Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo News 2023

[Jambo]

I've driven past Werribee over the past few days and have noted the following species in their off display paddocks.

- Their bachelor group of Scimitar Horned Oryx have presumably moved here from the Lower Savannah.
- I only saw a single Addax unfortunately. They were at just two as of eighteen months ago.
- The trio of Ankole Cattle were still there.
- I saw a single Zebra. Maybe their young stallion Mudhe (2019)?
- Also saw a large animal. I initially confused it to be another Ankole Cattle, but I now believe it may have been an adult male Eland.
- Finally, I saw at least four Dromedary Camel. It was early, so it's likely they may have not been let out on exhibit yet.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Not necessarily news, but thought this was mentionable;

I've driven past Werribee the past few days and have noted the following species in their off display paddocks.

- Their bachelor group of Scimitar Horned Oryx have presumably moved here from the Lower Savannah.
- I only saw a single Addax unfortunately. They were at just two as of eighteen months ago.
- The trio of Ankole Cattle were still there.
- I saw a single Zebra. Maybe their young stallion Mudhe (2019)?
- Also saw a large animal. I initially confused it to be another Ankole Cattle, but I now believe it may have been an adult male Eland.
- Finally, I saw at least four Dromedary Camel. It was early, so it's likely they may have not been let out on exhibit yet.

Addax is really disappointing, at least we can (supposedly) focus the regional breeding program

 

[Jambo]

Addax is really disappointing, at least we can (supposedly) focus the regional breeding program

Hopefully both Dubbo and Monarto will continue producing calves going forward, and hopefully they'll return to Werribee in the future.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Hopefully both Dubbo and Monarto will continue producing calves going forward, and hopefully they'll return to Werribee in the future.

That would be ideal. Does anybody know where their population went, if not I’ll ask next time I visit

 

[Jambo]

That would be ideal. Does anybody know where their population went, if not I’ll ask next time I visit

Not sure exactly which facility; but would be out of Altina, Darling Downs, Dubbo and Monarto. It would be great if you could find out for us.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Not sure exactly which facility; but would be out of Altina, Darling Downs, Dubbo and Monarto. It would be great if you could find out for us.

K, will do

 

[Zoofan15]

Zebra birth:

Reported on socials:

A zebra foal has been born. No further information.

 

[Zoofan15]

Plains wanderer chick hatched:

A Plains wanderer chick has hatched - taking the total number of chicks hatched at Werribee this season to eight.

Reported on socials.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Plains wanderer chick hatched:

A Plains wanderer chick has hatched - taking the total number of chicks hatched at Werribee this season to eight.

Reported on socials.

How many are housed at the zoo now?

 

[Zoofan15]

How many are housed at the zoo now?

I don’t have the exact number and it fluctuates with new hatchlings and releases, but I found this re. Healesville and Werribee collaborating on the breed and release programme in 2021:

Precious Plains-wanderers released into the wild in conservation first

The release of captive-bred Plains-wanderers is a major milestone for the National Recovery Plan for the Plains-wanderer established by the Australian Government in 2016.

Over the past five years, conservationists across Australia have researched and developed specialist skills in Plains-wanderer husbandry. Thirty-two Plains-wanderers were obtained from the wild as foundation birds for the captive breeding program, resulting in the births of 37 healthy and thriving chicks - 20 of those born at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

 

[Jambo]

The trio of Ankole Cattle were still there.

Note that the zoo still has all four instead of three as previously mentioned.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I should be heading to WORZ in the next week or 2, lmk any questions u want me to ask. I won’t post the results here, probs in the MZ speculation thread since no matter what I hear, people won’t believe me, which is fair enough

 

[Jambo]

I should be heading to WORZ in the next week or 2, lmk any questions u want me to ask. I won’t post the results here, probs in the MZ speculation thread since no matter what I hear, people won’t believe me, which is fair enough

It would be good if you could enquire about:

• Lion pregnancies (If Nilo's pregnant?)
• When will Brindabella and Pansy leave?
• Elephant + Bison construction updates
• Any new species (aside from Hyena and Porcupine)
• And, when will the Hyenas arrive (construction updates re. them too)?

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

It would be good if you could enquire about:

• Lion pregnancies (If Nilo's pregnant?)
• When will Brindabella and Pansy leave?
• Elephant + Bison construction updates
• Any new species (aside from Hyena and Porcupine)
• And, when will the Hyenas arrive (construction updates re. them too)?

Noted. I’ll try to get as much info as possible, I’ll shortly release a king list of question and I’ll try to ask a couple of them

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Any new species

Elephant replacements

Brazilian Tapir

Hyena

Bongo

Indian Rhino

Water Hole

Vervet

Elephant walking trail

Antelope

White Rhino breeding

Brindabella and Pansy to Monarto

Bison and Elephant construction progress

Lion pregnancies

Waterbuck
Of course I will not ask about everything on this list, just things I want to consider

 

[Zoofan15]

Any new species

Elephant replacements

Brazilian Tapir

Hyena

Bongo

Indian Rhino

Water Hole

Vervet

Elephant walking trail

Antelope

White Rhino breeding

Brindabella and Pansy to Monarto

Bison and Elephant construction progress

Lion pregnancies

Waterbuck
Of course I will not ask about everything on this list, just things I want to consider

Good list! Re. Vervet monkeys - it was mentioned on here this week by @Grant Rhino that they’re non breeding (desexed) and designated as phase out, but would be interesting to know how many are left. They’ll be the last of their species in Australasia.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

Good list! Re. Vervet monkeys - it was mentioned on here this week by @Grant Rhino that they’re non breeding (desexed), but would be interesting to know how many are left. They’ll be the last of their species in Australasia.

I saw what Grant Rhino said and it’s quite disappointing, I’m more asking about the replacement. I’ll also get confirmation that they are getting phased out, then have a bit of a cry.

 

[Jambo]

Good list! Re. Vervet monkeys - it was mentioned on here this week by @Grant Rhino that they’re non breeding (desexed) and designated as phase out, but would be interesting to know how many are left. They’ll be the last of their species in Australasia.

I'd want to say around ten, but I'm more inclined to say its seven or eight now. Most are elderly; but some can still live another decade or more.

 

[PaddyRickMFZ]

I'd want to say around ten, but I'm more inclined to say its seven or eight now. Most are elderly; but some can still live another decade or more.

It’s a shame because I feel like there were so many not that longs ago and they made a lively and engaging exhibit

 

[Jambo]

It’s a shame because I feel like there were so many not that longs ago and they made a lively and engaging exhibit

Indeed. Only a decade ago they had a group that numbered around 20. It's been a big shame to see the group decrease over the years, as the exhibit was always very active. The initial ten were imported in 1996, and majority of the offspring were born in the late 90's and early 2000's.