Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo News 2019

Tafin said:
What rhinoceroses do WORZ have?
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In addition to Kifaru (2009), I believe they currently have three females - Letaba (1992), Sisi (1996) and Kipenzi (2013). The 2011 studbook lists them as holding several others but I can only find reference to these three females in recent media releases.

Letaba was the mother of the first Southern white rhinoceros born at Werribee. He was named Ganini and was born 25/09/2002. He now lives at Australia Zoo and has sired four calves

Sisi is the mother of Kipenzi. She has given birth to at least four other calves, which died in infancy (including one that was killed by Sisi).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Part and parcel is also an effective bull rhino!

Plus having your daughter rhino in the herd is a recipy for failure!
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Kifaru at 10 years of age is an unproven breeder; but he is a large bull and his father (Kruger) is the most successful breeding bull in New Zealand. Kruger successfully mated with all three of the adult cows at Hamilton Zoo upon his introduction to them - two of which had failed to breed with the previous bull. He has to date sired six calves, with a seventh due next year.

And yes, there are many examples of young females failing to conceive when housed with their mother. It’s a shame as Kipenzi at six years of age is at the perfect age to conceive her first calf. The reproductive potential of the two older females (aged 23 and 27) will be limited; though both have bred before and could potentially conceive into their late 30s.
 
Zoofan15 said:
In addition to Kifaru (2009), I believe they currently have three females - Letaba (1992), Sisi (1996) and Kipenzi (2013). The 2011 studbook lists them as holding several others but I can only find reference to these three females in recent media releases.

Letaba was the mother of the first Southern white rhinoceros born at Werribee. He was named Ganini and was born 25/09/2002. He now lives at Australia Zoo and has sired four calves

Sisi is the mother of Kipenzi. She has given birth to at least four other calves, which died in infancy (including one that was killed by Sisi).
Click to expand...

In addition to these individuals, WORZ has another 2.1, Leeroy, Umgana, and Make Make. They were all mentioned in a Zoos Victoria newsletter from around a year ago. Leeory and Umgana are definitely still alive, but there was a missing female from my last visit (a few weeks ago). From memory, the tour guide only mentioned Letaba, Sisi, and Kipenzi, so I believe Make Make may have passed recently.
 
Tafin said:
What rhinoceroses do WORZ have?
Click to expand...

Zoofan15 said:
In addition to Kifaru (2009), I believe they currently have three females - Letaba (1992), Sisi (1996) and Kipenzi (2013). The 2011 studbook lists them as holding several others but I can only find reference to these three females in recent media releases.

Letaba was the mother of the first Southern white rhinoceros born at Werribee. He was named Ganini and was born 25/09/2002. He now lives at Australia Zoo and has sired four calves

Sisi is the mother of Kipenzi. She has given birth to at least four other calves, which died in infancy (including one that was killed by Sisi).
Click to expand...

Jambo said:
In addition to these individuals, WORZ has another 2.1, Leeroy, Umgana, and Make Make. They were all mentioned in a Zoos Victoria newsletter from around a year ago. Leeory and Umgana are definitely still alive, but there was a missing female from my last visit (a few weeks ago). From memory, the tour guide only mentioned Letaba, Sisi, and Kipenzi, so I believe Make Make may have passed recently.
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I visited WORZ on the weekend, and have confirmed from a keeper that they do indeed still have 3.4 Southern White Rhinoceros. Make (1981), and Leeroy (1980), are retired off display (in the enclosures above the cliff, following the Texas Longhorn enclosure). Umgana (1988), Letaba (1992), Sisi (1996), Kifaru (2009), and Kipenzi (2013) all live in the Lower savannah, but in two groups: Umgana, Letaba and Sisi in one, and Kifaru and Kipenzi in the other. Both groups rotate display in the Lower Savannah, and aren’t kept together because (to quote the keeper), “thing’s get a bit to messy”.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see Kifaru, as Umgana, Letaba and Sisi were on display at the time of my visit. I’m hoping for some future rhino calves from Kipenzi! :)
 
Jambo said:
I visited WORZ on the weekend, and have confirmed from a keeper that they do indeed still have 3.4 Southern White Rhinoceros. Make (1981), and Leeroy (1980), are retired off display (in the enclosures above the cliff, following the Texas Longhorn enclosure). Umgana (1988), Letaba (1992), Sisi (1996), Kifaru (2009), and Kipenzi (2013) all live in the Lower savannah, but in two groups: Umgana, Letaba and Sisi in one, and Kifaru and Kipenzi in the other. Both groups rotate display in the Lower Savannah, and aren’t kept together because (to quote the keeper), “thing’s get a bit to messy”.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see Kifaru, as Umgana, Letaba and Sisi were on display at the time of my visit. I’m hoping for some future rhino calves from Kipenzi! :)
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Thanks for the update @Jambo. Having the bulls (Umgana) seperate is probably essential; though I’ve heard the scent of a rival bull can stimulate bulls to breed, so maybe this is what they’re hoping to achieve by rotating them. Sisi and Kipenzi being kept separate should prevent estrus suppression. :cool:
 
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