Taronga Zoo African Savannah and Congo Forest development plans

[Zoofan15]

Because of the limited number of zoos in our region phasing out species has a knock on effect to the few others that might be holding these species. Remember the phase out of brown bears in Australia to make room for the chosen sun bears now only to be in much the same position as the species before them,This lack of commitment by some of the zoo management is frustrating it smacks of bad management Also as been mentioned on the leaf eating monkey thread phasing out of all species of Langurs for the Francois species but only to find years later only one zoo (apart from two spare males) they are still only kept by one zoo and even then they have stopped breeding there because of growing numbers instead of seeding other zoos within the region,and this is with a endangered species.

Common hippopotamus are another example - complicated by the mentality that they’re unsuitable for city zoos, leading to several zoos phasing them out. With imports, the population of this species could potentially return to what it once was - with a third open range zoo now committed to the cause.

Bird are a different kettle of fish altogether given there’s a total import ban. Himalayan monal were all put saved from being lost in New Zealand by private breeders. Hamilton and Wellington Zoo have since tried to breed them for several years to no avail.

One of the most baffling decisions was that of Taronga to send one of our female Andean condors to the United States. Sure, she was surplus given that they breed in monogamous pairs and we only have one young male; but when the surplus consists of two females, you don’t send one away.

 

[Zorro]

Common hippopotamus are another example - complicated by the mentality that they’re unsuitable for city zoos, leading to several zoos phasing them out. With imports, the population of this species could potentially return to what it once was - with a third open range zoo now committed to the cause.

Bird are a different kettle of fish altogether given there’s a total import ban. Himalayan monal were all put saved from being lost in New Zealand by private breeders. Hamilton and Wellington Zoo have since tried to breed them for several years to no avail.

One of the most baffling decisions was that of Taronga to send one of our female Andean condors to the United States. Sure, she was surplus given that they breed in monogamous pairs and we only have one young male; but when the surplus consists of two females, you don’t send one away.

As tetrapod has mentioned a lot of large city zoos have non animal people in upper management making non animal savvy decisions. It appears one has to tick all the boxes these days and have someone of every shoe size to look correct but the zoo collections will suffer for it,

 

[Zoofan15]

As tetrapod has mentioned a lot of large city zoos have non animal people in upper management making non animal savvy decisions. It appears one has to tick all the boxes these days and have someone of every shoe size to look correct but the zoo collections will suffer for it,

I’m all for diversity in the workplace, but first and foremost people should be appointed because they are the best person for the job. When you have a zoo board where not one person has a background in zoos, something is wrong.

People with finance and business skills are an asset - but should enhance and compliment the board; not overwhelm it.

 

[tetrapod]

I’m all for diversity in the workplace, but first and foremost people should be appointed because they are the best person for the job. When you have a zoo board where not one person has a background in zoos, something is wrong.

People with finance and business skills are an asset - but should enhance and compliment the board; not overwhelm it.

To be fair, the people who are in charge of the animal management department/s generally come from keeping background. Occasionally there are people with a more science-based background that are connected to research and in-situ/release programs.
Problem is that say there is one director of animal programs and they have to work alongside business, education, marketing, membership etc. All are important but in my experience the core values based around the animal collection can sometimes be lost. Image (of what the zoo is trying to achieve) can sometimes hold sway over the product (animal display).