Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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Yes, Melbourne Zoo had made an import a few months ago, they were renovating the first enclosure to the left inside the reptile house for it. A great addition.
Good to hear the King cobra is now on display. It’s a male as reported on socials today.
I visited the Zoo today, here’s some bits of small news:
Since my last visit in February, there have been numerous changes to species on display in the reptile house:
Species moved on display:
Southern Saratoga
Pygmy Mulga Monitor
Red Barred Dragon
King Cobra
Eyelash Viper (housed with Cardinal Tetra and Otocinclus Catfish)
Honduran Milk Snake
Species likely moved off display:
Gila Monster
Southern Pilbara Rock Monitor
Boyd’s Forest Dragon*
Pink Tongue Skink
Species that are likely still off display:
Veiled Chameleon
Centralian Blue Tongue Lizard
Arafura File Snake
Three Boyd’s Forest Dragons have moved in with the Green Tree Frogs in the Frog House, a similar mix to that at Healesville Sanctuary, this may be a temporary arrangement.
While I wasn’t able to go to Digest-Ed due to classes running, I was able to see that the Ball Python’s were not on display.
The end of the Carnivores trail was closed, I think it may have been a tree that fell down? Only enclosure that was inaccessible was the Tasmanian Devil enclosure.
All of Gorilla Rainforest except for Lemur Island was closed, presumably for some maintenance. Due to this I didn’t see the Gorillas, Ruffed Lemurs, Pygmy Hippos or any of the treetop monkeys and apes.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoos have moved back into the Great Flight Aviary after a period of absence.
Since my last visit in February, there have been numerous changes to species on display in the reptile house:
Species moved on display:
Southern Saratoga
Pygmy Mulga Monitor
Red Barred Dragon
King Cobra
Eyelash Viper (housed with Cardinal Tetra and Otocinclus Catfish)
Honduran Milk Snake
Species likely moved off display:
Gila Monster
Southern Pilbara Rock Monitor
Boyd’s Forest Dragon*
Pink Tongue Skink
Species that are likely still off display:
Veiled Chameleon
Centralian Blue Tongue Lizard
Arafura File Snake
Three Boyd’s Forest Dragons have moved in with the Green Tree Frogs in the Frog House, a similar mix to that at Healesville Sanctuary, this may be a temporary arrangement.
While I wasn’t able to go to Digest-Ed due to classes running, I was able to see that the Ball Python’s were not on display.
The end of the Carnivores trail was closed, I think it may have been a tree that fell down? Only enclosure that was inaccessible was the Tasmanian Devil enclosure.
All of Gorilla Rainforest except for Lemur Island was closed, presumably for some maintenance. Due to this I didn’t see the Gorillas, Ruffed Lemurs, Pygmy Hippos or any of the treetop monkeys and apes.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoos have moved back into the Great Flight Aviary after a period of absence.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update!
They were in there last June/July, and had only recently been included (I believe). Did they go out again in between?
With how endangered white tails are its a wonder that zoos haven't swapped over. They are just as striking of a bird.
FunnyJamie
Member
I will likely visit Melbourne tomorrow. I will be checking if the Gorilla Rainforest is still closed.
As well as the Changes Yoshi has mentioned and look for any others.
As well as the Changes Yoshi has mentioned and look for any others.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Depends on the subspecies of Red-Tailed it is. The South eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is endangered. The subspecies endemic to the West-Wimmera is critically endangered.
But then at the same time the particular ones at MZ may not be one of the endangered ones.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Not sure where they are promoting this, but Melbourne Zoo for a limited time (1 June - 1 December) are running Animal Encounters with Snow Leopard. Maximum of 4 people per encounter.
Link here:
Snow Leopard Experience | Zoo Experiences | Animal Encounters | Zoos Victoria
Not sure where they are promoting this, but Melbourne Zoo for a limited time (1 June - 1 December) are running Animal Encounters with Snow Leopard. Maximum of 4 people per encounter.
Link here:
Snow Leopard Experience | Zoo Experiences | Animal Encounters | Zoos Victoria
Interesting to hear! This is the first time Melbourne's done an experience with Snow Leopards to my knowledge, so certainly something that may be willing to attend.
If anyone does go it'll be awesome to know the breeding plans for this pair. It's going on to be five years since they were last paired; another recommendation should be on the horizon, relying on space at other holders.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
I'm back in Melbourne in July, and have booked July 20, so can ask questions people have
Onto it already!I'm back in Melbourne in July, and have booked July 20, so can ask questions people have
The breeding plans for Kang Ju and Mishka would be my priority. I'd also be keen to know what the capacity of Melbourne's Snow Leopard complex is too, with the off display exhibits they have as well.
And although this doesn't relate to Snow leopards, it would also be nice to know what Melbourne's plans are with their Tigers going forward (there were obviously rumors of a potential phase out). The keepers taking you would be carnivore keepers, so should hopefully be able to give some sort of response to that question.
I’m optimistic this suggests they’re gearing up to breed. If they’re popular and the cats don’t appear unduly stressed, then why not keep them going? Perhaps they know with the cats benefiting from privacy during courtship/mating and then a potential pregnancy/rearing of cubs, that their won’t be another opportunity to breed from Snow leopards for a while!
I'm back in Melbourne in July, and have booked July 20, so can ask questions people have
Snow leopard questions specifically, it’d be interesting to get a wider picture of regional plans e.g. target numbers. I had a talk with a keeper about regional target numbers for Sumatran tigers once, which was really interesting.
Generally speaking, I’d also like to know more about long term plans for Sumatran tigers.
This is now sold out (according to the website): We booked our spots this morning and there was almost none left. We got a place in October - but that was one of the last spots available. Lucky we booked when we did!
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
When I was a child my parents were zoo members (for obvious reasons) but my mother only rejoined as a member a year or 2 back post-COVID due to me being a member, and she liked the idea of going on outings with me to the Zoo, as being a member I was doing near weekly.
As I am now living in Tanzania, my membership lapsed, so it was only by the good fortune of her getting the members email, and her prospectvely buying us tickets that we managed them.
The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
This soldout entirely within 2 days, and is the fastest selling Zoos Vic experience in its 162 year history!
There were only ~300 spaces available.
I can imagine it would have been a very popular encounter. Snow leopards are scarce in the region (only five in Australia and two in New Zealand); and while Billabong also offers an encounter, it’s not something I recall Melbourne doing. To all those who are going, enjoy it!
Giant Tortoise Update:
Older Tortoises Little John and Wilbur have moved down to the enclosure within the Growing Wild precinct, whilst the seven younger tortoises from Growing Wild moved up to the recently expanded enclosure beside the Reptile House.
Those seven younger tortoises include six that arrived from Mauritius a few years back and Melbourne's long term female resident, Jean.
Tortoise Taxi | Beep beep A 'Tortoise Taxi' is making the rounds at Melbourne Zoo as it chauffeurs 100-year-old Giant Tortoises Wilbur and Little John to their... | By Zoos VictoriaFacebook
Older Tortoises Little John and Wilbur have moved down to the enclosure within the Growing Wild precinct, whilst the seven younger tortoises from Growing Wild moved up to the recently expanded enclosure beside the Reptile House.
Those seven younger tortoises include six that arrived from Mauritius a few years back and Melbourne's long term female resident, Jean.
Tortoise Taxi | Beep beep A 'Tortoise Taxi' is making the rounds at Melbourne Zoo as it chauffeurs 100-year-old Giant Tortoises Wilbur and Little John to their... | By Zoos VictoriaFacebook
It’ll be good to see the six subadults in the spacious exhibit near the reptile house. Having such a large number of founders will greatly enhance the chance of the zoo breeding the species in years to come.
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