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Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2024
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ReturnOfPaddyRick
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Keeper at Melbourne today confirmed interest in new koalas. Also, does anyone know where the Tasmanian devils from the former devil exhibit next to the wombats went
It was a single male named Graham. He transferred to Ballarat Wildlife Park early last year.
@ReturnOfPaddyRick
Re. Koalas - really good to hear. I believe they have a mother and son at the moment so would require new individuals to further breed.
Re. Koalas - really good to hear. I believe they have a mother and son at the moment so would require new individuals to further breed.
NathanTheAsian
Well-Known Member
@Zoofan15
1. The progress has been kept under wrap by keepers but there have been a few attempts. I have no idea of what "a few" can mean as it was not elaborated upon.
2. As of now, it is unknown whether a new female will be brought in as they are unsure if they will use Malu as a breeding male and Gabi's heritage means she will not be used as a breeding female. However, there are a few options for Malu.
- transfer to another zoo.
- kept and be used as a breeding male.
- wait until he passes and then import an entirely new pair.
The keeper I spoke to said that he hoped an expansion would turn the exhibit into something somewhat similar to Singapore Zoo's, where the orangutans can cross overhead to other parts. If a new pair is brought in, they will most likely be Sumatran Orangutans as the zoo wants to focus on them as opposed to Bornean.
3. It is unsure what will become of the tapir exhibit as of this stage, as there are still ideas being tossed around.
4. Iris is not pregnant, however Nakuru is likely to give birth in the next few months.
General updates
1. Zillie has been moved to the Great Flight Aviary, however I did not see her when I went. The volunteer I asked was not sure whether or not she would stay there permanently.
2. There is going to be a mixed exhibit of koalas and Quokka near the entrance of the Australian trail. As of now, only one quokka is planned and I was not given information for when this would happen. However, the exhibit was empty and the Koalas had been moved to a smaller temporary exhibit.
1. The progress has been kept under wrap by keepers but there have been a few attempts. I have no idea of what "a few" can mean as it was not elaborated upon.
2. As of now, it is unknown whether a new female will be brought in as they are unsure if they will use Malu as a breeding male and Gabi's heritage means she will not be used as a breeding female. However, there are a few options for Malu.
- transfer to another zoo.
- kept and be used as a breeding male.
- wait until he passes and then import an entirely new pair.
The keeper I spoke to said that he hoped an expansion would turn the exhibit into something somewhat similar to Singapore Zoo's, where the orangutans can cross overhead to other parts. If a new pair is brought in, they will most likely be Sumatran Orangutans as the zoo wants to focus on them as opposed to Bornean.
3. It is unsure what will become of the tapir exhibit as of this stage, as there are still ideas being tossed around.
4. Iris is not pregnant, however Nakuru is likely to give birth in the next few months.
General updates
1. Zillie has been moved to the Great Flight Aviary, however I did not see her when I went. The volunteer I asked was not sure whether or not she would stay there permanently.
2. There is going to be a mixed exhibit of koalas and Quokka near the entrance of the Australian trail. As of now, only one quokka is planned and I was not given information for when this would happen. However, the exhibit was empty and the Koalas had been moved to a smaller temporary exhibit.
Great update! Thank you
It appears Perth Zoo will go for a larger exhibit post renovations that relies on cohesive groupings; as opposed to maintaining multiple adults alone in individual exhibits.
With this in mind, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a mother/daughter pairing like Pulang and Lestari transfer to Melbourne. They’re unrelated to Malu, so could either breed; or remain a non-breeding pairing/grouping. Especially if Melbourne are expanding their exhibit, it’d make sense to hold a decent number of them.
ReturnOfPaddyRick
Well-Known Member
Apparently Nyala will be held in the tapir exhibit. A quokka being held at Melbourne is amazing, is gonna make the Aus section much more interesting
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.
ReturnOfPaddyRick
Well-Known Member
I thoroughly agree with those points. It’s likely that the pool will have to be filled in for the Nyala, so I’m not sure why they’d go to those lengths when they can just have capybara, which will actually use the pond… the old bongo exhibit is seemingly furnished so I’m not sure where the issue is with that either
The only reason I can think of is maybe being so close to the perimeter gates, the exhibit is at greater risk of intrusion by pet/feral cats. Capybara are quite vulnerable to toxoplasmosis (more so than ungulates such as nyala). Despite the zoo’s efforts to keep intruders out, pests such as possums still find their way in and that exhibit would be one of the first they come across.
ReturnOfPaddyRick
Well-Known Member
There are even Fox signs on the gate to make the truck deliveries cautious of intruders. That’s a really interesting problem though. There’s not to many places, aside from maybe that hidden lake, where the capybara could go. I’d love to see them in GW but that’s also right next to an entrance. Regardless, I’d think the capybara would be fine but I don’t mind the precautions
Fences with an inverted top work wonders and have been used to effectively predator proof wild sanctuaries for Kakapo, Takehe and North Island brown kiwi in New Zealand. The exisiting tapir fencing would need replacing, but it’s certainly doable. For that reason, they may consider nyala the better option - even if the pool must be filled.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Don't forget, possums are a native species here, and are protected.
ReturnOfPaddyRick
Well-Known Member
Definitely still pests though
NathanTheAsian
Well-Known Member
I remember a few years ago when I did the sleepover at the zoo a keeper told me that possums would occasionally make it into the lion enclosure. Apparently not one of them has made it out of there alive.
Binjai reportedly enjoyed hunting possums in her younger days and visitors on night tours used to enjoy watching possums traverse the roof of the Jaguar cage, occasionally falling victim to Maya or Muana.
Good news, I’ve wanted Melbourne to make use of the floor space in that exhibit and a quokka would fulfill that nicely. Melbourne haven’t had quokka in a decent amount of years now, so it’ll be nice for them to return as they’re usually a popular little species with visitors.
Nyala aren’t heading to Melbourne, the plans have probably been scrapped if they were in place initially. Werribee has some surplus Nyala destined for another zoo but those haven’t been sent over yet.
Capybara would be best suited for the former tapir exhibit but obviously Zoos Vic would need to deem whether they fit their ‘criteria’.
NathanTheAsian
Well-Known Member
Nyala aren’t heading to Melbourne, the plans have probably been scrapped if they were in place initially. Werribee has some surplus Nyala destined for another zoo but those haven’t been sent over yet.
Capybara would be best suited for the former tapir exhibit but obviously Zoos Vic would need to deem whether they fit their ‘criteria’.
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.
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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