Tag:melbourne
The transfer of Asian elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo later this year marks a significant step in managing elephant populations in Australian zoos. The move represents a larger change in how captive elephants are cared for, emphasising animal welfare and conservation. This post explores the reasons for the relocation, the detailed process involved, the impacts on the elephants and the zoos, and the broader importance of elephant conservation in Australia.
Background: Asian Elephants in Captivity
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies Asian elephants as endangered. This is due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Due to their social structure, intelligence, and physical needs, these elephants require special care in captivity. Zoos worldwide have been evolving their practices to accommodate these animals better. The focus has shifted to larger enclosures, enrichment programs, and social groupings that reflect their natural behaviours.
Melbourne Zoo has been home to Asian elephants since 1883. In recent years, they have played a crucial role in public education and conservation awareness. The elephants have also participated in international breeding programs to bolster the population of this endangered species. However, as knowledge of elephant care has grown, so has the understanding that traditional zoo environments, even well-designed ones, only sometimes provide the space and complexity these animals need to thrive.
The Herd
Elephants are matriarchal, meaning the females live in a herd together while the males live alone or in small bachelor groups in the wild. The multigenerational, cohesive female herd replicates this natural behaviour at Melbourne Zoo and will continue at Werribee Zoo. The new expansion has separate barns for matriarchs and bulls, replicating how they live in the wild. Multiple pregnancies have been achieved since Melbourne Zoo established the Cooperative Conservation Breeding Program upon the arrival of three young elephant cows from Thailand in November 2006. Melbourne Zoo’s first-ever calf, Mali, was the first female elephant born in Australia.
Reasons for the Move
The primary reason for moving the elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo is the need for a larger environment. Melbourne Zoo, located in the city’s heart, has limited space. Despite significant efforts to provide a stimulating environment, creating a habitat that fully supports the elephants’ physical and psychological well-being was challenging, given space limitations. Werribee Open Range Zoo, in contrast, is on a more extensive land holding.
Melbourne Zoo, being an inner-city space, has no room for expansion. On the other hand, Werribee Zoo, located on the outskirts of Melbourne, is massive. Werribee Zoo covers 225 hectares (560 acres) alongside the Werribee River. Notably, the zoo utilises only a tiny portion of the available land, so expanding enclosures is not an issue. The large, open-range environment at Werribee Zoo better reflects the elephants’ natural habitat. This transition aligns with modern zoo management practices. It prioritises the creation of spaces that allow animals to exhibit more natural behaviours, such as foraging, roaming, and engaging in social interactions within larger groups.
The Process of Relocation
Relocating the elephants is a complex and carefully managed process that has involved months, if not years, of planning. This planning, which includes input from veterinarians, animal behaviourists, transport specialists, and conservation experts, ensures the safety and well-being of the elephants during the move. The careful attention to detail at every stage of the process provides reassurance about the elephants’ care.
The initial phase of the relocation involves preparing the elephants for the move. This includes helping the elephants adjust to transportation, such as getting them accustomed to the specialised transport crates (donated by the Fox Foundation) used during the move. This acclimatisation process began earlier this year and is crucial for reducing stress and ensuring the elephants are comfortable with their surroundings.
The upcoming relocation, scheduled for later this year, will be carried out with great care. Specially designed crates will be used to accommodate the elephants’ size and weight safely. Throughout the journey, veterinarians and animal care staff will closely monitor the elephants to ensure their well-being. Upon arrival at Werribee Open Range Zoo, the elephants will gradually be introduced to their new environment. This patient approach reduces stress and allows the elephants to explore their new surroundings at their own pace. The new habitat has been designed to enable the elephants to establish their social dynamics in a more spacious environment.
Implications for the Elephants
The relocation to Werribee Open Range Zoo will significantly improve the welfare of the elephants. The larger, more natural environment will give the elephants more opportunities to engage in behaviours essential to their well-being, such as foraging, dust bathing, and interacting with other elephants. The increased space will also enable the elephants to walk greater distances, which is crucial for their physical health, especially joint and foot health.
The move also promotes the psychological well-being of the elephants. Elephants are highly intelligent and social animals. Notably, the new environment at Werribee will allow the elephants a broader range to roam and exhibit natural behaviours. This includes forming more complex social bonds and hierarchies, essential aspects of elephant society.
Trail of the elephants – Melbourne zoo
Melbourne Zoo’s relocation of the elephants represents a significant change in its animal management strategy. While the zoo will no longer house elephants, it will repurpose the old ‘Trail of the Elephants’ to a new enclosure. The potential for new exhibits focusing on other endangered species or immersive experiences highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation is an exciting prospect for the future of the zoo’s conservation initiatives.
“In 2003, when the $15 million Trail of the Elephants opened to great fanfare, the 2.5-hectare exhibit boasted three separate spaces, big wallowing pools, a larger barn and more capacity for “enrichment”, a term that describes ways to physically and mentally occupy and challenge captive elephants, like burying whole vegetables in the sand for the animals to dig out.”
However, by 2008, with the arrival of three bulls, they had realised that the space was too small.
New Enclosure at Werribee
For the Werribee Open Range Zoo, the arrival of the elephants represents a significant enhancement of its animal collection. Its commitment to providing world-class care for large, complex animals is a step forward. The move also positions Werribee as a leader in elephant care in Australia. It’s expected to attract visitors keen to see elephants in a more naturalistic setting. Additionally, this move will likely expand Werribee’s role in international elephant breeding and conservation programs. Thus contributing to global efforts to save Asian elephants from extinction.
In preparation for the elephants’ arrival, the Werribee Open Range Zoo is undergoing a 21-hectare expansion at a cost of $88 million. Funded by the Victorian Government, the upgrades will provide visitors with a world-class experience. By size comparison, in total size, Melbourne Zoo has 22 hectares, and Taronga Zoo has 28 hectares. The new open-range habitat will feature a central yard and sandpit. It will also have two 3.5m deep pools holding almost 2 million litres of recycled water. The deep water pools will help to improve their skincare, swimming ability and social skills.
Visitors will have access to the Elephant barn, which includes communal areas, training yards, and breeding facilities. The barns have also been designed to support ongoing elephant healthcare and well-being. A training facility at the back allows keepers to do regular elephant health checks, such as blood tests, weigh-ins, and oral health procedures. Five outer habitats will also retain and enhance existing vegetation and significant trees. Two dedicated overpass bridges will allow the elephants to cross visitor walking trails between the central yard and outer habitats.
Broader Significance for Elephant Conservation
The relocation of the elephants from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo is part of a broader trend in zoos worldwide to prioritise animal welfare and conservation. By providing environments that more closely mimic the animals’ natural habitats, zoos can play a vital role in conservation, education, and research. This move also aligns with the growing recognition that zoos must continually evolve to meet the needs of the animals in their care, particularly for species as complex as elephants.
A century ago, the world faced a silent enemy more devastating than Covid-19, the Spanish Flu. The pandemic’s death toll was greater than the total number of military and civilian deaths from World War I, which was happening simultaneously. The pandemic swept across the globe, infecting an estimated 500 million people. It took the lives of anywhere between 20 to 50 million, making it the deadliest pandemic in human history. Although this colossal tragedy has long passed, its lessons still resonate with us today, urging us to learn, remember, and prepare for future pandemics.
A World at War, a Virus on the March:
Although it’s named the Spanish Flu, researchers now believe it most likely originated in the United States in 1918. During this time, the world was in the midst of the First World War, and its nations were depleted of resources and exhausted. Amidst the chaos, an unassuming influenza virus emerged, likely from animals. The virus found fertile ground in overcrowded military camps and trenches. Soldiers, weakened by war and poor living conditions, became unwitting carriers, unknowingly transporting the virus across continents.
One of the first recorded cases was on March 11, 1918, at Fort Riley in Kansas. Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions created a fertile breeding ground for the virus. The pandemic broke out near the end of World War I when wartime censors in the belligerent countries suppressed bad news to maintain morale. However, in neutral Spain, newspapers freely reported the outbreak. This created a false impression of Spain as the epicentre leading to the “Spanish flu” misnomer.
From Pandemic to Panic:
Unlike previous influenza outbreaks, the Spanish Flu had an exceptionally aggressive mutation that was highly contagious and lethal. It didn’t just affect the elderly and infirm but also healthy young adults who succumbed to pneumonia and respiratory failure within a few days. The world was gripped with fear and panic. Many cities implemented lockdowns, banned public gatherings and made masks mandatory to prevent the spread of the invisible threat.
During the autumn of 1918, Seattle’s health commissioner implemented various measures, such as banning dances and shutting down theatres, churches, and schools. During the peak of the epidemic, it was mandatory by law for anyone venturing out in public to wear a mask consisting of six layers of gauze to ensure that the flu germs did not spread.
Australian Impact
The impact of the Spanish Flu in Australia, though not as severe as in other parts of the world, was still significant. Starting in October 1918, the Australian Quarantine Service began inspecting all ships that arrived in Australia. The first infected ship to enter Australian waters was the Mataram, from Singapore, which arrived in Darwin on 18 October 1918. Over the next six months, the quarantine service intercepted 323 vessels, 174 of which carried the infection. Of the 81,510 people who were checked for influenza, 1,102 were infected. Individuals suspected of having the flu were required to remain in quarantine.
Despite these precautions, the flu managed to spread into the community. The first instance of the flu was reported in Melbourne in early January 1919, and the disease quickly made its way to New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA). However, it didn’t reach Western Australia (WA)until June of that same year.
Dr Frank Macfarlane Burnet, a young Australian pathologist, witnessed the devastating effects of the flu firsthand. Fueled by this experience, he dedicated his life to virology, eventually contributing to the development of polio and influenza vaccines and illustrating the long-term impact of individual experiences on shaping scientific pursuits.
Quarantine
Ships that arrived from infected countries had to quarantine for 7 days, with patients subject to ‘daily thermometer parades inhalation with steam plus two per cent zinc sulphate solution along recognised lines. Queensland closed its border on February 1st, stranding 700 Queenslanders at Tenterfield Sation in NSW. This led to a temporary quarantine camp being set up in the showgrounds. Some passengers accepted rail passes back to Sydney, while the rest spent 7 days in a tent before they were allowed to enter Queensland. Months later, Spanish flu was detected in Qld, and the government reopened the border to NSW.
In NSW, the government closed schools, theatres, and bars. Sporting events and church services were prohibited, and individuals were mandated to wear face masks while using public transport, walking on the streets, and inside public buildings.
Despite the implementation of quarantine measures, the virus persisted and spread due to population movements and gatherings. There is still ongoing debate over the precise transmission route. As the outbreak progressed, major cities, including Sydney and Melbourne, became epicentres, and rural areas followed suit. In Victoria, all cases were required to be reported to health authorities and then transferred to the hospital. However, with limited beds available, the Exhibition Building in Melbourne was repurposed as a makeshift hospital. By August 1919, it had provided care for over 4,000 patients.
Impact on Health and Mortality:
Estimates suggest that around 5 million people, approximately 40% of Australia’s population, contracted the flu during a particular outbreak. The death toll from the flu was between 12,000 and 15,000 people, which is a significant loss for a population of 5 million.
- During this outbreak, young adults, primarily men in their 20s and 30s, were more affected than other age groups. This phenomenon, known as “cytokine storm,” triggered an exaggerated immune response, leading to severe respiratory complications and, in many cases, death. This is uncommon compared to other regions where older populations typically suffer more. The likely reason for this is their higher mobility and interaction during the war effort.
- The healthcare systems were overwhelmed during this outbreak due to the surge in patients, with limited resources and personnel struggling to cope.
- Indigenous communities were particularly vulnerable during this outbreak, as they suffered disproportionately high mortality rates due to pre-existing health disparities and limited access to care.
Spanish Flu vs Covid-19
The Spanish flu infected approximately 500 million people, about one-third of the world’s population at the time. The estimated death toll from the Spanish flu varies, with figures ranging from 17 million to 100 million. In comparison, COVID-19 has infected nearly 55 million people to date, with 1.3 million deaths.
Some famous people who survived the Spanish flu include:
- Walt Disney – American entrepreneur, animator, and film producer
- Edvard Munch – Norwegian painter
- Katherine Anne Porter – American journalist and author
- David Lloyd George – British Prime Minister
- Woodrow Wilson – 28th President of the United States
- Franklin D. Roosevelt – 32nd President of the United States
- General John J. Pershing – American general
- Haile Selassie I – Emperor of Ethiopia
- Mahatma Gandhi – Leader of the Indian independence movement
- Greta Garbo – Swedish actress
Social and Economic Impacts:
The pandemic caused widespread panic and disruption. Public gatherings were banned, schools closed, and businesses faced significant challenges. The war efforts were also impacted, as labour shortages and reduced productivity hindered recovery. The economic toll was significant, with the flu exacerbating existing wartime difficulties. Businesses struggled, unemployment rose, and the government faced a strain on its resources to manage the crisis and support affected communities.
The social tensions increased, with anxieties and scapegoating targeting specific groups, particularly immigrants and marginalized communities. Focusing on public health measures like mandatory quarantines also raised concerns about individual rights and government authority.
Long-Term Legacy
By late 1919 the pandemic was over. The global impact of the Spanish Flu was staggering. Estimates suggest that one-third of the world’s population was infected, with death tolls ranging from 50 to 100 million people. Entire communities were decimated, and the societal and economic repercussions were profound. The Spanish Flu outbreak had a significant and long-lasting impact on Australia’s public health approach. It highlighted the significance of being prepared, working together, and having effective healthcare systems in managing pandemics.
Not Just a Medical Crisis:
The estimated mortality rate of the Spanish flu was approximately 0.28%–0.4%, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. However, the impact of the pandemic went beyond the medical field. It led to social unrest, worsened inequalities, and influenced political landscapes. There was a surge in anti-immigrant sentiment, which was fueled by misinformation and the search for scapegoats. Economic difficulties worsened, placing further strain on war-torn nations. The Spanish Flu left a lasting impact on the 20th century, with its consequences rippling out long after the last case was reported.
Melbournes newsboys were a familiar sight on the city’s streets from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries. They were typically young boys from poor families who sold newspapers to earn a living. The first newsboys in Melbourne appeared in the 1840s, and their numbers grew rapidly in the following decades. By the 1890s, an estimated 2,000 newsboys were working in the city.
Newsboys, usually aged between 8 and 16, often worked in challenging conditions for long hours. They braved the elements and were sometimes subjected to violence from customers or other newsboys. You could find them at popular locations such as Flinders St Station, the Town Hall, Young and Jackson pub, theatres, and other pubs. These spots were highly sought-after by newsboys as they were perfect for distributing newspapers.
The Rise of the Newsboys
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Melbournes newsboys emerged as an integral part of the urban landscape. Armed with stacks of newspapers under their arms, these young entrepreneurs eagerly took the day’s news to the city’s residents. Often hailing from lower-income backgrounds, these young boys found an opportunity to earn a living and contribute to their families’ financial well-being.
In 1891, the Education Department convened a special committee to consider what would be done about the city’s neglected children. It was estimated that upwards of 10,000 children were not attending school at all. The report recommended that newsboys be licensed and wear a badge displaying where they went to school. No boys under 17 should be allowed to trade on Saturday nights after 8 pm or 9 pm. Girls under 18 years of age were forbidden to apply for a licence at all.
The newsboys were a diverse group, coming from various cultural backgrounds and ages ranging from as young as six to teenagers. They were a familiar sight to Melburnians, darting through the streets, their voices echoing with the cries of “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” as they offered the latest editions of newspapers.
Life as a Newsboy
Many city newsboys were often barefooted rather than wearing boots so they could run faster. The boys had their own pitches, gangs and hierarchies — the leader of the mob could have his mates around him in a trice with a quick whistle. One such gang was Crutchey, Tabby-cats, Spud, Little Charlie, Snowy, Curley, Sport, Jack, Cock-eye, Battler, Spud, Fossie, Dicko, Soldier, Morry, Tom, Ginger, and all their mates.
Being a newsboy was a tough job, and the young entrepreneurs who did it had to overcome many challenges and obstacles. They had to endure harsh weather conditions, carry heavy newspapers, and navigate through chaotic city streets. Their success depended on their salesmanship skills, as they had to persuade people passing by to buy the newspapers they were selling.
When not selling papers, the boys had a reputation for roaming the alleyways: ‘whiffing cigarettes, chewing tobacco, swearing and fighting,’ or gambling their earnings in the game, ‘pitch and toss’
Running afoul of the law
By the turn of the century, many saw newsboys as a public nuisance. Lawmakers began charging them under an obscure council by-law, which prescribed that: “No person shall make any violent outcry, noise or disturbance in or on any of the streets, carriageways, footways, or public places within the City of Melbourne to the annoyance of any person or persons frequenting the same“.
Boys could also be charged for using fictitious headlines to lure passersby to purchase their newspapers. In February 1914, newsboy John Quilty was fined one pound for calling out: ‘Herald, final edition, a full account of the Fern Tree Gully railway accident.’
The headline about an accident was a work of fiction. Constable A.E. Strickland led the effort to apprehend newsboys shouting on the streets, accusing them of causing a “violent outcry” (as reported in Truth on June 28, 1903). As a result, many of these newsboys were brought to court, fined, and given a week to pay. They would be incarcerated for a week if they failed to pay within that timeframe.
The Newsboys Foundation
Miss Edith Charlotte Onians, a 28-year-old woman from a devout and wealthy Anglican family, began dedicating her life to helping underprivileged boys in Melbourne. With her help, life for the boys improved in the 1920s. Onians played a significant role in establishing and developing the Newsboys Foundation in Melbourne, Australia.
Photograph by L. Shea. Courtesy of Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales; 9624429
On a wet afternoon late the previous year, she had come across the first of Melbournes newsboys as they waited for a delivery of papers. They were floating bits of wood with improvised sails down the flowing gutters, wagering their pitifully small earnings on the race. Most were intermittently homeless. They slept rough on the Yarra riverbank or in the Richmond paddock by the old morgue. None could read or write.
Young boys who worked as newsboys during the early 20th century faced numerous difficulties, such as poverty, limited educational opportunities, and harsh living conditions. Moreover, they were at high risk of being victimised by sexual predators. Onians was aware of these challenges and dedicated herself to finding solutions. She became involved with the City Newsboys’ Try Society, founded in 1893 and later known as the Melbourne Newsboys’ Club. She started volunteering there and asked the boys if they would attend a school class if she organised one. They agreed to try it out. It was the beginning of her lifelong commitment to the cause.
The Newsboys Homes
The Newsboys’ Homes were established as safe havens for newsboys, offering them shelter, education, and guidance. Onians believed in providing these young boys with a nurturing environment where they could grow, learn, and thrive. The Homes provided accommodation, educational opportunities, and vocational training, empowering the boys to break the cycle of poverty and build a better future for themselves.
Over time, the Newsboys Foundation expanded its reach and broadened its scope to include support for disadvantaged youth beyond Newsboys. The organisation extended its programs to include scholarships, mentoring, and funding for educational initiatives. Over the years, it continued to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of young people in Melbourne, focusing on empowering them to reach their full potential and succeed in life.
The introduction of the Street Trading Act in 1958 meant that no boy under the age of 12 was allowed to sell newspapers in Melbourne. Those between the ages of 12 and 14 could only do so with a licence. The newsboys of Melbourne left an indelible mark on the city’s cultural and historical narrative.
Education pays off
Onians believed that no child was irreclaimable, and she proved that tenfold through the Foundation’s providing education to the boys. More than 20,000 boys passed through the Foundation, with many succeeding greatly in their respective fields. Melbournes Newsboys went on to become religious ministers, barristers, dentists, and notable sportsmen. Victorian boxing title-holder Norm Gent and former amateur welterweight champion Bill Seewitz were particularly noteworthy among the athletes. Champion wrestlers Bill Davies, Paul Buckley, Olympian Bob Clarke, and footballers Fitzroy captain Alan (Butch) Gale and North Melbourne skipper Les Foote were also among the accomplished athletes. In addition, former newsboy Vic Hartney became a jockey and won the 1943 Melbourne Cup on Dark Felt, while Len Woodhouse became the Australian middleweight weightlifting champion. Basketball players included All-Australian Tommy Nash and state representatives Eric Lund and Norm Davenport.
Reproduced courtesy State Library Victoria
Among the former newsboys were a librarian, several mayors, a president of the Returned Sailor’s, Soldier and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia, a special magistrate of the Children’s Court, several tram conductors, a bookie, and a successful chef with a thriving business. All in all, 626 boys signed up and fought in WWI, with some losing their lives at Lone Pine, the Somme, North Africa, and the skies over Germany in WWII. However, thousands of other newsboys became exemplary fathers, devoted husbands, diligent workers, compassionate businesspeople, and conscientious members of society.
The Legacy of the Newsboys
The memorable cries of “READ ALL ABOUT IT!” or “Get your “ERRR-AAALD!” still echo in our minds. These newsboys played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and spreading information. Their infectious enthusiasm and unwavering dedication to sales made them more than just newspaper sellers; they were messengers of the changing times. The newsboys of Melbourne were not just people who sold newspapers. They embodied resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit. In doing so, they became essential to the city’s history and helped the news industry grow.
Melbourne Zoo, considered among the best zoos in the world, was founded by the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria in October 1857 in Richmond. The zoo opened in its current location on October 6 1862, when it moved from Richmond to Royal Park on land donated by the City of Melbourne. The higher grounds of Royal Park were considered more suitable for the animal’s health than the damp ‘Richmond Paddocks’.
History
Modelled on London zoo, it is Australia’s oldest zoo and one of the world’s best. Like other zoos in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, the early days of the zoo practised ‘acclimatisation’ of exotic species. The zoo housed animals in small enclosures at the Royal Botanical Gardens, where they recovered from the long sea voyage before being introduced to the Australian environment. Pople in those days thought animals such as blackbirds, pheasants, quail, salmon, camels, goats and sheep could prove valuable sources of food and income.
However, despite the move to Royal Park, by the late 1860s, the zoo was in financial trouble. The public had lost interest, and Albert Alexander Cochrane Le Souëf (1828-1902) was appointed the first Director of the Zoo. To save the zoo, he made several significant changes. Le Souëf expanded the zoo’s role by building a collection of animals for the amusement and education of Melbourne’s citizens. Additionally, he developed extensive gardens and picnic areas. By 1880, Melbourne Zoo’s animal collection included lions, tigers, a panther, deer and hoofed animals such as sheep and cows. All of which were considered exotic for the colony at the time.
Early Animals
In 1881, an elephant and an orangutan arrived, followed by rhinos, hippos, bison, zebra and giraffe. Wallace the lion, came in 1891 and was famous for his love of classical music. During the first half of the 1900s, visitors could ride on Queenie the Elephant, throw peanuts to the bears or watch Mollie, the orangutan smoke a cigarette in her enclosure.
Mollie the Orangutan was one of the zoo’s most beloved characters in the early 1900s due to her intelligence, quirky personality, and the human-like habits she was taught. She came to the zoo in 1901 at only a few months old and remained a crowd favourite until she died in 1923. From the late 1800s and early 1900s, the humanisation of animals was common in zoos worldwide, and Melbourne Zoo was not exempt from the practice. Mollie was known for her ability to light and smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol and her elaborate ritual for setting up her bed each night, using hessian sacks in her cage.
Unfortunately, Mollie also had a habit of setting her bedding on fire due to her talent for lighting matches. After she partially burned down her wooden enclosure, it was replaced with a concrete one. Following her death, Mollie was stuffed and displayed at the Melbourne Zoo.
Elephant Rides
Melbourne Zoo had three elephants, Queenie, Betty and Peggy. Queenie, loved for her gentle nature, was a significant zoo attraction for over 40 years at Melbourne zoo. She walked a circuit giving daily rides to up to 500 children for tuppence each. Children would place apples and peanuts on the circuit posts for her to eat as she passed by. However, on September 19, 1944, she sadly crushed and killed her keeper at the end of her working day.
Following the incident, the zoo retired Queenie from giving rides and Peggy and Betty took over giving rides. After public support, the zoo decided to keep her as an exhibit. However, in 1945, she was put down. The reason given for this was that it was wartime, fodder was scarce, and the zoo could not afford to keep her. By 1962 elephant rides at the zoo had ceased for safety reasons.
Ethical Zoos
Thankfully times have changed. Modern zoos of today bear no resemblance to their predecessors. Capturing animals in the wild for display is now illegal. The cramped, concrete and brick steel-barred cages are gone. Instead, their natural bio-climatic habitat is recreated. Subsequently, they have room to roam. Melbourne zoo is part of a world-leading organisation dedicated to fighting extinction. As a not-for-profit organisation, the funds raised from visitors are ploughed back into helping wildlife. Zoos Victoria – the parent organisation of Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Zoo, and Werribee Zoo is involved with more captive breeding programs than any other organisation in Australia.
“I justify zoos providing they are scientific, providing they are selective about what they keep and provided they keep them to the highest possible standards. That’s okay by me,”
Sir David Attenborough
While zoos are loved by many, they still have their detractors. Opponents of zoos argue that conservation doesn’t justify keeping animals in captivity.
‘PETA doesn’t believe that animals are ours to use for entertainment,’
Claire Fryer, PETA
Captive Breeding Success
In 2021 Melbourne zoo released 8 critically endangered Plains Wanderers back into the wild. They also successfully bred 50 Grassland Earless Dragons, 4 Mountain Pygmy possums, 21 Helmeted Honeyeaters, and 11 Eastern Barred Bandicoots.
Moving the Elephants
Melbourne Zoo has a herd of 6 Asian elephants – at the time of this post, three are pregnant after conceiving naturally. The three elephants will all deliver towards the end of 2022. While the Melbourne Zoos ‘Trail of the Elephants‘ is ‘award-winning’, I have always disliked it. It’s a dusty or muddy enclosure (depending on the season) that seems way too small for them. They are rotated through three different enclosures, but none are large. However, the good news is the entire herd will move to Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2024 after an $87 million expansion. The new space at Werribee Zoo will give the elephants 22 hectares to roam across the savannah with the zebra, Rhino and Giraffe.
Visiting the zoo
Melbourne zoo is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
Adult entry is $42; Seniors are $38 and Concession $31.50. Children under16 are free on weekends, public holidays and school holidays. At all other times, children are $21.
It is summer in Australia. Warm sunny days and blue, blue skies. All Aussies thoughts turn to beaches. White sand, blue foamy waves lapping at the shore, and mermaids, sitting on rocks on the seashore.
OK.. granted… not everybody thinks of mermaids on rocks, on the seashore. But photographers are a little outside the square. The thought popped into my head when I was planning a seascape shoot. What to do that makes it a bit different… hmmm …just add a mermaid or two.
I sourced their tails and wigs, added headbands. We chose a nice spot down Sandringham and arranged for a sunset time slot. Naturally, the sunset was extremely ordinary, a nice bit of colour but no clouds to bounce light off. However, being as I am not a purist, I am happy to swap skies out if it improves the image. I know, I’m a philistine.
Both our models, Jess Carolyn and Jess Garrett were awesome to work with. They had to shimmy and roll across the sand, as walking with that tail on, was out of the question. We photographed them on various rocks and on the seashore, before asking them to get into the water for the last half hour.
The water was cold. Very cold. But they were total professionals and troopers and got in the water. Gasped in shock as the cold water hit them. Then smiled for shots between the cold waves.
A huge thank you to both girls. You made an idea a reality and your cheerful personalities made it a fun night.
Blue Mermaid: Jess Carolyn aka Miss Fairyfloss
Pink Mermaid: Jess Garrett
Spray Tans by Gorjess Beauty Mobile Spray Tans
“The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home,” Thomas Austin
Rabbits!
Thomas’s love for rabbit hunting resulted in a plague of rabbits across Australia. To prevent the spread of rabbits from the eastern states into Western Australia, the Rabbit-Proof Fence was constructed between 1901 and 1907. Thomas, a member of the Acclimatization Society of Victoria, introduced non-native animals and plants to the colony, such as blackbirds and partridges.
National Trust
In 1912, the house was sold to the Batson family, who later bequeathed it to the National Trust. At the time of the bequest, the house was still largely intact but had fallen into serious disrepair. Much of the furniture, artworks, and silverware had been sold off to provide income for the two sisters and one brother who remained in the house. The National Trust has since repaired the mansion and furnished it with furniture that was either original to the house or from the same time period.
The Grand Staircase
The staircase was the first of its kind in Australia. It led directly up the center of the hall and then branched left and right, rather than being on the side of the hall, as was the norm. Although it looks exactly like the one at Werribee Mansion, it was built three years before Werribee Mansion. Therefore, the Austins were the ones to introduce this style to Australia. The staircase was also built with much wider steps than normal to allow the ladies to descend gracefully and make a grand entrance. Downstairs, there is a sitting room, a drawing room, a dining room, a butler’s pantry, and a serving room. The kitchen was located on another level down, and food was sent up to the serving room for the servants to plate up. The butler would then take it to the table.
Address:
Barwon Park Mansion: 105 Inverleigh Road, Winchelsea 3241 VICOpen:
Open Wednesday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm. Tours run at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Group tours are available by appointment. A Virtual Reality headset is available for mobility-impaired visitors courtesy of the State Trustees Australia Foundation.Cost:
National Trust members: Free Adult: $10 Concession: $7 Child: $4 Family (2 adults + 2 children): $20
This week, along with three fellow photographer friends, we had planned to do some Fungi Hunting at Mt Macedon. So, we rugged up against the weather and headed to Sanatorium Lake at Mt Macedon. Weather-wise it was clear, with only slight showers, but it was 6C at the lake. Cold, cold, cold. That kind of damp, chilling cold that just seeps into your bones. Rugged up like Michelin people, we left the car and headed for the lake. The track was easy to follow, muddy, but not too bad.
On the hunt
We slowly walked along the path, eyes swivelling back and forth, looking for fungi and checking the sides of tree trunks and deadwood lying on the ground. When we found one, we noticed that there would be others in the immediate area. Never saw a single one by itself. We went off the path into the scrub in several areas where we spotted them. Some were just too hard to photograph either because they were inaccessible, way up a tree, or the tree was on such a slope that we needed to be mountain goats to position the tripods and shoot them.
Focus Stacking
I was shooting with the Olympus OMD EM1 Mark II, giving the new 60mm Macro its first real run, and trying out Focus Stacking for the first time on the Olympus, which worked fantastically! I just love it; it creates eight images at different focal lengths, then merges them in-camera into a single image (jpeg) that’s (theoretically) sharp front to back. Considering these were taken on a macro, which usually has a very narrow depth of field, it worked great. I can’t wait to try it on the 12-40 for landscapes. You end up with eight jpegs, 8 RAW and the blended jpeg. As I prefer to work with RAW files, I deleted the jpegs when I downloaded them to the computer and then blended the RAW files in Photoshop.
By around 1.30 pm – hungry and chilled to the bone, we headed back to the car, grabbed our picnic lunch and headed to one of the picnic tables. We quickly ate our lunch and then dived back to the warmth of the car for the trip home. We had a fabulous morning, we all got a great crop of images, but all need warmer winter gear 😉
In December 2017, Melbourne Zoo opened a new exhibit – the Carnivores Trail. The new enclosure houses the Lions, Sumatran Tiger, Tasmanian Devil, African Painted Dog and Snow Leopard. I had been to the zoo many times and failed to get a ‘shot’ of the tiger. He always seemed to be hiding at the back of his old enclosure, so I decided another trip was in order.
the Carnivores Trail
On the day we visited, the Lions weren’t on display as they were adding new tree trunks for them to climb on. Considering we visited in February and the ‘Trail’ had only been opened for around seven weeks, it was disappointing and poor planning on the zoo’s part. Another disappointment was that the trail wasn’t circular like the map at the entrance. Once past the invisible snow leopards, the trail was blocked, and a sign told us to retrace our steps. So while the trail was open to the public, it seems that it’s certainly not finished.
Snow Leopards and tigers
The snow leopards have mythical status as they are hard to find. When we visited again, they were nowhere in sight. A fellow photographer had visited five times since the opening of the new trail and had not seen them once. The new Tiger enclosure is excellent. We were lucky to see him wading back and forth in the water for a good ten minutes.
Lemur Island
From the Carnivores Trail, we headed off to Lemur Island. Not actually an island but a fully enclosed walk-through exhibit where the Ring-Tailed Lemurs swan around relaxing and observing the visitors…
Gorilla Rainforest
Lemur Island leads to the Gorilla Rainforest. Among the Western Lowland Gorilla and other animals, it’s also home to the tree-tops apes and monkeys.
Butterfly House
We headed to the Butterfly House from the Gorilla Rainforest. This is one of my favourite exhibits at the zoo. It’s home to hundreds of butterflies fluttering around and landing on people.
Werribee Open Range Zoo is set on approx 225 hectares within the Werribee Park Precinct in K Road Werribee. Its neighbours in the Werribee Park Precinct are the historic Werribee Mansion and the Victorian State Rose Garden.
Fighting Extinction
The zoo is a world-leading, zoo-based conservation organisation dedicated to fighting wildlife extinction. To this end, Werribee Open Range Zoo has several captive breeding programs of critically endangered animals. As a result, in 2021, Zoos Victoria, of which Werribee Zoo is a part, successfully:
- 50 Grassland Earless Dragons – not seen in the wild in Victoria since 1969
- 4 Mountain Pygmy Possums – fewer than 2000 left in the wild
- 21 Helmeted Honeyeaters – fewer than 200 left in the wild
- 11 Eastern Barred Bandicoots – extinct in the wild on mainland Australia
- released 8 critically endangered Plains Wanderers into the wild – number left in the wild 250-1000
- released 1,380 critically endangered Southern Corroboree frogs into the wild
- bred 16 Tasmanian Devils
Modelled on an African theme, the zoo is home to gorilla’s, Hippo’s, Rhino, Camels, American Bison, Przewalski’s horse, several varieties of antelope, monkeys, painted dogs, giraffes, and cheetahs. You can take a free bus ride through the savannah lands as part of the entry fee. But this day, along with around 25 fellow photographers from the Victorian Photographers Collective, we took the off-road safari for an additional cost.
Off Road Bus
For a very reasonable $50, we went off-road in the savannah over ninety minutes, stopping at each animal group for up close and personal photos. I’m spoilt now and can see myself ever doing the big free bus again. Once off the bus, we met up again for lunch, then wandered off in different directions to get some more shots before heading home. Fabulous day with lovely company!
Tilt-Shift photography or miniature faking is a creative technique whereby a photograph of a life-size location or object is manipulated to give an optical illusion of a photograph of a miniature scale model.
source: www.tiltshiftphotography.net
While there are tilt-shift lenses available out there, for something that you would only do occasionally, editing an image to give a tilt-shift appearance is much more realistic cost-wise, as it involves no expensive outlay of new gear.
When creating your tilt-shift image, a couple of things improve the overall impression of a miniature scene.
- Increase the color saturation and contrast, to simulate the bright paint often found on scale models
- Tilt-shift photographs look best or most effective when they are taken from a high angle to simulate the effect of looking down on a miniature scene. This works particularly well on buildings, cars, trains and people and street scenes. It’s a balancing act… too high, and while Tilt-Shift still works you lose the effect if the objects or people appear too small. Too low and they look too large to be miniature. In my personal preference/experience around 5-7 floors up is optimal at around 24mm, above that you need to zoom in. Highrise city car parks work great for this. In the examples below – the train lines were taken at a much higher elevation and look more ‘miniature like’.
Caribbean Gardens, Melb – about three floors up
Taking the image
Shoot the scene as you would normally, then edit using your favourite software. Once the image is to your liking, there are a few ways to achieve the tilt-shift/out of focus areas
- Tilt-Shift Maker is a free web site where you can convert your image to tilt-shift. Upload your image, convert, and download. Images up to 2000px are free, above that there is a fee
- Do it step by step, in Photoshop. A good tutorial is on Tilt-Shift Maker
- Topaz Lens Effects it has several very good lens effect you can apply to images, one of them being Tilt & ShiftPhoto
- Photoshop has a tilt-shift hidden in its blur gallery. Go to Filter>Blur Gallery>Tilt Shift. You can adjust the amount of blur, move the centre focus point to where you want it on the image, adjust distortion etc.,
For those who like time-lapse, you can also do a tilt-shift time-lapse. However, this may require the actual tilt-shift lens or advanced software. It’s worth watching the short video Miniature Melbourne by Nathan Kaso as it gives you lots of ideas of what to shoot to achieve the effect. and if you are familiar with Melbourne. where to go to get that shot.