Africa has such a rich culture and diversity, with many of our species ranging across many regions and dialects. It's just laziness with naming.
I do like your idea of places and geographic names.
Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
-
- Tags
- melbourne zoo
Africa has such a rich culture and diversity, with many of our species ranging across many regions and dialects. It's just laziness with naming.
I do like your idea of places and geographic names.
I visited Melbourne a few days ago and have a few updates:
- As soon as I arrived I went straight to see the two new arrivals; Lupo the Brazilian Tapir, and the new male Giraffe calf. Lupo was unfortunately sleeping in the shelter at the back of his exhibit, so didn't get a great view of him. And upon reaching the giraffe exhibit, I was disappointed to only find Iris and Klintun out in the back half of the habitat (which has been separated via a fence). However after waiting a few minutes, patience paid off, and out came Nakuru, closely trailed by her young calf. I talked to a keeper and he said 'Enzi' is currently the most favored name amongst the public at the moment.. so we'll see where that goes. The members vote will be announced any day now.
- The Lemurs were incredibly active. The most active I've ever seen, and a few fellow regulars remarked the same. Keepers and volunteers were scattered across the walkthrough, attempting to keep Lemurs away from visitors, but it was almost too much. There was Lemurs sneaking up on people (including myself!), Lemurs climbing into prams and Lemurs jumping left right and centre. Very much the first time I've ever actually felt like the walkthrough has lived up to it's name. The group currently numbers thirteen, and there were a few squabbles here and there as the group sorts out the hierarchy following the arrival of the males from Monarto. Hendrix, the father of the Monarto group, seems to be protecting his position for the meantime.
- Ranger Station in the Gorilla Rainforest was closed. Also got to confirm Melbourne's down to just three Spider Monkeys, Oren, Izumi and one other female. Perhaps the mother/daughter have been sent to another facility regionally to breed. A phase out may be on the horizon for this species if so.
- Only saw two male Asian Short Clawed Otters in the Forest of Wonders exhibit. The Saimang were also off display (unsure as to why).
- Melbourne currently has 16 baboons - so there's been no deaths within the last year.
- Reptile House - A Fijian Crested Iguana has been added into the Terrarium with the Indian Star Tortoises. A pair of Merten's Water Monitor are now on display in a double terrarium. The Honduran Milk Snake that shared a terrarium with the Red Barred Dragon has also been removed (unsure if it's a temporary move).
- The construction in the center of the Carnivores Precinct is a new play area.
- The zoo currently has 17 Meerkats in three groups. It appears since my last visit in June, they've separated the larger family group into two (potentially in separate sexes).
Thanks for the update. I’m glad you got to see the giraffe calf, especially since it’s Melbourne’s first (surviving) calf in two decades.
Since Odie has moved out, his sons would have had to establish a hierarchy amongst themselves, with one of them as the new alpha. Auckland’s group has similarly had no end of dramas in their bachelor group (requiring separation of the otters) since the father died a few years ago, with the latest requiring the removal of one of the three remaining brothers.
It wouldn’t surprise me. They’re one of the few inhabitants of Treetops that would be a challenge to house elsewhere in the zoo, so if they’re redeveloping this area (as has been reported), a phase out is inevitable. It sounds like Lupo is settled where he is for the foreseeable and that exhibit is unsuitable for spider monkeys for obvious reasons.
Since Odie has moved out, his sons would have had to establish a hierarchy amongst themselves, with one of them as the new alpha. Auckland’s group has similarly had no end of dramas in their bachelor group (requiring separation of the otters) since the father died a few years ago, with the latest requiring the removal of one of the three remaining brothers.
It wouldn’t surprise me. They’re one of the few inhabitants of Treetops that would be a challenge to house elsewhere in the zoo, so if they’re redeveloping this area (as has been reported), a phase out is inevitable. It sounds like Lupo is settled where he is for the foreseeable and that exhibit is unsuitable for spider monkeys for obvious reasons.
Females in particular come into conflict as they mature. With a number of young coming through, my guess is the mother was trying to evict her daughters and some/all have been removed to form an all female group. In the absence of males, they’re usually more chill.
This is the problem with letting the public vote on names. They always vote for the same type of names - the simpler the better (i.e. 2 syllables); and if it ends with an ee sound, all the better.
A Fox has broken into Melbourne Zoo and has killed three Long-nosed Potoroos and a wild Possum. Devastating loss and I assume this will be the last we see of Long-nosed Potoroos at Melbourne Zoo.
The story hit mainstream media yesterday.
The story hit mainstream media yesterday.
That's absolutely devastating since I was lucky enough to catch two of them during my visit just a few months ago, foxes have been a huge issue not only at Melbourne, but also Werribee in the past (hence the fox proof fences there).
When I visited a few days ago the enclosure was blocked off with a sign saying the animals were temporarily off display, so I guess I know why now. Since the incident occurred last month, I wonder what happened to the Echidna that shared the same enclosure as them. Hopefully it will go back on display there.
Giraffe calf name announced:
Melbourne Zoo’s giraffe calf has been named ‘Tambi’.
From socials:
Melbourne Zoo's giraffe calf name is, drum roll please... TAMBI! (pronounced Tum-bee)
Swahili for 'noodle', Tambi was one of three naming options chosen by our Zoos Victoria Members and Supporters.
Good news indeed. As noted by @Jambo, it’s a fitting reference to Tambo (previous Melbourne bred calf); and the alternative of Enzi is chronically overused in the region across several species.
Melbourne Zoo’s giraffe calf has been named ‘Tambi’.
From socials:
Melbourne Zoo's giraffe calf name is, drum roll please... TAMBI! (pronounced Tum-bee)
Swahili for 'noodle', Tambi was one of three naming options chosen by our Zoos Victoria Members and Supporters.
Good news indeed. As noted by @Jambo, it’s a fitting reference to Tambo (previous Melbourne bred calf); and the alternative of Enzi is chronically overused in the region across several species.
Indeed great news that this name has won the vote - it was easily the best of all three. From the following video, it also appears he's been recently introduced to Iris of the last couple of days.
The video notes Tambi has met ‘the other herd members’ implying he has met the bull Klintun also. I wouldn’t have anticipated any issues in that regard. In the rare instances where a calf has been injured (sometimes fatally), it’s been the mother in most cases (usually accidental or a misjudge of force). Auckland Zoo for example has had three such incidents, with two attributed to the mother; and the third undetermined.
It’ll be interesting to see what interest Klintun shows in his son. Anecdotally, I’ve observed several bulls showing keen interest in their first (surviving) offspring, which isn’t sustained across future offspring (presumably due to novelty factor and/or alignment of energy levels).
As of Sunday, both hadn't been introduced, so if so, they've both been introduced over the last few days (especially now that the weather's been a bit better). Tambi's now just turned 3 weeks old, so it's usually around this point introductions are taken between calves and the rest of the herd.
Klintun seemed very interested in Tambi during my visit; and also during videos Melbourne have shared on socials. Klintun honestly seemed quite frustrated by being separated from Nakuru and Tambi during my visit. He was walking loops around the paddock throwing his head back (a classic sign of stress/frustration), and kept walking across to the gate separating the two halves of the larger paddock and watching Nakuru and Tambi. Iris on the other hand, didn't seem remotely interested in young Tambi.
When Enzi was born January 2024, Auckland Zoo began introductions of mother and calf to the herd within the first week, which has been typical of their calves over the past 2-3 decades. Only the zebras (particularly when they had stallions as they did until recently) were delayed until the calf was at least 2-3 weeks.
Aside from the weather, I expect Melbourne has been more cautious due to this calf being their first (surviving) calf in two decades and the parents being inexperienced.
It's also worth noting that Auckland doesn't really have the facilities to separate their giraffe herd outdoors, and Melbourne does; so Melbourne were obviously able to be more cautious, especially with this being the first calf born into this herd.
It'll be interesting to see whether this is replicated when Iris births (and hopefully it's a surviving calf). But I wouldn't be surprised to see the introductions completed much earlier perhaps at one week next time around, now that all members of the herd are familiar with having a calf in the herd.
When they resumed breeding in 2002, Auckland Zoo made use of a small outdoor yard that adjoined the night house; but it required the rest of the herd to be outside on exhibit if they wanted to be outside. It would have been interesting to see how things were managed when they had calves born five days apart in 2002. They now have a second night house, which is more useful for confining the mother and calf during the early days.
Iris looks very pregnant from videos I’ve seen on socials etc. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her deliver her first calf this summer. It’d be great to see Melbourne have two calves born within a matter of months.
NathanTheAsian
Well-Known Member
Visited today for a school trip.
- Tambi was out today, was not very active and sat down in his own patch of grass at the back.
- I was able to photograph miska on the floor this time with her goat legs. They are hung by a rope at the front ground level mirror so she has to stay there to gnaw/pull it off
- The baboon enclosure is under development and the area between the nyala to the Tapir is closed off
- Platypus is still closed off
- New Tapir was sitting down in his shed near the back.
- Caught hutan on a mid morning stroll, no sign of indrah
It's good that you got to see Hutan, I haven't managed to catch him on my last few visits. Although managed to see Indrah during a keeper presentation when I visited last week.
How long has the Platypus house been closed off for?
Also interesting to hear of a potential redevelopment at the Baboon enclosure. It seems they've been doing work on the BTS area over the last year or so, so perhaps they're now moving onto doing some work on the outdoor area. Hopefully livening up the exhibit a bit with more foliage and climbing opportunities for them.
NathanTheAsian
Well-Known Member
Im pretty sure it was closed on my last visit as well so at least since June
It was open as of last week and Sam was his usual active self, so it hasn't been closed that whole time.
Re. Hamadryas baboon exhibit closure:
Nothing has been reported on socials, so I’d assume it’s something routine like replanting vegetation that has been destroyed over the past year (spring being an ideal time for regrowth/planting) or laying new substrate for the baboons to forage in.
The new female baboon has been on site about six months now, so if they were anticipating a birth in the coming months, now would be a good time to confine the troop as opposed to when the infant is hear and tensions are high.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
For people who don't know, Tambi is a giraffe calf, Miska is a Snow Leopard, and Hutan and Indrah are tigers.
Melbourne Zoo has announced that they have received three female gorillas, Mbeli, Frala and Johari from Taronga.
from the email
And then there were five!
Melbourne Zoo is celebrating the arrival of three female Western lowland gorillas from Taronga Zoo, joining 24-year-old Otana, our 187kg silverback gorilla and his daughter, 10-year-old Kanzi.
The new girl group (or ‘troop’) were carefully transported from Sydney and after a period in quarantine, entered Melbourne Zoo’s gorilla habitat for the first time today. There are high hopes for this lovely troop of lowland gorillas.
“They were rolling around, the old girl Frala was walking on a tightrope up high, Johari has a behaviour where she likes to put hessian sacks on her back – they were all exhibiting playful behaviours, which indicates that they were happy and confident on habitat.” says Gill Maxwell, Life Sciences Manger of Primates. “The three girls have such unique personalities, it’s incredible.”
In the coming weeks, Melbourne Zoo's primate keepers plan to introduce Otana and Kanzi to the three new gorillas, first introducing them from a distance, to acclimatise to each other visually and by scent. The keepers will monitor the troupe by remote camera systems so as not to disrupt this critical and exciting time.
While the introductions are underway, the new gorillas might not be on view straight away. Keep coming back for the chance to see them settle in and check the Member Zone for any updates!
from the email
And then there were five!
Melbourne Zoo is celebrating the arrival of three female Western lowland gorillas from Taronga Zoo, joining 24-year-old Otana, our 187kg silverback gorilla and his daughter, 10-year-old Kanzi.
The new girl group (or ‘troop’) were carefully transported from Sydney and after a period in quarantine, entered Melbourne Zoo’s gorilla habitat for the first time today. There are high hopes for this lovely troop of lowland gorillas.
“They were rolling around, the old girl Frala was walking on a tightrope up high, Johari has a behaviour where she likes to put hessian sacks on her back – they were all exhibiting playful behaviours, which indicates that they were happy and confident on habitat.” says Gill Maxwell, Life Sciences Manger of Primates. “The three girls have such unique personalities, it’s incredible.”
In the coming weeks, Melbourne Zoo's primate keepers plan to introduce Otana and Kanzi to the three new gorillas, first introducing them from a distance, to acclimatise to each other visually and by scent. The keepers will monitor the troupe by remote camera systems so as not to disrupt this critical and exciting time.
While the introductions are underway, the new gorillas might not be on view straight away. Keep coming back for the chance to see them settle in and check the Member Zone for any updates!
Wow, did not see this one coming!?
What will happen with the Taronga gorilla troupe now?