Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2021

Zoofan15 said:
changed gender
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:p.

Zoofan15 said:
Plains zebra update:

The Plains zebra foal born Jan 26 has changed gender and is now identifying as a filly:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2018531418288185

With the recent transfer of the stallion to Gibbs Farm, this leaves the zoo with an all female herd:

0.1 Layla (20/09/2011) Bwana x Marble
0.1 Eve (24/12/2018) Carlo x Layla
0.1 Unnamed (26/01/2021) Carlo x Layla
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Auckland has a diminishing herd. Is there any plans to import another colt?
 
Jambo said:
:p.



Auckland has a diminishing herd. Is there any plans to import another colt?
Click to expand...

Yeah they’ve really struggled to get the numbers up with the loss of several mares over the last decade. They’ve recently got back on track with the birth of two fillies in two years; and as a result have a young, cohesive female herd.

I don’t know what their plans are but I see two likely options:

1. Transfer the three young (surplus) mares from Hamilton Zoo to form a sorority herd.

2. Bring in a stallion. If they go this route, it’d be great if they transferred the hybrid stallion from Hamilton Zoo; freeing them up to import a purebred Grant’s stallion from Darling Downs Zoo.
 
Asian small-clawed otter update:

Auckland Zoo are transferring their five female Asian small-clawed otters to Willowbank Wildlife Park:

0.1 Takumi (2014)
0.1 Indah (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Dewi (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi

This will leave the zoo with an all male group:

1.0 Kanan (2009)
1.0 Arif (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Ketut (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Panuta (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Budi (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
 
Zoofan15 said:
Asian small-clawed otter update:

Auckland Zoo are transferring their five female Asian small-clawed otters to Willowbank Wildlife Park:

0.1 Takumi (2014)
0.1 Indah (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Dewi (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
0.1 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi

This will leave the zoo with an all male group:

1.0 Kanan (2009)
1.0 Arif (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Ketut (May 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Panuta (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Budi (Dec 2019) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
1.0 Unnamed (Sep 2020) Kanan x Takumi
Click to expand...

Presumably they will hold a bachelor group in the time being until the Wild Indonesia construction is finished?
 
Zoofan15 said:
Yeah they’ve really struggled to get the numbers up with the loss of several mares over the last decade. They’ve recently got back on track with the birth of two fillies in two years; and as a result have a young, cohesive female herd.

I don’t know what their plans are but I see two likely options:

1. Transfer the three young (surplus) mares from Hamilton Zoo to form a sorority herd.

2. Bring in a stallion. If they go this route, it’d be great if they transferred the hybrid stallion from Hamilton Zoo; freeing them up to import a purebred Grant’s stallion from Darling Downs Zoo.
Click to expand...
Perhaps they could import some mares from outside the region?.
 
Jambo said:
Presumably they will hold a bachelor group in the time being until the Wild Indonesia construction is finished?
Click to expand...

Zorro said:
Perhaps they could import some mares from outside the region?.
Click to expand...

Sadly, I think they will be holding a bachelor group for the foreseeable. Auckland Zoo has been breeding this species for decades, but have previously taken gaps of five to six years, so I’m guessing that’s what will happen now. Even factoring in Kanan is getting on in his years, they still have his seven young sons, which will make for a busy and engaging exhibit when Wild Indonesia is complete.

Hamilton Zoo plan to acquire this species in a few years time, so my prediction is that one of the brothers will remain at Auckland (to be paired with an imported female); while his siblings are sent to Hamilton Zoo.

Although new imports would be preferable, I’d anticipate the otter pups born at Melbourne Zoo in 2020 will be entering the breeding programme sooner rather than later. The parents are from the Frankfurt and Singapore zoos and represent a new bloodline; so I could easily see the female pup from their litter being the intended mate of one of these lads.
 
Significant news, four Galápagos Tortoises have hatched at the zoo! This is only the second time the zoo have bred the species (the only other tortoise that has hatched at Auckland was in 2017 but it unfortunately had to be euthanised soon after). Fingers crossed these four hatchlings thrive in their care for many decades to come: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Edit: Here is an article about this news. Note that Auckland refer to their Galápagos tortoises specifically as Chelonoidis vicina - Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise: “There are 11 different Galápagos tortoise species; down from 15 when Charles Darwin first visited in 1835. Six are Critically Endangered, and three are Endangered (including the species Chelonoidis vicina which we house at Auckland Zoo).” Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Significant news, four Galápagos Tortoises have hatched at the zoo! This is only the second time the zoo have bred the species (the only other tortoise that has hatched at Auckland was in 2017 but it unfortunately had to be euthanised soon after). Fingers crossed these four hatchlings thrive in their care for many decades to come: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Edit: Here is an article about this news. Note that Auckland refer to their Galápagos tortoises specifically as Chelonoidis vicina - Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise. Looks like the zoo have finally distinguished the species they have under their care: “There are 11 different Galápagos tortoise species; down from 15 when Charles Darwin first visited in 1835. Six are Critically Endangered, and three are Endangered (including the species Chelonoidis vicina which we house at Auckland Zoo).” Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News
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What an incredible achievement - the most Galapagos tortoises hatchlings successfully hatched from a single clutch in the region. It’s interesting to note they incubated them at a temperature most likely to produce females.

Starting with four hatchlings should also give them a decent chance of successfully rearing at least a couple from hatchlings to adulthood - a first for a New Zealand zoo.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Significant news, four Galápagos Tortoises have hatched at the zoo! This is only the second time the zoo have bred the species (the only other tortoise that has hatched at Auckland was in 2017 but it unfortunately had to be euthanised soon after). Fingers crossed these four hatchlings thrive in their care for many decades to come: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Edit: Here is an article about this news. Note that Auckland refer to their Galápagos tortoises specifically as Chelonoidis vicina - Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise. Looks like the zoo have finally distinguished the species they have under their care: “There are 11 different Galápagos tortoise species; down from 15 when Charles Darwin first visited in 1835. Six are Critically Endangered, and three are Endangered (including the species Chelonoidis vicina which we house at Auckland Zoo).” Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News
Click to expand...
Wonderful news. congratulations to Auckland Zoo. :)
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Significant news, four Galápagos Tortoises have hatched at the zoo! This is only the second time the zoo have bred the species (the only other tortoise that has hatched at Auckland was in 2017 but it unfortunately had to be euthanised soon after). Fingers crossed these four hatchlings thrive in their care for many decades to come: Log into Facebook | Facebook

Edit: Here is an article about this news. Note that Auckland refer to their Galápagos tortoises specifically as Chelonoidis vicina - Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise: “There are 11 different Galápagos tortoise species; down from 15 when Charles Darwin first visited in 1835. Six are Critically Endangered, and three are Endangered (including the species Chelonoidis vicina which we house at Auckland Zoo).” Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News
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Brilliant news, especially for the regional population! :) Smiley and Chippie are second time parents!

Fingers crossed all four survive to adulthood; but, even if they don't they have far more chance this time that at least one will.
 
It is indeed good news and means both Auckland and Dubbo WPZ can now be considered more reliable breeders, no mean feat. ATM there are 20 Galapagos tortoise in ZAA/Australasian zoos.
LINK: Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News

I do reserve judgement on whether the individuals are true Chelonoidis vicina though. In the past this name was bestowed more or less on all Honolulu wild caught Galapagos tortoise they maintained and this has been shown to be grossly incorrect. At Honolulu Zoo's the wild caught Galapagos tortoise have been shown to contain representatives of both C. porteri (4) from Western Santa Cruz as well as a C. vandenburghi (1) from Volcan Alcedo. Three further individuals (3) were never assigned to species level and died between 1970-1985 there.

All Auckland Zoo individuals carry a known female parent x male of undetermined species (the offspring's parents had never been assigned to species level and were all among the 3 deceased between 1970-1985. I wish they would take historical samples (one wonders whether these have been preserved for science?). The major part of the Honolulu Zoo offspring in US zoos have been scored as hybrids and these include the very same pairings (as above). Hence, me being rather cautious on naming them C. vicina.

FYI: Chelonoidis vicina is actually one of the rarer taxa with a population of 2,600 (last estimate 1,800 - 2,700 in 1995) on southern Isabela. I am surprised no newer census has been done. To put this in perspective, in 2010 the other rare species Chelonoidis vandenburghi was estimated at 6,200 individuals on southern Isabela. Very recently, during an extensive survey of their numbers the GC team has come up with a revised well researched estimate of 12,000 - 15,000 C. vandenburghi (of which over 5,000 were individually marked by the teams).
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
It is indeed good news and means both Auckland and Dubbo WPZ can now be considered more reliable breeders, no mean feat. ATM there are 20 Galapagos tortoise in ZAA/Australasian zoos.
LINK: Good things take time – like breeding Galápagos tortoises | Auckland Zoo News

I do reserve judgement on whether the individuals are true Chelonoidis vicina though. In the past this name was bestowed more or less on all Honolulu wild caught Galapagos tortoise they maintained and this has been shown to be grossly incorrect. At Honolulu Zoo's the wild caught Galapagos tortoise have been shown to contain representatives of both C. porteri (4) from Western Santa Cruz as well as a C. vandenburghi (1) from Volcan Alcedo. Three further individuals (3) were never assigned to species level and died between 1970-1985 there.

All Auckland Zoo individuals carry a known female parent x male of undetermined species (the offspring's parents had never been assigned to species level and were all among the 3 deceased between 1970-1985. I wish they would take historical samples (one wonders whether these have been preserved for science?). The major part of the Honolulu Zoo offspring in US zoos have been scored as hybrids and these include the very same pairings (as above). Hence, me being rather cautious on naming them C. vicina.

FYI: Chelonoidis vicina is actually one of the rarer taxa with a population of 2,600 (last estimate 1,800 - 2,700 in 1995) on southern Isabela. I am surprised no newer census has been done. To put this in perspective, in 2010 the other rare species Chelonoidis vandenburghi was estimated at 6,200 individuals on southern Isabela. Very recently, during an extensive survey of their numbers the GC team has come up with a revised well researched estimate of 12,000 - 15,000 C. vandenburghi (of which over 5,000 were individually marked by the teams).
Click to expand...

Were the Auckland four from different mothers?
 
Hamadryas Baboon Infant Named

The female Hamadryas baboon infant born in September 2020 has been named ‘Iniko.’

Iniko is a Nigerian name meaning ‘born during troubled times.’ It may seem a strange name choice, but I assume it references the year that was 2020. Iniko’s birth came just as Auckland was coming out of a six week lockdown that began in August that year.

Alternatively, it may have reflected changes within the troop. Iniko’s mother, Mali, began the year in Wasaro’s harem; but had switched to Yafeu’s harem by the time Iniko was born.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNLRucToBJQ/?igshid=12qe3sdznhogz

Current Population

Harem One:

1.0 Wasaro (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Imported 2009

Harem Two:

1.0 Afar (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Kito (2002) Imported 2009
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito

Harem Three:

1.0 Yafeu (2009) Unknown x Ayisha
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Iniko

Harem Four:

1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
 
Zoofan15 said:
Hamadryas Baboon Infant Named

The female Hamadryas baboon infant born in September 2020 has been named ‘Iniko.’

Iniko is a Nigerian name meaning ‘born during troubled times.’ It may seem a strange name choice, but I assume it references the year that was 2020. Iniko’s birth came just as Auckland was coming out of a six week lockdown that began in August that year.

Alternatively, it may have reflected changes within the troop. Iniko’s mother, Mali, began the year in Wasaro’s harem; but had switched to Yafeu’s harem by the time Iniko was born.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNLRucToBJQ/?igshid=12qe3sdznhogz

Current Population

Harem One:

1.0 Wasaro (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Imported 2009

Harem Two:

1.0 Afar (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Kito (2002) Imported 2009
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito

Harem Three:

1.0 Yafeu (2009) Unknown x Ayisha
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Iniko

Harem Four:

1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
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So they are kept in four separate groups? That’s interesting.
 
Jambo said:
So they are kept in four separate groups? That’s interesting.
Click to expand...

Nah, that’s just the social structure of the troop (who all live together). Wasaro, Afar and Yafeu all lead harems; while Badi has no followers. He’s the youngest male and until recently, lived on the periphery of Afar’s harem. He’s now regarded as a threat by Afar, so keeps his distance.

Afar and Wasaro are getting on in their years; so in the near future, their females should disband and join Yafeu and Badi’s harems.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Hamadryas Baboon Infant Named

The female Hamadryas baboon infant born in September 2020 has been named ‘Iniko.’

Iniko is a Nigerian name meaning ‘born during troubled times.’ It may seem a strange name choice, but I assume it references the year that was 2020. Iniko’s birth came just as Auckland was coming out of a six week lockdown that began in August that year.

Alternatively, it may have reflected changes within the troop. Iniko’s mother, Mali, began the year in Wasaro’s harem; but had switched to Yafeu’s harem by the time Iniko was born.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNLRucToBJQ/?igshid=12qe3sdznhogz

Current Population

Harem One:

1.0 Wasaro (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Imported 2009

Harem Two:

1.0 Afar (2005) Imported 2009
0.1 Kito (2002) Imported 2009
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito

Harem Three:

1.0 Yafeu (2009) Unknown x Ayisha
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Iniko

Harem Four:

1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
Click to expand...

Iniko wasn’t his own mother. :p

Zoofan15 said:
Nah, that’s just the social structure of the troop (who all live together). Wasaro, Afar and Yafeu all lead harems; while Badi has no followers. He’s the youngest male and until recently, lived on the periphery of Afar’s harem. He’s now regarded as a threat by Afar, so keeps his distance.

Afar and Wasaro are getting on in their years; so in the near future, their females should disband and join Yafeu and Badi’s harems.
Click to expand...

Oh I got you. Afar and Wasaro are rather old. Though they could easily live at least another five to ten years.

Was the breeding of Yafeu with his sister, Mali intentional?
 
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