Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024

[Tiger91]

Monarto have previously received funding from the Australian Government and the State Government.

As one example:

https://www.monartosafari.com.au/hundreds-of-jobs-created-as-monarto-safari-parks-visitor-centre-nears-completion/:~:text=The Visitor Centre project received,new entry and Visitor Centre.

The Visitor Centre project received $11.25m of funding from the Australian Government and $4.55m from the State Government towards a total $16.8m cost of building the new entry and Visitor Centre. The Rural City of Murray Bridge also contributed to the project through the construction of a new slip lane entry from Monarto Road.

That is no where near other state run zoos. And while I understand they get significant hand outs they that other private zoos don't get. They still have to pay there way a fair amount with staff wages and food.

For example, wild Asia at taronga where the elephants and asian rainforest exhibits that is now the rainforest trail was of memory 100mil. Plus all other costs are covered by government funding. Tarongas wild oceans was also in that ball park. Monarto have never seen that sort of money, let alone have it for a small precinct inside of the zoo.

 

[Zoofan15]

Although I dont think we need anymore elephant cows. We have not fully utilised what have, we realistically should have had double the amount of calves by now. Before melbournes cohort was born we have 50% survival rate. Which isnt ideal heading into the future for a breeding program that is producing limited calve numbers.

Yes, considering we also need to account for male calves being born, it’s been a struggle to build up multigenerational herds over the 18 years since the Thai imports occurred in 2006.

From the seven cows imported:

One is a non-viable breeder
One has no surviving offspring
One had two sons
One had a son and is now a non-viable breeder

Of the remaining three:

One had one son and one daughter (six years)
One has one surviving daughter (16 months)
One has two daughters (14 years and 18 months)

Melbourne are making great progress in building up their herd, but Dubbo’s succession relies on the survival/reproduction of a single six year old female cow until the founders produce additional female calves. Fingers crossed Anjalee is pregnant and Porntip can breed again (producing another female calf).

 

[Zorro]

It should of ideally been kept out of zoo hands. The original idea of throwing some rhino on a farm and letting them roam free and create a back up population. Will be of more use then letting the zoos manage it. The number of rhinos to import has shrunken and they dont have the space to actively breed to accomodate the numbers for an effective back up population. However there is plenty of space out in a zone where the climate and terrain are near identical. Monoarto by itself really could throw 80 rhino out the back of the zoo in a big fenced area and let them roam and breed. Perhaps that is the intent with the ones they are getting. Given the zoo has more then enough room for them.

Although I dont think we need anymore elephant cows. We have not fully utilised what have, we realistically should have had double the amount of calves by now. Before melbournes cohort was born we have 50% survival rate. Which isnt ideal heading into the future for a breeding program that is producing limited calve numbers.

I fully agree with your comments, When Whipsnade imported 20 White rhinos in 1970 they were all put into a 30 acre paddock and that also included the 2 they already had on site so with the amount of space available at Monarto they would get lost in that amount of room compared tp most zoos. Also when the San Diego Wild Animal Park (as it was known then) imported a group of 20 also from the same place as Whipsnades they were all put into a 100 acre paddock with lots of other species including the ones they already had on site at the time.
My point in mentioning perhaps importing 2 elephant cows (if possible) for Monarto was if they want to breed two of the cows going there are not going to breed and perhaps one might, just looking at the breeding options for them.

 

[Steve Robinson]

It should of ideally been kept out of zoo hands. The original idea of throwing some rhino on a farm and letting them roam free and create a back up population. Will be of more use then letting the zoos manage it. The number of rhinos to import has shrunken and they dont have the space to actively breed to accomodate the numbers for an effective back up population. However there is plenty of space out in a zone where the climate and terrain are near identical. Monoarto by itself really could throw 80 rhino out the back of the zoo in a big fenced area and let them roam and breed. Perhaps that is the intent with the ones they are getting. Given the zoo has more then enough room for them.

Although I dont think we need anymore elephant cows. We have not fully utilised what have, we realistically should have had double the amount of calves by now. Before melbournes cohort was born we have 50% survival rate. Which isnt ideal heading into the future for a breeding program that is producing limited calve numbers.

I do think that a lot of younger [or more recent] posters are not aware of, or have forgotten about, the original White Rhino project. That was for a huge reserve in western Queensland and is when the figure of 80 animals first saw the light of day. It would have been ahead of it's time for Australia in so many ways but the zoo world and, later, the real estate salesman scuttled it.

Interestingly, and quite beside the point, the zoo world's Species Coordinator at the time is now an active anti-zoo campaigner! A long memory can be a curse sometimes.

 

[Zoofan15]

My point in mentioning perhaps importing 2 elephant cows (if possible) for Monarto was if they want to breed two of the cows going there are not going to breed and perhaps one might, just looking at the breeding options for them.

It’s been advised numerous times that different matrilines cannot always live together long term. Even if the herd is cohesive in its genesis, the potential for factions to form between the unrelated cows increases as their families grow.

As it is, Monarto are introducing four cows from three different herds. If they can form a cohesive herd, that would be considered an achievement; but bringing in additional unrelated cows (and then breeding from them) would increase the risk of instability in the social structure. It would surely be better to at least try and build a multigenerational herd around Pak Boon first; and accept the additional paddocks could potentially be needed to manage a fall out amongst the four initial cows.

 

[Luke899]

Monoarto by itself really could throw 80 rhino out the back of the zoo in a big fenced area and let them roam and breed. Perhaps that is the intent with the ones they are getting. Given the zoo has more then enough room for them.

I was going to disagree and say it would be best to spread them out and give them space at Monarto, and have around 40 rhinos total, but after reading what @Zorro about what San Diego did with their rhinos into a 100-acre area, maybe it would be reasonable to add more?

The 'Wild Africa' precinct was built fundamentally and specifically for the Aussie rhino project so it could probably squeeze in more than 30. What you may not have factored in @Tiger91 is the offspring of those 80 rhino you'd like to place at Monarto. It would rocket past 80 and become over 100 in a couple of years. Unmanagable, even for Monarto. I think that's an understatement.

By area and visuals, Monarto could probably hold 70 - 80 rhinos (including their offspring) at maximum capacity.

But its great the other zoos are getting involved and spreading the load of the incoming import, to give the 'wow factor' to their visitors as well

 

[That Aussie Guy]

How big is Wild Africa planned to be? If I remember correctly there were 4 "zones" that I think may be treated as separate enclosures (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Also, a bit unrelated, but does anyone know the size of the "waterhole" and bison enclosures at Monarto?

Thanks

 

[Zoofan15]

How big is Wild Africa planned to be? If I remember correctly there were 4 "zones" that I think may be treated as separate enclosures (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Also, a bit unrelated, but does anyone know the size of the "waterhole" and bison enclosures at Monarto?

Thanks

Wild Africa is 550 hectares!

38 extinct-in-the-wild animals released into new precinct

The four zones are:

Etosha
Samburu
Chobe
Amboseli

Maps here:

https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MSP_masterplan_addendum_2023.pdf

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Wild Africa is 550 hectares!

38 extinct-in-the-wild animals released into new precinct

The four zones are:

Etosha
Samburu
Chobe
Amboseli

Maps here:

https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MSP_masterplan_addendum_2023.pdf

It's not inaccurate but I find that heading misleading. I read that as 38 separate extinct in the wild species! Was flabbergasted.

Either way, still impressive. Excited to see this when it's fully operational

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 Very very exciting, Monarto Safari Park really is an amazing place hey

@The Sleepy Hippo Yeah at first too thought 38 meant species, then realised was 38 Scimitar-horned Oryx, still really wonderful news

 

[That Aussie Guy]

Wild Africa is 550 hectares!

38 extinct-in-the-wild animals released into new precinct

The four zones are:

Etosha
Samburu
Chobe
Amboseli

Maps here:

https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MSP_masterplan_addendum_2023.pdf

Wow! Looking forward to when it's finally open

 

[Zoofan15]

It's not inaccurate but I find that heading misleading. I read that as 38 separate extinct in the wild species! Was flabbergasted.

Either way, still impressive. Excited to see this when it's fully operational

@Zoofan15 Very very exciting, Monarto Safari Park really is an amazing place hey

@The Sleepy Hippo Yeah at first too thought 38 meant species, then realised was 38 Scimitar-horned Oryx, still really wonderful news

I agree. It would have been better to have phrased it as “extinct in the wild species” rather than quantifying how many. Those interested could click the link and find out.

I too am really impressed with Monarto’s ambition. They’ve been ahead of the region’s other open range zoos for a while now in terms of development and just as their lack of elephants seemed set to hold them back, they announce a 14ha elephant sanctuary is in the works!

 

[Luke899]

P.S. If anyone is going to Monarto soon, if you see a chubby old man walking around with a monarto shirt on (usually likes to be around the rhino area) its probably Peter Clark the director.

Hes very friendly and head of the Australian Rhino project. You can ask him about the rhino project and he might be able to give a timeframe for the rhino import since he's basically managing it. Would be good to know.

Cheers

 

[That Aussie Guy]

How do the other enclosures at Monarto compare to those at Werribee and Dubbo?

The lion enclosure is (I believe) 10ha, the upcoming elephant enclosure is 14ha, and the Black rhino complex is also rather sizeable - do Werribee and Dubbo have similar sized enclosures in any respect - or does Monarto does dwarf them?

(I also plan on making a recreation of Monarto Safari Park in Planet Zoo at some point - although only the "on-display" areas - which is partially the reason for my curiosity, along with genuinely being curious how the big open-range zoos in the country stack up )

 

[Zoofan15]

How do the other enclosures at Monarto compare to those at Werribee and Dubbo?

The lion enclosure is (I believe) 10ha, the upcoming elephant enclosure is 14ha, and the Black rhino complex is also rather sizeable - do Werribee and Dubbo have similar sized enclosures in any respect - or does Monarto does dwarf them?

(I also plan on making a recreation of Monarto Safari Park in Planet Zoo at some point - although only the "on-display" areas - which is partially the reason for my curiosity, along with genuinely being curious how the big open-range zoos in the country stack up )

Monarto have the largest lion exhibit in the region. Dubbo’s main exhibit (Pridelands) is 3.8 hectares and is the second largest exhibit in the region.

Werribee will have the largest elephant in the region at 21ha. Monarto will be second at 14ha and then Dubbo third.

 

[That Aussie Guy]

Monarto have the largest lion exhibit in the region. Dubbo’s main exhibit (Pridelands) is 3.8 hectares and is the second largest exhibit in the region.

Werribee will have the largest elephant in the region at 21ha. Monarto will be second at 14ha and then Dubbo third.

I didn't realise just how massive Monarto's lion exhibit was in comparison to the other zoos - 10ha to 3.8ha is quite the jump

 

[Zoofan15]

I didn't realise just how massive Monarto's lion exhibit was in comparison to the other zoos - 10ha to 3.8ha is quite the jump

It’s a magnificent exhibit and home to the region’s largest pride of lions (11 lions). I understand the future plan is to upgrade/extend the lion dens to allow for further increase in numbers; as at this point in time, their capacity is limited by the available den space.


Photo by @Swanson02

 

[Luke899]

Werribee will have the largest elephant in the region at 21ha. Monarto will be second at 14ha and then Dubbo third.

For a substantial period werribee will have the largest, Elaine (ZooSA CEO) likes to hype up Monarto's phase 2 elephant exhibit which will slightly eclipse Werribee space-wise but It won't happen for years though.

Nothing Monarto will build will compare to the quality that Werribee have. Literally elephant paradise. Werribee will absolutely have the best elephant exhibit in the long long foreseeable future.

Heres Werribees elephant enclosure:


And here's Monarto's what elephant exhibit will look like:



The two different exhibits are like chalk and cheese

@That Aussie Guy So we'll have pretty much the biggest everything at Monarto, but the elephant exhibit wont be as good. I will always suggest going to Werribee over Monarto if you love elephants.

 

[Zoofan15]

For a substantial period werribee will have the largest, Elaine (ZooSA CEO) likes to hype up Monarto's phase 2 elephant exhibit which will slightly eclipse Werribee space-wise but It won't happen for years though.

Nothing Monarto will build will compare to the quality that Werribee have. Literally elephant paradise. Werribee will absolutely have the best elephant exhibit in the long long foreseeable future.

Heres Werribees elephant enclosure:
View attachment 705969

And here's Monarto's what elephant exhibit will look like:
View attachment 705968


The two different exhibits are like chalk and cheese

@That Aussie Guy So we'll have pretty much the biggest everything at Monarto, but the elephant exhibit wont be as good. I will always suggest going to Werribee over Monarto if you love elephants.

TBF to Monarto, the finished product of the complex will be far more impressive than initial schematics imply. From the zoo’s website:

Elephants at Monarto Safari Park | Meet Burma, Permai and Putra Mas

The work now begins on designing a world-class habitat for the three Asian Elephants,

Peter Clark, the Director of Monarto Safari Park, is teaming up with Auckland Zoo’s Elephant team leader Andrew Coers and Perth Zoo’s Manager of Zoology John Lemon to design the 14 hectare habitat.

Andrew and John’s wealth of experience with Asian Elephants will help us create the ideal habitat to support the elephants’ socialisation!

As noted, both Andrew and John have a wealth of experience and combined with the expertise of Taronga’s team, we can surely expect a world class complex to be the final result. It’s reasonable to expect it to be built in stages as funding allows, with the barn and fencing obviously the priority; as well as water holes. Although it may not be as impressive as Werribee’s complex, I can’t wait to see the finished result!

 

[Swanson02]

Wild Africa is 550 hectares!

38 extinct-in-the-wild animals released into new precinct

The four zones are:

Etosha
Samburu
Chobe
Amboseli

Maps here:

https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MSP_masterplan_addendum_2023.pdf

I kind of understand the reasoning of wanting African Elephants in Wild Africa, why else name the 4 areas after the national parks most famous for elephants? Amboseli and Chobe especially.
Search up any 4 of these parks and one species will be depicted more than any other. It's like calling an exhibit Kakadu without a Croc or Virunga without a Gorilla. Imo Monarto should not consider African Elephants (if so at a minimum of 25 years down the track). As it would place too much pressure on an already busy and cash-strapped zoo.

In the meantime, some young Asian bulls (offspring of Pak Boon and Putra Mas) could potentially be dispersed throughout Wild Africa as a stand-in for Africans.