Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2022

Zoofan15 said:
I thinking moving the lions out of Adelaide is a no brainer. They could still hold Sumatran tiger, which are better complimented by the Sri Lankan leopard; while Monarto could focus on holding their growing pride. They currently have the largest pride in Australasia with 12 lions and that could easily be expanded to larger numbers if the desire was there to do so. The current breeding lionesses have another three or so years left of reproduction and as you reported, they’re trying to breed from Makena.

A Hamadryas baboon exhibit at the entrance would be a perfect focal point given it would be a hive of activity and catch people’s attention, rather than something less inspiring that would see them rush for the bus. It’s a rare opportunity to encorporate some architecture into the park given most of the exhibits will be open fields.
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The volunteers on their tour script always have a line when traveling through the lion exhibit, that it can fit the entirety of Adelaide Zoo inside it and will still have plenty of room left over. Monarto could definitely hold a mega pride of up to 20+ lions.
 
Swanson02 said:
The volunteers on their tour script always have a line when traveling through the lion exhibit, that it can fit the entirety of Adelaide Zoo inside it and will still have plenty of room left over. Monarto could definitely hold a mega pride of up to 20+ lions.
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I’m thinking about Monarto’s pride which consists of the following:

1.0 Kashka (20/10/2015) Johari x Nilo
1.0 Kito (20/10/2015) Johari x Nilo
1.0 Kubwa (20/10/2015) Johari x Nilo
0.1 Husani (24/04/2013) Leroy x Tiombe
0.1 Nia (24/04/2013) Leroy x Tiombe
0.1 Makena (18/06/2013) Leroy x Kiamba
0.1 Adira (16/02/2020) UNK/MULT x Husani
0.1 Chikondi (16/02/2020) UNK/MULT x Husani
0.1 Zahara (16/02/2020) UNK/MULT x Husani
1.0 Chad (24/01/2021) UNK/MULT x Husani
1.0 Ruka (24/01/2021) UNK/MULT x Husani
0.1 Malika (24/01/2021) UNK/MULT x Husani

The three oldest lionesses will be reproductively viable for another three years. If Makena doesn’t breed in the next 12 month, they should cut their losses and swap out the males. If they don’t, the pride will cease breeding beyond 2025 given the four young lionesses are the daughters/nieces of the three males.

If they bring in new males in 1-2 years time, the older lionesses will still be cycling and accept the new males (something their mothers didn’t last time due to being too old); and the new males could breed with them and their daughters for a further decade - generating succession in the pride.
 
Swanson02 said:
On the original 2008, Serengeti plans you can see a circular exhibit near the White Rhinos dedicated to Baboons. I believe Monarto needs a few walkable exhibits near its new entrance to avoid the congestion of visitors arriving and immediately trying to board a bus. I believe an active and energetic baboon exhibit could fill this role very well.
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A gorilla enclosure too would be great at the entrance. I'd personally love to see a walking trail; like Werribee have, for species such as monkeys (baboons, gorillas), cheetah, meerkats and even a ranger complex that could be full of reptiles. This would easily take all the congestion away from a single bus ride which I have always thought Werribee's trail does nicely.
 
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Access to chimps at SA zoo blocked after troop tests positive to RSV

A troop of chimpanzees at a South Australian zoo have been infected with a respiratory virus commonly seen in young children.

Monarto Safari Park said the chimpanzee platform would be closed until further notice after the troop tested positive to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The chimps were tested after developing cold-like symptoms, the park said in a statement on Facebook.

"The troop currently has coughs and runny noses and is being monitored closely," the statement read.

The statement said that chimpanzees and other primates were "susceptible to coughs and colds and even COVID-19".

Staff who care for the troop had already been wearing PPE due to the risk of COVID-19 and will continue to do so.

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Simon Hampel said:
Access to chimps at SA zoo blocked after troop tests positive to RSV

A troop of chimpanzees at a South Australian zoo have been infected with a respiratory virus commonly seen in young children.

Monarto Safari Park said the chimpanzee platform would be closed until further notice after the troop tested positive to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The chimps were tested after developing cold-like symptoms, the park said in a statement on Facebook.

"The troop currently has coughs and runny noses and is being monitored closely," the statement read.

The statement said that chimpanzees and other primates were "susceptible to coughs and colds and even COVID-19".

Staff who care for the troop had already been wearing PPE due to the risk of COVID-19 and will continue to do so.

...​
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That's unfortunate news. Hopefully all are okay, and recover as soon as possible. It'll be interesting to see how they acquired the virus.
 
Simon Hampel said:
Access to chimps at SA zoo blocked after troop tests positive to RSV

A troop of chimpanzees at a South Australian zoo have been infected with a respiratory virus commonly seen in young children.

Monarto Safari Park said the chimpanzee platform would be closed until further notice after the troop tested positive to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The chimps were tested after developing cold-like symptoms, the park said in a statement on Facebook.

"The troop currently has coughs and runny noses and is being monitored closely," the statement read.

The statement said that chimpanzees and other primates were "susceptible to coughs and colds and even COVID-19".

Staff who care for the troop had already been wearing PPE due to the risk of COVID-19 and will continue to do so.

...​
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That's interesting I heard nothing about it on Monday when I visited. I assume the chimps aren't in major danger and the zoo is being extra cautious about visitors with babies. It's a shame it has happened in the middle of the school holidays too, which are busy periods for zoos.
 
Swanson02 said:
That's interesting I heard nothing about it on Monday when I visited. I assume the chimps aren't in major danger and the zoo is being extra cautious about visitors with babies. It's a shame it has happened in the middle of the school holidays too, which are busy periods for zoos.
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RSV can lead to pneumonia, which many chimpanzees in the region have died of (not necessarily caused by RCV), so the team will be mindful of keeping the public safe as well as giving the chimps time to rest up away from public view.

I wish them all a quick recovery. With several young chimps in the troop, this is a concern but one I'm sure they're on top of.
 
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Zoofan15 said:
RSV can lead to pneumonia, which many chimpanzees in the region have died of (not necessarily caused by RCV), so the team will be mindful of keeping the public safe as well as giving the chimps time to rest up away from public view.

I wish them all a quick recovery. With several young chimps in the troop, this is a concern but one I'm sure they're on top of.
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I’ve done some further research on RCV. Apparently it was first identified in chimpanzee in 1955. The most common side effects include coughing and nasal discharge and although it can result in pneumonia and bronchiolitis, this represents an extreme outcome that’s most likely to affect infants under two years of age or the elderly. I’ve found records of a chimpanzee infant that died of RSV in China and several communal outbreaks, but few fatalities. Deaths from pneumonia were traced back to a multitude of infections.

The infants - Hope (aged three years) and Zola (aged two and a half years) are theoretically at the most highest risk; along with the elderly male, Boyd (aged 44 years) - however the chimpanzee worst affected at this stage is Tsotsi (33 year old alpha male). Although he’s past his prime, he’s otherwise fit and healthy and should be well placed to fight off this infection.
 
58 Mitchell's Hopping-Mice bred at Monarto Safari Park have been released into Mallee Cliffs National Park in collaboration with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The mice are now the third species that Zoos SA have helped reintroduce to Mallee Cliffs National Park along with Red-tailed Phascogales and Greater Stick-nest Rats - reported on social media.
 
Chimpanzee health update:

Staff believe the chimpanzees contracted RSV from a tissue blown into their exhibit. Their health has improved and the exhibit should reopen next week:

Zoo chimpanzees recovering from human respiratory illness RSV with tea and soup

Enzi, who was, we think, our very first case and he's our youngster, he's bounced back and he's back to his cheeky self. He's eating well, almost back to normal.

Tsotsi, our older male who we were very worried about towards the end of last week, he's made steady improvements over the weekend and his appetite is coming back.

And our third chimp who we were watching carefully is one of our older females, Galatea, she's again improved but still being watched.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Chimpanzee health update:

Staff believe the chimpanzees contracted RSV from a tissue blown into their exhibit. Their health has improved and the exhibit should reopen next week:

Zoo chimpanzees recovering from human respiratory illness RSV with tea and soup

Enzi, who was, we think, our very first case and he's our youngster, he's bounced back and he's back to his cheeky self. He's eating well, almost back to normal.

Tsotsi, our older male who we were very worried about towards the end of last week, he's made steady improvements over the weekend and his appetite is coming back.

And our third chimp who we were watching carefully is one of our older females, Galatea, she's again improved but still being watched.
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Who's inconsiderate enough not to put a tissue of theirs in the bin. Especially at a zoo.:rolleyes:
 
Hannah the chimpanzee is pregnant. This will be her second successful infant which is due in November. The troop have also recovered well from the virus and will be accessible to the public from Friday:
We've got double the great news!

Your well wishes have paid off - Monarto Safari Park’s Chimpanzee troop is fit to receive visitors from Friday and, as if that wasn’t good news enough, there’s more Chimpanzee cheer to share - 28-year-old Hannah is pregnant!

This will be Hannah’s second baby. Her firstborn, Hope, is now three-years-old and is an absolute delight. Visitors often see the two playing together and we have no doubt that Hannah will be as wonderful a mum to her newborn, which is expected in November.

The troop was diagnosed with Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on Friday 15 July and has been in quarantine while under the careful watch of veterinarians and their keepers. Cups of homemade soup, hot lemon and honey tea and regular doses of paracetamol have helped the chimps go from drowsy with runny noses and coughs, to bright and active.

The last few weeks were worrying as Tsotsi was really quite poorly, while the others had varying degrees of illness. However, they have now all made a great recovery thanks in part to their resilience but also due to the wonderful TLC they received from keepers and the vet team.

We have had many get well messages from our members and locals but also from as far afield as the UK, USA and Canada. We are grateful for the well wishes – it proves how much people love the chimps.

The Chimpanzees at Monarto Safari Park have access to an air- conditioned/heated day room, a large outdoor area with enrichment as well as sleeping quarters.

Zoos SA, a conservation charity, s
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Named Monarto's Great Race, a 32-metre-long spectacular mural has been been unveiled representing the 42 species that are at Monarto Safari Park. It was intentionally designed to go from slowest (the tortoises) to the fastest (cheetah). Prints, cards, and merchandise depicting the murals’ images will be available to purchase in the Safari Shop. The order of appearance is below (I can see about 38) but the post says there is also a hidden Pygmy Blue-tongue Lizard somewhere in the mural and I am sure there are a few smaller natives as well:

Radiated Tortoise, Leopard Tortoise, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Western Swamp Turtle, Cape Porcupine, Malleefowl, Tasmanian Devil, Greater Stick-nest Rat, Mitchell's Hopping-Mouse (assume that's the second rodent species or could be a Red-tailed Phascogale), Tawny Frogmouth (in flight), Addax, Greater Bilby, Meerkat, Waterbuck, Woylie, Nyala, Black-footed Rock-Wallaby, Tammar Wallaby, Chimpanzee, White Rhinoceros, Yellow-footed Rock-Wallaby, Fallow Deer, Black Rhinoceros, Ring-tailed Lemur, American Bison, Giraffe, Spotted Hyena, Barbary Sheep, Eastern Bongo, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Red Deer, Lion, Plains Zebra, Przewalski's Horse, Eland, Ostrich, Blackbuck, Cheetah

Edit - an additional article: Vet captures 42 animals in motion - Monarto Safari Park
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=420361510066865
 
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Zoofan15 said:
Plains zebra foal update:

The foal born to Kenya in May is a colt and has been named Kariba (after Lake Kariba).

The foal born to Kali in June is a colt and has been named Kabili (meaning ‘brave’ in Swahili).
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Any ideas of the total herd size at this time?
 
Zoofan15 said:
According to the website, they have a breeding herd of around 10 zebra as well as two smaller herds containing bachelor stallions and elderly mares.

As of December 2021, they had a total of 19 zebra.
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Update - as of June 2022, Monarto Safari Park have eight zebra in the breeding herd including Kali’s new foal. That’s not to say they have less than 19 zebra on site, as older colts may have been transferred into the bachelor herd, but their main herd currently numbers eight zebra.

The breeding herd is housed within the first stage of the Wild Africa development, known as "Etosha" after Etosha National Park in Namibia. Also included in this precinct are five Eland, 39 Scimitar-horned oryx, 17 Indian antelope, one (male) Waterbuck and seven ostrich.
 
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