Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2020

WhistlingKite24 said:
It seems like some of the Komodo Dragons that came from the Prague import are of different ages. I wonder if certain individuals that came from the recent import are unrelated to each other. For example, the male Komodo at Snakes Downunder just turned eight last week and as you mention, Adelaide’s female is only three years old.
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From what I can find online, there was a pair at Prague Zoo that had several successful clutches - beginning with three hatched in 2007; seven hatched in 2009; and 20 hatched in 2010. They had produced a fourth batch of eggs in late 2010, but I can’t find confirmation if they hatched or not. The pair of Komodo dragons came to Prague as a present from the Indonesian president to the Czech president on the 26th November 2004 from Taman Safari Park.

There’s a photo of the male you mention here (hatched July 2012): Stock Photo - 9th Aug 2012. Reptile keeper holds komodo dragon babies in Zoo Prague, Czech Republic, on Thursday, August 9, 2012. (CTK Photo/Vit Simanek). Credit: CTK / Alamy Live News

In August 2012, they acquired a male from the Los Angeles Zoo to pair with a female at Prague named Rancha. She was likely the daughter of Aranka (the female mentioned above from Taman Safari Park).

From what I can tell, any Prague imports hatched 2012 or before were from their first breeding pair from Indonesia; anything hatched post 2012 are likely their grandchildren.
 
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So I take it that 3 are still unknown as to where they were placed at this time?
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
It seems like some of the Komodo Dragons that came from the Prague import are of different ages. I wonder if certain individuals that came from the recent import are unrelated to each other. For example, the male Komodo at Snakes Downunder just turned eight last week and as you mention, Adelaide’s female is only three years old.
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7 animals were sent to Adelaide. One male 8 years and 4 months old, one male 7 years and 4 months old at time of import. Both are meant only for exhibit/show purposes and not breeding, they are product of parthenogenesis and their mother is Aranka (Indonesian import to Prague).

3,2 animals are full and half-siblings hatched in late Dec 2016 and Jan 2017, they are product of normal pairing. Father is Rakastan from Los Angeles, mothers are full sisters Rancha and Stříbřenka, who are daughters of Aranka and Draco. They have hope to breed after being paired by young animals of North American origin.
 
Jana said:
7 animals were sent to Adelaide. One male 8 years and 4 months old, one male 7 years and 4 months old at time of import. Both are meant only for exhibit/show purposes and not breeding, they are product of parthenogenesis and their mother is Aranka (Indonesian import to Prague).

3,2 animals are full and half-siblings hatched in late Dec 2016 and Jan 2017, they are product of normal pairing. Father is Rakastan from Los Angeles, mothers are full sisters Rancha and Stříbřenka, who are daughters of Aranka and Draco. They have hope to breed after being paired by young animals of North American origin.
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Excellent - thanks for the information!
 
Update on the Orange-bellied parrot breeding programme:

With the parrots’ desperate plight in the forefront of their minds, keepers and veterinary staff at Zoos SA have enthusiastically begun preparations for their role in the Orange-bellied Parrot Tasmanian Program by preparing two separate groups of the migratory parrot for release-to-the-wild.

Firstly, a group of four Orange-bellied Parrots, three young and one adult, are completing the final stages of their quarantine in Adelaide Zoo’s Animal Health Centre before (COVID-19 restriction permitting) heading to Tasmania for the start of the breeding season.

“All the birds are doing well,” said veterinary nurse Rebecca Probert. “They have one more round of testing to go before they can hopefully be moved to Tasmania.”

Meanwhile, in Adelaide Zoo’s Orange-bellied Parrot breeding facility, 10 birds have been paired and will hopefully produce more precious chicks. “The birds usually take interest in each other straight away and we hope to see eggs by early October."

Full article: Orange-bellied parrots get double dose of help at Adelaide Zoo
 
This year's breeding window for Adelaide Zoo's Giant Pandas has finished with no breeding success. From their Facebook page:
We thought you’d like an update on Panda breeding season.
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As many of you will know, because a reproductive specialist from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda was unable to travel to Adelaide this year it was left to the Giant Pandas to mate naturally.
Breeding season began last week. Fu Ni spent most of her days up her favourite tree (a natural behaviour for female Giant Pandas) and stayed up there until she was ready to mate.
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Wang Wang was seen climbing up the tree a number of times to greet Fu Ni and otherwise waited under the tree, scent-marking, until Fu Ni climbed down to potentially mate.
Keepers have monitored Fu Ni and Wang Wang over the last week with Fu Ni ovulating yesterday. While no mating occurred between the pair, we are left feeling very hopeful for the future with fantastic behaviours witnessed between Fu Ni and Wang Wang.
The breeding window for the Giant Panda pair closed this morning with keepers separating the usually solitary species.
As is usual with a female Giant Panda, Fu Ni will most likely go through a pseudo pregnancy which keepers expect to occur early next year.
We've learnt so much this breeding season and will use these learnings going forward. However, with the SA school holidays in full swing, visitors will be pleased to learn that the Bamboo Forest is now reopen to the public.
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Panda fans might also like to know that this week we relaunched the Panda and Friends experience - a great opportunity to enter the zoo before regular opening time and watch the Red Pandas enjoy their breakfast and Fu Ni and Wang Wang start their day.
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https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/animal.../panda-friends/
Thank you as always to
AGL Energy
for your continued support to help us care for Fu Ni and Wang Wang and to
Repromed
our fertility experts.
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WhistlingKite24 said:
This year's breeding window for Adelaide Zoo's Giant Pandas has finished with no breeding success. From their Facebook page:

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I hate to say it, but if these pandas have failed to breed (through AI and natural means) in the nine years they’ve had to do so (2011-2020), it’s unlikely they ever will.

Wang Wang is 15; Funi is 14. They’d be better off returning one or both to China while Funi is still or reproductive age; and trialling a new pair. Yes it’s unfortunate that AI couldn’t be done this year or last, but they had several years of trying this prior (without success).
 
Zoofan15 said:
I hate to say it, but if these pandas have failed to breed (through AI and natural means) in the nine years they’ve had to do so (2011-2020), it’s unlikely they ever will.

Wang Wang is 15; Funi is 14. They’d be better off returning one or both to China while Funi is still or reproductive age; and trialling a new pair.
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My guess is based on current state of Sino-Australian relations, its unlikely there'll be the offer of renewing their lease with a replacement pair.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I hate to say it, but if these pandas have failed to breed (through AI and natural means) in the nine years they’ve had to do so (2011-2020), it’s unlikely they ever will.

Wang Wang is 15; Funi is 14. They’d be better off returning one or both to China while Funi is still or reproductive age; and trialling a new pair. Yes it’s unfortunate that AI couldn’t be done this year or last, but they had several years of trying this prior (without success).
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I believe they should of brought in the experts from the San Deigo zoo from the start looks like they found out the hard way not so easy!
 
toothlessjaws said:
My guess is based on current state of Sino-Australian relations, its unlikely there'll be the offer of renewing their lease with a replacement pair.
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They learned a hard lesson in that commitment to giant panda conservation breeding requires upping one's game a few more notches. I cannot see why the giant panda project will continue at Adelaide.
 
Adelaide Zoo now have 0.1 South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) on-display at the zoo. She was rescued from the wild and was deemed unreleasable due to a wing amputation.

Full story:Cockatoo rescued by locals is the new face at Adelaide Zoo
Adelaide Zoo has a new feathered face of conservation with a local connection - Spence, the rescued South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

Young Spence was found by local landholders on the ground with a very severely injured wing.

The landholders, whose property was located in the Hundred of Spence near Naracoorte, giving the bird her name, contacted a member of Birdlife Australia, one of Zoos SA's conservation partners for the Cockies Helping Cockies project, who assessed her and helped deliver the special bird to Adelaide Zoo.

Conservation manager Dr Liberty Olds collected Spence and drove her to Adelaide Zoo where vets took x-rays and determined she had both broken and dislocated her right wing which, while it could be treated, would have left her with life-long arthritis pain.

Knowing that Spence was very comfortable around people and that, as a young bird, she hadn't learned to fly yet, vets made the decision to amputate her wing.

After recovering in the Animal Health Centre under the watchful eye of our dedicated vet nurses and keepers, little Spence made the journey to our Free Flight area where she received plenty of love and attention from keepers as well as the companionship of fellow red-tailed black cockatoo Banks.

Keeper and presenter Erin Turrell says Spence settled in brilliantly, even lending a hand (or wing) in the design of her exhibit.

"Obviously having lost her wing, Spence had a slightly different way of getting around to other birds, which included using her beak and feet a lot more," she said.

"We placed a number of perches and feeders around the exhibit and let Spence show us which ones she preferred and what she was comfortable using.

"Many of our regular visitors will know our male Banks and we're pleased to say that the two cockatoos, after some initial ignoring of each other, have become friends and can regularly be found hanging out on the same perch.

"Spence has quickly captured the hearts of keepers and visitors alike, with her tough start to life providing keepers with a teaching moment about the vital Cockies Helping Cockies project.

"She's so funny to work with. She's very fussy and will only eat peanuts with their shells still on."

"This is probably a nod back to the natural behavior of her species, where cockatoos spend a lot of their time breaking open seed pods and chewing everything around them - she loves destroying things!"

Spence's arrival at Adelaide Zoo coincides with the allocation of more funding to save her species in the wild.

Feeding only on native Stringybark and Buloke trees, these birds are struggling to find food after over 62 per cent of their native habitat has been cleared, mostly for agricultural purposes.

Sadly, there are less than 1,500 South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos estimated to be left in the wild.

Along with Trees For Life SA and BirdLife Australia, and thanks to funding from Limestone Coast Landscape Board through the Federal Government-funded National Landcare Program, Zoos SA now has more vital funding available via the new Communities Helping Cockies partnership.

This funding will support landholders to plant food trees, fence habitat and undertake woody weed control in areas crucial for South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoos.

Zoos South Australia and Trees For Life SA are on the lookout for landholders between Keith and Mt Gambier with sandy or clay/loam soil on their properties to help us plant stringybark or buloke trees to provide much-needed food for these birds.

Anyone who can help with this vital project is urged to get in contact with the Cockies Helping Cockies project officer Kerry Gilkes on 0429 660 027.
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Adelaide Zoo recently received 0.1 Cotton-top Tamarin from Halls Gap Zoo, Victoria. They hope to pair this female with their male, Gomez for breeding. The new female was born in 2015 and is called Peppa.

Full article: Adelaide Zoo’s newest Cotton-top Tamarin monkey visits the vet - Adelaide Zoo
Peppa the five-year-old Cotton-top Tamarin who recently had her first visit with the Adelaide Zoo vet team!

While Peppa was under general anaesthetic, the vet team also performed other routine procedures such as x-rays and blood draws as well as testing her for tuberculosis.

Adelaide Zoo veterinarian Oliver Funnell says Peppa was given a clean bill of health and should have no issues coming out quarantine in a few weeks.

“Peppa’s health looks great,” says Oliver.

“Physically, she appears very healthy and I see no reason why she couldn’t exit quarantine as normal.”

This little primate has been in routine quarantine since the end of September this year after arriving from Halls Gap Zoo in Victoria.

She is joined by ten-year-old Adelaide Zoo-born male Cotton-top Tamarin Gomez, who will join her in her new exhibit once she’s finished her quarantine period.

Keepers hope down the track the pair might produce the pitter-patter of tiny tamarin feet!
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Really fantastic news!! According to the Zoos SA Annual Report, Adelaide Zoo imported three female Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys from France! The relevant section:
We also welcomed three female Black-and-white Colobus monkeys from France, a new cohort of seahorses from Victoria and a rescued Australian Pelican from the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation. Two Asian Small-clawed Otter pups were born during 2020, bringing—in combination with our yearlings from 2019—our otter troop to six.
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Full report: https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Zoos-SA-Annual-Report-2019-2020.pdf
 
It's fantastic to hear of imports of this species into the region. I had seen the new three monkeys at Adelaide Zoo, but had no idea where they'd come from or the sexes. The new trio are housed in the cage next to the lion exhibit (previously occupied by the Persian leopard), while the zoo's original three (from Monarto) are still in the old lion-tailed macaque cage with aerial tunnels.

I hope this is indeed in preparation for the planned 'Into Africa' precinct. If they do indeed end up housing gorillas, mandrills, ruffed lemurs, and pygmy hippo in the exhibit-- along with the colobus-- it will be quite a standout for the zoo. I have been very curious as to how plans have changed since the decision to create an African savannah exhibit to accommodate giraffe Kimya and Nolean. Will the savannah exhibit be in place of lions, as that species is already held at Monarto (and doing very well, I might add)? I'd be sorely disappointed if the gorilla plans fall to the wayside. If Zoos SA could create an exhibit for them as successful as Monarto's chimps, it would be tremendously exciting.
 
Annual Report 2019-2020 – Adelaide Zoo:
In the excitement of the colobus import, I seem to have glossed over a lot of the details of the annual report. Here is a summary of Adelaide Zoo's achievements for those who don't want to scroll through the entire document:

Births/Hatchings:
*two Asian Small-clawed Otter pups were born in 2020. The zoo now has a group of six otters including the 2019 offspring.

*several births/hatchings of Golden Lion Tamarin, Cotton-top Tamarin, Quokka, Little Penguin, Little Pied Cormorant, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sun Conure, Peaceful Dove and Noisy Pitta occurred at the zoo. Other threatened species such as Western Swamp Turtle, Orange-bellied Parrot, Greater Stick-nest Rat and Greater Bilby also bred at the zoo.

Developments:
*the zoo completed a series of exhibit renovations for Giraffe, Meerkat, Australian Sea Lion and Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat. A summary of these developments: “Some of the key projects delivered during Covid19 closure were the Removal of Hippo pond and repurposing the area as open space in preparation for future development. The transformation of the Sea Lion exhibit by removing the boardwalk and providing glass viewing at ground level of on expanded beach area that also has new shade provision for animal health. The opening up of the old elephant yard to extend the existing Giraffe yard by creating a new link between both spaces and also the addition of a VIP viewing platform at the side and rear of the elephant house which is all accessible. Several other smaller projects were also completed including the conversion of the two empty exhibits opposite the sea lions to hold Meerkats, the construction of a pond in Aldabra tortoise exhibit and the complete refurbishment of the wombat exhibit which included replacement of exhibit tunnels, a new overhead shelter, creation of glass fronted day room and a new off limit holding area now under shelter and protected from the elements.”

Arrivals/Imports:
*a male Brazilian Tapir (Arturo) arrived from Melbourne Zoo to be paired with their females, Fat-tailed Dunnarts were added to the Nocturnal House, a Fennec Fox arrived as a companion for their other fox [they received one from Wildlife HQ last year so I'm not sure if it’s a different individual or the same one], new seahorses arrived and a rescued Australian Pelican was received from Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation.

*a rescued South-eastern Black Cockatoo, Spence, and a newly-arrived Blue and Gold Macaw, Iguazu, commenced training for the zoo’s free-flight bird show

*24 Radiated Tortoises were imported; these tortoises were later distributed to several zoos mainly in Queensland. Adelaide Zoo also led an importation of Komodo Dragon for the Australasian region quarantining all the animals.

*and in case you missed it, 0.3 Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys were imported from a zoo in France. This gives Adelaide Zoo 2.4 individuals including their existing trio. A very promising sign of what’s to come. Prior to the import, Adelaide Zoo only had female Charlie [born in 2002 at the National Zoo and Aquarium] and two younger males Jasiri and Kyoda [who were born in 2008 and 2009 at Monarto respectively].

Full annual report: https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Zoos-SA-Annual-Report-2019-2020.pdf
 
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