Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo Review 2025 (20/1/25)

[Jambo]

To be completely honest again think perhaps that area where the visitors path is and the Fennec Fox and Meerkat exhibits are should have been utilised as further space for the Giraffe & Zebra's exhibit, and have visitors see them from the main concreted central path (and can still see the Lions, just in a 'cul-de-sac' and can turn around and head out again down the path), Meerkats and Fenenc Foxes could have very well been exhibited somewhere else in the zoo grounds without too much hassle. Maybe am being too harsh and critical saying, but really agreed with your post.

I do agree with this! There's a fair amount of space nearby that could have been utilised; enclosures for both species don't require too much space.

On a side note, I believe the former Brazilian Tapir exhibit also used to be in this general area too.

I though taronga had mixed there zebras ? unless they have unmixed them. Personally I think they should take a page out of Melbournes book and ditch the zebra and house Nyala with the giraffe. Less issues and would look just as nice.

I don't believe they've ever been mixed in with the Giraffes permanently. Taronga received a new stallion a few years back and also received the Ostrich last year so this has all likely delayed any plans for introducing the two species. Tbh I don't even know if this is still the plan.

It's a real shame there isn't a decent viewing spot for both the zebra and ostrich. The exhibit wasn't designed for this section to be sectioned off in the way that it is; as the two main viewing areas overlook the front half which the giraffes have access to.

 

[steveroberts]

I do agree with this! There's a fair amount of space nearby that could have been utilised; enclosures for both species don't require too much space.

On a side note, I believe the former Brazilian Tapir exhibit also used to be in this general area too.
.

Oh cheers man. Yeah you're right, Tique's old area (Cleo the Pygmy hippo's home before became beautiful Tique's) became part of the exhibit too.

There is an area too that could have been used for expansion but comes with a big renovation issue: its a pit and its elevation is much lower (well you all know what a pit is lol). It was Victoria & Mr Hobbs the Sun Bears (and the Dholes apparently at times: Tunlay etc, never got to see them in the exhibit) home lastly as a public exhibit (used to be Asian Lions, and then Chester the Tiger's last home before that), its not much bigger than say 300 square meters but if the zoo had been able to afford to of made the Giraffe & Zebra exhibit larger and had the means to have been able to fill that exhibit in to bring to surrounding ground level (guessing cement would have to of been mixed with soil though to ensure no collapses maybe); it could have been used as part of Giraffe and Zebra extended area too.

In regards to that exhibit now; was really happy to hear thanks to @Abbey (thanks again for the info Abbey, sorry hope it is ok that I mention) that the exhibit in fact has been used since going off general public display for a very awesome use: an additional (off-display) home for the zoo's Otters, which is fantastic given the space for the Otters is a good in size.

 

[Trua]

Oh cheers man. Yeah you're right, Tique's old area (Cleo the Pygmy hippo's home before became beautiful Tique's) became part of the exhibit too.

There is an area too that could have been used for expansion but comes with a big renovation issue: its a pit and its elevation is much lower (well you all know what a pit is lol). It was Victoria & Mr Hobbs the Sun Bears (and the Dholes apparently at times: Tunlay etc, never got to see them in the exhibit) home lastly as a public exhibit (used to be Asian Lions, and then Chester the Tiger's last home before that), its not much bigger than say 300 square meters but if the zoo had decided to of made the Giraffe & Zebra exhibit larger and had the means to have been able to fill that exhibit in to bring to surrounding ground level; it could have been used as part of Giraffe and Zebra extended area too.

In regards to that exhibit now; was really happy to hear thanks to @Abbey (thanks again for the info Abbey) that the exhibit in fact has been used since going off general public display for a very awesome use: an additional (off-display) home for the zoo's Otters, which is fantastic given the space for the Otters is a good in size.

Wow really wonderful to hear that pit is still there and in use. It also held Tigers in the mid 2000s but they weren't there for too long. It's still a pretty big pit from memory, especially for otters. From memory it would be located just above the current fennec fox enclosure correct?

 

[steveroberts]

Wow really wonderful to hear that pit is still there and in use. It also held Tigers in the mid 2000s but they weren't there for too long. It's still a pretty big pit from memory, especially for otters. From memory it would be located just above the current fennec fox enclosure correct?

Yeah absolutely hey, was really so pleased too to hear it was also. Yeah it would be actually located there am pretty sure.

Thats really cool too to know it housed some of the Sumatran Tigers too in the mid '000s (didnt get to personally see them in it during the time, there were some lengthy gaps between my visits to Taronga during those years, sometimes would go multiple times in a short time span and then think a few times was a year between getting to unfortunately; for example completely missed seeing the Peccaries when they were there at the zoo, much to my forever regret, albeit got to see them for one and only time ever at Dubbo in '98 which was awesome).

 

[Tiger91]

I do agree with this! There's a fair amount of space nearby that could have been utilised; enclosures for both species don't require too much space.

On a side note, I believe the former Brazilian Tapir exhibit also used to be in this general area too.

I don't believe they've ever been mixed in with the Giraffes permanently. Taronga received a new stallion a few years back and also received the Ostrich last year so this has all likely delayed any plans for introducing the two species. Tbh I don't even know if this is still the plan.

It's a real shame there isn't a decent viewing spot for both the zebra and ostrich. The exhibit wasn't designed for this section to be sectioned off in the way that it is; as the two main viewing areas overlook the front half which the giraffes have access to.

The original plan was for a 'savannah' with all 3 species mixed. With zebra being allowed to breed, yet we ended up with a gelded stallion and zebra once again you can't really see. I like much prefer Melbourne's plan to mix Nyala. If Taronga want to keep zebra they have the space to do so else where.

 

[Zoofan15]

The original plan was for a 'savannah' with all 3 species mixed. With zebra being allowed to breed, yet we ended up with a gelded stallion and zebra once again you can't really see. I like much prefer Melbourne's plan to mix Nyala. If Taronga want to keep zebra they have the space to do so else where.

I agree Lowland nyala are the perfect accompaniment to giraffes, with this mix working well at Wellington Zoo. A large herd of cows, adolescents and juveniles cohabit with the giraffes, which welcomed a calf 15 months ago. There have been no issues reported, with both species (especially the juveniles) demonstrating mutual curiosity.

Auckland Zoo house their nyala herd with their Southern white rhinoceros; with their giraffe herd (which has also welcomed calves in recent years) cohabiting with a gelded zebra; and three mares. While intact zebras stallions have posed a threat to giraffe calves at other zoos, their gelding apparently has a good relationship with the youngest giraffe (13 months old) and they regularly seek each other out.

Taronga were presumably cautious around holding an intact stallion with a giraffe calf (Ebo) present; but now he has matured, it would be less risky and they could arguably replace their zebra with a small breeding herd if they wished.

 

[Jambo]

Wow really wonderful to hear that pit is still there and in use. It also held Tigers in the mid 2000s but they weren't there for too long. It's still a pretty big pit from memory, especially for otters. From memory it would be located just above the current fennec fox enclosure correct?

That's cool to know. Although that makes sense considering otherwise the Tigers only had the single exhibit next door. I assume this may have been where the male was kept ie. the tigers would've been kept there from the late 90's up until the move to Dubbo prior to the construction of Tiger Trek (correct me if I'm wrong).

@steveroberts I was also of the belief that the Sun Bears used to be held down where the Red Pandas currently are?

 

[steveroberts]

That's cool to know. Although that makes sense considering otherwise the Tigers only had the single exhibit next door. I assume this may have been where the male was kept ie. the tigers would've been kept there from the late 90's up until the move to Dubbo prior to the construction of Tiger Trek (correct me if I'm wrong).

@steveroberts I was also of the belief that the Sun Bears used to be held down where the Red Pandas currently are?

Hey, yeah the Sun Bears used to be in that exhibit, first Raya & Shar for about 4 years before moving up to Alma Park, and then Lucille (died 2000), Victoria & Mr Hobbs until c2001. Apparently Sun Bears were usually the main residents of that exhibit for most of the history of the zoo (Hix uploaded a photo of two Sun Bears in the exhibit in the '70s), and then from 1979-1992 it was home to 3 American Black Bears.

 

[Jambo]

Hey, yeah the Sun Bears used to be in that exhibit, first Raya & Shar for about 4 years before moving up to Alma Park, and then Lucille (died 2000), Victoria & Mr Hobbs until c2001. Apparently Sun Bears were usually the main residents of that exhibit for most of the history of the zoo (Hix uploaded a photo of two Sun Bears in the exhibit in the '70s), and then from 1979-1992 it was home to 3 American Black Bears.

That would make sense, apparently Taronga kept both Black Bears and Sun Bears together in that enclosure at one point! Perhaps it was in the late 70's as that seems to be when their timelines both line up.

After 2001 they moved into the aforementioned pit and lived there for about a decade until Bethyl the Kodiaks passing. I think Sakti the Tiger may have lived here for a few years after prior to his transfer to Dubbo.

 

[steveroberts]

After 2001 they moved into the aforementioned pit and lived there for about a decade until Bethyl the Kodiaks passing. I think Sakti the Tiger may have lived here for a few years after prior to his transfer to Dubbo.

Yeah that makes sense.

That would make sense, apparently Taronga kept both Black Bears and Sun Bears together in that enclosure at one point! Perhaps it was in the late 70's as that seems to be when their timelines both line up.

Oh interesting with both species being together in there at some point. Oh it wasnt in the '70s. Hix remembers was a pair of Sun Bears until '79 then was the American Black Bears until late '92, they were seperate. Apparently before the Black Bears arrived was when the exhibit got some foliage planting and a waterfall feature.

 

[Zoofan15]

That's cool to know. Although that makes sense considering otherwise the Tigers only had the single exhibit next door. I assume this may have been where the male was kept ie. the tigers would've been kept there from the late 90's up until the move to Dubbo prior to the construction of Tiger Trek (correct me if I'm wrong).

@steveroberts I was also of the belief that the Sun Bears used to be held down where the Red Pandas currently are?

Hey, yeah the Sun Bears used to be in that exhibit, first Raya & Shar for about 4 years before moving up to Alma Park, and then Lucille (died 2000), Victoria & Mr Hobbs until c2001. Apparently Sun Bears were usually the main residents of that exhibit for most of the history of the zoo (Hix uploaded a photo of two Sun Bears in the exhibit in the '70s), and then from 1979-1992 it was home to 3 American Black Bears.

With regards to Taronga’s Sumatran tigers, initially Shiva and Selatan were held separately - with Selatan’s estrus period being the only time they could share an exhibit space. Kemiri was born 1994 and was transferred to Adelaide Zoo in 1995. Ramalon, Juara and Lari were born 1995 and were transferred to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 1996/1997.

From here, it’s unclear if Shiva and Selatan shared an exhibit. Photos from 1997 show them together, which we know didn’t result in a litter since their next cubs weren’t born until 2001. It’s unclear if this was a failed breeding attempt, or whether they were housed together socially.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah that makes sense.



Oh interesting with both species being together in there at some point. Oh it wasnt in the '70s. Hix remembers was a pair of Sun Bears until '79 then was the American Black Bears until late '92, they were seperate. Apparently before the Black Bears arrived was when the exhibit got some foliage planting and a waterfall feature.

It’s interesting how so many of the region’s zoos combined bear species - with Melbourne Zoo even producing a hybrid bear. Wellington Zoo housed Malayan sun bear with larger species, which unfortunately ended in the sun bear getting fatally mauled.

Information on previous bear species at Melbourne (including hybrid):

In 1927, Melbourne Zoo announced the birth of a hybrid bear - a male named Teddy born to a European brown bear and a Himalayan black bear.

In 1939, an Indian sloth bear died at a reported age of 45 years (I personally find that doubtful considering 20-30 years is the captive lifespan).

A Malayan sun bear was imported from Singapore in 1948.

In summary, like many of the main zoos in the region (Auckland, Wellington, Taronga, Perth etc), Melbourne Zoo held a multitude of bear species over the decades. It would be time consuming to find and list them all.

Giant panda have even been housed at Melbourne Zoo. A pair were loaned in 1988 for three months to celebrate Australia’s Bi Centenary.

 

[Jambo]

Oh interesting with both species being together in there at some point. Oh it wasnt in the '70s. Hix remembers was a pair of Sun Bears until '79 then was the American Black Bears until late '92, they were seperate. Apparently before the Black Bears arrived was when the exhibit got some foliage planting and a waterfall feature.

It may have been before that then. I'm sure I read a post on here saying something like that!

With regards to Taronga’s Sumatran tigers, initially Shiva and Selatan were held separately - with Selatan’s estrus period being the only time they could share an exhibit space. Kemiri was born 1994 and was transferred to Adelaide Zoo in 1995. Ramalon, Juara and Lari were born 1995 and were transferred to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 1996/1997.

From here, it’s unclear if Shiva and Selatan shared an exhibit. Photos from 1997 show them together, which we know didn’t result in a litter since their next cubs weren’t born until 2001. It’s unclear if this was a failed breeding attempt, or whether they were housed together socially.

It's interesting as it appears there was only the single exhibit for the Sumatran Tigers. Not only did they have a breeding pair but at periods, also cubs which they would have also had to accommodate. It makes sense as to why all the cubs born Shiva and Seletan were transferred out so young.

Seletan and Shiva were kept together in their later years up until Shiva's passed. Perhaps Seletan was on contraception?

 

[Zoofan15]

It may have been before that then. I'm sure I read a post on here saying something like that!

It's interesting as it appears there was only the single exhibit for the Sumatran Tigers. Not only did they have a breeding pair but at periods, also cubs which they would have also had to accommodate. It makes sense as to why all the cubs born Shiva and Seletan were transferred out so young.

Seletan and Shiva were kept together in their later years up until Shiva's passed. Perhaps Seletan was on contraception?

It’s difficult to say as Shiva and Selatan’s last litter was in 2001, which was less than a year before Shiva died.

Selatan’s first pregnancy (twins, born 1994) took a while to eventuate due to her irregular cycles. Breeding instructions presumably began the previous year when she turned three years of age.

Similarly, after producing the twins (one surviving) in November 1994, it was 11 months before the triplets followed. A tigress could have produced a subsequent litter within four months, which would have been advantageous had a repeat incident occurred (i.e. it would have enabled peer raising).

Therefore, I think it’s a possibility Selatan had been off contraception a while before her 2001 litter.

 

[Jambo]

Here's a photo I found of Shiva and Seletan together taken in 1998 (again seemingly further solidifying the assumption that the pair were being kept together permanently):

Image of Shiva (top) gives Selatan a gentle nudge in their Sumatran

 

[Zoofan15]

Here's a photo I found of Shiva and Seletan together taken in 1998 (again seemingly further solidifying the assumption that the pair were being kept together permanently):

Image of Shiva (top) gives Selatan a gentle nudge in their Sumatran

I agree it’s a reasonable assumption. Despite reports of her intolerance for Shiva in her earlier years, I recall reading she had a fondness for him in her later years (as she also did for her son, Juara, when they were reunited at Dubbo). Males and females can certainly cohabit (as evidenced by Oz and Mencari among other examples).

What I don’t know if whether the 2001 litter (twins) born to Shiva and Selatan were planned (in that she had been on contraception prior); or whether Selatan had been off contraception for the previous 3-4 years and it took that long for her to conceive.

Had Selatan’s male cub from the 1994 litter survived, the regional population would look vastly different today. Kemiri would have been mother raised and would’ve likely bred with the male at Adelaide; while the triplets born 1995 would never had been conceived, with Selatan raising her initial litter of twins for at least 12-18 months.

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

@steveroberts , don't worry about deleting the image, it all good by me. It is an amazing photo

 

[steveroberts]

@steveroberts , don't worry about deleting the image, it all good by me. It is an amazing photo

Thanks man, but Jambo was one who found it online and shared, he and Zoofan' have seen it before.

@Jambo I think from sometime in 1996 onwards Selatan & Shiva were housed together all the time until Shiva's death in March '02 (sorry think you may have already mentioned this @Zoofan15), but from 1992 to c1996 sometime was on and off (probably only started seasonal co-habitation in '93 like Zoofan' mentioned with Selatan's reaching of sexual maturity). The rearrival of Kutch the Asian Lion to Taronga from Dubbo again in September '96 (albeit he'd only been returned to Dubbo since June of that year), that date may be the clue in roughly when Selatan & Shiva did get housed together full-time (re 'musical exhibits' rotation occasionally, which Chester, Kemiri, Juara, Ramalon and Lari-Dougall were included in the rotation of at different times too between three daytime exhibits).

dont know if this helps but numbered the three exhibits below (source btw is Google Maps):

1. originally the 'Tiger Pit' exhibit (in use since 1939)
2. originally the 'Lion Pit' exhibit (in use since 1935)
3. originally the 'Jaguar Pit' exhibit (was created as a pit exhibit in 1980s, used to be 2 exhibits before that and think was at same level as path above if remember what Hix said properly)

 

[Zoofan15]

Thanks man, but Jambo was one who found it online and shared, he and Zoofan' have seen it before.

@Jambo I think from sometime in 1996 onwards Selatan & Shiva were housed together all the time until Shiva's death in March '02 (sorry think you may have already mentioned this @Zoofan15), but from 1992 to c1996 sometime was on and off (probably only started seasonal co-habitation in '93 like Zoofan' mentioned with Selatan's reaching of sexual maturity). The rearrival of Kutch the Asian Lion to Taronga from Dubbo again in September '96 (albeit he'd only been returned to Dubbo since June of that year), that date may be the clue in roughly when Selatan & Shiva did get housed together full-time (re 'musical exhibits' rotation occasionally, which Chester, Kemiri, Juara, Ramalon and Lari-Dougall were included in the rotation of at different times too between three daytime exhibits).

That all makes sense. Selatan arrived at the age of 18 months from Melbourne Zoo (a common dispersal age for that era) and was initially housed alone. Sexual maturity is usually attained at around 3 years, so late 1993 is probably when they began introductions.

By late 1994, Selatan was pregnant with twins (delivering in November). It was noted that Shiva had previously undergone fertility testing to rule out that he was infertile due to the lack of success in breeding from them. This indicated they’d been trying for some time.

After giving birth to triplets in October 1995, Selatan reared them alone (with no input from Shiva). I found an article saying they transferred to Dubbo in 1996 (probably when they were 12-13 months to be on display for the school holidays).

Article on Taronga’s tigers:

The Sydney Morning Herald, Page 10 (December 10, 1997):

Zoo's boom gives tigers room to learn multiplication

Taronga and the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo are delighted to have come up with a $1.59 million operating surplus for the year, coming in 32 per cent over their budget target.

The roaring financial success will bring immediate benefits to the Sumatran tigers, with a massive new enclosure under way at Western Plains, where it is hoped the animals will breed.

Taronga has five tigers, two in Sydney and three cubs born in captivity which were moved to Dubbo last year as part of the zoo's breeding program.

The new enclosure will cater for 12 of the big cats, and the extra space will boost negotiations with zoos in the United States which are considering sending all their Sumatran tigers to Australia so the animals can be bred in their own region.

I found this article a few years ago and was amazed to learn we almost received a number of Sumatran tigers from the US. One of my friends told me there was a plan for Auckland Zoo to have received a male from the US in the late 90’s to pair with Nisha, which may well have tied in with these plans.

 

[steveroberts]

That all makes sense. Selatan arrived at the age of 18 months from Melbourne Zoo (a common dispersal age for that era) and was initially housed alone. Sexual maturity is usually attained at around 3 years, so late 1993 is probably when they began introductions.

By late 1994, Selatan was pregnant with twins (delivering in November). It was noted that Shiva had previously undergone fertility testing to rule out that he was infertile due to the lack of success in breeding from them. This indicated they’d been trying for some time.

After giving birth to triplets in October 1995, Selatan reared them alone (with no input from Shiva). I found an article saying they transferred to Dubbo in 1996 (probably when they were 12-13 months to be on display for the school holidays).

Article on Taronga’s tigers:

The Sydney Morning Herald, Page 10 (December 10, 1997):

Zoo's boom gives tigers room to learn multiplication

Taronga and the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo are delighted to have come up with a $1.59 million operating surplus for the year, coming in 32 per cent over their budget target.

The roaring financial success will bring immediate benefits to the Sumatran tigers, with a massive new enclosure under way at Western Plains, where it is hoped the animals will breed.

Taronga has five tigers, two in Sydney and three cubs born in captivity which were moved to Dubbo last year as part of the zoo's breeding program.

The new enclosure will cater for 12 of the big cats, and the extra space will boost negotiations with zoos in the United States which are considering sending all their Sumatran tigers to Australia so the animals can be bred in their own region.

I found this article a few years ago and was amazed to learn we almost received a number of Sumatran tigers from the US. One of my friends told me there was a plan for Auckland Zoo to have received a male from the US in the late 90’s to pair with Nisha, which may well have tied in with these plans.

Yeah I think she was the first to be housed in the revamped/renovated Tiger Pit exhibit in '92 when it opened, and then she was moved to behind the Jungle Cats exhibits when Chester arrived at the zoo (not sure how her, Shiva and Jambi all fitted into two yards until Jambi left in December that year for Wellington; perhaps they revolved use of the yards and the dens during different days?), I imagine if Selatan and Shiva werent already introduced in those yards then would have been like you said in late '93 (in late August/early September '93 was when the old Lion Pit' exhibit's renovations were completed and they'd been moved in there).