Werribee Open Range Zoo - Complete Species List (June 2012) Mammals African Lion Panthera leo Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus pictus Serval Leptailurus serval Meerkat Suricata suricatta White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum Common Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Rothschild’s Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi Plains Zebra Equus burchellii Przewalski’s Horse Equus ferus przewalskii Arabian Camel Camelus “dromedarius” American Bison Bison bison Cow/Ox Bos taurus African Buffalo Syncerus caffer nanus Eland Taurotragus oryx Greater Kudu Tragelpahus strepsiceros Addax Addax nasomaculatus Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger Scimitar Oryx Oryx dammah Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Spotted Deer Axis axis Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra Western Gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus johnstoni Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus giganteus Red-bellied Pademelon Thylogale billardierii Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus peregrinus Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis Birds Ostrich Struthio camelus Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae novaehollandiae Brolga Grus rubicunda Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Domestic Chicken Gallus gallus domestic Reptiles Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis Bell’s Hinge-back Tortoise Kinixys belliana Eastern Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis Coastal Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata Inland Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus Striped Legless Lizard Delma impar Blotched Blue-tongue Tiliqua nigrolutea Shingleback Tiliqua rugosa Northern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides intermedia Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides scincoides Dumeril’s Boa Boa dumerili Kenyan Sand Boa Eryx colubrinus Inland Carpet Python Morelia spilota metcalfei Carpet Python Morelia spilota variegate Amphibians Green Tree-frog Litoria caerulea Southern Bell Frog Litoria raniformis Japanese Fire-bellied Newt Cynops pyrrgogaster Fish Redeye Tetra Arnoldichthys spilopterus Spotted Catfish Synodontis nigriventris Invertebrates Rainforest Scorpion Liocheles waigiensis Queensland Desert Scorpion Urodacus macrurus Black Rock Scorpion Urodacus manicatus Whistling Spider Phlogius sp. Eastern Goliath Eurycnema goliath Spiny Stick Insect Extatosoma tiaratum Crowned Stick Insect Onchestus rentzi Walkingstick Tropidoderus sp.
2012-2022 Comparison A 2022 species list can be found here (compiled by @Jambo), with a note that this was not a complete species list as some of the species may have been off display. Spoiler: Werribee Species List 2022 Interestingly, the mammals and birds haven’t taken the hit they did at Melbourne Zoo over the decade that’s been; though reptile species have decreased from 16 species in 2012 to approximately four in 2022 (bearing in mind there may be one or two off display). Being an open range zoo, Werribee has always had a smaller species list than what you’d expect from a city zoo. Also typical of an open range zoo, they have a higher number of mammal species (especially megafauna) versus birds, reptiles and amphibians - which are found in higher numbers at both Melbourne Zoo and other city zoos. I’m looking forward to seeing what Werribee achieve in the coming years. The highlight will of course be their elephants; with Spotted hyena also in the plans. The completion of the Bovid IRA will hopefully prompt them to consider some imports, though nothing has been announced yet.
To add to this historical list, Werribee has also kept Sambar Deer, Water Buffalo and the last White tailed deer in Australia. I dont ever recall them having African Grey parrots, or any African aviary birds, despite earlier plans to have a walk thru aviary for African species.
This species list only concerns what they held in June 2012, so I haven’t included species they held prior. It’s good to know for general interest though. Werribee Open Range Zoo held two female African grey parrot at that time that were on loan from a facility in Canberra. Melbourne Zoo received six unsexed African grey parrots from that same facility that year.
It is a shame. I guess being an open range zoo, they’ve decided to dedicate their resources more towards mammals over the past decade - with Melbourne Zoo continuing to be Zoos Victoria’s stronghold for reptiles. Melbourne Zoo held an impressive 72 species of reptile in June 2012, which has declined slightly to around 55 species today.
Seems like the ‘smaller’ species have been overlooked largely. I’ve always been surprised that species like Ball Pythons and Kenyan Sand Boas haven’t been relocated to Werribee from Melbourne just based on the African theme. I’m sure there would be many other species held at Melbourne that would fit that bill too that I’m overlooking. Perhaps a move for the future with the Werribee expansion (or just an overly optimistic herp fanatic )
I agree. Aside from the fact there's the space at Werribee to construct large exhibits for these species, it also adds some variety. Plenty of people enjoy seeing reptiles (and birds) and while the focus is on mammals at Werribee, birds and reptiles at Melbourne and natives at Healseville, there's no reason there can't be a degree of diversity across the sites. Zoo's Victoria's zoos should be playing to their strengths. Werribee's is space, so they should build large exhibits for a variety of species imo (and that's coming from a mammals guy)
I believe they were kept off display; Melbourne had quite a lot at the time in a row of cages below the Bear enclosure. I agree, this would be great. I like the idea of having 'village huts' along the trails which contain smaller enclosures for African snakes, amphibians, insects ect. That's a great way to integrate some of those smaller species into a more open range, safari style facility. Here's an image of the Pula Hut, which used to hold an array of these smaller species but now sit's species less unfortunately:
