The Future of Zoos Victoria 2024 (Speculation/Fantasy)

NathanTheAsian said:
If Melbourne continues with the rainforest species I would love to see some hornbills in Melbourne Zoo, especially Bornean species. They'd probably fit in well with the Southeast Asian theme of Trail Of The Elephants. However, hornbills most likely would not attract many visitors as the average Australian does not know what they are.
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The average Aussie would probably know what they are, as they’re infamous on social media. As Zoofan said however, it will be remarkably difficult to import them. They would have to adhere to what NZ did with flamingos
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
The average Aussie would probably know what they are, as they’re infamous on social media. As Zoofan said however, it will be remarkably difficult to import them. They would have to adhere to what NZ did with flamingos
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Greater flamingos in Australia would be incredible. Auckland Zoo’s flock is incrementally increasing, but it’s well documented how flocks of 40 flamingos or higher achieve a higher output of chicks and in any case, it’s not a large exhibit. Imagine what Werribee or Monarto could build for this species. It would be a scene from Lake Nakuru!
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
The average Aussie would probably know what they are, as they’re infamous on social media. As Zoofan said however, it will be remarkably difficult to import them. They would have to adhere to what NZ did with flamingos
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I just realised that we would also have limited experience in caring for them. We'd most likely need experts from Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia to help out.
 
NathanTheAsian said:
I just realised that we would also have limited experience in caring for them. We'd most likely need experts from Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia to help out.
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Inexperience would be no barrier. Either experts would visit from those countries to educate keepers, or they’d travel over there to learn skills. Taronga’s keepers went to San Diego to educate them on Platypus for example and there’s countless novel species that otherwise experienced bird and reptile keepers have had to adapt to working with.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Inexperience would be no barrier. Either experts would visit from those countries to educate keepers, or they’d travel over there to learn skills. Taronga’s keepers went to San Diego to educate them on Platypus for example and there’s countless novel species that otherwise experienced bird and reptile keepers have had to adapt to working with.
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There are hornbills in private hands in Australia. Periodically ill hear mention of them at bird clubs. They are almost exclusively held by big bird breeders/collectors and they keep quiet about what they have. Periodically people will visit aviarys or get into them and you hear of there existance again. They would be extremely expansive and way outside any zoos budget to acquire.
 
NathanTheAsian said:
If Melbourne continues with the rainforest species I would love to see some hornbills in Melbourne Zoo, especially Bornean species. They'd probably fit in well with the Southeast Asian theme of Trail Of The Elephants. However, hornbills most likely would not attract many visitors as the average Australian does not know what they are.
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I actually thought you said shoebills, but considering how similar they are to toucans I have no doubt that they’d be popular
 
Tiger91 said:
There are hornbills in private hands in Australia. Periodically ill hear mention of them at bird clubs. They are almost exclusively held by big bird breeders/collectors and they keep quiet about what they have. Periodically people will visit aviarys or get into them and you hear of there existance again. They would be extremely expansive and way outside any zoos budget to acquire.
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Wait, really‽
 
Tiger91 said:
There are hornbills in private hands in Australia. Periodically ill hear mention of them at bird clubs. They are almost exclusively held by big bird breeders/collectors and they keep quiet about what they have. Periodically people will visit aviarys or get into them and you hear of there existance again. They would be extremely expansive and way outside any zoos budget to acquire.
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That's extremely surprising! However I'm sure they would be the smaller African species rather than large Southeast Asian species like Rhinoceros or Wrinkled Hornbills, especially since it is highly illegal to export them without valid documentation.
 
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Osedax said:
Wait, really‽
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3 years ago a bird breeder i used to know was in darwin and had visited a big time exotic bird breeder that had some. Didnt elaborate on where in darwin but said he had def seen them. I see no reason to disbelieve him. In the early 2000's military, hyacinth, greenwing macaws were all the same way. The popularity of large birds in homes as pets took of and they were mass bred and are now more common. As well as illegal import of eggs helps as well. So its very possible that there is a decent population here in private hands.
 
Tiger91 said:
3 years ago a bird breeder i used to know was in darwin and had visited a big time exotic bird breeder that had some. Didnt elaborate on where in darwin but said he had def seen them. I see no reason to disbelieve him. In the early 2000's military, hyacinth, greenwing macaws were all the same way. The popularity of large birds in homes as pets took of and they were mass bred and are now more common. As well as illegal import of eggs helps as well. So its very possible that there is a decent population here in private hands.
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That’s interesting. Zoos have to be very discerning on where they source their animals (so as not to promote unethical practices). If there was any uncertainty as to how these birds were obtained, Zoos Victoria would have no interest in them, so could be a non-starter from the outset.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s interesting. Zoos have to be very discerning on where they source their animals (so as not to promote unethical practices). If there was any uncertainty as to how these birds were obtained, Zoos Victoria would have no interest in them, so could be a non-starter from the outset.
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Most of the zoos acquire birds of a handful of breeders that they share species with. For example before he retired out of keeping birds. There was a fellow down in Sydney who used to supply Taronga and other zoos with rainbow bee eaters. He was a well of fellow and owned one of the larger houses down in Sydney near the harbour. Im not sure where but a friend used to visit his aviarys. He was also very protective over who went and seen. He supplied Taronga and other zoos with rainbow bee eaters. He built aviarys that backed onto the sand stone cliffs and put his bee hives inside the aviarys. They bee eaters had food and the natural sandstone they make nests in. He also had other species he would swap and breed for zoos. He was a soft bill and pigeon breeder.

I believe the practice has died down some where a lot of species at majour zoos and easily aquaired through the smaller private zoos. Feather dale wildlife parks original owners made the majority of its early earnings from breeding and selling birds. The park literally started out as a large private bird breeder the public could walk through. My dad used to buy native finches of them back in the day. Eventually they acquired native animals and became more of a park.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Not to mention highly illegal to import *ANY* bird species into Australia.
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It’s a shame imports/exports can’t even take place between New Zealand and Australia. Australia could finally work towards establishing a flock of Greater flamingo and New Zealand could restock on Brolga. We’re down to our last three and there’s no indication the breeding pair will produce young anytime soon.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Not to mention highly illegal to import *ANY* bird species into Australia.
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Yes but is surprisingly quite common. DPI was going to euthanise almost 2000 exotic parrots a few years ago in rural vic when they found large numbers of exotic parrots that were not chipped/didn't have the paper work that you get when they are bred in Aus. Indicating that they were of illegal import origin.

I imagine quite a few fake papers were created.
The number of military macaws, green winged mancawsand hyacinth macaws also markedly increased two in the recent decade. Where for decades they were at very low numbers.
 
dylan downward said:
So I was at Melbourne zoo the other day and it seems more and more exhibits are coming vacant or just not being able to see them it would be great if the zoo could start by using the old mandrill exhibit, tapir and bongo I know it won’t happen but we could dream right haha
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They really should consider housing a handful of female nyala with the giraffes; with the adjacent bongo exhibit used to hold a bull. It’s a reasonable sized exhibit that is otherwise just going to waste.

I’m not sure what the hold up is with the tapir exhibit. It’d be easy enough to source Capyabra. The youngest peccaries turn 12 this year, so should have another three or so years in them at least. Capybara could be the short term replacement; followed by a total redevelopment of that row when the peccaries pass. It’s not like the peccary exhibit can be used for much else.
 
Zoofan15 said:
They really should consider housing a handful of female nyala with the giraffes; with the adjacent bongo exhibit used to hold a bull. It’s a reasonable sized exhibit that is otherwise just going to waste.

I’m not sure what the hold up is with the tapir exhibit. It’d be easy enough to source Capyabra. The youngest peccaries turn 12 this year, so should have another three or so years in them at least. Capybara could be the short term replacement; followed by a total redevelopment of that row when the peccaries pass. It’s not like the peccary exhibit can be used for much else.
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When it is to be redone that row they would need to move the capybara else where
 
dylan downward said:
When it is to be redone that row they would need to move the capybara else where
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That’s easily done. Capybara aren’t a long lived species (few in the region have made it to 10), so by sourcing 3-5 year olds, it’d probably work out; and if not, they could easily relocate them within the zoo.

Komodo dragon would be a nice addition (it’s surprising a zoo of Melbourne’s prestige doesn’t have them). There’s space to accomodate a male and female across those two exhibits.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Komodo dragon would be a nice addition (it’s surprising a zoo of Melbourne’s prestige doesn’t have them). There’s space to accomodate a male and female across those two exhibits.
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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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