outsider in the social structure. A problem that will eventually resolve now that any 'orphan'(rejected) babies are routinely surrogated rather than being handraised which has become a thing of the past.
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Melbourne arguably made a good call to cease breeding following the birth of the three infants in 1999-2000, which were all hand-raised initially. The two males are in a bachelor troop and are not intended to ever lead troops of their own; and the female lives on the fringes of Taronga’s soon to be disbanded troop. For her sake, I hope a relocation to Kisane’s troop at Mogo (rather than Otana’s troop at Melbourne) is the plan from here.

Due to Australasia’s small geographically isolated population, we don’t have the option of gorilla nurseries to facilitate peer-raising as has been effective at Stuggart etc. Obviously Mogo (Kaius) was an exception, but many of the main zoos have a non-handraising policy for great apes. While the alternative may seem harsh, when you consider handraising an ape can leave the zoo with decades of dealing with a problematic animal, it’s at least understandable.
 
Pertinax said:
What is Taronga's plan- just to keep a bachelor group, or no gorillas?
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After they transfer out the females, they’ll keep a bachelor troop for the foreseeable. I’m not aware of plans to phase out gorillas entirely; and there’s currently limited options within the region of where they could go.

The exhibit is a sufficient size for four males.
 
Pertinax said:
What is Taronga's plan- just to keep a bachelor group, or no gorillas?
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Zoofan15 said:
After they transfer out the females, they’ll keep a bachelor troop for the foreseeable. I’m not aware of plans to phase out gorillas entirely; and there’s currently limited options within the region of where they could go.

The exhibit is a sufficient size for four males.
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From the sounds of it, they'll be sticking with their bachelor males for the foreseeable.
 
[QUOTE="Zoofan15, post: 1642620, ]

The exhibit is a sufficient size for four males.[/QUOTE]
From memory of the size of the enclosure I'd say four would be enough.
 
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