Australasian Giraffe Population

WhistlingKite24

WhistlingKite24

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
This list aims to record the births, deaths and transfers of the giraffe (Giraffa spp.) in the Australasian region. All of the giraffe currently in the region have been born in either Australia or New Zealand. The last individual imported outside of the region was a pure Rothschild’s female from the Netherlands who died in 2020. The region's hybrid population of giraffes are closely managed and transfers happen often as giraffes cannot be imported from outside the Australia and NZ travel bubble currently. There is a high degree of relatedness (i.e. most giraffes can be traced back to a main relative) especially when you consider that for a period of time the two main breeding bulls in the region at Monarto and Dubbo were father (Tambo) and son (Unnami). The oldest giraffe in Australasia is Mutangi (1990) at Dubbo and the youngest is the unnamed male (2021) at Altina. There were seven successful giraffe calves in the region in 2020. Three calves have been born so far in 2021 at Monarto, Altina and Mogo.

I might have missed a few individuals at Monarto so corrections and further information are more than welcome. There are a few gaps with some of the births at Monarto in particular. Thanks to @akasha and @Zoofan15 for their assistance, as well as @jay's old giraffe threads which helped piece together a lot of information.

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia
0.1 Kimya (Tambo x Jamala) 11-08-2004 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Nolean (Mzuri x Thula) 21-10-2019 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Azizi (Mzuri x Scarlett) 16-01-2021 at Monarto Safari Park

Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
1.0 Shaka (MULT x Myeisha) 24-09-2004 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Uthuli (Unnami x Tuli)10-12-2009 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Manzi (Ijumma x Shani) 24-01-2010 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Unnamed (Uthuli x Manzi) 02-04-2021 at Altina Wildlife Park

Auckland Zoo, New Zealand
0.1 Rukiya (Ricky x Tisa) 23-09-2001 at Wellington Zoo
0.1 Kiraka (Unnami x Mutangi) 20-11-2009 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Kabili (Zabulu x Kiraka) 31-12-2016 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Billy (Forrest x Penny) 26-09-2018 at Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo, QLD, Australia
1.0 Forrest (Zabulu x Rukiya) 17-11-2007 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Penny (Armani x Misha) 24-12-2007 at Perth Zoo
0.1 Rosie (Tambo x Myeisha) 17-01-2008 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Sally (Tambo x unk) 00-00-0000 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Noodle (Forrest x Sally) 01-07-2019 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Talbert (Forrest x Rosie) 30-06-2020 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Hunter (Forrest x Penny)14-08-2020 at Australia Zoo

Darling Downs Zoo, QLD, Australia
0.1 Tulip (Forrest x Sally) 10-07-2014 at Australia Zoo
0.1 Lily (Forrest x Penny) 00-08-2014 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Amahle (Unnami x Asmara) 08-03-2016 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Iris (Amahle x Tulip) 02-10-2020 at Darling Downs Zoo

Halls Gap Zoo, VIC, Australia
1.0 Msumari (Tambo x unk) 00-00-0000 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Zawadi (Uthuli x Manzi) 02-03-2017 at Altina WIldife Park

Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand
1.0 Masamba (Zabulu x Kiri) 27-11-2002 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Ndale (Zabulu x Kay) 04-08-2004 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Dume (Zabulu x Kay) 04-01-2006 at Auckland Zoo

Hunter Valley Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Kebibi (Shaba x Mzungu) 19-07-2016 at National Zoo and Aquarium
0.1 Sophie (Forrest x Rosie) 14-08-2018 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Shingo (Unnami x Ntombi) 25-03-2019 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Keystone Wildlife Conservancy, New Zealand
1.0 Flynn (Harold x Nathalie) 01-09-2004 at Orana Wildlife Park
1.0 Orly (Harold x Zuri) 09-11-2004 at Orana Wildlife Park
1.0 Kijana (Harold x Zuri) 30-10-2006 at Orana Wildlife Park

Melbourne Zoo, VIC, Australia
0.1 Nakuru (Zabulu x Rukiya) 16-01-2012 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Klintun (Uthuli x Manzi) 00-12-2018 Altina Wildlife Park

Mogo Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
0.1 Tanzi (Mukulu x Twiga) 22-08-2002 at Melbourne Zoo
0.1 Shani (Mukulu x Twiga) 21-03-2006 at Melbourne Zoo
0.1 Binti (Ijumma x Shani) 24-01-2013 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Tuli (Ijumma x Shani) 00-00-2014 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Mtundu (Zabulu x Kiraka) 21-08-2015 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Oni (Ijumma x Shani) 27-01-2016 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Karn (Mtundu x Shani) 00-05-2019 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Twiga (Mtundu x Binti) 03-08-2020 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Matilda (Mtundu x Tuli) 26-01-2021 at Mogo Wildlife Park

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia
0.1 Kinky (Ketabi x Shasa) 23-10-1999 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Myeisha (Ketabi x Mutanda)30-08-2000 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Tambo (Mukulu x Twiga) 21-10-2000 at Melbourne Zoo
1.0 Ajabu (Tambo x Shasa) 19-06-2004 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Korongo (MULT x Mutanda) 13-08-2005 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Thula (Tambo x Rafiki) 24-09-2005 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Totsiens (Tambo x Mutanda) 28-02-2007 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Asali (Tambo x Kinky) 29-11-2007 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Mzuri (Uthuli x Manzi) 05-04-2015 at Altina Wildlife Park
0.1 Scarlett (Forrest x Rosie) 13-12-2016 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Thando (Ajabu x Myeisha) 19-04-2017 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Zuri (unk x unk) 00-00-0000 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Carlo (unk x unk) 00-00-0000 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Akachi (Unnami x Tuli) 16-01-2019 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Bwanji (Mzuri x Myeisha) 17-04-2019 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Mtoto (Mzuri x Kinky) 23-05-2019 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Mkali (Mzuri x Korongo) 18-09-2019 at Monarto Safari Park

National Zoo and Aquarium, ACT, Australia
1.0 Humberkhali (Ketabi x Shasa) 29-07-2001 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Shaba (Ijumma x Shani) 21-08-2011 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Mzungu (Unnami x Asmara) 02-09-2011 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Skye (Forrest x Rosie) 16-10-2013 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Khamisi (Shaba x Mzungu) 15-10-2020 at National Zoo and Aquarium

Orana Wildlife Park, New Zealand
0.1 Harriet (Harold x Tunu) 26-11-2012 at Orana Wildlife Park
0.1 Shira (Zabulu x Rukiya) 03-08-2013 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Mdomo (Zabulu x Kiraka) 15-11-2013 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Mabuti (Ajabu x Kinky) 03-05-2017 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Kamili (Armani x Kitoto) 07-03-2018 at Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo, WA, Australia
1.0 Armani (Harold x Zuri) 23-12-2002 at Orana Wildlife Park
0.1 Kitoto (Unnami x Andria) 04-02-2010 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Ellie (Forrest x Sally) 10-05-2016 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Inkosi (Armani x Kitoto) 07-10-2019 at Perth Zoo

Sydney Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Eyelean (Ajabu x Thula) 30-01-2018 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Nzuri (Shaba x Mzungu) 15-06-2019 at National Zoo and Aquarium

Taronga Zoo, NSW Australia
0.1 Zarafa (Nakura x Andria) 06-07-2003 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Jimiyu (Nakura x Mutangi) 06-02-2006 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Kito (Unnami x Myzita) 01-02-2016 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Ebo (unk x Kito) 17-12-2019 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Mutangi (MULT x Andria) 13-11-1990 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Tuli (Gerry x Mutangi) 22-04-1997 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Alonge (Nakura x Mutangi) 14-05-2003 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Njanu (Nakura x Tuli) 04-06-2004 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Kindu (Nakura x Andria) 15-05-2005 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Unnami (Tambo x Shasa) 29-10-2005 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Asmara (Nakura x Tuli) 24-07-2006 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Ntombi (Zabulu x Kay) 25-07-2007 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Mvita (Unnami x Mutangi) 04-04-2011 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Khwezi (Unnami x Tuli) 00-00-2013 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Nyah (Unnami x Ntombi) 01-01-2016 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Zane (Unnami x Tuli) 00-02-2016 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Zuberi (Unnami x Asmara) 08-08-2017 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Kibo (Unnami x Tuli) 15-08-2017 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Malaika (Unnami x Ntombi) 11-09-2017 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Mtoto (unk x unk) 00-09-2017 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Volta (Unnami x Asmara) 28-01-2019 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Layla (Unnami x Asmara) 01-07-2020 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Losiligi (unk x Zane) 21-09-2020 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Wellington Zoo, New Zealand
0.1 Zahara (Ricky x Tisa) 17-03-2004 at Wellington Zoo
0.1 Zuri (Zabulu x Rukiya) 23-04-2015 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Sunny (Forrest x Sally) 00-12-2017 at Australia Zoo

Werribee Open Range Zoo, VIC, Australia
1.0 Armani (Nakura x Tuli) 23-12-2007 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Kona (Tambo x Malaika) 31-01-2008 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Harold (Tambo x Rafiki) 19-09-2008 at Monarto Safari Park
1.0 Jelani (Zabulu x Rukiya) 05-03-2010 at Auckland Zoo
1.0 Ajali (Armani x Misha) 29-05-2010 at Perth Zoo

Total Giraffe Population: 108 (55.53)
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Keystone Wildlife Conservancy, New Zealand
1.0 Orly (Harold x Nathalie/Zuri) 00-00-2004 at Orana Wildlife Park
1.0 Flynn (Harold x Nathalie/Zuri) 00-00-2004 at Orana Wildlife Park
1.0 Kijana (Harold x Zuri) 30-10-2006 at Orana Wildlife Park
Click to expand...

Great work @WhistlingKite24!

I managed to find Flynn and Orly online:

Flynn was born September 2004 to Nathalie: Tall order, but Flynn passes easily | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand

Orly was born November 2004 to Zuri: Baby Orly sticks his neck out | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand
 
Founders of the Australasian Region

These were three of the founders of the current population (imported by Taronga Zoo):

1.0 Jan Smuts (born 1943 at Johannesburg Zoo) - purebred South African (Giraffe G. c. giraffe).

0.1 Clara (born 1950 at the Smithsonian National Zoo) - purebred Nubian Giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis).

0.1 Mighty (born 1933 in Tanzania) - purebred Masai Giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi).

Two of their many descendants include:

Rukiya at Auckland Zoo. Rukiya’s sire (Ricky) was the great great grandson of Jan Smuts and Mighty via his maternal line; and the great grandson of Jan Smuts and Clara via his paternal line. Rukiya’s dam (Tisa) was the granddaughter of Jan Smuts and Clara via her maternal line; and the great granddaughter of Jan Smuts and Clara via her paternal line. Rukiya is very well represented via her son (Forrest); and has three daughters now in breeding situations.

Ntombi at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Ntombi is the great granddaughter of Willoughby via her maternal line. Willoughby was imported by Auckland Zoo in 1973 and descends from Jan Smuts and Mighty: Jan Smuts and Mighty bred to produce a female named Betty; Jan Smuts then bred with his daughter Betty to produce Hazel; Jan Smuts then bred with his granddaughter Hazel to produce Willoughby. Ntombi has in turn had several calves over the last decade.
 
I remember reading about some of the Giraffe herds in Africa many years ago with at least one researcher stating some of the herds they saw had both pure bred animals from two different sub-species and among them a obvious marked mixing of them both.
 
Zorro said:
I remember reading about some of the Giraffe herds in Africa many years ago with at least one researcher stating some of the herds they saw had both pure bred animals from two different sub-species and among them a obvious marked mixing of them both.
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I don',t know where you got info from, best not to quote hearsay. Wild giraffe populations are discrete just look at Massai, reticulated and Rothschild in Kenya. The large scale genetic studies turned up no discerneable interbreeding in nature. No need then to replicate a a situation nor a myth that hybridisattion et cetera occurs or does not exist outside it. Conscientious breeding should try to replicate nature and not artificiality nor superficioul arguements designed to cover over past disatrous breeding policies.

Why then even with that knowledge some regions continue to produce crossbreeds herds can hardly assist conservation globally of discrete populations. Currently, breeding stops are in place in Europe as not sufficient space. 2+2 It woud be relatively easy to set in motion creation of regional purebred groups across zoo regions using European herds as founder animals.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I don',t know where you got info from, best not to quote hearsay. Wild giraffe populations are discrete just look at Massai, reticulated and Rothschild in Kenya. The large scale genetic studies turned up no discerneable interbreeding in nature. No need then to replicate a a situation nor a myth that hybridisattion et cetera occurs or does not exist outside it. Conscientious breeding should try to replicate nature and not artificiality nor superficioul arguements designed to cover over past disatrous breeding policies.

Why then even with that knowledge some regions continue to produce crossbreeds herds can hardly assist conservation globally of discrete populations. Currently, breeding stops are in place in Europe as not sufficient space. 2+2 It woud be relatively easy to set in motion creation of regional purebred groups across zoo regions using European herds as founder animals.
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Not quoting hearsay. I read the World of wildlife book almost 50 years ago. Perhaps this was correct at that time when Giraffe populations were much larger and ranged across much bigger areas of Africa before retracting to what they are today. With the importation ban within the Australiasian region its more like breed with what one has or watch them disappear from the regions zoos, Since the ban has been in place for some time and with no sight atm the when zoos might be import who can say?. If Europe has to stop breeding them because of space problems then thats what they have to do, But unless bans are lifted here nothing new will becoming here.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
0.1 Korongo at Monarto Safari Park gave birth to a calf yesterday. The sire would be their breeding bull Mzuri and keepers suspect the calf to be female. The park mentioned that they are closely monitoring the situation as Korongo and calf are yet to fully bond: Log into Facebook | Facebook
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Is it me, or does this happen a lot at Monarto? This is the third giraffe in almost as many years to have bonding issues with it’s calf - with two females previously removed for hand rearing (Eyelean and Nolean).

I suppose it could simply be because so many calves are born (statistically it must happen every now and then); compared to a zoo with just one female. Wellington’s previous breeding pair only produced one calf every couple of years so, for example.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Is it me, or does this happen a lot at Monarto? This is the third giraffe in almost as many years to have bonding issues with it’s calf - with two females previously removed for hand rearing (Eyelean and Nolean).

I suppose it could simply be because so many calves are born (statistically it must happen every now and then); compared to a zoo with just one female. Wellington’s previous breeding pair only produced one calf every couple of years so, for example.
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Perhaps other smaller zoos like with Alinta's resent birth appeared to have given birth in a smaller yard/boma which could help the mother bond better than being in a wide open range type setting?
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
0.1 Korongo at Monarto Safari Park gave birth to a calf yesterday. The sire would be their breeding bull Mzuri and keepers suspect the calf to be female. The park mentioned that they are closely monitoring the situation as Korongo and calf are yet to fully bond: Log into Facebook | Facebook
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The calf born at Monarto Safari Park has been confirmed as female. She is currently being handraised by keepers as there were no interactions between Korongo and her calf: Log into Facebook | Facebook
 
0.1 Kitoto and 0.1 Ellie at Perth Zoo are both currently pregnant. Sire is male Armani (2002). If successful, this will be Ellie's first calf since she made the move from Australia Zoo in 2017. This will be Kitoto's third calf following female Kamili (2018) and male Inkosi (2019). Both females are due around September: Giraffe Herd Expanding
 
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Several bits and pieces from Word Giraffe Day.

0.1 Mutangi at Taronga Western Plains Zoo has been identified as the world's oldest giraffe currently in captivity after looking at the relevant databases. She turns 31 this year and interestingly has had three sets of twins in her life: Meet Mutangi: the queen of Dubbo's herd and the oldest giraffe in captivity

1.0 Inkosi at Perth Zoo will be moving to Monarto Safari Park. It seems like Monarto is the place most young males move to join the bachelor herd following the recent arrivals of Akachi (born 2019 at Dubbo) and Noodle (born 2019 at Australia Zoo): Log into Facebook | Facebook

0.1 calf at Monarto Safari Park born to female Korongo has been named Kamili. Note there is already another Kamili in the region - a female that was bred at Perth and is now at Orana Wildlife Park currently: Log into Facebook | Facebook

1.0 calf at Altina Wildlife Park born to female Manzi has been named Kabelo: Altina Wildlife Park
 
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There are currently three publicly known giraffe pregnancies in the region. Darling Downs Zoo, Mogo and Perth all currently have calves on the way. All mentioned in their respective news threads.
 
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