Fish: Koi Carp Wild Sea Mado Ornate Cowfish Globe fish Port Jackson Shark Sea Mullet Moonlighter Southern Fiddler Ray Eastern Fiddler Ray Pot Bellied Seahorses Carnivores Trail Chinese Algae Eater Clown Loach Kissing Gourami Silver Shark Banded Archfish Gulf Saratoga
Re. Departures: 0.2 Hamadryas baboon were transferred to Adelaide Zoo. Possible candidates were: 0.1 Juju (2015) Huddo 0.1 Quasi (2017) Qetesh 0.1 Gana (2017) Grace 0.1 Mahali (2018) Macey Quasi has several relatives in the troop, which combined with her age, makes her the most likely candidate; while I’d assume the second was either Gana who is also five (breeding age); or Mahali, who is approaching reproductive age and who’s maternal line is better represented that Gana’s in Melbourne’s troop.
Melbourne no longer have Fiorland Penguins. Their remaining female, Kim, was sent to Taronga for breeding purposes.
Currently there is one male Goodfellows tree roo who is off display next to one of the function Centers. Apparently he is quite old and is regularly at the vets according to zoos vic staff.
Also New Holland Mice (Pookila) are being housed at Melbourne Zoo off display as a part of Zoos Vic’s threatened species captive breeding programs.
Yes, I am aware. I didn't include him in my list as he's off display; I only noted the animals on display. He is a rather old male, i'd say at least 15 years of age. He previously lived with one of his daughters, but she was sent to Healesville I think a few years ago. Thats interesting to know. I've been aware of Melbourne holding them in the past but didn't know they still had them.
Melbourne’s two Emperor Tamarins are named Bonito and Mushu. Bonito is a male but unsure of Mushu’s sex.
Thank you! Melbourne used to have a breeding pair of Emperor Tamarins around a decade ago, so unless this is a new pair, this pair would be quite elderly.
According to the episode (Episode 10), Bonito was 9 years old and Mushu was 5 years old, so considering when the series was filmed Bonito would have been born in approx 2011 and Mushu approx 2015. Therefore, they wouldn't be the previous breeding pair from around a decade ago which you mentioned, but they're not super young animals, and have been at Melbourne Zoo since at least early 2020, when Mega Zoo was filmed. It's possible that Bonito is their offspring, but that would just be my speculation.
Mushu arrived in 2019 according to a 2020 article that stated Bonito was nine years old (born 2010/2011). Interestingly, Melbourne Zoo exported a breeding pair (four years old) to Wellington Zoo in 2008. Possibly they imported two pairs and kept the successful pair (who went on to produce Bonito); while exporting the other pair. It’s otherwise hard to see how Melbourne would have a young, unrelated pair to export so soon after acquiring them.
Thanks for the further info, it's incredibly helpful. Bonito could've very well be an offspring of the pair, as I do recall them having more than a single pair around a decade ago. A pair of emperors were born in 2015 at Wildlife HQ; Mushu could be one of them (if she was born within the region). Although there's a good chance she was also a European import. Mushu's arrival would've coincided with Melbourne moving their Emperor's back on display after many years off display. The female apart of Wellington's pair died soon after their arrival to Wellington, but Wellington did import another female from Europe in 2011.
Phase out: Melbourne's last two African Wild Dog's; Duara and Maana have been euthanised. Signage seems to confirm Melbourne will sadly phase out this species. Expected of course, as the enclosure is small to hold the large packs they prefer to live in.
Melbourne have replaced their Wild Dogs with a pair of male Dingoes. Exciting news as this is the first time Melbourne has held this species in a while.
Many thanks to @Zoofan15 we now have a full list of Hamadryads Baboons that Melbourne holds. They currently have a group of 5.10 individuals. Spoiler: List of individuals 1.0 Azizi (2010) from Prospect Park Zoo 1.0 Jabari (2010) from Prospect Park Zoo 1.0 Melako (2017) x Macey 1.0 Quimby (2018) x Qetesh 1.0 Quill (2019) x Qetesh 0.1 Huddo (1999) born at Melbourne Zoo 0.1 Macey (2004) from Wellington Zoo 0.1 Qetesh (2010) from Wellington Zoo 0.1 Juju (2015) x Huddo 0.1 Gana (2017) x Grace 0.1 Hudson (2018) x Huddo 0.1 Makali (2019) x Macey 0.1 Quilton (2020) x Qetesh 0.1 Muna (2020) x Macey 0.1 Mei (2021) x Macey
They are: 1.0 Goulburn (2020) 0.1 Mallee (2020) It's noted Goulburn is two months older than Mallee, and both individuals are desexed. Melbourne Zoo Welcomes Dynamic Dingo Duo
2022 Summary. Update of the many births, deaths, new arrivals and departures that took place in 2022. Births: Melbourne welcomed two Asian elephant calves in 2022: 0.1 Aiyara (16/11/2022) to Dokkoon and 1.0 Roi Yim (25/11/2022) to Mali. Both calves were sired by Luk Chai. A Kangaroo Island Joey (0.0.1) also emerged from its pouch earlier this year. Reptile wise, 4 species successfully bred and the following offspring were born: 0.0.1 6 Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnakes 0.0.1 Reticulated Python 1.0 Gila Monster 0.0.15 Plumed Basilisks Deaths : 0.1 Yuska the Western Lowland Gorilla sadly passed at the age of 51. She had been at Melbourne for almost half a century and famously mothered ‘Mzuri’, Melbourne’s first gorilla baby, and the worlds first successful offspring born via AI. Her death left Melbourne’s troop with 1.2, which it remains at. 0.1 Fiesty the New Zealand Fur Seal also died. She was about 20, being wild caught. Melbourne are left with 0.1 NZ Fur Seal; Iha. 0.2 Coatis, Luna and Kasey also died at the ages of 12 and 11 respectively. Their deaths leave Melbourne with 0.2 females their daughters (Japhura and Bahia) - both of whom are elderly too. 2.0 African Wild Dogs, Duara and Maana both died at the age of 10. They were Melbourne’s last African Wild Dog’s and Melbourne have disappointingly elected to ‘phase out’ this species. Arrivals: The biggest arrival was the arrival of a giraffe, 0.1 Iris (2020) from the Darling Downs Zoo as a mate for Melbourne’s male Klintun. It’s hoped they’ll breed down the line. Melbourne also welcomed 1.0 Tasmanian Devil who is now being displayed in the enclosure behind the Wombats. Melbourne currently have 2.1 Tasmanian Devils (the other 1.1 in the Carnivores trail). 1.1 Dingoes, Goulburn and Mallee also arrived to replace the African Wild Dogs. They’re a non breeding pair, and are ‘ambassador animals’. They’re Melbourne’s only ‘new species’ from 2022. 22 Pookila Mice also arrived apart of a joint breeding program for the species with Moonlit Sanctuary. Departures: 1.0 White Cheeked Gibbon, Jin Huan was the only notable departure of 2022; being sent to Tasmania Zoo as apart of a new pairing. His departure leaves Melbourne with a single female White Cheeked Gibbon, who’ll presumably be re-paired but I’m unsure if it’ll be for breeding due to her very shy and elusive nature.
Recently watched Episode 8 of Mega Zoo and the Cotton Top Tamarin names were revealed. 1.0 Gomez (breeding male) 1.0 Abo 1.0/1.0 Alo 0.1 Elena (breeding female) 0.1 Alma 0.1 Alvaro 1.0 Guapo (2020) It seems Gomez and Elena are the breeding pair, and so would be the two currently still at Melbourne.
Updates: I thought it would be good to get around to making something like this as there have been quite a lot of changes since the last update at the beginning of the year. Melbourne received 1.0 Black and White Colobus, Kyoda (2011) from Adelaide to be paired with 0.1 Kipenzi. Melbourne also received 1.0 White Cheeked Gibbon, Cahn (2015) from Perth to be paired with 0.1 Li Lian. Melbourne also welcomed a female Asian Elephant calf born to Luk Chai and Num Oi on 01/01. She was named Kati. Melbourne welcomed eight Kangaroo Island Kangaroos from Healseville, including two joeys. Unfortunately, the two female Emus won't be returning. 1.2 Hamadryds Baboons arrived from Perth; 1.0 Chad (2005), 0.1 Grimus (1996), 0.1 Guni (1999). Chad will serve as the breeding male. A pair of White Headed Stilts were moved into the aviary just past the otters, and they welcomed a chick. The two now grown female Snow Leopard cubs (Asha and Manju) were sent down to Wellington Zoo, leaving Melbourne with 1.2 A female Southern Hairy Nosed Wombat was born and has been named Alkira. Her sire is the recently arrived male, Kipp, although unsure of the mother. Melbourne has three other females (two sisters and another female who was rescued and came from Monarto, I'll have to check her name but I believe it was Ellie) A new male Saimang, Batak (2011), arrived from Mogo Zoo to be paired with 0.1 Kemala. 1.0 Tasmanian Devil, Graham, was sent to Ballarat. A new individual has replaced him in his former enclosure next to the wombats. Melbourne's young female Asian Short Clawed Otter, Squid, has been sent to another facility. Her departure leaves Melbourne with 4.1 otters Melbourne has also phased out their Zebra, sending all four males to Werribee. To add to that, Melbourne has also recently lost another exotic species with Semangka the Malayan Tapir sadly being euthanised. And that sums up the main updates within the first half of the year so far. Will post an updated species list and another update like this at the end of the year.
