Melbourne Zoo The Future of Zoos Victoria 2025 (Speculation/Fantasy)

[Zoofan15]

I don’t understand the point of them being another kid playground thing I thought this was a zoo not a playground may as well not call it a zoo anymore

Many of us share your frustration. Melbourne Zoo has more than enough child oriented non-animal attractions without adding another. Not to mention yet more phase outs look set to occur to accomodate it.

Worst of all, it’s entirely pointless when you consider the scale a ropes course can be built to will be dwarfed by any designated facility within Victoria. Nobody’s gonna be coming to Melbourne Zoo for the sole purpose of using its ropes course. If they wanted to compete with the ropes course/leisure industry, they should do it at Werribee like @Jambo suggested. They have the space there to build the largest ropes course in Victoria if they want, without detracting from the zoo being a zoo.

For the record, I’m a zoo nerd and I’m a dad. I take my kids to zoos to see zoo animals, not faff around on playgrounds. We can do that for free down the road.

 

[dylan downward]

Many of us share your frustration. Melbourne Zoo has more than enough child oriented non-animal attractions without adding another. Not to mention yet more phase outs look set to occur to accomodate it.

Worst of all, it’s entirely pointless when you consider the scale a ropes course can be built to will be dwarfed by any designated facility within Victoria. Nobody’s gonna be coming to Melbourne Zoo for the sole purpose of using its ropes course. If they wanted to compete with the ropes course/leisure industry, they should do it at Werribee like @Jambo suggested. They have the space there to build the largest ropes course in Victoria if they want, without detracting from the zoo being a zoo.

Exactly just don’t make sense

 

[Zorro]

Many of us share your frustration. Melbourne Zoo has more than enough child oriented non-animal attractions without adding another. Not to mention yet more phase outs look set to occur to accomodate it.

Worst of all, it’s entirely pointless when you consider the scale a ropes course can be built to will be dwarfed by any designated facility within Victoria. Nobody’s gonna be coming to Melbourne Zoo for the sole purpose of using its ropes course. If they wanted to compete with the ropes course/leisure industry, they should do it at Werribee like @Jambo suggested. They have the space there to build the largest ropes course in Victoria if they want, without detracting from the zoo being a zoo.

For the record, I’m a zoo nerd and I’m a dad. I take my kids to zoos to see zoo animals, not faff around on playgrounds. We can do that for free down the road.

It's a cheap copout and don't have to be fed and watered!

 

[Steve Robinson]

It's a cheap copout and don't have to be fed and watered!

Another factor to be considered is that patrons of these rope courses are not zoo going types in general.

I am aware of issues in at least one zoo that features a rope course whose players are proving welfare negative to both the animals and the owner.

 

[Zoofan15]

Another factor to be considered is that patrons of these rope courses are not zoo going types in general.

I am aware of issues in at least one zoo that features a rope course whose players are proving welfare negative to both the animals and the owner.

I agree.

Ropes courses and similar initiatives (e.g. miniature golf courses) are a ridiculous concept that are basically around encouraging those who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in visiting a zoo, to visit a zoo.

As I mentioned, nothing they build in a city zoo is ever gonna be on a scale worthy of competing with rope course and mini golf facilities, so why bother?

In the words of John Lennon, “If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.”

 

[Zorro]

I agree.

Ropes courses and similar initiatives (e.g. miniature golf courses) are a ridiculous concept that are basically around encouraging those who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in visiting a zoo, to visit a zoo.

As I mentioned, nothing they build in a city zoo is ever gonna be on a scale worthy of competing with rope course and mini golf facilities, so why bother?

In the words of John Lennon, “If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.”

This is what happens when non animal savvy people are hired instead of animal experts!

 

[austrlain zoo gower]

If people want a ropes or adventure course go somewhere else. There are hundreds of different activity in Melbourne to appeal to this people. At the end of the day a zoo is a zoo. Melbourne zoo is space restricted and every inch is precious. Nobody is going to visit Melbourne zoo and think " the best part of the day was the ropes course"
Thanks about all the other kids centric things the zoo already has

Frog dance
Face painting
Dinosaur ( also appeal to adults )
Playground near food court
And probably more

A ropes course is simply not needed and a waste of space

 

[Zoofan15]

If people want a ropes or adventure course go somewhere else. There are hundreds of different activity in Melbourne to appeal to this people. At the end of the day a zoo is a zoo. Melbourne zoo is space restricted and every inch is precious. Nobody is going to visit Melbourne zoo and think " the best part of the day was the ropes course"
Thanks about all the other kids centric things the zoo already has

Frog dance
Face painting
Dinosaur ( also appeal to adults )
Playground near food court
And probably more

A ropes course is simply not needed and a waste of space

I mean the idea of thinking of ways to attracts kids to visit a zoo is kinda strange in itself. Zoos are already swarming with kids for one simple reason and that’s that they get in for free. The parent needs only to buy an annual pass and it’s a free day out.

In New Zealand, attendances drops sharply as the kids reach the age they need to pay to get in (3-5 years); but when visiting Melbourne Zoo (where kids go free until 15 years), I noticed much higher numbers of pre-teens, corresponding again to the free demographic.

In short, those who get in for free are gonna come either way. Might as well focus on improving the experience for those who visit for the purpose of visiting a zoo (i.e. to see zoo animals).

 

[Zorro]

I mean the idea of thinking of ways to attracts kids to visit a zoo is kinda strange in itself. Zoos are already swarming with kids for one simple reason and that’s that they get in for free. The parent needs only to buy an annual pass and it’s a free day out.

In New Zealand, attendances drops sharply as the kids reach the age they need to pay to get in (3-5 years); but when visiting Melbourne Zoo (where kids go free until 15 years), I noticed much higher numbers of pre-teens, corresponding again to the free demographic.

In short, those who get in for free are gonna come either way. Might as well focus on improving the experience for those who visit for the purpose of visiting a zoo (i.e. to see zoo animals).

So where does the fault lay with the zoo board or director are they hiring outside consultants because they don't have enough known how to run the place as a proper zoo?

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

If people want a ropes or adventure course go somewhere else. There are hundreds of different activity in Melbourne to appeal to this people. At the end of the day a zoo is a zoo. Melbourne zoo is space restricted and every inch is precious. Nobody is going to visit Melbourne zoo and think " the best part of the day was the ropes course"
Thanks about all the other kids centric things the zoo already has

Frog dance
Face painting
Dinosaur ( also appeal to adults )
Playground near food court
And probably more

A ropes course is simply not needed and a waste of space

- the toilet paper maze,
- the water play area just past the lions

I think all kid play areas should be restricted to the carousel area near the food court. The rest should go. Maybe keep the Frog Dance Party, but otherwise kids can be entertained by seeing the animals and climbing on the animal statues.

 

[Tiger91]

I agree.

Ropes courses and similar initiatives (e.g. miniature golf courses) are a ridiculous concept that are basically around encouraging those who wouldn’t otherwise be interested in visiting a zoo, to visit a zoo.

As I mentioned, nothing they build in a city zoo is ever gonna be on a scale worthy of competing with rope course and mini golf facilities, so why bother?

In the words of John Lennon, “If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.”

Ropes courses are just monetisation of our zoos taking the spotlight of animals.
They are nothing more than a cheap income stream, most of the large zoo's lack the wow factor for a lot of kids. They are loosing the effect of connecting kids with conservation, but are increasingly building non zoo related revenue streams to capture kids in.

MZ charges kids nothing to gain entry, but if half those kids use a ropes course. The zoo is building revenue. Space is taken away from the zoos primary job and given to revenue raising non zoo based areas. There is a massive disconnect in some of our main zoo's with kids and conservation. The last liberal Gov when they first got in went on and on about 'green' washing kids into being environmentalists. Years down the track we now have zoo's as fun play areas without the connection to animals and conservation we once had. Even back yard to bush at taronga is now more about the petting zoo experience then teaching kids about farming.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Does Backyard to Bush have fewer animals as a petting zoo than farm education focus?

 

[Zoofan15]

Does Backyard to Bush have fewer animals as a petting zoo than farm education focus?

There’s only a handful of petting zoo animals (rabbits etc). The rest is a combination of farm animal education (not that any of the kids seemed particularly engaged on my visit); and contained exhibits for both domestic species and Australian natives.

Having just walked through the native precinct, BTB seemed a pointless double up of natives in my opinion when I visited. It’s better than Melbourne’s Growing Wild, but that’s not hard.

 

[Tiger91]

Does Backyard to Bush have fewer animals as a petting zoo than farm education focus?

Yes, it seems as the years have gone more room has been dedicated for baby goats and sheep then what they were actually intended for. Not long ago they used an old exhibit for sheep that was part of there Australian precinct area. Taking up space a native species could have actually been doing.

There’s only a handful of petting zoo animals (rabbits etc). The rest is a combination of farm animal education (not that any of the kids seemed particularly engaged on my visit); and contained exhibits for both domestic species and Australian natives.

Having just walked through the native precinct, BTB seemed a pointless double up of natives in my opinion when I visited. It’s better than Melbourne’s Growing Wild, but that’s not hard.

When it first opened it wasn't that bad, there was a lot of education on farming and where what we eat comes from. Matched with interspersed native animal species that we commonly see in rural settings around the house. Now it only really pushes baby animal experiences. last time I was there it was half empty with the species or they were double ups.

So much space could be reworked into a new precinct area for exotic animals. Yet is wasted, especially when they were building the new Aussie precinct. A lot of the smaller exhibits could have been incorporated into there.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yes, it seems as the years have gone more room has been dedicated for baby goats and sheep then what they were actually intended for. Not long ago they used an old exhibit for sheep that was part of there Australian precinct area. Taking up space a native species could have actually been doing.



When it first opened it wasn't that bad, there was a lot of education on farming and where what we eat comes from. Matched with interspersed native animal species that we commonly see in rural settings around the house. Now it only really pushes baby animal experiences. last time I was there it was half empty with the species or they were double ups.

So much space could be reworked into a new precinct area for exotic animals. Yet is wasted, especially when they were building the new Aussie precinct. A lot of the smaller exhibits could have been incorporated into there.

From what I’ve observed across multiple zoos, precincts that attempt to be educational rarely hit the mark. Most of the content is aimed at kids and reliant on them having an attention span greater than five seconds in order to read the signage board/learn how to work the interactive. It just doesn’t happen.

In the low-stimulus environment of the home, I’m sure kids would engage with many of these interactives; but when they’re in a zoo with hundreds of other people, they want to be loud and run in all directions.

Zoos would be so much better off dedicating maximum space to world class exhibits for exotics and in the process, offering people what they came for. I doubt there’s a person who comes through the gates who doesn’t already have multiple playgrounds within 10 minutes from their house.

 

[Tiger91]

From what I’ve observed across multiple zoos, precincts that attempt to be educational rarely hit the mark. Most of the content is aimed at kids and reliant on them having an attention span greater than five seconds in order to read the signage board/learn how to work the interactive. It just doesn’t happen.

In the low-stimulus environment of the home, I’m sure kids would engage with many of these interactives; but when they’re in a zoo with hundreds of other people, they want to be loud and run in all directions.

Zoos would be so much better off dedicating maximum space to world class exhibits for exotics and in the process, offering people what they came for. I doubt there’s a person who comes through the gates who doesn’t already have multiple playgrounds within 10 minutes from their house.

When it first opened, back yard to bush was actually a really popular precinct that hit the mark. The general public were almost completely in the dark in cities here about how food was produced, I remember keepers being in awe of the fact adults were surprised to learn milk came from cows. It's like growing up in the city people never bothered to learn where there food came from. It also housed quintessential Aussie species that you seen around the house. So many people went to look to learn what type of huntsman they were seeing etc.


Fast forward 20 years, you see a spider or weird bug. Apps can analyse pictures and tell you what it is. FB and Reddit have identification groups where you post a picture and people will identify it for you. Everyone has a smart phone and can post a picture. When it first opened it was 2003, the first iPhone was released of memory around 2007.

People are now very aware where food comes from, smartphones and eating trends like veganism and non GMO as well as increased food allergies. People are a lot more aware not only where food comes from but what goes into it and how. This now means Backyard to bush, once revolutionary and actually popular when it opened is now completely redundant in its mission and is essentially a bunch of wasted space with a petting zoo. its not really serving any other function.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Chester Zoos insta showing off their Fossa pups has renewed my wanting for them to be present in our region. I could see the Mandrill habitat being renovated to house them but probably more hassle than its worth to enclose. My alternate thought was they could be opposite Lemur island, and replace the Meerkat enclosures at the entrance. Hold multiple and breed them. When out and about they are highly engaging!

Just musing.

 

[Zoofan15]

Chester Zoos insta showing off their Fossa pups has renewed my wanting for them to be present in our region. I could see the Mandrill habitat being renovated to house them but probably more hassle than its worth to enclose. My alternate thought was they could be opposite Lemur island, and replace the Meerkat enclosures at the entrance. Hold multiple and breed them. When out and about they are highly engaging!

Just musing.

They’re a fascinating species!

If Melbourne Zoo was to hold them, my preference would be for them to be housed in conjunction with the lemur exhibits as part of a Madagascan theme. Lemurs alone are insufficient for a Madagascar precinct; but including Fossa in the line up would make for an exciting precinct.

 

[Jambo]

Chester Zoos insta showing off their Fossa pups has renewed my wanting for them to be present in our region. I could see the Mandrill habitat being renovated to house them but probably more hassle than its worth to enclose. My alternate thought was they could be opposite Lemur island, and replace the Meerkat enclosures at the entrance. Hold multiple and breed them. When out and about they are highly engaging!

Just musing.

They’re a fascinating species!

If Melbourne Zoo was to hold them, my preference would be for them to be housed in conjunction with the lemur exhibits as part of a Madagascan theme. Lemurs alone are insufficient for a Madagascar precinct; but including Fossa in the line up would make for an exciting precinct.

It would indeed be great if Fossa could be added to the live import list. However I do believe the global population isn't at the point where we can expect surplus to be sent across to our region, even in the event there was sufficient interest.

The former Mandrill exhibit would be perfect for them; it probably wouldn't be much of an investment to net over the enclosure, and they're one species that could utilise the current space there without any major renovations required.

 

[The Sleepy Hippo]

Here's a photo from member's news:

Would it ruin the building aesthetic to clad the back wall with mock rock?