Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2024

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Zoofan15 said:
I’m not sure what the hold up is with that. They have a ton of them at Werribee and the exhibit was looking ready to go when I last visited in December (they were cutting the grass etc).

I’ve always thought a Capyabra would be a better compliment to the adjacent peccaries (especially considering the old tapir exhibit has a pool) with Lowland nyala ideal for the old bongo exhibit.
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It would be rather ironic that they ended there bongo, because of one that broke bones and died. Siting the habitat unsuitable if I'm remembering correctly. To then go and put virtually the same animal back in the same exhibit. They may as well have just kept bongo.
 
Tiger91 said:
It would be rather ironic that they ended there bongo, because of one that broke bones and died. Siting the habitat unsuitable if I'm remembering correctly. To then go and put virtually the same animal back in the same exhibit. They may as well have just kept bongo.
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When I saw the exhibit in person, I was actually surprised how spacious it was compared to what I’d imagined. Eastern bongo are critically endangered, so if there’s any belief the same incidence could arise, that explains the trepidation; but it sounds like it was a freak accident and an isolated incident. I see no reason not to use it for either antelope.
 
NathanTheAsian said:
That's a shame. I've never seen an adult male Nyala at WOPZ, and I was hoping I would have more luck if they moved to Melbourne. Guess I'll just have to keep trying.
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Jambo said:
There should be one in with the breeding group of girls in the waterhole exhibit; I’ve seen him a few times.

In any case, the Nyalas that were supposedly heading to Melbourne were likely girls.
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I didn’t see a bull on my visit, only cows and calves, suggesting the bull was held separately. They’re more common than meerkats in New Zealand zoos, so I can’t say it bothered me much either way. I was more interested in the Scimitar-horned oryx considering we no longer have them in New Zealand.
 
Zoofan15 said:
When I saw the exhibit in person, I was actually surprised how spacious it was compared to what I’d imagined. Eastern bongo are critically endangered, so if there’s any belief the same incidence could arise, that explains the trepidation; but it sounds like it was a freak accident and an isolated incident. I see no reason not to use it for either antelope.
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Truth be told it was a freak accident. It was the zoos reaction that was unusual, i suspect it was to phase them out due to the inability to import them at that point.
 
Tiger91 said:
Truth be told it was a freak accident. It was the zoos reaction that was unusual, i suspect it was to phase them out due to the inability to import them at that point.
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Yeah they were deemed unsuitable to city zoos which does make sense. Even an exhibit of that size is still arguably on the smaller side for an antelope like Bongo. I would’ve hoped Werribee would’ve instead acquired them down the line, but eight years on we still haven’t seen any progress regarding the regional Bongo population alluding to future holders.
 
Jambo said:
Yeah they were deemed unsuitable to city zoos which does make sense. Even an exhibit of that size is still arguably on the smaller side for an antelope like Bongo. I would’ve hoped Werribee would’ve instead acquired them down the line, but eight years on we still haven’t seen any progress regarding the regional Bongo population alluding to future holders.
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An interesting mix if it could work would be to manage bongo in with the giraffes instead of zebra. They would compliment each other nicely as far as how they look. However im not sure how there temperaments would go.
 
Tiger91 said:
An interesting mix if it could work would be to manage bongo in with the giraffes instead of zebra. They would compliment each other nicely as far as how they look. However im not sure how there temperaments would go.
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Bongo are comparatively chill compared to bulls of most antelope species, which exhibit strong territorial behaviour. Male Waterbuck are reportedly one of the worst. In terms on compatibility, I anticipate no issues, but giraffes are from the savannah; bongos from the rainforest, so it would be a biome clash few zoos could ignore. I mean I know we have Indian antelope on savannahs across the region, but at least they’re a grasslands/plains species.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Bongo are comparatively chill compared to bulls of most antelope species, which exhibit strong territorial behaviour. Male Waterbuck are reportedly one of the worst. In terms on compatibility, I anticipate no issues, but giraffes are from the savannah; bongos from the rainforest, so it would be a biome clash few zoos could ignore. I mean I know we have Indian antelope on savannahs across the region, but at least they’re a grasslands/plains species.
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True, It works for Melbourne tho which doesn't seem to have themed areas as such. And would enable more then a pair to be kept. With werribee 1/2 hour drive would anyone really miss the zebra.
 
Tiger91 said:
True, It works for Melbourne tho which doesn't seem to have themed areas as such. And would enable more then a pair to be kept. With werribee 1/2 hour drive would anyone really miss the zebra.
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Melbourne doesn’t have geographic theming throughout much of the zoo, but each exhibit will still need to make sense. You wouldn’t see a Quokka in with an Australian fur seal just because they’re both Australian.

I don’t believe zebra will ever make a return to Melbourne, especially with Nakuru pregnant and Iris potentially breeding in a year or so.
 
A few new arrivals/species confirmed via message to shed some light on non-mammal developments at Melbourne Zoo:
  • a Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is now in the butterfly house.
  • three male Nicobar Pigeons have arrived and are now in the Free Flight Aviary to flesh out the rainforest portion of the exhibit.
  • a Sacred Kingfisher arrived from the now-closed Cairns Wildlife Dome. They aim to breed kingfishers for the regional programme.
  • a King Cobra - a first for the zoo apparently - and juvenile Eyelash Viper have been imported from overseas. They join the young chameleons they received recently as well.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
A few new arrivals/species confirmed via message to shed some light on non-mammal developments at Melbourne Zoo:
  • a Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is now in the butterfly house.
  • three male Nicobar Pigeons have arrived and are now in the Free Flight Aviary to flesh out the rainforest portion of the exhibit.
  • a Sacred Kingfisher arrived from the now-closed Cairns Wildlife Dome. They aim to breed kingfishers for the regional programme.
  • a King Cobra - a first for the zoo apparently - and juvenile Eyelash Viper have been imported from overseas. They join the young chameleons they received recently as well.
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Great news! The Nicobar Pigeons are definitely already there, I know someone who spotted them in December. I wonder where the King Cobra is going to go!, I have a feeling the Eyelash Viper will go into the old Eyelash Viper exhibit where there’s currently a juvenile Blood Python.
 
Yoshistar888 said:
Great news! The Nicobar Pigeons are definitely already there, I know someone who spotted them in December. I wonder where the King Cobra is going to go!, I have a feeling the Eyelash Viper will go into the old Eyelash Viper exhibit where there’s currently a juvenile Blood Python.
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On my recent visit I saw two of them. They were in the large tree near the entrance of the aviary, where the Storks typically hang around.
 
Im glad to hear of an interesting new bird species, but why why why only 1 rose crowned fruit dove? And why would they put the nicobar pigeons in with the native birds? Is this a sign that the great flight aviary will become home to birds from all around the world? Id love to see the macaws in there!
 
Astrobird said:
Im glad to hear of an interesting new bird species, but why why why only 1 rose crowned fruit dove? And why would they put the nicobar pigeons in with the native birds? Is this a sign that the great flight aviary will become home to birds from all around the world? Id love to see the macaws in there!
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It's a bit of an odd decision, for such a nice looking species as well.
 
Astrobird said:
Im glad to hear of an interesting new bird species, but why why why only 1 rose crowned fruit dove? And why would they put the nicobar pigeons in with the native birds? Is this a sign that the great flight aviary will become home to birds from all around the world? Id love to see the macaws in there!
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Potentially although it's more likely they're just looking to spice up the aviary as a whole as there's been a lot of feedback regarding the depleting bird collection in there as of the past few years.
 
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