Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2023

[Zoofan15]

Assumed that to be the case, thanks for the clarification.

I don't see Melbourne redeveloping that exhibit in the meantime with the Giraffes still there, but hopefully this indicates a change going forward with Melbourne also electing to send the remaining Giraffes across to Werribee in the future.

Yes, I was told the giraffes would remain at Melbourne Zoo for now. Best case scenario, I’m hopeful they’re place holders for Okapi; but a generic savannah with ostrich and perhaps nyala is more likely - at least for the next few years. At least they’ll be a giraffe calf in the future to liven up the exhibit.

 

[Jambo]

Yes, I was told the giraffes would remain at Melbourne Zoo for now. Best case scenario, I’m hopeful they’re place holders for Okapi; but a generic savannah with ostrich and perhaps nyala is more likely - at least for the next few years. At least they’ll be a giraffe calf in the future to liven up the exhibit.

I'm thinking they'd probably just stay with Giraffe for now, but I wouldn't be surprised if Giraffe did eventually move across to Werribee within the next decade. It's an inevitable move in my eyes to generate more space for Melbourne, and could potentially be looked into if indeed Okapi are eventually imported into the region.

Iris is still rather young and small, but she should be reaching the age and size for breeding within the next few years.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Melbourne’s only Malayan Tapir has been euthanised after over two decades at the zoo. The Australasian region has a single Malayan Tapir at Adelaide Zoo remaining: Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Vale Semangka.

 

[CGSwans]

So we’re now down to 23 exotic mammal species, I think, of which at least three are on the way out in the near future. How low can we go?

 

[Zoofan15]

So we’re now down to 23 exotic mammal species, I think, of which at least three are on the way out in the near future. How low can we go?

Melbourne Zoo currently have 24 on display exotic species (25 if you count the hybrid orangutan as a species).

In the last month we’ve lost Plains zebra and Malayan tapir and we can surely anticipate Collared peccary and Brown-nosed coati to follow; as well as the confirmed phase out of Asian elephants.

Zoos Victoria have long had a focus on phasing out non-endangered exotics, which is fine as long as they’re replaced with endangered exotics imo. I’d be in favour of the giraffes following the zebra to Werribee to be replaced by Eastern bongo; but to see African wild dog replaced with Dingo was a great disappointment.

 

[CGSwans]

Melbourne Zoo currently have 24 on display exotic species (25 if you count the hybrid orangutan as a species).

In the last month we’ve lost Plains zebra and Malayan tapir and we can surely anticipate Collared peccary and Brown-nosed coati to follow; as well as the confirmed phase out of Asian elephants.

Zoos Victoria have long had a focus on phasing out non-endangered exotics, which is fine as long as they’re replaced with endangered exotics imo. I’d be in favour of the giraffes following the zebra to Werribee to be replaced by Eastern bongo; but to see African wild dog replaced with Dingo was a great disappointment.

What am I forgetting?

Asian elephant (moving to Werribee next year)
Giraffe
Pygmy hippo
Collared peccary (phase-out, remaining animals long since post-reproductive)
Sumatran tiger
Lion
Snow leopard
Meerkat
Small-clawed otter
Red panda
Coati (phase-outs, barely 15 years after the original import)
Gorilla
Sumatran orangutan
Siamang
White-cheeked gibbon
Hamadryas baboon
Colobus monkey
Spider monkey
Squirrel monkey
Cotton-top tamarin
Emperor tamarin
Ring-tailed lemur
Ruffed lemur

 

[Jambo]

Melbourne’s only Malayan Tapir has been euthanised after over two decades at the zoo. The Australasian region has a single Malayan Tapir at Adelaide Zoo remaining: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Oh no. Devastating news to hear.

I only saw her on Monday, and she was resting in her favorite little hut at the back of the exhibit.

Semangka lived a wonderful life and I'll certainly cherish the times I visited her. May she rest in peace.

Hopefully this isn't the end of the road for Malayan Tapirs at Melbourne.

 

[Jambo]

What am I forgetting?

Asian elephant (moving to Werribee next year)
Giraffe
Pygmy hippo
Collared peccary (phase-out, remaining animals long since post-reproductive)
Sumatran tiger
Lion
Snow leopard
Meerkat
Small-clawed otter
Red panda
Coati (phase-outs, barely 15 years after the original import)
Gorilla
Sumatran orangutan
Siamang
White-cheeked gibbon
Hamadryas baboon
Colobus monkey
Spider monkey
Squirrel monkey
Cotton-top tamarin
Emperor tamarin
Ring-tailed lemur
Ruffed lemur

New Zealand Fur Seal?

 

[CGSwans]

New Zealand Fur Seal?

Incorrect on two counts:
- NZ fur seals occur in southern Australian waters.
- even if they didn’t, New Zealand is not an independent country.

 

[Jambo]

Incorrect on two counts:
- NZ fur seals occur in southern Australian waters.
- even if they didn’t, New Zealand is not an independent country.

That is the species I believe he was referring too, otherwise the only other 23 are the ones you stated above.

 

[Dassie rat]

New Zealand is not an independent country.

Yes it is. It's a long way from Australia and is just as independent

 

[Zoofan15]

What am I forgetting?

Asian elephant (moving to Werribee next year)
Giraffe
Pygmy hippo
Collared peccary (phase-out, remaining animals long since post-reproductive)
Sumatran tiger
Lion
Snow leopard
Meerkat
Small-clawed otter
Red panda
Coati (phase-outs, barely 15 years after the original import)
Gorilla
Sumatran orangutan
Siamang
White-cheeked gibbon
Hamadryas baboon
Colobus monkey
Spider monkey
Squirrel monkey
Cotton-top tamarin
Emperor tamarin
Ring-tailed lemur
Ruffed lemur

I counted Sumatran tiger twice by mistake as they have two exhibits. You are correct in that they have 23 exotic mammals on display.

Melbourne’s species list is now comparable to the small zoos of Australia, some of which are overtaking Melbourne Zoo.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Regent Honeyeaters are now on-show at Melbourne Zoo after moving from their off-show breeding aviaries: Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

[Jambo]

Regent Honeyeaters are now on-show at Melbourne Zoo after moving from their off-show breeding aviaries: Log into Facebook | Facebook

They have moved into the small walkthrough aviary opposite the Koalas.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I do hope that if they do intend to maintain their Australian Bush precinct (which they do ) that they make a concerted effort to display all their priority species. This is a good step forward! I'll definitely be coming in to see these amazing birds

 

[Jambo]

I do hope that if they do intend to maintain their Australian Bush precinct (which they do ) that they make a concerted effort to display all their priority species. This is a good step forward! I'll definitely be coming in to see these amazing birds

The plan is to do so. Over the last few years we’ve seen some recent renovations to that area; namely the new kangaroo enclosure, and the addition of new kids areas and the Loorikeet/Kookaburra aviaries. I’d assume there aren’t any major renovations still to come, but we may see some smaller species move in (like the Regent Honeyeaters moving on display).

 

[Zoofan15]

I do hope that if they do intend to maintain their Australian Bush precinct (which they do ) that they make a concerted effort to display all their priority species. This is a good step forward! I'll definitely be coming in to see these amazing birds

The plan is to do so. Over the last few years we’ve seen some recent renovations to that area; namely the new kangaroo enclosure, and the addition of new kids areas and the Loorikeet/Kookaburra aviaries. I’d assume there aren’t any major renovations still to come, but we may see some smaller species move in (like the Regent Honeyeaters moving on display).

It’s good to hear the Regent honeyeaters are on display at Melbourne. They’re critically endangered and visitors being able to see them in person when they visit Melbourne will help create more awareness than a handful of posts on socials ever will.

Aside from that, it’s nice to show those visiting from overseas (that don’t visit Healesville or Werribee) that Australian fauna doesn’t end with the kangaroo. If only they could apply that same logic to the continent of Africa vis a vis the giraffe.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

Hey all
great to be back after my break, a lot has been happening, zebra phase out I think is the right move as there could be a new species, what happened to nyala? Vale semankay the Malayan tapir my favourite animal in the zoo, hopefully she will be replaced. Melbournes exotic animals have been in decline for a while, good to see they still have tamarins but they used to have a big family where did they all go, hopefulling the ornaugtna expansion is happening as when I went last they were doing thing
thanks

 

[Zoofan15]

Hey all
great to be back after my break, a lot has been happening, zebra phase out I think is the right move as there could be a new species, what happened to nyala? Vale semankay the Malayan tapir my favourite animal in the zoo, hopefully she will be replaced. Melbournes exotic animals have been in decline for a while, good to see they still have tamarins but they used to have a big family where did they all go, hopefulling the ornaugtna expansion is happening as when I went last they were doing thing
thanks

Lowland nyala are not currently held at Melbourne Zoo. With the zebras phased out and the giraffes remaining (at least for the foreseeable), it wouldn’t surprise me to see some nyala transfer from Werribee to join the giraffes in the near future.

It was noted by @Jambo that the offspring of the Cotton-top tamarin pair have been dispersed to other zoos. It’s unclear at this stage whether the species will be phased out upon the death of the ageing pair. Though they’re a critically endangered species, they breed readily in zoos and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them switch to the less endangered, but more vibrant Golden lion tamarin.