The Future of Zoos Victoria 2024 (Speculation/Fantasy)

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Very true, but I've been told Melbourne higher ups are quite against replacing elephants with further large species (even Indian rhinos). Deer or Blackbuck would be nice, but unlikely in that case; especially when they're already held at Werribee and would do little to enhance visitor engagement.

I do like the idea of further aviaries in this section as I feel Melbourne does lack when it comes to Exotic birds. Fashioning one or two small walkthrough aviaries around the current TOTE is certainly achievable with the non elephant space they still have there.

I've just been in Singapore and went to all 4 zoos. All were good, but Bird Paradise was my favourite, and I'd say dedicate one entire elephant enclosure yo a huge walkthrough aviary dedicated to exotic birds - if we have enough engaging species to justify/fill it.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'd quite like for them to include some more lemur species and some Fossa along the Gorilla Rainforest.
Obviously id love a return of Mandrill and a breeding pair of pygmy hippo too.

I imagine Red ruffed lemur are a strong possibility, potentially replacing Black and white ruffed lemur.

Although I can see why the old Mandrill exhibit might no longer be considered suitable for a medium sized troop, I note several US zoos house a pair or trio. Yes, a thriving troop of multiple breeding females is a great source of natural enrichment, but clearly not essential.

 

[Jambo]

Another possibility is that the small monkeys (tamarins etc). could move across to TOTE, with the Treetops redeveloped for Black and white colobus. It depends how devoted Melbourne is to geographic cohesion, but they could either go the African rainforest them with Western lowland gorilla, Pygmy hippo, De Brazza’s and colobus; or retain Gorilla Rainforest as a precinct with South American monkeys and devote TOTE to South East Asian species.

I feel like an entire redevelopment will take place with the Gorilla Rainforest and TOTE. Being right next to each other, and closely linked theming wise it makes sense to renovate them together with a new Rainforest trail opening up.

I'd prefer to see representation of South American species, so perhaps this will be considered potentially utilising the space of the TMT. Hopefully Colobus go into the former Mandrill exhibit, but in the event they don't, I could also foresee that being used apart of a smaller South Americans section.

The lack of effort into restocking/renovating a lot of enclosures (mainly in the gorilla rainforest) does make me think that there is a larger development in the plans. This would be the right time to carry out something on a larger scale.

 

[Zoofan15]

I feel like an entire redevelopment will take place with the Gorilla Rainforest and TOTE. Being right next to each other, and closely linked theming wise it makes sense to renovate them together with a new Rainforest trail opening up.

I'd prefer to see representation of South American species, so perhaps this will be considered potentially utilising the space of the TMT. Hopefully Colobus go into the former Mandrill exhibit, but in the event they don't, I could also foresee that being used apart of a smaller South Americans section.

The lack of effort into restocking/renovating a lot of enclosures (mainly in the gorilla rainforest) does make me think that there is a larger development in the plans. This would be the right time to carry out something on a larger scale.

I agree. The redevelopment of TOTE won’t take place until 2025 when the elephants leave. Optimistically, we could see the redevelopment complete by the start of 2027 (bearing in mind it will be a significant redevelopment). This will pave the way for the gibbons to leave Treetops and with Melbourne’s colobus troop reduced to a single female, that just leaves her and a handful of monkeys.

The Pygmy hippopotamus exhibit may well be nearing the end of its life and should another hold be willing to accomodate Felix, that would be ideal. This would presumably be 3-4 years down the line as I don’t believe they’d redevelop two high profile precincts simultaneously (i.e. have both out of action); but rather one immediately after the other within a short space of time. Then once that is done (2030?), look at peccary/tapir row.

 

[Jambo]

I agree. The redevelopment of TOTE won’t take place until 2025 when the elephants leave. Optimistically, we could see the redevelopment complete by the start of 2027 (bearing in mind it will be a significant redevelopment). This will pave the way for the gibbons to leave Treetops and with Melbourne’s colobus troop reduced to a single female, that just leaves her and a handful of monkeys.

The Pygmy hippopotamus exhibit may well be nearing the end of its life and should another hold be willing to accomodate Felix, that would be ideal. This would presumably be 3-4 years down the line as I don’t believe they’d redevelop two high profile precincts simultaneously (i.e. have both out of action); but rather one immediately after the other within a short space of time. Then once that is done (2030?), look at peccary/tapir row.

From what @Michael The Zoo Dude mentioned it appears there is some preliminary work getting underway in the area nearby the elephant complex. With the elephants due to leave this summer, it's not surprising. Melbourne would be keen to get at least something done next year. If the Orangutan/Saimang expansion is on the cards, beginning construction of the towers and aerial pathways for them in the meantime could be a possibility.

The Pygmy Hippo enclosures certainly need an expansion. The former Mandrill enclosure is the only feasible direction for this to occur, so I guess that might throw the idea of having Colobus's there out the window unless they are held with the Pygmy Hippo.

The Saimang pair in the Japanese Garden will have to leave first for the WC Gibbon pair to move over so I agree, any redevelopment of the TMT is still a few years away and will likely follow the TOTE development. But this will all hopefully be completed within the next four to five years. I don't really see a reality where Melbourne don't undertake these changes.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

I'd like to see the rainforests of 'Australasia' in there too.
- Cassowary,
- tree kangaroos (Lumholtz, Bennet's, Goodfellows)
- estuarine crocodiles (go big or go broke... Or go both...)
- Azure, Forest & Little kingfishers,
- Birds of Paradise,
- white lipped tree frog,
- flying foxes,
- striped possums
- swamp wallabies
- sugar gliders
Maybe this can fully replace Growing Wild...

 

[Zoofan15]

I'd like to see the rainforests of 'Australasia' in there too.
- Cassowary,
- tree kangaroos (Lumholtz, Bennet's, Goodfellows)
- estuarine crocodiles (go big or go broke... Or go both...)
- Azure, Forest & Little kingfishers,
- Birds of Paradise,
- white lipped tree frog,
- flying foxes,
- striped possums
- swamp wallabies
- sugar gliders
Maybe this can fully replace Growing Wild...

At a minimum I was hoping tree kangaroo would be housed in what is now the koala/quokka exhibit at the entrance to the Great Flight Aviary. It would have linked nicely to the Southern cassowary.

However, replacing Growing Wild with an Australian rainforest precinct is an even better idea. The Binturong exhibit in Carnivores be redeveloped into a trio of exhibits to house a colony of meerkats from Growing Wild (with the Binturong moving to TOTE); and the two Aldabra tortoises in Growing Wild could go to Werribee.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

From what @Michael The Zoo Dude mentioned it appears there is some preliminary work getting underway in the area nearby the elephant complex. With the elephants due to leave this summer, it's not surprising. Melbourne would be keen to get at least something done next year. If the Orangutan/Saimang expansion is on the cards, beginning construction of the towers and aerial pathways for them in the meantime could be a possibility.

The Pygmy Hippo enclosures certainly need an expansion. The former Mandrill enclosure is the only feasible direction for this to occur, so I guess that might throw the idea of having Colobus's there out the window unless they are held with the Pygmy Hippo.

The Saimang pair in the Japanese Garden will have to leave first for the WC Gibbon pair to move over so I agree, any redevelopment of the TMT is still a few years away and will likely follow the TOTE development. But this will all hopefully be completed within the next four to five years. I don't really see a reality where Melbourne don't undertake these changes.

Seeing as there is the shortcut just after the tigers that leads to the Orangutan/Siamangs, I could imagine they wish to complete a fair chunk of that end of TOTE before the elephants leave, so that they can then close everything at the Elephant half of TOTE off - maybe with a short return walk to the Butterflies. I could see them shutting the elephant half off for a couple of years of work - like when they phased in Carnivores with only half the precinct, before they finally opened the back half.

 

[Jambo]

Seeing as there is the shortcut just after the tigers that leads to the Orangutan/Siamangs, I could imagine they wish to complete a fair chunk of that end of TOTE before the elephants leave, so that they can then close everything at the Elephant half of TOTE off - maybe with a short return walk to the Butterflies. I could see them shutting the elephant half off for a couple of years of work - like when they phased in Carnivores with only half the precinct, before they finally opened the back half.

Agreed, and this has been utilised at times when the elephant complex is closed. It seems the area just before this is undergoing renovation at the moment, perhaps in preparation of this. I'm hoping there'll be a new enclosure here to keep visitor interest in the meantime.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

At a minimum I was hoping tree kangaroo would be housed in what is now the koala/quokka exhibit at the entrance to the Great Flight Aviary. It would have linked nicely to the Southern cassowary.

However, replacing Growing Wild with an Australian rainforest precinct is an even better idea. The Binturong exhibit in Carnivores be redeveloped into a trio of exhibits to house a colony of meerkats from Growing Wild (with the Binturong moving to TOTE); and the two Aldabra tortoises in Growing Wild could go to Werribee.

I think an Australian/ Rainforest precinct would work if it had mostly charismatic and diverse species. If they built a small nocturnal house, they could better include some of the smaller mammals mentioned, fruit bats (if they aren't diurnal - some are, Melbourne species isn't) and could even include a proper Lord Howe Island Stick Insect exhibit - they could also move Platypus to here, and free up the Platypus House to be redeveloped to something linking to the Giraffe next door.

 

[Zoofan15]

Seeing as there is the shortcut just after the tigers that leads to the Orangutan/Siamangs, I could imagine they wish to complete a fair chunk of that end of TOTE before the elephants leave, so that they can then close everything at the Elephant half of TOTE off - maybe with a short return walk to the Butterflies. I could see them shutting the elephant half off for a couple of years of work - like when they phased in Carnivores with only half the precinct, before they finally opened the back half.

That sounds like a likely plan. The elephants leaving will leave a significant gap in the collection (literally), so undertaking work on the paddocks will surely be prioritised. If there’s nothing in them, nothing is lost by closing them completely; but allowing the remainder of the precinct to remain open would allow a simultaneous redevelopment of Treetop monkeys/apes.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Agreed, and this has been utilised at times when the elephant complex is closed. It seems the area just before this is undergoing renovation at the moment, perhaps in preparation of this. I'm hoping there'll be a new enclosure here to keep visitor interest in the meantime.

Maybe that space and the island will be the locations of the expanded Siamang/Orangutan exhibits, connected by aerial paths.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think an Australian/ Rainforest precinct would work if it had mostly charismatic and diverse species. If they built a small nocturnal house, they could better include some of the smaller mammals mentioned, fruit bats (if they aren't diurnal - some are, Melbourne species isn't) and could even include a proper Lord Howe Island Stick Insect exhibit - they could also move Platypus to here, and free up the Platypus House to be redeveloped to something linking to the Giraffe next door.

One thing I’ve always wanted to see at Melbourne Zoo is geographic theming. It’s a trend that began in zoos at least three decades ago in the region (Auckland Zoo), but has never really come to Melbourne Zoo (bar the Wild Sea and Australian Bush precincts).

Gorilla Rainforest is off to a good start if they can redevelop Treetops with African species (large colobus and De Brazza’s exhibits); with TOTE taking on an Asian Islands theme - Komodo, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Phillipines.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

That sounds like a likely plan. The elephants leaving will leave a significant gap in the collection (literally), so undertaking work on the paddocks will surely be prioritised. If there’s nothing in them, nothing is lost by closing them completely; but allowing the remainder of the precinct to remain open would allow a simultaneous redevelopment of Treetop monkeys/apes.

Does the Gorillas also have a short cut that cuts out the Treetop Monkeys and Pygmy Possums? Am I making that up? Even if not, they can always make it a dead end path as far as either the Gorilla or Pygmy, if they chose to redevelop Treetops at the same time.

 

[Jambo]

Maybe that space and the island will be the locations of the expanded Siamang/Orangutan exhibits, connected by aerial paths.

Could be, although I don't believe there's enough space for an additional exhibit there unless they elect to have a single exhibit being the island and that space connected. I find it likely they probably utilise one of the other elephant paddocks as well; probably the pool paddock.

 

[Zoofan15]

Maybe that space and the island will be the locations of the expanded Siamang/Orangutan exhibits, connected by aerial paths.

That sounds probable. The aerial lines ticks so many boxes. They’re a great image for the modern zoo - a zoo without bars; they provide endless enrichment; they’re space efficient; and they extend the exhibit many times beyond what would be provided at a terrestrial level. They also tie in nicely to the rotational exhibit concept. Singapore has different groupings of apes on exhibit at any one time; and Auckland rotate Bornean orangutans and Siamang.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

One thing I’ve always wanted to see at Melbourne Zoo is geographic theming. It’s a trend that began in zoos at least three decades ago in the region (Auckland Zoo), but has never really come to Melbourne Zoo (bar the Wild Sea and Australian Bush precincts).

Gorilla Rainforest is off to a good start if they can redevelop Treetops with African species (large colobus and De Brazza’s exhibits); with TOTE taking on an Asian Islands theme - Komodo, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Phillipines.

Singapore have a mixed species exhibit with Orangutan, Gibbon and Small clawed Otter all together. I still think that the lake, "island" in middle of TOTE could have Otter, Orangutan, and we could have our Gibbons there too... Just include hidden barriers. If the lake were treated, this could allow for a far larger Otter clan - they can be in their 20s in the wild.

 

[Jambo]

Does the Gorillas also have a short cut that cuts out the Treetop Monkeys and Pygmy Possums? Am I making that up? Even if not, they can always make it a dead end path as far as either the Gorilla or Pygmy, if they chose to redevelop Treetops at the same time.

I was just thinking this. I believe they do (or at least once did), it went around the gorilla enclosure going past the small ranger hut that's hidden back there. Melbourne could easily loop the trail there, still allowing the path leading down to the Pygmy Hippos; but nothing further than there.

 

[Zoofan15]

Does the Gorillas also have a short cut that cuts out the Treetop Monkeys and Pygmy Possums? Am I making that up? Even if not, they can always make it a dead end path as far as either the Gorilla or Pygmy, if they chose to redevelop Treetops at the same time.

The Treetops are a necessary route without deviation in the current state, but that’s not to say one couldn’t be built in. Failing that, a dead end loop is the alternative; with gorillas still able to be viewed at the end and middle of the precinct’s trail. The gorillas are the first thing you see if you go through the wrong way.

 

[Zoofan15]

Black and white colobus vs De Brazza’s:

I feel like a walk through colobus exhibit is something that could be considered for Treetops. Colobus are well suited to this set up (London has a fantastic exhibit) and their troop size of around 10-15 individuals max means they can support a natural social grouping without crowding the exhibit space. Colobus are also more arboreal than De Brazza’s.

De Brazza’s would be a much better fit for the old Mandrill exhibit imo. A small troop of 4-5 could easily be housed here; though consideration would have to be given on the merits of retaining this exhibit versus building an additional Pygmy hippopotamus pool. As previously mentioned, the infrastructure is ageing and renewal may be on the cards.