The Future of Zoos Victoria 2024 (Speculation/Fantasy)

Jambo said:
I believe supply was something that stopped them from acquiring them back when they were planned for the Carnivores precinct.

With the new hatchlings at the Reptile Park I'd hope a few of the regions zoo will be able to be supplied with a dragon. Melbourne's current Peccary exhibit is suitable for them; but if they want to go the route of having them in Carnivores (like they did initially), they could be accommodated in the Tasmanian Devil enclosures there.
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I like the idea of Komodo dragon replacing Tasmanian devil in the Carnivores precinct. It’s bad enough we have Dingo in the Carnivores precinct, but Tasmanian devil are definitely one for the native precinct. There was very little visitor interest in either of these species on my visit versus the African lions, Sumatran tiger and Snow leopards, which were attracting huge crowds.

I’ll be interested to see how the Binturong work out in the Carnviores precinct long term. They made for a very underwhelming exhibit on my visits, but they were a recent addition and have hopefully grown in confidence in the months that have followed.
 
Cat-Man said:
Binturong's are a nice filler species in zoos, and I love how they've become more common in recent years, but I think it's fair to say they don't always make great exhibits.
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Binturong are predominantly nocturnal and crepuscular, which does them no favours. Especially when the exhibit has nest boxes which allows them to completely hide. Others incorporate a viewing window into the nest box or similar, so they can seek out darkness/find a spot to sleep; but the visitor gets some level of visual on them.

They’re the ideal species for a night tour, which I think Melbourne could do really effectively, combining with felids and other animals that are more suited to the night. We had a discussion last year about how great it’d be to see Night monkeys at Melbourne Zoo (with night tours in mind).
 
Cat-Man said:
I suppose you're right, and they actually get a very raw deal in zoos! I have never seen one in a nocturnal house.
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Before Auckland Zoo closed their old Kiwi House, they displayed their Cape porcupine in there and it was incredible to see them up close and active. They’re another species that you either never see or just see their backside pressed up against a glass viewing window into their burrow.

Perhaps Melbourne Zoo should consider a Nocturnal House for small mammals (Binturong, Cape porcupine, Fennec fox). I believe this was another idea we all proposed last year in lieu of the tapir/peccaries.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Perhaps Melbourne Zoo should consider a Nocturnal House for small mammals (Binturong, Cape porcupine, Fennec fox). I believe this was another idea we all proposed last year in lieu of the tapir/peccaries.
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This is certainly a concept Melbourne should consider and I wouldn't be surprised if this has been placed on the agenda before. I believe there might've been plans for one in the masterplan from a decade ago (now abandoned).

Anyhow, they also have the opportunity to build one on a much larger scale at Werribee - potentially something on a world class level.
 
Jambo said:
I believe supply was something that stopped them from acquiring them back when they were planned for the Carnivores precinct.

With the new hatchlings at the Reptile Park I'd hope a few of the regions zoo will be able to be supplied with a dragon. Melbourne's current Peccary exhibit is suitable for them; but if they want to go the route of having them in Carnivores (like they did initially), they could be accommodated in the Tasmanian Devil enclosures there.
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Agreed - I still think that if they used the Tasmanian Devils enclosure that they should convert the old Picnic shelter, that sits directly behind, into the BoH/ indoor enclosure.

Maybe the Peccaries and Tapir enclosures could be redeveloped into two enclosures for Clouded Leopard, or they could be housed somewhere along TOTE when it is no longer TOTE, OR better yet, in Growing Wild!

I still think that the big Fig tree behind the classrooms should be netted/ enclosed and made into an enclosure. Leopard would love climbing it, but so would some arboreal animals. Night monkey? (Might eat all the fruits) and Tapir could be in the area beside this that has no real enclosures, but has plenty of shade under the canopy of trees, and a pondage to swim in if cleaned up...

In the same vein of better enhancing this space with exhibits, I do think both classrooms should be moved above the Shop and the admin building on the otherside of the gate. This would free up more space for an exhibit opposite Lemur Island, right at the Main entrance.

... The state Netball and Hockey centre across the Tram tracks could be hollowed out and made into a pretty decent sized Nocturnal House...
 
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The Sleepy Hippo said:
Agreed - I still think that if they used the Tasmanian Devils enclosure that they should convert the old Picnic shelter, that sits directly behind, into the BoH/ indoor enclosure.

Maybe the Peccaries and Tapir enclosures could be redeveloped into two enclosures for Clouded Leopard, or they could be housed somewhere along TOTE when it is no longer TOTE, OR better yet, in Growing Wild!

I still think that the big Fig tree behind the classrooms should be netted/ enclosed and made into an enclosure. Leopard would love climbing it, but so would some arboreal animals. Night monkey? (Might eat all the fruits) and Tapir could be in the area beside this that has no real enclosures, but has plenty of shade under the canopy of trees, and a pondage to swim in if cleaned up...

In the same vein of better enhancing this space with exhibits, I do think both classrooms should be moved above the Shop and the admin building on the otherside of the gate. This would free up more space for an exhibit opposite Lemur Island, right at the Main entrance.

... The state Netball and Hockey centre across the Tram tracks could be hollowed out and made into a pretty decent sized Nocturnal House...
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Lot’s of great ideas!

I particularly like the idea of redeveloping the peccary/tapir exhibits for Clouded leopard in the future. It’s ideal space wide to accomodate a pair of exhibits to facility breeding and housing of offspring and is of sufficient distance from apex predators found within TOTE and the Carnivores precincts.

The shade the fig tree provides would be ideal for tapir. Either Malayan tapir combined with Dusky langur; or Brazilian tapir (if Malayan’s were deemed untenable) and Black-handed spider monkeys would be an exciting addition.

Melbourne’s spider monkeys have a cramped and outdated exhibit considering zoos like Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington have displayed them in large open air exhibits for decades; with the benefits of housing them in regularly breeding troops long recognised.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I like the idea of Komodo dragon replacing Tasmanian devil in the Carnivores precinct. It’s bad enough we have Dingo in the Carnivores precinct, but Tasmanian devil are definitely one for the native precinct. There was very little visitor interest in either of these species on my visit versus the African lions, Sumatran tiger and Snow leopards, which were attracting huge crowds.

I’ll be interested to see how the Binturong work out in the Carnviores precinct long term. They made for a very underwhelming exhibit on my visits, but they were a recent addition and have hopefully grown in confidence in the months that have followed.
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Disclaimer, they haven’t
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
Disclaimer, they haven’t
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That’s a shame, though I’m not surprised. Having those nesting towers, where they can completely vanish doesn’t help. I’d also argue the exhibit is too large, which sounds like a paradox; but when you consider what else could utilise an exhibit of that size. The coati colony at its peak would have been quite a sight!
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
Any updates on the elephant moves? I know it was scheduled for 2024 but there doesn’t seem to be much info now on when they will actually move. Hopefully the sooner they move, the more developments for both sites
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dylan downward said:
I heard yesterday they are planning to have the elephants move in December and have them in display from January
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I too have heard the fourth quarter of 2024. The staff were adamant it’d take place this year due to the size of the calves being able to travel in their mother’s moving crates; as well as the importance of the calves being on site before the high risk age bracket for EEHV to avoid external stressors.
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
Any updates on the elephant moves? I know it was scheduled for 2024 but there doesn’t seem to be much info now on when they will actually move. Hopefully the sooner they move, the more developments for both sites
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dylan downward said:
I heard yesterday they are planning to have the elephants move in December and have them in display from January
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Zoofan15 said:
I too have heard the fourth quarter of 2024. The staff were adamant it’d take place this year due to the size of the calves being able to travel in their mother’s moving crates; as well as the importance of the calves being on site before the high risk age bracket for EEHV to avoid external stressors.
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The complex at Werribee is still more than six months until completion and from there you have to give a month or so for everything to be touched up. At earliest, November is a likely move date, but it seems like it will be in December now. At that time the calves will all be around two years of age.
 
Jambo said:
The complex at Werribee is still more than six months until completion and from there you have to give a month or so for everything to be touched up. At earliest, November is a likely move date, but it seems like it will be in December now. At that time the calves will all be around two years of age.
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It’s a shame construction projects rarely run to schedule, with the opening of the elephant habitat pushed back a couple of times now. It does sound like they’re on course for the end of 2024/early 2025, so next summer should finally see them on display.

I’m really excited about the overpass concept:

Pools for Elephants underway at Werribee Zoo

Visitors will be able to view the Elephant barn including a communal area, training yards and breeding facilities. Five outer habitats will retain and build upon existing vegetation and significant trees. Two dedicated overpass bridges will allow Asian elephants to pass over visitor walking trails, between the central management yard and outer habitats.
 
Zorro said:
Another thing which I believe would help with visitor attraction and add a better aspect to it African exhibit would be to introduce/import and a couple of new antelope species perhaps the same as the alleged new species that have been suggested that Monarto possibly are looking at adding.
Things seem to be looking much brighter for Werribee now than in a long time.
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Out of curiosity, what are the species of aforementioned antelope Monarto are considering?
 
That Aussie Guy said:
Out of curiosity, what are the species of aforementioned antelope Monarto are considering?
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It’s been reported on here that Monarto are/were considering Sable antelope, Kudu and Impala. Since nothing has been officially announced (or is likely to be by Zoos SA prior to the import being undertaken), it’s not possible to confirm whether this is still the case. In any event, Impala are not on the live import list. Their addition to this list would be a strong indication of an intention to import them.

I was told on my visit last year that Werribee’s main focus is on the elephant complex. Once that is complete, they’ll look at other projects including a lion exhibit expansion and acquiring hyena. From the information released via their masterplan, it’s reasonable to believe additional ungulates aren’t in the plans at this stage.
 
Zorro said:
It was never stated as far as I know other than the term of "mystery antelopes".
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Yes it was. @Swanson02 is a regular visitor and has kindly taken the time to provide us with updates in the past. On 22/09/2023, he reported Kudu then Sable antelope were top of Monarto’s bovid wishlist. On 28/08/2022, he additionally mentioned Impala, but as he noted at the time (and I have noted above), they’re not on the live import list, explaining the greater interest in Kudu and Sable antelope.

Unless Zoos SA announce anything, we can’t assume these imports will be taking place (@Swanson02 also acknowledged this in his posts); but clearly there’s been discussions at least around these particular species that I’m hopeful will progress to imports. For now, we will have to wait and see.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yes it was. @Swanson02 is a regular visitor and has kindly taken the time to provide us with updates in the past. On 22/09/2023, he reported Kudu then Sable antelope were top of Monarto’s bovid wishlist. On 28/08/2022, he additionally mentioned Impala, but as he noted at the time (and I have noted above), they’re not on the live import list, explaining the greater interest in Kudu and Sable antelope.

Unless Zoos SA announce anything, we can’t assume these imports will be taking place (@Swanson02 also acknowledged this in his posts); but clearly there’s been discussions at least around these particular species that I’m hopeful will progress to imports. For now, we will have to wait and see.
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Unfortunately, all these species are only names on a wishlist Monarto supposedly has, no concrete plans. I heard of -

Sable Antelope
Greater Kudu
Impala
Okapi (This was odd considering this species isn't suited to Wild Africa)

If I had to guess Monarto wants to bolster its species count in Wild Africa and put more species behind the 'paywall'. This is odd considering that both Kudu and Sable antelope don't form large herds (rarely exceeding 20 individuals), whereas Monarto has stated it wants, "vast herds". tbh though none of the species on the import list are major herders, with the ability to form the 75+ herds Monarto wants. Monarto's Director did travel to South Africa last year for a research trip with a few staff, so if I were to guess a South African species (kudu) would be the most likely addition to Wild Africa.

If I had to guess Okapi is probably a remnant of old plans ZoosSA might have sketched up with Taronga on a joint Okapi import (considering Taronga's Congo plans). Surprising to see how far those plans got if that's the case.
 
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