Exotic Mammals in Australian Zoos

[WhistlingKite24]

*Caracal (Caracal caracal) – Wild Animal Encounters

One pair was imported from South Africa in late 2017. These are presumably of the South African subspecies C. c. caracal.
Prior to the current import there used to be Caracals in several Australian zoos, the last of these former animals being a pair at Adelaide Zoo. The female died in 2007, and the male was sent to Melbourne Zoo in 2008 where he died in late 2013. These were Asiatic Caracals C. c. schmitzii which are from India and the Middle East.

As mentioned in the Tasmania Zoo news thread, Tasmania Zoo now has two caracal from South Africa (two sisters).
Caracals at Tasmania Zoo, an Australian first

 

[WhistlingKite24]

*Mara (Dolichotis patagonum) – Adelaide; Darling Downs; Gorge; Monarto?

Formerly kept in many Australasian zoos, with the last of the old stock (originating at Taronga c.1940s) dying in 2012 at Western Plains Zoo. The current zoo stock comes from two pairs imported by Melbourne from Whipsnade (UK) in late 2012. These were transferred to Adelaide in Oct 2013, and started breeding in early 2014. There have been no further imports.

Hunter Valley Zoo now has two Mara.
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[WhistlingKite24]

*Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) – Adelaide; Altina; Australia Zoo; Ballarat; Billabong; Crocodylus; Darling Downs; Gorge; Halls Gap; Hunter Valley; Mansfield Zoo; Melbourne; Mogo; Monarto; National Zoo; Perth; Royal Melbourne Childrens Hospital; Shoalhaven; Snakes Downunder; Symbio; Taronga; Tasmania Zoo; Werribee; Western Plains Zoo; Wildlife HQ; Wings Wildlife Park; Zoodoo

Marking their 40th anniversary, Oakvale has received Meerkat (a sibling trio). Oakvale marks 40 years with meerkat exhibit launch

 

[Ashanti]

Marking their 40th anniversary, Oakvale has received Meerkat (a sibling trio). Oakvale marks 40 years with meerkat exhibit launch

Never even heard of this place, how exciting. Does anyone know where these meerkats have come from?

 

[Jake]

Never even heard of this place, how exciting. Does anyone know where these meerkats have come from?

Probably Altina.

 

[Zorro]

Billabong Zoo has welcomed Common Marmoset.
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Paradise Country Gold Coast added Common Marmosets this week!

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Paradise Country Gold Coast added Common Marmosets this week!

I contacted Paradise Country in regards to the marmosets recently, unfortunately they are only a temporary display.

 

[Zorro]

I contacted Paradise Country in regards to the marmosets recently, unfortunately they are only a temporary display.

They are there permanent!

 

[WhistlingKite24]

They are there permanent!

My mistake @Zorro. I just received another email from Paradise Country saying they are indeed a permanent exhibit.
No idea why they initially told me they weren’t (presumably a typo).
They’ll make a nice addition to the park.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

*Brazilian Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) – Darling Downs; Gorge; Hunter Valley; National Zoo

Until 2016 the entire Australasian population was descended from four animals imported by Auckland Zoo (NZ) in 1949. In 2016 DDZ imported four unrelated individuals from the USA, and these have since bred. (Four unrelated animals from Hungary were also imported to NZ by Wellington Zoo in 2016). Before the four new ones were imported by DDZ there were only six agouti left in Australia. The ones now (still?) at National are the remainder of that old stock (coming there from Taronga in 2016). The ones at Gorge and Hunter Valley are from DDZ.

This Facebook post from Halls Gap Zoo mentions that their Cotton-top Tamarins live with conures and agoutis. I assume the agouti came from DDZ, however I cannot find any further information.
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[Jambo]

Four female Sumatran elephants Christina, Megawati, Widya and Raflesia now make AZ home (7 news). To go on show for the school Holidays!

Australia zoo now has 0.4 Sumatran Elephants, Christina, Megawati, Widya, and Raflesia.

 

[Yoshistar888]

Does melbourne zoo still have binturong. I went about a month ago and there was a squirrel monkey including signage in the binturong exhibit plus the binturong was removed from the map.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Does melbourne zoo still have binturong. I went about a month ago and there was a squirrel monkey including signage in the binturong exhibit plus the binturong was removed from the map.

I just contacted Zoos Victoria. Their elderly male (Gangsa) was euthanised in July 2019 due to a number of age-related issues. As far as I know, he was their only binturong and therefore means the zoo doesn’t hold the species anymore.

 

[kiwimuzz]

Melbourne zoo no longer has Binturong. The enclosure now holds a group of male squirrel monkeys, as seen on my last visit a few weeks ago.

 

[toothlessjaws]

It appears there is no intention to maintain Binturong in Australia anymore.

What species other than Sumatran tigers are the zoos going to keep?

 

[Iwerks]

It appears there is no intention to maintain Binturong in Australia anymore.

What species other than Sumatran tigers are the zoos going to keep?

Are they removing the breeding pair of Binturong from Perth Zoo?

 

[Chlidonias]

The new Sydney Zoo at Blacktown isn't open yet [scheduled for December 7th] but they have started acquiring animals. I will hold off on editing these changes into the proper list until they are actually open, but will use this post to keep track of them.

1.2 Sumatran Orangutans moved to Sydney Zoo from Melbourne Zoo in July, leaving Melbourne with 1.0 Sumatran and 0.2 hybrid Orangutans (this post: Melbourne Zoo News 2019 [Melbourne Zoo])

4.0 African Hunting Dogs imported to Sydney Zoo from Dvur Kralove (Czech Republic) in July (this post: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo])

0.0.13 Hamadryas Baboons and 3.0 Spotted Hyaenas imported from Singapore Zoo; 4.0 Lions from TWPZ; 2.0 Cheetahs from Monarto; 7.4 (?) Chimpanzees imported from Schwaben Park in Germany [one female later died]; and 3.0 Zebra (of unspecified origin) were all announced at the end of August (from this post and following few posts: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo])

0.0.5 Geoffroy's Spider Monkeys were obtained in October (sexes and origin not mentioned - this post: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo])

1.1 Tigers (one Sumatran and one hybrid "Siberian") were obtained in November from Dreamworld (from this and following posts: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo])

This article says that they have ten Black-capped Capuchins: Sydney's west gets its own world-class zoo

Additionally, Meerkats are shown in one of the videos in this post: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo]

0.1 Giraffe arrived from Monarto in December (right before the official opening date): $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo]

Capybara and Dromedary are mentioned in this post: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo]

0.1 Asian Elephant and three Water Buffalo on the day of opening, reported in this post: $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown [Sydney Zoo]

Now that Sydney Zoo is open I have added in all these changes to the list. I also added in Blackbuck as they are on the zoo map. I haven't added Red Panda or Small-clawed Otter as I don't think they have them yet. White Rhino and Gorilla have also yet to be added to the zoo.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

. I haven't added Red Panda or Small-clawed Otter as I don't think they have them yet.

Sydney Zoo has Red Panda (a photo was posted by a visitor and shared on one of their Facebook posts).
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[WhistlingKite24]

As we are reaching the end of 2019, over the past few weeks or so I have been emailing and messaging various zoos and wildlife parks for updates and further information on particular exotic mammals. This post combines all of these updates from various news threads, emails, messages and Facebook posts.
Unfortunately, a lot of these updates are losses (including complete species from the region) rather than gains.

*Rusa (Cervus timorensis) – Altina; Cooberrie; Mansfield

Introduced to the wild in various areas between the late-1800s and mid-1900s, with stock coming from Java and the Moluccas. Now also farmed commercially.

Cooberrie Park doesn’t have Rusa Deer anymore (they still have Fallow Deer).

*Fallow Deer (Dama dama) – Adelaide; Altina; Birdland Animal Park; Caversham; Cooberrie; Halls Gap; Hunter Valley; Mansfield; Mogo; National Zoo; Peel; Symbio (still?); Taralga; Tasmania Zoo; Western Plains Zoo; Wildlife HQ; Zoodoo

First released into the wild in the 1830s in Tasmania, and later elsewhere on the mainland until the early 1900s. Now also farmed commercially.

Symbio informed me that they no longer have Fallow Deer.

*Spotted Deer (Chital) (Axis axis) – Caversham?; Hunter Valley Zoo

The first deer species to be released into the wild in Australia. There were many releases throughout the 1800s in many parts of the country. All were from India. Now also farmed commercially.

Both Caversham and Hunter Valley Zoo informed me that they do not currently hold Chital Deer. Both zoos still have Fallow Deer (which are already listed).

*African Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) – one female at Werribee; one male at Western Plains Zoo

Only two animals left in the country. The male is castrated. The original stock was imported from the UK in the late 1980s.

Neither zoo hold African Forest Buffalo anymore.
Werribee’s last buffalo died in 2018. She was 21 years old and was euthanized due to age-related issues. They also told me that they first received the species in 2005 (two individuals came from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo).
Taronga Western Plains Zoo no longer has African Forest Buffalo either (that is all the information they provided me with, I tried to ask for further information surrounding when the last one passed away but I am still awaiting an answer).

*Barbary Sheep (Aoudad) (Ammotragus lervia) – Altina; Darling Downs; Halls Gap; Hunter Valley; Monarto; National Zoo; Western Plains Zoo. Also in private hands.

About 160 in zoos, all descended from imports to Taronga. Originally from just one pair, imported from Africa in 1929. Later imports were two animals in 1952 from National Zoo (USA) and one male and three pregnant females in 1957 from Honolulu Zoo (USA).

Darling Downs Zoo doesn’t currently have Barbary Sheep. They haven’t had the species for a few years.

*Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) – Altina; Halls Gap; Mansfield; Taronga

Descended from one import of three animals from NZ to Taronga in 1932. I don't think there have been any later additions, and there are only about 40 left in zoos here.

Taronga Zoo’s group of Himalayan Tahr left in 2016 and moved to Hunter Valley Zoo to make space for Tiger Trek and the African Savannah. They do not have any plans to bring the species back to Taronga.
I then contacted Hunter Valley Zoo to enquire if they still have tahr however they do not hold the species currently. Himalayan Tahr is also not listed on their website.

*Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) – Altina; Monarto; Taronga; Western Plains Zoo

There are just seven Bongo in Australia, only two of which are females. One female was imported in May 2017 from Wellington Zoo (NZ), originally from Singapore Zoo. All the other Bongos in Australia are descended from three animals (2.1) imported from the USA in 1995. (A second female in that import had died without offspring).

There are currently eight Bongo (6.2) in Australia. Monarto, Taronga and Altina all house one male each. Up until recently, Monarto had two males, however they informed me that one of them had recently passed away. Taronga Western Plains Zoo currently has the breeding male, the two females and two male offspring (one male born in September 2018 and another male born in December 2019).

*Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) – Altina; Billabong; Cooberrie; Crocodylus; Darling Downs; Gorge; Halls Gap; Hunter Valley; Mansfield; National Zoo; Paradise Country [Gold Coast]; Shoalhaven; Symbio; Tasmania Zoo; Wildlife HQ; Wild Animal Encounters; Wings Wildlife Park; Zoodoo. Also in research facilities.

There are about 70 or 80 Common Marmosets in Australian zoos. The species has been in the country for a long time but their ancestries are largely unknown and most are probably related. There have been no imports since the 1970s but many also came into zoos from laboratory situations.

Common Marmoset at Banana Cabana (from website and recent Facebook posts).
Banana Cabana | Banana Cabana Primate Sanctuary

*Black-capped Capuchin (Sapajus (Cebus) apella) – Altina; Crocodylus; Darling Downs; Gorge; Halls Gap; Hunter Valley; Melbourne; Mogo; National Zoo; Perth; Shoalhaven; Sydney Zoo; Tasmania Zoo; Wild Animal Encounters; Wildlife HQ; Wings Wildlife Park; Zoodoo

This species has been kept and bred in zoos and circuses for a very long time, and the population is very inbred. Animals from NZ have been brought in, but I don't know when the last ones from outside the region have been imported. Currently there are about 100 animals in Australian zoos.

Black-capped Capuchin at Banana Cabana (from website and recent Facebook posts).
Banana Cabana | Banana Cabana Primate Sanctuary

*Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) – Adelaide; Crocodylus; Darling Downs; Melbourne; Perth; Sydney Zoo; Wildlife HQ. Also in research facilities.

Banana Cabana has Hamadryas Baboon (from website and recent Facebook posts).
Banana Cabana | Banana Cabana Primate Sanctuary

*Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata) – Banana Cabana; Mansfield

This species was widely held in zoos and circuses in the past, but it seems that there are now only two old animals left in the country.

There are no more Bonnet Macaques.
Banana Cabana’s last female (Suzy) died in 2015. They were kind enough to also tell me a little bit about her history. She originally came from Mugga Lane Zoo, and along with the rest of the bonnet macaques, went to a private owner when the zoo closed. When the owner passed away, she moved to Banana Cabana where she lived out the rest of her days.
Mansfield Zoo also informed me that their last male was no longer at the zoo (unfortunately they didn’t provide more information on when he died). They do however still have the Rhesus Macaques.

*Francois' Langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) – Mogo; National Zoo; Taronga

One pair was imported by Taronga from Nagoya Zoo (Japan) in 2004, a second pair from Beijing Zoo (China) in 2010, and a female from Blijdorp Zoo (Netherlands) in 2012. The original pair has since been exported (in 2013 and 2014). First bred at Taronga in 2009 and several years since. Mogo has two males from Taronga (since late 2016?). National Zoo appears to have two animals also, obtained during 2019 (presumably excess males from Taronga).

I was informed that the Francois Langurs (two males) at the National Zoo were actually transferred from Mogo Zoo. Therefore Mogo Zoo no longer holds the species.

*Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) – Adelaide; Australia Zoo; Ballarat; Darling Downs; Dreamworld; Melbourne; Mogo; National Zoo; Perth; Sydney Zoo; Taronga; Western Plains Zoo

Tasmania Zoo has two Sumatran tigers from Symbio (Auckland-bred).
Sydney's favourite Sumatran Tigers 'Cinta and Jalur' are bound for Tasmania [Symbio Wildlife Park]

*generic Tigers (Panthera tigris) (hybrids and whites) – Australia Zoo; Crocodylus; Dreamworld; Mogo; National; Sydney Zoo. Also at Zambi (not open to public).

Most of the generic Tigers in Australia (the so-called "Bengal Tigers") derive from animals at Bullens (ex-circus). Those at Crocodylus (1.1) were bred at Bullens. Mogo has 1.1 originally bred at Bullens, as well as 0.1 bred at Mogo from that pair. Australia Zoo's 1.2 Tigers were bred at Mogo in 2007. Dreamworld has some Tigers from Bullens but their original animals were 3.3 (including white ones) imported from the USA in 1995; they also imported an orange female from Krakow Zoo (Poland) in 2013 [now at Sydney Zoo], and two white females from Hirakawa Zoo (Japan) in 2016. National's two males came from Dreamworld.

The National Zoo also received two female tigers (Sumatran tiger hybrids) from Dreamworld in October 2018. They still have the other two males.
Tiger Cubs | Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation

 

[toothlessjaws]

I've pointed this out before on the thread but perhaps it was missed: There is an additional deer species in Australia that is not listed: Sika.