2.7 black rhinos were imported from Zimbabwe, stopping on route at the Australian Quarantine Station on the Cocos Islands. The mature bull died there and the young bull died shortly after arriving at Dubbo, along with one of the cows.
Australasian Rhino Population
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
2.7 black rhinos were imported from Zimbabwe, stopping on route at the Australian Quarantine Station on the Cocos Islands. The mature bull died there and the young bull died shortly after arriving at Dubbo, along with one of the cows.
I was pretty sure there was another male that died I met one of the keepers in 2000 that tended them in the Cocos Islands they had told me that while in Africa prior to shipping some chewed and ate treated timber in their holding pens.
That would make sense.
A tenth rhino (and third male) in the import would sustain the population in the long term by allowing them to breed third generation offspring without the need for further imports, as well as offering a contingency within pairs if the cows didn’t take to the other mature bull that was being imported.
A subsequent import saw them receive four bulls, so its no stretch to imagine three was their original intention (not two).
Thanks for sharing.
I believe the USA importation was via the IRF
Correct. Taronga was a founding member of the IRF, along with Fossil Rim. This write up confirms the intention for Taronga to receive 10 rhinos as mentioned from the 1992 import:
Southern Black Rhino: A Retrospective
In April of 1992 ten rhinos were flown into Houston Airport and were met by staff of Fossil Rim, Houston Zoo, White Oak Conservation Center and a couple of private facilities that were also major players in the formation of the IRF. The animals travelled from Zimbabwe with one of their vets, as well as Fossil Rim’s vet. At the airport we processed the animals and put them onto trucks heading to their final destinations. Fossil Rim acquired four of the ten animals and this was the beginning of our breeding program. At the same time, Australia was receiving their ten animals.
Australia ended up losing their breeding bull and it made sense for Fossil Rim to send one of our bulls to cover their females. Since we knew one of our females was pregnant (through our ultrasound work), we wouldn’t need that male for a few years and could replace him with one from the US.
Several years later, in 2001, we were able to bring a bull in from Australia that was born to the bull that we had sent them. He was unrepresented in the US and his genes would be very important to the population.
A recent social media post for World Wildlife Day showed Make back in with the breeding group which is an interesting move. She was 'retired' back in 2019 but has obviously been reintegrated into the group for some reason, not sure what exactly.
While estrus suppression can come into effect, cows are believed to breed better in herds. The presence of an older female (who may not even be cycling) could bolster the number of cows in the herd to support Kipenzi breeding, without interfering with her cycle.
This was the case for Tamu, the young female at Orana, who was housed with three non reproductive cows and produced three calves in succession.
A large number of their animals including several hippos and their many lions were exported to Indonesia (Taman Safari). I believe he was part of this export.
1.0 Inkosi the Southern White Rhino at Auckland Zoo has been euthanised due to kidney failure: Zoo mourns sudden loss of a much-loved gentle rhino | Auckland Zoo
It’s a great shame that both of Zambezi and Caballe’s sons have now died - with Mtoto passing away a year ago next week.
The births of Inkosi (2002) and Mtoto (2004) began Hamilton Zoo’s successful breeding programme and made them the first zoo to breed two rhino calves in New Zealand.
Sydney Zoo have announced the arrival of 1.0 Tino the Southern White Rhino. He was transferred from Orana Wildlife Park where he was born and is Sydney Zoo's first and only rhino. Reported on their social media page.
Great news! This transfer will free up space at Orana Wildlife Park ahead of their import of Southern white rhinoceros from South Africa.
With an elderly underperforming bull and only one viable cow, Orana’s herd is in desperate need of fresh imports.
I hope they don’t make the mistake of bringing in another male
I hope they don’t make the mistake of bringing in another male
Orana desperately need a new bull and I'm thinking one will come in the import, with Stumpy playing the role of stimulant bull.
Hamilton would also benefit from a new bull; so alternatively, transfers could also work with the 2.0 from Hamilton being sent to Orana for breeding; with an imported bull sent to Hamilton.
There is indeed a surplus of bulls in the region, so an import of mostly cows would be ideal.
1.0 Satara and 1.0 Unfana the Southern White Rhinos have swapped locations meaning that Satara is now at Dubbo and Umfana is at Monarto. Both wild-born males have moved for breeding purposes: A rhino-rmous swap to help species survival • Glam Adelaide
Fantastic news! Lots of moving around in the population lately.
With a new bull, perhaps Monarto's crash will be more successful with breeding. Only one of their cows, Umqali, has been breeding regularly these past few years and I'm assuming it's due to her being the dominant female and hormonally suppressing the other cows. Perhaps with Umfana as the new breeding bull, things will change and in a few years Savannah will have her first calf and Uhura will have her first calf in over a decade. It sounds like moving around bulls has been quite beneficial for breeding groups in the Australasian region especially so I'm hoping for the best.
Over at Dubbo, things have been less problematic in terms of breeding but that may be because up until recently only one of their cows, Mopani, was of breeding age. But her daughter, Kamari, is now of breeding age (which I'm assuming is why her father, Umfana, was sent out) so I wonder if her remaining with Mopani will affect her ability to successfully breed. Speaking of Mopani, I wouldn't be surprised if Umfana managed to get her pregnant once more prior to his departure.
With these transfers, I think we can expect some calves from Monarto, Dubbo, Altina, Hamilton, Auckland (already confirmed), Australia Zoo, and maybe from Orana and Werribee anytime from now to the end of 2023.
With a new bull, perhaps Monarto's crash will be more successful with breeding. Only one of their cows, Umqali, has been breeding regularly these past few years and I'm assuming it's due to her being the dominant female and hormonally suppressing the other cows. Perhaps with Umfana as the new breeding bull, things will change and in a few years Savannah will have her first calf and Uhura will have her first calf in over a decade. It sounds like moving around bulls has been quite beneficial for breeding groups in the Australasian region especially so I'm hoping for the best.
Over at Dubbo, things have been less problematic in terms of breeding but that may be because up until recently only one of their cows, Mopani, was of breeding age. But her daughter, Kamari, is now of breeding age (which I'm assuming is why her father, Umfana, was sent out) so I wonder if her remaining with Mopani will affect her ability to successfully breed. Speaking of Mopani, I wouldn't be surprised if Umfana managed to get her pregnant once more prior to his departure.
With these transfers, I think we can expect some calves from Monarto, Dubbo, Altina, Hamilton, Auckland (already confirmed), Australia Zoo, and maybe from Orana and Werribee anytime from now to the end of 2023.
I’d say your assessment is spot on. The transfer will allow Kamari to live in a breeding herd headed up by a proven and unrelated bull (who’s also a valuable founder); while also giving the Monarto herd a much needed shake up.
It’s important for 11 year old Savannah to breed before she gets too far into her teens; while a calf from Umqali would be beneficial given her numerous losses. It’s hard to say what chance of success they’ll have with Uhura, given she hasn’t bred in a decade, but clearly this will give her a better chance than taking no action whatsoever.
Orana Wildlife Park are unlikely to see success until the South African imports arrive. Only one of the cows is viable and the bull is a poor performer and has only sired one calf to date (that died as a neonate due to health reasons). New cows and a new bull are needed to kick start their breeding herd.
Hamilton’s herd has stagnated. Moesha (1994) hasn’t produced a calf in a decade and keepers were doubtful of her chances when I spoke to them last year. Imani (2007) has an aversion to the bull and has never conceived. They too would benefit from an exchange sooner rather than later.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo have just mentioned in a video that their intention is indeed for 1.0 Satara to mate specifically with 0.1 Kamari in the hopes of producing her first offspring - reported on their FB page.
That makes sense as while TWPZ have two other bulls (unrelated to Kamari), they’re the sons of Caballe. Caballe has five surviving offspring in the region and as the most successful female in Australia Zoo’s herd, will likely welcome a new calf in the next year or so.
Satara by comparison, is a founder and poorly represented due to many of his offspring dying before reaching reproductive age.