Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo News 2024

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Video update on the lion cubs:

The cubs are now eight months old and each weight over 45kg each. Wisps of mane are starting to come through on the male cubs.

Clever cubs cooperate with Keepers | Werribee Open Range Zoo’s three not-so-little African Lion cubs are making roar-some strides in their healthcare training by learning to sit, stand, lie... | By Zoos Victoria | Facebook

1.0 Mwezi (04/06/2023) Sheru x Nilo
1.0 Jango (04/06/2023) Sheru x Nilo
0.1 Kianga (04/06/2023) Sheru x Nilo

On my visit in November 2023, keepers said the plan was for Asali to produce a litter before Nilo’s cubs reached 12 months of age, so fingers crossed we hear news of birth soon.
 
I was at WORZ today and I’ve got some minor updates:

1: it’s baby season for the Nyala. Nine females were/are pregnant. Three calves have been born already and six are due soon. I saw one today that is approx 5 days old - very cute.

2: five baby oryx in the herd of over 20 - they seem to be growing quickly.

3: both elephant barns are clearly visible from the driveway (not K Road, but the road into the Werribee Park precinct). Both barns are unfinished but the concrete slabs and roof are there - so it’s very clear what they are.

4: the visitor path and the early stages of the landscape for the start of the elephant trail are clearly visible from the safari bus. When on the bus it’s the first thing you see on the right hand side (where the bison and horses used to be).

5: lots and lots of wild wrens throughout the property if you’re into bird watching. Far more than usual - and there are usually a lot. Also lots of bunnies everywhere too.

6: all five rhino were walking in a line one after the other (a rhino train)

7: the entire herd of blackbuck were running and pronking. Cool to watch.
 
Grant Rhino said:
I was at WORZ today and I’ve got some minor updates:

1: it’s baby season for the Nyala. Nine females were/are pregnant. Three calves have been born already and six are due soon. I saw one today that is approx 5 days old - very cute.

2: five baby oryx in the herd of over 20 - they seem to be growing quickly.

3: both elephant barns are clearly visible from the driveway (not K Road, but the road into the Werribee Park precinct). Both barns are unfinished but the concrete slabs and roof are there - so it’s very clear what they are.

4: the visitor path and the early stages of the landscape for the start of the elephant trail are clearly visible from the safari bus. When on the bus it’s the first thing you see on the right hand side (where the bison and horses used to be).

5: lots and lots of wild wrens throughout the property if you’re into bird watching. Far more than usual - and there are usually a lot. Also lots of bunnies everywhere too.

6: all five rhino were walking in a line one after the other (a rhino train)

7: the entire herd of blackbuck were running and pronking. Cool to watch.
Click to expand...

The elephant complex was just starting to take shape when I visited late November. 4.5 months on, I’m sure there’s been lots more progress. The elephants are coming by the end of the year either way, but staff advised the opening of the complex to the public may not be until early next year.

Photos I took from the Safari Bus:

upload_2024-4-14_0-12-27.jpeg

upload_2024-4-14_0-12-4.jpeg
 

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Zoofan15 said:
The elephant complex was just starting to take shape when I visited late November. 4.5 months on, I’m sure there’s been lots more progress. The elephants are coming by the end of the year either way, but staff advised the opening of the complex to the public may not be until early next year.

Photos I took from the Safari Bus:

View attachment 698017

View attachment 698016
Click to expand...

Heaps of work has been done on that area from your second photo: Some slight hills, rocks and logs - including a stream of rocks in what looks like it will be a stream or water feature of some sort. That’s on the left hand side of that photo. On the right hand side there is a forest of eucalyptus trees (small ones) which I’m 90% sure are planted in the ground. Various other bits and pieces too.
 
Grant Rhino said:
I was at WORZ today and I’ve got some minor updates:

1: it’s baby season for the Nyala. Nine females were/are pregnant. Three calves have been born already and six are due soon. I saw one today that is approx 5 days old - very cute.

2: five baby oryx in the herd of over 20 - they seem to be growing quickly.

3: both elephant barns are clearly visible from the driveway (not K Road, but the road into the Werribee Park precinct). Both barns are unfinished but the concrete slabs and roof are there - so it’s very clear what they are.

4: the visitor path and the early stages of the landscape for the start of the elephant trail are clearly visible from the safari bus. When on the bus it’s the first thing you see on the right hand side (where the bison and horses used to be).

5: lots and lots of wild wrens throughout the property if you’re into bird watching. Far more than usual - and there are usually a lot. Also lots of bunnies everywhere too.

6: all five rhino were walking in a line one after the other (a rhino train)

7: the entire herd of blackbuck were running and pronking. Cool to watch.
Click to expand...
I like the news of 9 new Nyala being born plus 5 Oryx. Good to hear there's been much progress with the elephant complex this will become a huge part of the Werribee zoo into the future once the herd has settled in with further breedings.
I think its time to shake up the rhino situation and try to kick start more breeding.
Also pleased to hear they are planting a forest on the site.
 
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Zorro said:
I like the news of 9 new Nyala being born plus 5 Oryx. Good to hear there's been much progress with the elephant complex this will become a huge part of the Werribee zoo into the future once the herd has settled in with further breedings.
I think its time to shake up the rhino situation and try to kick start more breeding.
Also pleased to hear they are planting a forest on the site.
Click to expand...

I doubt anything will happen with their rhinoceros herd until the Australian Rhino Project imports are undertaken. With a total of 35 Southern white rhinoceros being imported from South Africa, it will be an ideal opportunity for a reshuffle; and in any case, some of the existing rhinos in the region will become redundant to the breeding programme.

The original plan was for those 35 rhinoceros to be accommodated at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Orana Wildlife Park and Monarto Safari Park; but it wouldn’t surprise me to see other facilities (such as Werribee) receive a cow or two. In the meantime, they have a viable breeding pair.
 
Zorro said:
I like the news of 9 new Nyala being born plus 5 Oryx. Good to hear there's been much progress with the elephant complex this will become a huge part of the Werribee zoo into the future once the herd has settled in with further breedings.
I think its time to shake up the rhino situation and try to kick start more breeding.
Also pleased to hear they are planting a forest on the site.
Click to expand...
Where are they planting the forest?
Edit: never mind. Found out I just needed to scroll up!

I'm guessing that if the forest is inside the enclosure, that it will be in an off limits paddock for a good time to allow them to grow strong, before 9+ elephants get to come walking through!
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Where are they planting the forest?
Edit: never mind. Found out I just needed to scroll up!

I'm guessing that if the forest is inside the enclosure, that it will be in an off limits paddock for a good time to allow them to grow strong, before 9+ elephants get to come walking through!
Click to expand...

I’ve found at least two sources that say elephants don’t eat eucalyptus, so I suspect the selection was intentional to provide the elephants with shade; without choosing a species that will be readily consumed by the elephants.

The initial five paddocks will have plenty of recovery time given the elephants will initially be housed in two herds. The keepers I spoke to said acquiring Sabai from Dubbo (as some of us had speculated) wasn’t in the plans and we can now rule out the three Auckland/Perth elephants (destined for Monarto). The plan from here is for Luk Chai to sire one more cohort of calves once the herd is settled at Werribee, so circa 2025 (calves born 2027). As funding allows, Werribee could further subdivide the five paddocks (as was the original plan, with seven paddocks shown on the early schematics).
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Where are they planting the forest?
Edit: never mind. Found out I just needed to scroll up!

I'm guessing that if the forest is inside the enclosure, that it will be in an off limits paddock for a good time to allow them to grow strong, before 9+ elephants get to come walking through!
Click to expand...
The forest planting is properly to help feed many natives and well as adding a more natural look around the exhibit.
 
Jambo said:
They usually have six on display (or three, in two groups) so I wonder who was omitted. I'd assume it's one of the two males, probably Umgana; who has no breeding options within the herd atm.
Click to expand...

I believe Kifaru (2009) is run with the females. Being a young bull when he arrived, some of the older cows were too full on for him. He’s since matured into a prime aged bull, capable of dominating the cows. Fingers crossed for another calf from him and Kipenzi in the near future.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’ve found at least two sources that say elephants don’t eat eucalyptus, so I suspect the selection was intentional to provide the elephants with shade; without choosing a species that will be readily consumed by the elephants.

The initial five paddocks will have plenty of recovery time given the elephants will initially be housed in two herds. The keepers I spoke to said acquiring Sabai from Dubbo (as some of us had speculated) wasn’t in the plans and we can now rule out the three Auckland/Perth elephants (destined for Monarto). The plan from here is for Luk Chai to sire one more cohort of calves once the herd is settled at Werribee, so circa 2025 (calves born 2027). As funding allows, Werribee could further subdivide the five paddocks (as was the original plan, with seven paddocks shown on the early schematics).
Click to expand...
I had no thoughts of elephants eating the trees. More concern of lots of small saplings being in a paddock with big elephants, seeing as they are not always the gentlest with vegetation in general, (whether being consumed or not)

Not a critique of the Melbourne herd as I don't believe I have ever seen them in an enclosure with any vegetation, so can't judge.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
I had no thoughts of elephants eating the trees. More concern of lots of small saplings being in a paddock with big elephants, seeing as they are not always the gentlest with vegetation in general, (whether being consumed or not)

Not a critique of the Melbourne herd as I don't believe I have ever seen them in an enclosure with any vegetation, so can't judge.
Click to expand...
When the 4 African elephants first arrived at the Western plains zoo in Dubbo from the UK the zoo had left some small trees in the paddock which I saw when I visited not long after it first opened, Needless to say it was not long before they were all gone completely.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Where are they planting the forest?
Edit: never mind. Found out I just needed to scroll up!

I'm guessing that if the forest is inside the enclosure, that it will be in an off limits paddock for a good time to allow them to grow strong, before 9+ elephants get to come walking through!
Click to expand...

The "forest" hasn't been planted in an area where the elephants will be housed - but more in an area that's part of the precinct.

Bear in mind that I couldn't tell whether the trees were planted or just in pots in that area - it was too hard to tell.

Just on the paddock planting, I have one idea - which I may have heard someone mention (but can't recall): I watched a tv show on new innovative methods of farming whereby a farmer planted a full field of corn and various other crops and just left it for months - then after it had grown a lot they let the herd of cattle in to eat it all. It's a form of crop rotation too. With these five paddocks they could do something similar with this for the elephants. I seem to remember hearing something about something similar - but I think it would be an awesome idea for some annual enrichment.
 
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