Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I didn't get to have a look at the area behind the gibbon enclosure, but the enclosure itself did look a lot bigger and better than before.
Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2023
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Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I didn't get to have a look at the area behind the gibbon enclosure, but the enclosure itself did look a lot bigger and better than before.
Is there still a building with three exhibits along the Trail of the Elephants across from the squirrel-monkey exhibit? If so what are the current occupants of these three exhibits?
I think it used to be this:
1. Fijian Crested-Iguana, Tortoises (Indian Star- & Elongated) & Golden Coin-Turtle
2. Stick-Insects (Spiny, Children's & Goliath)
3. Boyd's Forest-Dragon
I think it used to be this:
1. Fijian Crested-Iguana, Tortoises (Indian Star- & Elongated) & Golden Coin-Turtle
2. Stick-Insects (Spiny, Children's & Goliath)
3. Boyd's Forest-Dragon
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As of October this was all still the same bar the stick insects. The Boyd’s also live with a couple Green Tree Frogs too.
This building's still there.
I saw all of the above, bar the Fijian Crested Iguana when I visited back in October. @Josh F I seem to recall seeing Stick Insects, but can't say if all three sub species were present.
Very possible that I was too busy looking at the herps in the room hahaha. Although that enclosure has looked worse for wear for a little while now compared to what it used to be. Lot less foliage and the like.
A story not directly related to the zoo's collection but certainly involves the zoo in a meaningful way - five Northern Quolls were found as stowaways in box of pumpkins at Melbourne's Wholesale Market, thousands of kilometres away from their native range in north Queensland in December. The female and her four joeys were believed to have entered the boxes at a farm near Cairns and were later transported to Melbourne Zoo and assessed. Once cleared, they were then flown back this month and successfully released back into the wild. What a journey: https://www.miragenews.com/quolls-return-to-tablelands-home-after-epic-930582/
I was there on Sunday.
1. Fijian Crested Iguana and Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle
2. Stick Insects (Not sure of the species, but I don’t think it was any of those ones.)
3. Boyd’s Forest Dragon and Green Tree Frog
The "massive news" has been moved to its own thread: From my visit to Werribee...
White-headed stilts now on display:
From socials:
It's the long-awaited return of our striking White-headed Stilts!
Sometimes known as the 'Pied Stilt', these native birds can be found in Australia, New Zealand and the South-Pacific Islands.
You can also visit these long-legged beauties in their newly renovated aviary at Melbourne Zoo. The wetland-themed habitat features a fresh new pond, lots of sunlight and plenty of greenery for the Stilts to enjoy.
From socials:
It's the long-awaited return of our striking White-headed Stilts!
Sometimes known as the 'Pied Stilt', these native birds can be found in Australia, New Zealand and the South-Pacific Islands.
You can also visit these long-legged beauties in their newly renovated aviary at Melbourne Zoo. The wetland-themed habitat features a fresh new pond, lots of sunlight and plenty of greenery for the Stilts to enjoy.
They should be in the first aviary in TOTE if i'm correct.
Melbourne Zoo's eight Kangaroo Island Kangaroos which now include two new joeys among them have been reintroduced back into their renovated enclosure. The revamped exhibit includes new shelters, a small creek and wallow among the 1600m2 of grass - reported on social media.
Awesome news; the enclosure looks almost unrecognisable now with grass added! Hopefully the Emus will soon follow too
Melbourne has received three (1.2) Hamadryads baboons from Perth as mentioned by @Patrick Keegan in the Perth news thread.
Their names are: 1.0 Chad (2005) and 0.1 Guni (1999) and 0.1 Grimus (1996).
Chad will hopefully serve as Melbourne's new breeding male which is very exciting as Melbourne's current two males were becoming very represented.
Their names are: 1.0 Chad (2005) and 0.1 Guni (1999) and 0.1 Grimus (1996).
Chad will hopefully serve as Melbourne's new breeding male which is very exciting as Melbourne's current two males were becoming very represented.
These are the baboons:
0.1 Grimus (1996) Grijs x Gina
0.1 Guni (1999) Grijs x Gitta
1.0 Chad (2005) James x Guni
They join Melbourne’s population of 5.10 Hamadryas baboon.
I assume most (if not all) of Melbourne’s males will be transferred out to facilitate this introduction - especially since they’re related to Melbourne’s females (with whom Chad will be breeding).
Wildlife HQ seems like the best option, especially as they currently only have one breeding male who's related to the females.
Possibly, though it would balance the gender ratio out to 5.5 baboons, if they took all five, which isn’t ideal.
Potentially, they could take the two breeding males:
1.0 Jabari (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
1.0 Azizi (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
With the three younger males joining a bachelor troop at Crocodylus or Banana Cabana:
1.0 Melako (2017) Jabari x Macey
1.0 Quimby (2018) Unknown x Qetesh
1.0 Quill (2019) Unknown x Qetesh
Melbourne Zoo will soon receive some Macleay's Swallowtail, Graphium macleayanus from a private breeder who is rearing them to be specifically donated to the zoo as pupae. As a large green butterfly that is native to Victoria and as very active feeders, they will no doubt make for a popular species.. This follows the recent acquisitions of Chocolate Argus, Junonia hedonia and Red Lacewing, Cethosia cydippe last year: Monbulk’s buttefly haven takes flight
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
Hi all recently visited the zoo and have some news
The new baboons are on display while they are getting use to the exhibit the troop is is back of house
I believe some small renovation is happening to the monitor lizard exibit in the Australian bush
The new kangaroo exibit looks great but I could do with some more foliage otherwise i big improvement
The new baboons are on display while they are getting use to the exhibit the troop is is back of house
I believe some small renovation is happening to the monitor lizard exibit in the Australian bush
The new kangaroo exibit looks great but I could do with some more foliage otherwise i big improvement
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the news. Have you done your behind the scenes encounters yet? Would love to hear if they are worth the money or not
Thanks for the update.
To my knowledge Melbourne Zoo’s five other male baboons are still at the zoo:
1.0 Jabari (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
1.0 Azizi (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
1.0 Melako (2017) Jabari x Macey
1.0 Quimby (2018) Unknown x Qetesh
1.0 Quill (2019) Unknown x Qetesh
Can the next person to go please ask if the zoo have plans to transfer these males out or run them as seperate troop. It’d be difficult to successfully introduce them to the new male (Chad) and in any case, they’ll want to ensure Chad sires any upcoming infants.
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