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Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo Review
- Thread starter akasha
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That is devastating. Red River Hog and Wart Hogs would be amazing additions.
And Babirusa for Melbourne. The latter two could've been kept at Werribee and would've been wonderful additions there.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Were Babirusa not in MZ’s plans at one point? Sad that can never eventuate. Tbh i consider myself an animal nerd but I didn’t know Babirusa were part of Suidae. They certainly look less like pigs than peccaries, which are strangely not part of Suidae…
The Suidae ban has been in place since 1995, so not in recent years; but historically I don’t doubt they had an interest in this fascinating species.
Adelaide Zoo imported Babirusa in 1937 and 1940. They produced their first offspring in 1940. They were also held at Taronga Zoo in the 1930’s.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I had no idea it had been in place that long. That does explain the complete lack of suids I guess. I thought I heard they were in their plans from someone on this site, but they may have been misguided or referring to a while ago
Wow the suidae ban is more recent than I personally expected (ie 1995) thought perhaps early 1970s. They (ARAZPA at the time) really should of jumped at the opportunity to import Babirusa in the 1980s and early 1990s (there was some fascination with them in that era amongst knowledges animal lovers), and imo opinion imported more Collared Peccaries and at a stretch Visayan Warty Pigs given their endangered status.
Reason thought had been in place longer was that import opportunities were not taken at the time just before it came into place. But they also didn't jump at the 1989/1990-1995 lifting of the seriously restrictive bird importation laws so not sure why I'm personally so shocked. Talk about an ocean of missed opportunities.
Reason thought had been in place longer was that import opportunities were not taken at the time just before it came into place. But they also didn't jump at the 1989/1990-1995 lifting of the seriously restrictive bird importation laws so not sure why I'm personally so shocked. Talk about an ocean of missed opportunities.
I’d imagine Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) didn’t help their cause, with Australia closing the border to many ungulates during the 1990’s; however most documents I’ve found are more concerned with African Swine Fever and a variety of viruses contagious within the domestic pig population.
Since the region’s entire Collared peccary population descended from a single pair, I agree new imports were well overdue.
Both Taronga and Melbourne had plans for them around the early 2000's. They planned to import some for their new respective Asian precincts. I only found that out recently. If the ban was in place from 1995; I'm not sure how they would've expected that to happen. Maybe they were trying to push through an IRA at the time (for the Peccaries too)?
RE: Taronga
Yeah that's right the original 'blueprint' for the Wild Asia precinct listed Babirusa as a hopeful co-habitator in the exhibit with the Chital Deer (now exhibit for Ekudu the Eastern Bongo).
A desperate thought that had when thought the Bongo and Pygmy Hippos would go to new exhibits in the 'Congo' (id call it 'Tropical Africa') precinct upon completion (thought maybe they'd utilise the old Seal Pool area while retaining the heritage foundations); was to merge the two current two Pygmy Hippo exhibits and carve/cut an entrance hole into the wood of the Rainforest Trail walkway to also connect the current Bongo exhibit, cover the tops of the exhibits that aren't shaded by big trees with green veil tarps and potentially import a bonded 1.1 pair of Malayan Tapir to live there, 'pipe-dream' though do realise (and think perhaps I underestimate just how easy it is for poor Malayan Tapirs to go blind under the Australian sun even with veil covers above them).
Yeah that's right the original 'blueprint' for the Wild Asia precinct listed Babirusa as a hopeful co-habitator in the exhibit with the Chital Deer (now exhibit for Ekudu the Eastern Bongo).
A desperate thought that had when thought the Bongo and Pygmy Hippos would go to new exhibits in the 'Congo' (id call it 'Tropical Africa') precinct upon completion (thought maybe they'd utilise the old Seal Pool area while retaining the heritage foundations); was to merge the two current two Pygmy Hippo exhibits and carve/cut an entrance hole into the wood of the Rainforest Trail walkway to also connect the current Bongo exhibit, cover the tops of the exhibits that aren't shaded by big trees with green veil tarps and potentially import a bonded 1.1 pair of Malayan Tapir to live there, 'pipe-dream' though do realise (and think perhaps I underestimate just how easy it is for poor Malayan Tapirs to go blind under the Australian sun even with veil covers above them).
I’m thinking a solution to the Malayan tapir issue at Melbourne (and other zoos) could be to have indoor housing to accomodate it during the day; connected to an adjoining yard it’d have access to during the night if it chose to venture outside. It doesn’t seem realistic to keep them permanently in indoor accomodation, but this could work as a compromise if zoos felt it was worth the effort.
*Ekundu the Bongo (my bad)
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
I very much agree. At MZ I believe there is a small paddock behind the barn that they are proposed to inhabit
You were right the first time, Ekundu is an Eastern bongo (the critically endangered subspecies).
The added benefit for Melbourne Zoo is that it’ll give the visitors something extra to see on night tours. It’d be a novelty as they wouldn’t otherwise see the Malayan tapir outside during the day versus other exhibits where the only difference is the species are more active.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
As of right now, roar and snore doesn’t over a major point of difference from a regular experience. This, coupled with more nocturnal animals could be great for the zoo.
I agree. Night tours should strive to showcase things visitors don’t usually get to see during the day. Crepuscular animals are always the go to, but exhibits that are only open at night take things to the next level.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Taronga could do something similar as well if tapirs are on the agenda, which would be likely if MZ do indeed hold more than a beeeding pair
I believe Pygmy Hippos and Bongo would be staying in their current accommodation unfortunately - or at least that's what I was told by Taronga. Sending Ekundu elsewhere would make sense, as his exhibit could potentially be connected with the Pygmy Hippo exhibit opposite to give them more space which they desperately need imo.
PaddyRickMFZ
Well-Known Member
Maybe send him to MZ?
Oh yeah yeah sorry I did remember he was of the much more endangered Eastern/Mountain subspecies (I just said Bongo for short the second post) but I left the N out of his name (called him Ekudu and passed the hour mark to edit lol).
@Jambo @PaddyRickMFZ @Zoofan15
Would be good for Melbourne to have Eastern Bongo again as you guys mention, but hope Taronga continue with them too (well if more space can be found for them say where the current Gorilla complex is once they move just 'up the path' but sorry Melbourne thread).
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