Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2021

WhistlingKite24

WhistlingKite24

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Siamangs have moved to the Orangutan Sanctuary:

I was recently looking at YouTube videos about Melbourne Zoo and came across a tour of the Japanese Gardens published a few days ago. When the video reached the siamang island there was a new sign stating the following:

"Our Siamangs have moved home to the Orangutan Sanctuary. They're taking a few days to adjust. You can see them after the 28th December."

Video below [the sign is at 4:15]:

Also, their most recent map doesn't show that the White-cheeked Gibbons will be moving to the former Siamang island in the Japanese Gardens anymore: https://www.zoo.org.au/media/4526/melbourne-zoo-map-december-2020.pdf
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Siamangs have moved to the Orangutan Sanctuary:

I was recently looking at YouTube videos about Melbourne Zoo and came across a tour of the Japanese Gardens published a few days ago. When the video reached the siamang island there was a new sign stating the following:

"Our Siamangs have moved home to the Orangutan Sanctuary. They're taking a few days to adjust. You can see them after the 28th December."

Video below [the sign is at 4:15]:

Also, their most recent map doesn't show that the White-cheeked Gibbons will be moving to the former Siamang island in the Japanese Gardens anymore: https://www.zoo.org.au/media/4526/melbourne-zoo-map-december-2020.pdf
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A disappointing move. I’d hoped they would have taken steps to regrow their orangutan colony, which won’t be helped in the immediate future by Siamang taking up exhibit space in the Orangutan Sanctuary.

Long term, I’d love to see Melbourne Zoo follow Auckland Zoo’s lead and build an aerial pathway for their orangutans and Siamang. It’d be a good use of the space vacated by the elephants; and take up minimal floor space, which can be repurposed for species like Indian rhinoceros or Malayan tapir (depending on what ideas for replacements they have on the cards).
 
Zoofan15 said:
A disappointing move. I’d hoped they would have taken steps to regrow their orangutan colony, which won’t be helped in the immediate future by Siamang taking up exhibit space in the Orangutan Sanctuary.

Long term, I’d love to see Melbourne Zoo follow Auckland Zoo’s lead and build an aerial pathway for their orangutans and Siamang. It’d be a good use of the space vacated by the elephants; and take up minimal floor space, which can be repurposed for species like Indian rhinoceros or Malayan tapir (depending on what ideas for replacements they have on the cards).
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Its very unlikely that Malayan Tapirs will return to the regions zoos with the problems they had encountered with them before!
 
Zorro said:
Its very unlikely that Malayan Tapirs will return to the regions zoos with the problems they had encountered with them before!
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Yes, but these "problems" seem on the surface to be related to inappropriate enclosures and not unique to our region or unavoidable in the future.

So one can hope perhaps someone might change their mind and see the logic when they realise how cheap and appropriate a solution this species might be for their soon-to-be empty multi-million dollar elephant exhibits. We've seen backflips plenty of times before so its plausible.

All that said, I probably agree with you.
 
toothlessjaws said:
Yes, but these "problems" seem on the surface to be related to inappropriate enclosures and not unique to our region or unavoidable in the future.

So one can hope perhaps someone might change their mind and see the logic when they realise how cheap and appropriate a solution this species might be for their soon-to-be empty multi-million dollar elephant exhibits. We've seen backflips plenty of times before so its plausible.

All that said, I probably agree with you.
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I agree with you, I would be surprised however if they returned. I would be very pleased to see Indian rhinos there as mentioned by a few members!
 
toothlessjaws said:
Yes, but these "problems" seem on the surface to be related to inappropriate enclosures and not unique to our region or unavoidable in the future.

So one can hope perhaps someone might change their mind and see the logic when they realise how cheap and appropriate a solution this species might be for their soon-to-be empty multi-million dollar elephant exhibits. We've seen backflips plenty of times before so its plausible.

All that said, I probably agree with you.
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Zorro said:
I agree with you, I would be surprised however if they returned. I would be very pleased to see Indian rhinos there as mentioned by a few members!
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Zoos Victoria management has had the task of deciding on something that will be as big of a crowd puller to the general public as the elephants are. Indian rhinoceros come close; but as enchanting as Malayan tapir are, I doubt they alone would cut it - especially when the zoo already has one.

The best they can do here is bring in Indian rhinoceros, make an aerial pathway for the apes, shoehorn Malayan tapir in somewhere (if we’re lucky) - and call the precinct ‘Asia.’ It’s a bit of a South East Asian/Indian mashup, but this was no barrier to the genius/genii (plural of genius) who dreamed up the Carnivores Trail. :p:p
 
Tarwin, one of Melbourne Zoo's Australian Fur Seals has been put to sleep at the estimated age of 24 due to age-related illness. She had been at Melbourne since the late 1990s:
This morning, the time came to say goodbye to one of Melbourne Zoo’s much loved Australian Fur Seals, Tarwin. At an estimated age of 24, Tarwin had a number of age-related illnesses which impacted her quality of life, and keepers and vets made the very difficult but kind decision to euthanase Tarwin this morning. Tarwin’s story shines a light on the very much needed Melbourne Zoo Marine Response Unit, and the community who helped rescue her at her most vulnerable age. In 1998, Tarwin was found in the wild at only six months old as an undernourished pup. She was collected by a local carer, before being taken to Melbourne Zoo for veterinary care and rehabilitation. Just over a month later, Tarwin was released back to the wild at Seal Rocks. However, she was soon re-discovered at Ocean Grove undernourished once again, and as her outlook for a thriving life in the wild was poor, the decision was made for Tarwin to formally join Melbourne Zoo’s seal family. Tarwin has brought many smiles and joy to our staff, members and visitors over the years. Many will remember her for her playful behaviour and mesmerising gliding through the water, that you could watch for hours. Tarwin importantly played the role as an ambassador for Bubbles not Balloons, an important campaign raising awareness to blow bubbles not balloons in an attempt to reduce harmful plastic found in our oceans and ultimately found in marine animals. We know she will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of meeting her. Rest easy Tarwin.
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Really?. This is Ridiculous, What about ones ability? , Why not have every single person now on board all with different shoes sizes and different hair styes! :D
 
Zorro said:
Really?. This is Ridiculous, What about ones ability? , Why not have every single person now on board all with different shoes sizes and different hair styes! :D
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To me whats ridiculous is that people of great ability are so often overlooked because of a very real subconscious bias.
 
A tour and discussion about Melbourne's Lord Howe Island Stick Insects. They currently have 500 individuals on site including a new female that was collected in 2017. They are in the process of introducing her genetics into the captive population.

 
Jambo said:
Though I do not know how someone who used to work for the Bureau or Meteorology qualifies to be part of a Zoo Board?:rolleyes:
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They could deliver the forecast on Melbourne Zoo:

Today we have a high of animatronic dinosaur action; and a low of species diversity. We’re predicting a storm of meerkats coming in from the north east; with that cluster of elephants you can see to the left of the screen expecting to clear by 2023. Beyond that we’re anticipating clear skies with a zero percent chance of Mandrills.
 
A new species for Melbourne Zoo. The zoo are now in the process of establishing a captive population for Giant Burrowing Frogs (Heleioporus australiacus). A group of tadpoles that were collected from the wild recently are currently being raised under the zoo's care.

Full article: Keen ear leads scientist to elusive giant burrowing frogs and sparks mission to save them
Now for the first time, the critically endangered and quite clandestine giant burrowing frog is being monitored in captivity at Melbourne Zoo, with an aim to protect and rebuild the population of this mysterious species.

Ms Wallace, a PHD student in veterinary sciences at Melbourne University, is studying amphibians. Finding the giant burrowing frog in far East Gippsland was a mixture of good luck and knowing exactly what the rare frog's call sounds like.

"It was really quiet so I turned off my torch and all of a sudden a frog starts calling, 'Boop boop boop boop,'" she said.

"Over the next five minutes all these different frogs started calling, which was just amazing because these frogs are so hard to find hardly anyone hears them.

"We kind of ran around the creek all excited and found at least five other frogs calling from their burrows.

"The ponds that the tadpoles develop in can actually dry out pretty quickly.

"We hiked out to one of the few breeding sites. It's really quite confronting going out to these breeding sites because they're in heavily-logged areas.

"It's not that typically pristine picture you paint of this really pristine forest. The forest has been heavily disturbed on numerous occasions.

"Fortunately enough, the third pond we found had some large, well-developed tadpoles sitting in it. Many of these field scientists had been out to these ponds and never seen a tadpole.

The group of scientists then put the tadpoles into plastic bags and hiked out of the bush.

"The tadpoles are all healthy and going well," Mr Gilbert said.

"What we've learned about them so far is that they are hungry, they chomp food 24/7."

Ms Wallace said she was happy that her discovery meant more would be learned about giant burrowing frogs and how best to protect them.

"Knowing these tadpoles are safely at the zoo, knowing the species could be protected, it means so much to me and probably to the frogs too," she said.
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Last Sunday (Easter Sunday), one of the resident Fiordland penguins, Kim, (the one without the mishappen beak) passed away due to an accident that occurred in the penguin pool. Another visitor said they saw her get stuck in a pipe. Very sad, especially since her partner Ed. Kim was fit for wild release but kept at the Zoo to keep Ed company.
 
otterly85 said:
Last Sunday (Easter Sunday), one of the resident Fiordland penguins, Kim, (the one without the mishappen beak) passed away due to an accident that occurred in the penguin pool. Another visitor said they saw her get stuck in a pipe. Very sad, especially since her partner Ed. Kim was fit for wild release but kept at the Zoo to keep Ed company.
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How terribly disappointing. I suppose the male needs to be sent to Taronga now.
 
toothlessjaws said:
How terribly disappointing. I suppose the male needs to be sent to Taronga now.
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Probably. Or, maybe a female will be sent down from Taronga. We’ll have to wait and see, though I’ve heard this is a species Melbourne would like to keep and display.
 
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