The three Komodo Dragon hatchlings have been placed on-show within Lost World of Reptiles - reported on social media.
Australian Reptile Park Australian Reptile Park News
- Thread starter Jabiru96
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Hopefully breeding success will continue to the point where they can supply the other zoos. Taronga will be looking to acquire this species in the future and new holders are always welcome.
Australian Reptile Park have just acquired two female Tuatara from the UK with a third female part of the shipment going to Taronga post quarantine.
Source: Facebook video
The Tuatara has arrived in Australia! | The Tuatara has finally arrived in Australia This reptilian trio, Hinemoa, Arona & Marika, are the only three Tuatara in Australia and we would like to... | By Australian Reptile Park | Facebook
Source: Facebook video
The Tuatara has arrived in Australia! | The Tuatara has finally arrived in Australia This reptilian trio, Hinemoa, Arona & Marika, are the only three Tuatara in Australia and we would like to... | By Australian Reptile Park | Facebook
Awesome to see another Tuatara holder in the region!
We have several holders in New Zealand, but the Australian Reptile Park are the only holder in Australia, with Taronga soon to join them.
This is probably my favourite news of the year posted so far. The reptile park have been wanting tuatara for years. I'm intrigued that they were imported all the way from the UK rather than from the managed population in New Zealand. However, Chester Zoo have had good breeding success with their tuataras so acquiring young individuals that will live for decades is a wise decision.
I too would like to see a better exchange of native species between New Zealand and Australia.
Historically, New Zealand has held Common wombat and Tasmanian devil, with the latter now only permitted to be imported as post reproductive surplus; while no New Zealand zoo holds Koala, Echidna or Platypus.
New Zealand is turn is sitting on an abundance of endemic reptiles that are poorly represented within Australian collections.
I can't see the problem with Australian animals. Devils are readily available, while I am sorry to say that echidnas are not. In fact Moonlit just obtained a pair after waiting 20 years. So New Zealand zoos can stand in line. As for koalas and platypus I'm sure if any NZ zoo really wanted them they would be obtainable but maybe the problem is no NZ zoo wants the expense of keeping those species.
I'm not sure an Australian would view NZ as having an "abundance of endemic reptiles", by comparison with Australia, New Zealand's reptile fauna looks meager. Tuataras are by far the only really interesting species.
I’m not sure Chester Zoo would have had many males to spare, if any. Their current colony includes 1.5 adults imported from New Zealand in 1994. They first bred the species in 2016, following by more hatchlings in 2017 (including the 0.3 shipped to Australia).
The gender of hatchlings is temperature dependent, so it’s reasonable to assume the 2017 eggs were all incubated at the same temperature and the others were also female; while the zoo would want to retain at least one or two males to provide the females with more options long term.
Obtaining eucalyptus is expensive, even if you have a good supply, because it is labour intensive.Oh i've heard Auckland have wanted Koalas for sure. They would be an amazing drawcard, and aren't that expensive to keep either (you just need a good supply of eucalyptus)
It's not just reptiles no Australian Zoo even has an area dedicated to NZ wildlife. Kiwi is obviously a big one, Kakapo and Kea would be harder to get. An "Across the Ditch" section would be very unique.
Also, we are in desperate need of some Kunekune pigs
The biosecurity restrictions are a huge hindrance when you consider the potential for both countries (also with regards to exotics like flamingos). Kakapo aren’t displayed in zoos in New Zealand, though Auckland Zoo treats several of them through their vet clinic each year. Kea are common across several facilities and all four main zoos have held Kiwi at some point in time.
Kea were in Australia, I can remember them at Melbourne Zoo. Taronga have had Kiwi in the past. Having seen the “Kiwi House” displays in NZ I’m not sure that any Australian zoo would be that interested in devoting that amount of resources to them.It's not just reptiles no Australian Zoo even has an area dedicated to NZ wildlife. Kiwi is obviously a big one, Kakapo and Kea would be harder to get. An "Across the Ditch" section would be very unique.
Also, we are in desperate need of some Kunekune pigs
A first for the reptile park. Two Fijian Crested Iguanas have hatched - reported on social media.
Would that be the first of a clutch laid?
Their social media doesn’t specify, but it does show a clip of two eggs (one hatching; unhatched) at the start. If they wanted to announce the hatching of the first ASAP, they needn’t have waited for the second so I’d assume they have final numbers by this point.
In addition, the clutch size is 1-7 eggs, so it’s possible these were the only two to begin with.
It’s great to see the Australian Reptile Park experience another success.
Excellent news indeed.Their social media doesn’t specify, but it does show a clip of two eggs (one hatching; unhatched) at the start. If they wanted to announce the hatching of the first ASAP, they needn’t have waited for the second so I’d assume they have final numbers by this point.
In addition, the clutch size is 1-7 eggs, so it’s possible these were the only two to begin with.
It’s great to see the Australian Reptile Park experience another success.
Excellent news indeed.
The real good news is that a second clutch for this species can follow as soon as two months later.
As well as achieving the first successful breeding of Komodo dragon in the region; and importing Tuatara (currently the only three in Australia), it’s been a standout year for the Australian Reptile Park.
Hopefully in the future they can add breeding Galapagos giant tortoise to their list of achievements. Only two zoos in the region have accomplished this to date.