The Future of Zoos Victoria 2024 (Speculation/Fantasy)

[Zoofan15]

I was thinking a second otter species could be good - and considering the level of vegetation in the proposed location, why not the largest otter species to compliment the smallest species? Giant Otters are social and can live in groups as large as 15-20.

I agree that Komodo would be good to replace Tasmanian Devil. My thoughts would be the first larger exhibit could be joined with the empty water space for Southern River Otter (also benefits as being an addition of a South American predator). The second Tasmanian Devil enclosure could then be an outdoor enclosure for Komodo Dragon, with the Picnic Shelter behind this enclosure being renovated to be an indoor BoH for Komodo Dragon. The grassed area between the Main Trail and the Shelter could then also be a Main Trail facing outdoor exhibit for Komodo Dragon.

I would like to see a Phillipines Crocodile enclosure reestablished in this precinct too.

As for Asian small-clawed Otters - I still think that in the TOTE redevelopment that the otters there should also be given access to part of, or all of the lake in the middle of the precinct. This could either be a connected enclosure space or a second enclosure.

Giant otters are CITES I, so regional support would be required to bring them in. I’m thinking they’d also be a good fit for Auckland Zoo, whose South American precinct is greatly lacking.

Either way, it’d be good to see Melbourne Zoo take more of a lead role in the Asian small-clawed otter programme. At a minimum, they should have two exhibits. Their male, though paired with an ageing female is genetically valuable and could be re-paired following her death. This would be a good opportunity to undertake an import. Much of the regional population descends from Auckland’s breeding pair in the 1990’s (Wono and Jaya) and Perth’s new breeding pair are related. New bloodlines would be beneficial.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I was thinking of the past discussions of replacing Giraffe with Okapi (long shot I know). Plant out the enclosure with trees and understorey, and put in a water feature.

I thought it would be quite interesting to pair them with two - 3 other species. Primarily duiker and Hamlyn's Monkey. This would mean that the enclosure would need to be netted/ enclosed. Why not at that point throw some Grey Parrots into the mix. Not happening - snowballs chance but its what was playing on my mind the other week...

 

[Zoofan15]

I was thinking of the past discussions of replacing Giraffe with Okapi (long shot I know). Plant out the enclosure with trees and understorey, and put in a water feature.

I thought it would be quite interesting to pair them with two - 3 other species. Primarily duiker and Hamlyn's Monkey. This would mean that the enclosure would need to be netted/ enclosed. Why not at that point throw some Grey Parrots into the mix. Not happening - snowballs chance but its what was playing on my mind the other week...

Considering the Giraffe/Okapi IRA for Australia will be many years away, I feel like the best shot at having them in the region would have been if Auckland Zoo had had any interest in them. When I was told on my visit a couple of years ago that an African forest was being considered. I wondered then whether Okapi could have been on the cards and whether Auckland could have undertaken a group import - retaining 1.1 and sending the other pairs on to Taronga and Melbourne. Auckland Zoo are now using the elephant exhibit to expand their rhino holdings, thus ending this dream.

 

[Jambo]

This space in Lion Gorge - is it empty or is it being used for a purpose. I've always perceived it as empty, but do think it could be better used and an enclosure put here. Any corrections or ideas?

If combined with the Tasmanian Devil enclosure and the water was treated, they could house Southern River Otter...

This space was where the former Lemur islands were; so it’s mainly water and former pieces of the islands.

It would’ve been nice if they considered redeveloping the space initially, but I doubt there’d be any further renovations to this area going forward.

 

[Jambo]

As for Asian small-clawed Otters - I still think that in the TOTE redevelopment that the otters there should also be given access to part of, or all of the lake in the middle of the precinct. This could either be a connected enclosure space or a second enclosure.

Interesting idea, certainly not something I’ve thought of before.

That area of space would be huge for them. Only thing is, the otters would be very difficult to spot; and there’d be little use to giving them the entire space. IMO the main island should be used as an extension for the current orangutan/saimang complex. There’s certainly still enough space to squeeze an otter enclosure in there too as well.

 

[Zoofan15]

This space was where the former Lemur islands were; so it’s mainly water and former pieces of the islands.

It would’ve been nice if they considered redeveloping the space initially, but I doubt there’d be any further renovations to this area going forward.

There’s quite a bit of vegetated/waterlogged space through the Carnivores precinct, which appears to be partly used for growing plants. Auckland Zoo similarly has hillside slopes which provide privacy for off display exhibits. The golden cats were kept and bred there during the 2000’s and Burma is routinely taken up there for enrichment.

I don’t know what percentage of the foliage in Carnivores is used as animal fodder (i.e. how much of the non-exhibit space has a purpose); but imagine the waterlogged ground would be costly to redevelop and would be an even lower priority than tapir/peccary row, which we are of the understanding is playing second fiddle to the redevelopment of TOTE circa 2025.

 

[Jambo]

There’s quite a bit of vegetated/waterlogged space through the Carnivores precinct, which appears to be partly used for growing plants.

I think they are/were there to grow up some aquatic plants in those water sections initially, and the netting just hasn't been removed even though they've now been there for quite a while.

They shouldn't be too much of a worry if there were plans to renovate that specific area.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think they are/were there to grow up some aquatic plants in those water sections initially, and the netting just hasn't been removed even though they've now been there for quite a while.

They shouldn't be too much of a worry if there were plans to renovate that specific area.

Although what I’d really like is to expand the lion exhibit (revive lion park), the location of this area lends itself better to expanding the tiger exhibit (via an overhead tunnel); or given the zoo already has two tiger exhibits (with the TOTE complex able to accomodate multiple tigers BOH), an independent exhibit.

Komodo dragons and otters have been suggested thus far, but since what the public really like are big cats, my vote would be for Sri Lankan leopard. There’s more than enough space to accomodate a male or even a pair - likely a non-breeding sibling pair considering the region already has two breeding holders.

 

[Tiger91]

Interesting idea, certainly not something I’ve thought of before.

That area of space would be huge for them. Only thing is, the otters would be very difficult to spot; and there’d be little use to giving them the entire space. IMO the main island should be used as an extension for the current orangutan/saimang complex. There’s certainly still enough space to squeeze an otter enclosure in there too as well.

Some zoos mix there otter with orangs. If they renovated the area for orang, they could do a mix exhibit for otter as well. Creating an extra exhibit for housing otter.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Although what I’d really like is to expand the lion exhibit (revive lion park), the location of this area lends itself better to expanding the tiger exhibit (via an overhead tunnel); or given the zoo already has two tiger exhibits (with the TOTE complex able to accomodate multiple tigers BOH), an independent exhibit.

Komodo dragons and otters have been suggested thus far, but since what the public really like are big cats, my vote would be for Sri Lankan leopard. There’s more than enough space to accomodate a male or even a pair - likely a non-breeding sibling pair considering the region already has two breeding holders.

I'm still of a mind that Leopard could go in a renovated Peccary and Tapir enclosure. Make a vertical enclosure.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'm still of a mind that Leopard could go in a renovated Peccary and Tapir enclosure. Make a vertical enclosure.

It’s possible, but my preference would be for Clouded leopard in this area (or a small felid like Fishing cat).

Small cats breed poorly when housed in close proximity or apex predators and even adults can become unsettled. This row is a good distance from both TOTE and the Carnviores precinct and therefore ideal.

 

[Jambo]

It’s possible, but my preference would be for Clouded leopard in this area (or a small felid like Fishing cat).

Small cats breed poorly when housed in close proximity or apex predators and even adults can become unsettled. This row is a good distance from both TOTE and the Carnviores precinct and therefore ideal.

I actually like the idea of having a species of small cat here, like Fishing Cat.

There's enough space for two on display exhibits, and there's also adequate space back of house for an off display exhibit too (which I acknowledge would be incredibly useful, especially if Melbourne was to breed them).

Hopefully Melbourne sees the value in this section of the zoo and does end up going in that direction!

 

[Zoofan15]

I actually like the idea of having a species of small cat here, like Fishing Cat.

There's enough space for two on display exhibits, and there's also adequate space back of house for an off display exhibit too (which I acknowledge would be incredibly useful, especially if Melbourne was to breed them).

Hopefully Melbourne sees the value in this section of the zoo and does end up going in that direction!

Factoring the peccaries have off an display area, I’d actually say the space their exhibit occupies is comparable to Hamilton Zoo’s Fishing cat facility, which includes three small on display exhibits, each adjoined to an off-display run.

Hamilton’s complex may be a fraction larger, but if utilising the tapir space as well, then there would certainly be room for two decent on display exhibits and four or so smaller off display exhibits.

I feel like Melbourne’s small cat breeding programmes were successful because they had multiple pairs. Housing at least 2.2 unrelated founders would stand them in the best stead for breeding.

 

[ReturnOfPaddyRick]

Just a thought, but with water buffalo being implemented at Taronga in a mixed exhibit, is there a potential that we could see a mix with elephant, antelope and water buffalo at WORZ?

 

[Zoofan15]

Just a thought, but with water buffalo being implemented at Taronga in a mixed exhibit, is there a potential that we could see a mix with elephant, antelope and water buffalo at WORZ?

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Water buffalo mixed with Indian antelope. I’m guessing the Indian antelope will be integrated with the elephants via filter gates, so they can choose whether to cohabit with them. I doubt they’d risk full grown water buffalo with newborn elephant calves, but when the current cohort of calves reaches 4-5 years (and before the next cohort are born), that could be an ideal time.

 

[Jambo]

Just a thought, but with water buffalo being implemented at Taronga in a mixed exhibit, is there a potential that we could see a mix with elephant, antelope and water buffalo at WORZ?

It wouldn’t surprise me to see Water buffalo mixed with Indian antelope. I’m guessing the Indian antelope will be integrated with the elephants via filter gates, so they can choose whether to cohabit with them. I doubt they’d risk full grown water buffalo with newborn elephant calves, but when the current cohort of calves reaches 4-5 years (and before the next cohort are born), that could be an ideal time.

With five paddocks and only two presumably being used initially, I do wonder whether the Blackbuck will instead get free roam of their one of the other enclosures rather than being mixed with the elephants. A blackbuck/elephant mix will be intriguing to say the least.

 

[Zoofan15]

With five paddocks and only two presumably being used initially, I do wonder whether the Blackbuck will instead get free roam of their one of the other enclosures rather than being mixed with the elephants. A blackbuck/elephant mix will be intriguing to say the least.

It’s certainly possible they’ll be a herd of Indian antelope confined to one paddock, if nothing else to ensure visitors aren’t looking at three empty paddocks as they walk through the complex.

I really feel like Werribee should look at importing Indian rhinoceros to fill out two of the exhibits. They could be housed in the elephant complex for at least the first decade, with the option to relocate them as the elephant population expands over the next 10-15 years and bulls maturing within the facility require their own paddock.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

It’s certainly possible they’ll be a herd of Indian antelope confined to one paddock, if nothing else to ensure visitors aren’t looking at three empty paddocks as they walk through the complex.

I really feel like Werribee should look at importing Indian rhinoceros to fill out two of the exhibits. They could be housed in the elephant complex for at least the first decade, with the option to relocate them as the elephant population expands over the next 10-15 years and bulls maturing within the facility require their own paddock.

Well really they could probably stay if in the future confined to paddocks with Bulls or adult only - just away from the calves.

 

[Zoofan15]

Well really they could probably stay if in the future confined to paddocks with Bulls or adult only - just away from the calves.

It’s also worth noting that the original plan was for seven paddocks (decreased to six, now five). This indicates the capacity to subdivide over time (as funds allow and as space is required). This could not only be useful in accomodating the growing elephant herd, but in managing Indian rhinoceros within this complex.

Roi-Yim will require his own space within the decade; while a new breeding bull is expected to arrive within that timeframe, not necessarily replacing Luk Chai (i.e. Luk Chai may remain on site).

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Inspired to write this from the recent post of @Zoofan15 's review of MZ - the Aldabra tortoise should all be down at the Reptiles. I'd even say dismantle and rebuild the related buildings in Growing Wild - I don't mind the tortoise shell builds, just feel they should all be in the one area, and near the Reptile House.

This would open up the current space for something exciting to come soon!

I also think a modern extension of the Reptile House should be built, building a more permanent Frog/Amphibian section, creating a bigger space for their breeding program, with internal spaces for visitors.