I could imagine it being expanded like this quite easily as well. The indoor accommodation for them is already on the other side of the path and this would allow the moat view (perhaps the most expensive part of the exhibit) to stay intact.
Article on Leadbeater’s Possum: Into the night – reflections on two decades chasing Victoria’s fairy possum | Zoos Victoria
Vang (female white-cheeked gibbon) has passed away: Farewell to Vang | Zoos Victoria http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...y/news-story/d3af7b0ab0290285b9d378f62fea9437
Most cannot read this as it is secured and restricted readership. Perhaps a slight excerpt of the news feature might do?!
The essence of it is in the title. Vang was iconic and probably one of the most popular individual animals the zoo has ever had, due to her love of going eyeball to eyeball with visitors. She is irreplaceable.
The first link is to the press release on the Zoo's website and should be accessible to anyone anywhere - I assume the second article is a rehash of the press release, so wouldn't add much.
My apologies, here it is anyway: Melbourne Zoo: Vang the white gibbon died in captivity MELBOURNE Zoo staff and visitors are saying farewell to a much-loved gibbon which died from old age yesterday. Vang the white-cheeked female gibbon has lived at the zoo since January 18, 1981, when she was donated by a member of the public. Gibbons — which are from the ape family — have a life expectancy of 28 years, but Vang outlived most, living to 46 years of age. Vang had been diagnosed with diabetes in 2012, and had been undergoing daily insulin injections and was being fed a modified diet to manage her symptoms. She had also endured cataract surgery on her eyes when her vision deteriorated. Melbourne Zoo veterinarian Sarah Frith said Vang collapsed on Monday. “There has been an intermeshing of medical issues; in addition to her longstanding diabetes and arthritis, she has recently been suffering from gastrointestinal issues,” Dr Frith said “We believe she may have had a series of minor stroke-type episodes affecting her cognitive abilities.” Zoo director Kevin Tanner said Vang would be incredibly missed by staff and regular visitors of the zoo.
MPavilion 2016 by Bijoy Jain Gifted to Melbourne Zoo: MPavilion 2016 by Bijoy Jain Gifted to Melbourne Zoo MPavilion 2016 Gifted to Melbourne Zoo | Zoos Victoria
The article notes that: I'm not exactly sure, but I assume this means the area of lawn next to the red pandas?
Melbourne Zoo's press release on the Corroboree Frog release that took place in March (and was incorrectly posted in the Minor News thread when Taronga Zoo did a press release): A small boost for wild Southern Corroboree Frog population | Zoos Victoria Thanks to the hard work of the Southern Corroboree Frog Recovery Team, 360 frogs were released back to the wilds of Kosciuszko National Park in March. The frogs were released into semi-wild disease-free enclosures, an innovative technique being trialled as part of the recovery program. The frogs released were a mixture of juvenile and sub-adult frogs mainly from Taronga Zoo's breeding program with 60 frogs coming from Zoos Victoria's breeding program. Despite the Southern Corroboree Frog being one of Australia’s most endangered species, these collaborative efforts are paving the road to recovery. The Southern Corroboree Frog is under threat of extinction due to a deadly disease caused by chytrid fungus. Things were looking so dire that it was recently estimated that there were fewer than 30 individuals left in the wild. The expedition to Kosciuszko National Park would not have been possible without the support of Taronga Zoo, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Article on Leadbeater's Possum: Sanctuary celebrates Leadbeater's Possum Rediscovery Day | Zoos Victoria
Hamadryas Baboon Qetesh is expecting a baby: Baboon health checks | Zoos Victoria Six year old Qetesh arrived in November 2015 from Wellington Zoo along with three other females: Sinead (born 1993), Zara (born 1994) and Abeba (born 2004).
I didn't know that Melbourne had this species, I haven't seen them on display there (last visit in January). I guess they may have moved into the old treeshrew exhibit, or are just housed behind the scenes?
To add to the confusion.... It appears he's back from a holiday in Perth and is two years younger. I just found this article from January 2016: Perth Zoo welcomes endangered monkeys Perth Zoo has also recently welcomed two golden lion tamarins from Melbourne Zoo, eight-year-old male Ovo and six-year-old female Lyra, which now call Amazonia home. Edit: Checked the studbook, Ovo was born 20 June 2007 at Syracuse Zoo (New York).
Protecting Precious Penguins | Zoos Victoria Penguins at Melbourne Zoo are expanding their role as ambassadors for their wild cousins. Now they are ‘Poster Penguins’ for the new community conservation campaign: ‘When Balloons Fly, Seabirds Die’. The campaign was prompted by recent CSIRO research proving that swallowing bits of stray balloons is killing seabirds and asks for bubbles to replace balloons at outdoor events. The birds mistake the broken balloons and other plastic rubbish for food, even feeding these indigestible items to their chicks, which can starve with stomachs full of plastic. World Penguin Day is on Tuesday, so the Zoo’s penguins and Wild Seas Keepers will be previewing that important international event by making the next few days into Melbourne’s Penguin Weekend! Wild Seas Keepers have achieved a magnificent milestone this year, with help from cameras installed in the breeding boxes in time for the most recent breeding season. The team achieved an Australian ‘first’ by cross-fostering two chicks. Wild Seas Manager Justin Valentine explains that previously Keepers checked breeding boxes every few days, because more frequent checks would disturb the nesting birds. He says that ‘being able to monitor the activity in the breeding boxes 24/7 via the new cameras has provided us with much more information about breeding behaviour, while also allowing us to minimise the number of visual nest checks. ‘In the last breeding season, the vision from the new nest box cameras showed us two chicks that were in trouble. We also saw a breeding pair that had been patiently sitting on eggs well past the due hatch date. ‘We removed those eggs and confirmed that they were infertile, and we replaced them with first one chick and then another, a few days later. ‘The patient parents did a fantastic job with the unrelated chicks, even though the first one we placed in their nest was significantly bigger than the second one.’ One of the cross-fostered chicks is a half-sister of the handraised Miss Wing, an amazing ambassador for her species as she is so relaxed and confident around humans. Justin says that the next breeding season will begin next month, with hatchings generally beginning in September and running into January.
a new pair of white-cheeked gibbons have arrived at Melbourne Zoo from Perth Zoo. The female was bred at Perth, and the male was bred at Toldeo Zoo (USA) and imported last year (initially imported to Perth in order to pair with the female, before being transferred to Melbourne). Melbourne's previous pair came from Japan in 1978 (male) and USA in 1981 (female). The latter is the female Vang who died earlier this year. I don't know if the Japanese male is still alive, although I suspect he probably died also. Gibbon Greetings | Zoos Victoria
You left out the most interesting part, that the new female is the great-granddaughter of Vang (or at least according to this facebook post). Facebook
is that the most interesting part? Looking at this thread as a quick reference - Gibbon families of Perth Zoo (past and present) - Vang had a son Vilson, who was moved to Wellington where he fathered a daughter named Nelly, who was moved to Perth where she had a daughter named Li-Lian, who moved to Melbourne to become their new breeder after Vang died.
