Future of Zoos SA zoos (Speculation)

[Jambo]

Yes, there are only three Collared peccary left in the region (all at Melbourne). They’re the remnants of a highly inbred population descended from the import of a single pair in 1969. They can’t be imported due to the risk to the agricultural industry.

It's unfortunate imports restrict this as Melbourne has always shown great initiative with attempting to breed this species. If imports from overseas were allowed, I wouldn't be surprised if Melbourne were continuing to maintain a breeding population and other zoos such as Adelaide joining in with displaying them.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's unfortunate imports restrict this as Melbourne has always shown great initiative with attempting to breed this species. If imports from overseas were allowed, I wouldn't be surprised if Melbourne were continuing to maintain a breeding population and other zoos such as Adelaide joining in with displaying them.

Re. Collared peccaries:

Honestly, at this point I wish Melbourne would just breed the three they have. They may be inbred, but they're all we have and there's no option to import anymore.

If they're not gonna breed them, then they should do everyone a favour and send them somewhere that will.

When this population dies out, this species will be gone from Austrlasia forever. And forever is a very long time.

 

[Jambo]

Re. Collared peccaries:

Honestly, at this point I wish Melbourne would just breed the three they have. They may be inbred, but they're all we have and there's no option to import anymore.

If they're not gonna breed them, then they should do everyone a favour and send them somewhere that will.

When this population dies out, this species will be gone from Austrlasia forever. And forever is a very long time.

It's a shame Melbourne never continued breeding Pickles and Jave. Their last litter was born in 2012, and Jave and Pickles could've easily breed for at least another five or so years.

Jave died around 2020. The remaining trio includes Messi born in 2010 (to Kosha), and Jabali and Nina born in 2012 (to Jave). Technically, Messi could've been breed with Nina, being half siblings but apparently Melbourne has long planned to phase out Peccarys (at least since the mid 2000's).

Initially Melbourne and Taronga planned to import Babirusa. The Babirusa would go into the Asian precinct at Taronga, and Melbourne planned to use them to replace their inbred Peccarys. The Babirusa import was cancelled (not sure why), and I assume that's why Melbourne began to breed their Peccarys again, but only for the short term, possibly to sustain a population until they think there's a chance they can import Babirusa again?

 

[Patrick Keegan]

It's a shame Melbourne never continued breeding Pickles and Jave. Their last litter was born in 2012, and Jave and Pickles could've easily breed for at least another five or so years.

Jave died around 2020. The remaining trio includes Messi born in 2010 (to Kosha), and Jabali and Nina born in 2012 (to Jave). Technically, Messi could've been breed with Nina, being half siblings but apparently Melbourne has long planned to phase out Peccarys (at least since the mid 2000's).

Initially Melbourne and Taronga planned to import Babirusa The Babirusa would go into the Asian precinct at Taronga, and Melbourne planned to use them to replace their inbred Peccarys. The Babirusa import was cancelled (not sure why), and I assume that's why Melbourne began to breed their Peccarys again, but only for the short term, possibly to sustain a population until they think there's a chance they can import Babirusa again?

Are Australian zoos not allowed to import babirusa? if not could that have been a contributing factor into the cancellation?

 

[Zorro]

It's a shame Melbourne never continued breeding Pickles and Jave. Their last litter was born in 2012, and Jave and Pickles could've easily breed for at least another five or so years.

Jave died around 2020. The remaining trio includes Messi born in 2010 (to Kosha), and Jabali and Nina born in 2012 (to Jave). Technically, Messi could've been breed with Nina, being half siblings but apparently Melbourne has long planned to phase out Peccarys (at least since the mid 2000's).

Initially Melbourne and Taronga planned to import Babirusa. The Babirusa would go into the Asian precinct at Taronga, and Melbourne planned to use them to replace their inbred Peccarys. The Babirusa import was cancelled (not sure why), and I assume that's why Melbourne began to breed their Peccarys again, but only for the short term, possibly to sustain a population until they think there's a chance they can import Babirusa again?

From what I can remember they were taking about also importing some Philippine deer at the same time as the Babirusa.

 

[Jambo]

Are Australian zoos not allowed to import babirusa? if not could that have been a contributing factor into the cancellation?

I don't believe there's a heap of restrictions making it to hard for them to import. Babirusa are still a CITES species though as far as i'm aware. I believe the reason for the cancellation was due to one of the two (either Melbourne or Taronga) pulling out. The remaining would've then found it much harder to import them as a regional breeding program would've needed to have been established. I'm inclined to say Melbourne were the one's that pulled out. Taronga always had plans to have a mixed species enclosure with Babirusa and Philippine Deer. Instead, neither were imported and Chital were used as a replacement.

 

[Zoofan15]

The Babirusa import was cancelled (not sure why), and I assume that's why Melbourne began to breed their Peccarys again, but only for the short term, possibly to sustain a population until they think there's a chance they can import Babirusa again?

Are Australian zoos not allowed to import babirusa? if not could that have been a contributing factor into the cancellation?

Babirusa are from the Suidae family (pigs) which unfortunately means they cannot be imported. I've seen them at Singapore Zoo Night Safari and they're a quirky species that otherwise would have been a great asset to our region's zoos.

 

[Jambo]

Babirusa are from the Suidae family (pigs) which unfortunately means they cannot be imported. I've seen them at Singapore Zoo Night Safari and they're a quirky species that otherwise would have been a great asset to our region's zoos.

No pigs can be imported?

Melbourne and Taronga were apparently very interested in importing them. I can see the initiative in it though; they would've be a great, popular species to fit in with the Asian precincts that both Melbourne and Taronga were constructing at the time.

 

[Zoofan15]

No pigs can be imported?

Melbourne and Taronga were apparently very interested in importing them. I can see the initiative in it though; they would've be a great, popular species to fit in with the Asian precincts that both Melbourne and Taronga were constructing at the time.

@zooboy28 mentioned in this thread that importing any pig species would never be allowed: Creatures of the Wollemi [Taronga Zoo]

To my knowledge the rules haven't changed. I assume this is due to the risk to Australia 's agricultural industry; but I agree they'd make an exciting addition to any zoo's Asian precinct.

 

[Jambo]

@zooboy28 mentioned in this thread that importing any pig species would never be allowed: Creatures of the Wollemi [Taronga Zoo]

To my knowledge the rules haven't changed. I assume this is due to the risk to Australia 's agricultural industry; but I agree they'd make an exciting addition to any zoo's Asian precinct.

That's a shame. It seems like quite a lot of species are restricted from being imported from overseas. Definitely not helping our zoos develop their collections.

 

[Zoofan15]

That's a shame. It seems like quite a lot of species are restricted from being imported from overseas. Definitely not helping our zoos develop their collections.

The inability to import birds frustrates me. I'm more a mammals guy, but I appreciate a decent Andean condor as much as the next person and think it's a great shame our population has dwindled to a handful of siblings as the only viable population.

Retrospectively, I'm astounded Auckland Zoo were seemingly able to circumnavigate these restrictions to import a flock of Greater flamingo in 2001. I'm glad they're breeding successfully as its the only realistic chance of this species being sustained in New Zealand zoos.

 

[Jambo]

The inability to import birds frustrates me. I'm more a mammals guy, but I appreciate a decent Andean condor as much as the next person and think it's a great shame our population has dwindled to a handful of siblings as the only viable population.

Retrospectively, I'm astounded Auckland Zoo were seemingly able to circumnavigate these restrictions to import a flock of Greater flamingo in 2001. I'm glad they're breeding successfully as its the only realistic chance of this species being sustained in New Zealand zoos.

I'd love to see some of Auckland's flamingos possibly be distributed elsewhere in New Zealand zoos in the future. They've been breeding them so successfully recently. Wellington and Hamilton present great opportunities to take up a small group of them. It's really a great shame Australian zoos cannot import any of Auckland's flamingos, as many I would assume would be interested.

 

[Zoofan15]

On the subject of importing, its evident how beneficial the ability to regularly import has been to regional population of various species. The genetic diversity of our white rhino and lion population is extremely high given we can even import wild individuals of these species via South Africa and continously expand the founder base versus Sumatran tiger, which has a more limited founder base (the 2007 Indonesian import being a rare exception).

 

[Zoofan15]

I'd love to see some of Auckland's flamingos possibly be distributed elsewhere in New Zealand zoos in the future. They've been breeding them so successfully recently. Wellington and Hamilton present great opportunities to take up a small group of them. It's really a great shame Australian zoos cannot import any of Auckland's flamingos, as many I would assume would be interested.

Auckland Zoo's flock is now in the mid-20's. They aim to grow it to 40 birds (optimum number for breeding) to achieve maximum production levels. It would be wise to maintain an additional 10-15 birds above this as a contingency, but beyond this a splinter off flock could be created to supply another zoo with 15-20 birds. Orana would be the most suitable imo given their interest in African species and space to house an immense flock one day.

 

[Jambo]

On the subject of importing, its evident how beneficial the ability to regularly import has been to regional population of various species. The genetic diversity of our white rhino and lion population is extremely high given we can even import wild individuals of these species via South Africa and continously expand the founder base versus Sumatran tiger, which has a more limited founder base (the 2007 Indonesian import being a rare exception).

With limited genetics within some of our regional populations, it's no wonder species are dying out. Zoos in our region are having to resort in inbreeding which isn't ideal, especially for species part of worldwide breeding programs.

 

[Zoofan15]

With limited genetics within some of our regional populations, it's no wonder species are dying out. Zoos in our region are having to resort in inbreeding which isn't ideal, especially for species part of worldwide breeding programs.

The global Sumatran tiger population is becoming increasingly inbred. Within Australasian we've already seen genetic issues arise which have been compounded by inbreeding. A number of poor decisions have also been made with regards to pairings, which hasn't helped e.g. breeding all Indonesian imports with a single line; and not utilizing Bashi (an unrepresented founder).

 

[Zorro]

The inability to import birds frustrates me. I'm more a mammals guy, but I appreciate a decent Andean condor as much as the next person and think it's a great shame our population has dwindled to a handful of siblings as the only viable population.

Retrospectively, I'm astounded Auckland Zoo were seemingly able to circumnavigate these restrictions to import a flock of Greater flamingo in 2001. I'm glad they're breeding successfully as its the only realistic chance of this species being sustained in New Zealand zoos.

I seem to remember they were just about signing off for the IRA for Importation of Parrots about a year or so ago?. @WhistlingKite24

 

[Zoofan15]

I seem to remember they were just about signing off for the IRA for Importation of Parrots about a year or so ago?. @WhistlingKite24

There’s a thread about it here: Parrot Import Risk Analysis

The following exotic parrots are on the live import list:

*Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)
*African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
*Red Lory (Eos bornea)
*Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus)
*Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory)
*Dusky Lory (Pseudeos fuscata)
*Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
*Ringneck Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
*Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)
*Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
*Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
*Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys)
*Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis)
*Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba)
*Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)
*Yellow-fronted Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala)
*Maroon-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura frontalis)
*Black-capped Caique (Pionites melanocephalus)

- List sourced by @WhistlingKite24

 

[Jambo]

I seem to remember they were just about signing off for the IRA for Importation of Parrots about a year or so ago?. @WhistlingKite24

Yes, that is still in the works. Hopefully just like the bovine imports, the Parrot IRA can be finalised sooner rather than later.

 

[Zorro]

There’s a thread about it here: Parrot Import Risk Analysis

The following exotic parrots are on the live import list:

*Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)
*African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
*Red Lory (Eos bornea)
*Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus)
*Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory)
*Dusky Lory (Pseudeos fuscata)
*Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
*Ringneck Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
*Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)
*Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
*Green-winged Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
*Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys)
*Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis)
*Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba)
*Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)
*Yellow-fronted Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala)
*Maroon-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura frontalis)
*Black-capped Caique (Pionites melanocephalus)

- List sourced by @WhistlingKite24

What no Hyacinth Macaws