Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2024

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I was back at the zoo today for the parts I didn't do yesterday. The elephants were an amazing highlight: it must have been more than 30 minutes that I was watching the three young ones constantly dunking each other in the big pool. It was also great to hear the keepers talking enthusiastically about the benefits of the Werribee move for the animals, rather than framing it in sadness at their exit from Melbourne etc.

I did also really enjoy the primates. I know the treehouses have a poor reputation here (not unfairly), but with a good level of time commitment I was able to watch a significant amount of activity from the spider monkeys, both gibbons, the colobus and the tamarins. Though it is hard to spot the tamarins in that enclosure when they don't want to be seen. Just one more species (and/or a better outcome for the solo colobus) would really make it feel like a strong zone. The black and white lemurs were also very active despite the rain, which I enjoyed as they're one of my favourite species in the zoo. Limited gorilla activity today.

The indoor viewing area at the orang-utans was closed, and both the orang-utans and the younger siamangs seemed to be off-show. I'm not sure if that's a known phenomenon at the moment, and/or related to the building closure?

Lastly, the Varanus hamersleyensis (I forget their common name) were very active around their tank, in that little space at the back of the gorilla enclosure. But there was also a different reptile in with them, that I'm 99% sure was unlabelled. It was some kind of arid skink I think, but well outside my expertise to identify.
 
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chrisjpl said:
I was back at the zoo today for the parts I didn't do yesterday. The elephants were an amazing highlight: it must have been more than 30 minutes that I was watching the three young ones constantly dunking each other in the big pool. It was also great to hear the keepers talking enthusiastically about the benefits of the Werribee move for the animals, rather than framing it in sadness at their exit from Melbourne etc.
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I know the staff are equally as excited as we are for the elephant’s transfer to Werribee. Unlike Auckland (or New Zealand for that matter), which won’t have elephants anymore; or Perth, Melbourne’s herd will be 30 minutes away, so locals will still be able to see them.

And of course the overriding point in all this is that the herd will be housed in arguably the best complex in captivity, regionally and internationally.
chrisjpl said:
The indoor viewing area at the orang-utans was closed, and both the orang-utans and the younger siamangs seemed to be off-show. I'm not sure if that's a known phenomenon at the moment, and/or related to the building closure?
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That’s news to us. It was reported in April that climbing towers had been installed in the orangtuan exhibit, but I’m unaware of any further developments in their exhibit.
chrisjpl said:
Lastly, the Varanus hamersleyensis (I forget their common name) were very active around their tank, in that little space at the back of the gorilla enclosure.
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Southern Pilbara rock goanna.
 
Is it sustainable on welfare grounds to be keeping a solo colobus? They're such social animals, and my understanding is that the zoo has felt it best practice to euthanise solitary survivors with other species (eg mandrill, or - very differently - African hunting dogs). I'm not arguing for euthanasia here, but the idea of a colobus living on its own for any significant period of time does feel rather sad.
 
MissBee said:
While enjoying watching Hutan sitting centre front of the exhibit, I got talking to one of the volunteers. He said that due to funding constraints that Trail of the Elephants will be redeveloped as a new kids play space with high ropes course. I was so disappointed to hear that there is not something more exciting happening to make up for the loss of Elephants. The zoo is already feeling quite empty.
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Would be a huge shame if Melbourne pursued this route. I really don't know how this will be an adequate replacement for the elephants attraction wise, and the argument can't even be made that Melbourne need a child dedicated section. They already have a whole precinct dedicated to children, let alone smaller sections within each trail.

In saying that, I can understand the position they're in with the financial constraints the governments experiencing at the moment. There's really no argument to build completely new exhibits here when there isn't likely to be new species acquired and the current species in the area aren't in desperate need of new enclosures. Of course, the whole trail could do with a make-over but the same could be said about majority of the zoo.

Priority will obviously be given to Werribee and it's projects in the mean time. Keep in mind Kyabram is still establishing itself as well, so they are also receiving a fair amount of investment.

If Melbourne do end up going with a high ropes course, at the very least I hope they give the Orangutans an expansion to align with this. But seeing as they recently added new towers into the outdoor exhibit I've become a little bit speculative of this turning to reality anytime soon. If not Orangutans, I would be happy with absolutely anything. A larger Squirrel Monkey exhibit there would be better than nothing imo.

Shoving a ropes course into the elephant complex won't be feasible long term. Whilst it might be quite popular initially, knowing kids they'd mostly be tired of it after two or three visits. And knowing Melbourne they'd let the rope course sit there for ages before making any improvements to the area; as might be the plan long term.
 
chrisjpl said:
The indoor viewing area at the orang-utans was closed, and both the orang-utans and the younger siamangs seemed to be off-show. I'm not sure if that's a known phenomenon at the moment, and/or related to the building closure?
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Indoor has been closed for a while. It seems you may have passed when both were indoors for keepers to put out lunch. If this is the case, I usually loop back and catch them a little while later if I have the time.
 
chrisjpl said:
Is it sustainable on welfare grounds to be keeping a solo colobus? They're such social animals, and my understanding is that the zoo has felt it best practice to euthanise solitary survivors with other species (eg mandrill, or - very differently - African hunting dogs). I'm not arguing for euthanasia here, but the idea of a colobus living on its own for any significant period of time does feel rather sad.
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Yes they can live solitary. Melbourne would be holding her with the premise that this is the best option for her in the meantime; if they believed she wasn't capable of doing so they would surely be searching for another option like transferring her to one of the other breeding troops in the region. In saying that, moving her into another troop with unrelated individuals could be very stressful and for all we know she may be doing well on her own, so this may not be necessary. But perhaps most likely, another mate for her is planned. Overseas is the only realistic option and that can obviously take a while.
 
chrisjpl said:
I was back at the zoo today for the parts I didn't do yesterday. The elephants were an amazing highlight: it must have been more than 30 minutes that I was watching the three young ones constantly dunking each other in the big pool. It was also great to hear the keepers talking enthusiastically about the benefits of the Werribee move for the animals, rather than framing it in sadness at their exit from Melbourne etc.

I did also really enjoy the primates. I know the treehouses have a poor reputation here (not unfairly), but with a good level of time commitment I was able to watch a significant amount of activity from the spider monkeys, both gibbons, the colobus and the tamarins. Though it is hard to spot the tamarins in that enclosure when they don't want to be seen. Just one more species (and/or a better outcome for the solo colobus) would really make it feel like a strong zone. The black and white lemurs were also very active despite the rain, which I enjoyed as they're one of my favourite species in the zoo. Limited gorilla activity today.

The indoor viewing area at the orang-utans was closed, and both the orang-utans and the younger siamangs seemed to be off-show. I'm not sure if that's a known phenomenon at the moment, and/or related to the building closure?

Lastly, the Varanus hamersleyensis (I forget their common name) were very active around their tank, in that little space at the back of the gorilla enclosure. But there was also a different reptile in with them, that I'm 99% sure was unlabelled. It was some kind of arid skink I think, but well outside my expertise to identify.
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When I was there last the orangutan house was closed, but they still had access to outside. Malu was on one of the furthest platforms from viewing areas. Siamangs were also out feeding. I think both may be a little weather dependent.
 
Jambo said:
Yes they can live solitary. Melbourne would be holding her with the premise that this is the best option for her in the meantime; if they believed she wasn't capable of doing so they would surely be searching for another option like transferring her to one of the other breeding troops in the region. In saying that, moving her into another troop with unrelated individuals could be very stressful and for all we know she may be doing well on her own, so this may not be necessary. But perhaps most likely, another mate for her is planned. Overseas is the only realistic option and that can obviously take a while.
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Thanks - that makes sense. I don't think I've seen solitary colobus before, but it's reassuring to hear that they can do fine solo.

Jambo said:
Indoor has been closed for a while. It seems you may have passed when both were indoors for keepers to put out lunch. If this is the case, I usually loop back and catch them a little while later if I have the time.
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Yeah most probably. I'd spent a lot of time in the treehouses by then and with the elephants, and I'd seen Sampit and Isidor already. Do we know what the indoor closure is for?
 
chrisjpl said:
Is it sustainable on welfare grounds to be keeping a solo colobus? They're such social animals, and my understanding is that the zoo has felt it best practice to euthanise solitary survivors with other species (eg mandrill, or - very differently - African hunting dogs). I'm not arguing for euthanasia here, but the idea of a colobus living on its own for any significant period of time does feel rather sad.
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Short answer, no. It’s not advisable to hold a lone colobus. Though I doubt Kipenzi’s welfare is suffering to the degree immediate companionship is required, it would undoubtedly be the long term plan to acquire more colobus (or at a minimum, a mate).

Within Australia, options are limited. Adelaide have a close knit troop centred around a mother and daughters unit. Kipenzi would be an outsider and a successful introduction could be difficult. Melbourne sourcing a new male is certainly the best option here if one becomes available from outside the region.
 
Mlawlor said:
I visited Melbourne zoo today and found out pretty big news.

in the next six months, a pair of Brazilian Tapir are expected to arrive. The male is coming from Austria, a female was sourced from Italy but it may have fallen through. The plan over the next year is for three pairs to be imported, one for Adelaide and I think the other was Darling Downs, but didn’t hear it exactly, to create a regional breeding population. They will be living in where the Nyala are now (old Malayan Tapir exhibit), the Nyala will be moving to the area next to the Baboons sometime so then the can refurbish the enclosure to make seperate areas to help with breeding. It was also the region wouldn’t be continuing with Malayan Tapir due to our sunlight causing blindness.

This was all said as the keepers were cleaning the Pygmy Hippo enclosures. They mentioned they are rewards to import a mate for Felix, but they are just waiting for bio-security procedures to be updated.

I think I caught all this correctly, I didn't ask any questions.
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If you did in fact hear this correctly, this is absolutely remarkable news
 
The playground over the elephant complex may be a bit of a bummer but bringing Brazilian tapirs is a great move. Adding capybaras and maras along with them would also be nice and the back of the zoo can be a little South American area at least while the peccaries are still there. Hope Australian zoos continue interest in Brazilian tapirs
 
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noobmaster69 said:
The playground over the elephant complex may be a bit of a bummer but bringing Brazilian tapirs is a great move. Adding capybaras and maras along with them would also be nice and the back of the zoo can be a little South American area at least while the peccaries are still there. Hope Australian zoos continue interest in Brazilian tapirs
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I’ll miss the Collared peccaries when they go. Though no longer classified as part of the Suidae family, they’re a decent substitute for species we can’t import like Warthog and Babirusa. It will indeed be nice to see them displayed along Brazilian tapir.

If only Melbourne Zoo would bring back Maned wolf!
 
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