Australasian Mandrill Population

[Swanson02]

Mandrill Population Update

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Adelaide Zoo

Follow up on Moabi/Mayombe:

I have confirmation on the fate of the following Mandrill:

0.1 Moabi (1998) died in September 2021 aged 23 years.

0.1 Mayombe (2010) was transferred in September 2021 to Tasmania Zoo.

Thank you to @Patrick Keegan for this information.

Future Plans:

Thank you to @Swanson02 for confirmation via his visit that Adelaide Zoo plan to receive more Mandrill in the future - to be housed in the new African area.

The keeper advised the plan is for the current troop to die out first, before they receive new Mandrill. We can assume this refers to the elderly pair (Tabah and Niari); with new females joining their almost five year old son, Jumoke.

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Melbourne Zoo

Mandrill are returning to Melbourne Zoo:

@Astrobird was advised Melbourne Zoo will be importing Mandrill from San Diego Zoo; while @Swanson02 was told by a keeper at Adelaide that Melbourne Zoo will hold a breeding troop.

This information suggests Melbourne will import one of San Diego’s young males (in addition to females from another source/s) but this is unconfirmed at this stage.

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Revised Population List

Adelaide Zoo:

1.0 Tabah (05/04/2005) Yonaton x Timbiri
1.0 Jumoke (09/10/2017) Tabah x Niari
0.1 Niari (00/05/1996) Brazza x Sanaga

Tasmania Zoo:

1.0 Kouilou (00/04/2011) Tabah x Moabi
0.1 Lara (20/01/2002) Yonaton x Louise
0.1 Mayombe (28/10/2010) Tabah x Niari

Total regional population: 3.3

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It would be good if we had a grading system for each of these population lists. Like what we think the population's current status is, upgrading it and downgrading it dependent on recent births/deaths/imports, etc. For example, a species such as Mandrill would be rated as "extreme" i.e. if nothing is done in the immediate short term we will lose this species. Whereas a species like Common Chimpanzee's status would be "Very well" as the region could feasibly survive alone without import for decades.

 

[Riley]

Things may be a little more dire for the Mandrill population in Australia, Tasmania Zoo is in fact only home to 0.1 Mandrill (Lara)

 

[Zoofan15]

Things may be a little more dire for the Mandrill population in Australia, Tasmania Zoo is in fact only home to 0.1 Mandrill (Lara)

I’m sorry to hear that. I assume Kouilou (2011) and Mayombe (2010) have passed on? I’m surprised given that Lara (2002) was the eldest by almost a decade.

Are Tasmania Zoo looking at options for companionship for Lara? Given her age, I’m assuming the familiar surrounds of Tasmania Zoo would bring her more comfort than that of her own species if she were to be transferred to Adelaide Zoo (who have additionally stated they don’t want to introduce others to the troop).

 

[Jambo]

Things may be a little more dire for the Mandrill population in Australia, Tasmania Zoo is in fact only home to 0.1 Mandrill (Lara)

That's sad to hear, Mayombe was only just transferred and she's rather young too. As was Kouilou, their male.

 

[Pertinax]

than that of her own species if she were to be transferred to Adelaide Zoo (who have additionally stated they don’t want to introduce others to the troop).

Plus trying to add a new female to an existing group is sometimes difficult if there are established females in it already, especially related ones. They may reject a new female that is unrelated to them.

 

[Zoofan15]

Plus trying to add a new female to an existing group is sometimes difficult if there are established females in it already, especially related ones. They may reject a new female that is unrelated to them.

I suspect Niari (Adelaide’s only female) would be resentful of any incoming females and given her age (26 years), the zoo would be keen to avoid putting her under any undue stress.

Adelaide’s troop of three (parents and their 4.5 year old son) seem quite happy, so presumably they will wait until Niari passes before evaluating options. Potentially new females could join the father and son, which might be a consideration given he’s 17 years old and could live another decade beyond Niari.

 

[Jambo]

Re. Tasmania's remaing female.

I think the best way to go is to send Adelaide's older pair down to Tasmania to retire, whilst Adelaide retains their younger male, Jumoke, to head up a new breeding group consisting of females from overseas.

This would tie in well with Melbourne importing a new group from overseas soon.

 

[Zoofan15]

Re. Tasmania's remaing female.

I think the best way to go is to send Adelaide's older pair down to Tasmania to retire, whilst Adelaide retains their younger male, Jumoke, to head up a new breeding group consisting of females from overseas.

This would tie in well with Melbourne importing a new group from overseas soon.

That wouldn't be advisable given Niari's age (26 years). She'd be one of our oldest Mandrill on record and transferring to a new facility and being integrated with an unfamiliar female would be hugely stressful.

However, upon her passing (likely in the next year or so), they could transfer Tabah to form a non breeding pair with Lara.

From here, Adelaide could form a new troop around Jamoke and some new females.

 

[Jambo]

That wouldn't be advisable given Niari's age (26 years). She'd be one of our oldest Mandrill on record and transferring to a new facility and being integrated with an unfamiliar female would be hugely stressful.

However, upon her passing (likely in the next year or so), they could transfer Tabah to form a non breeding pair with Lara.

From here, Adelaide could form a new troop around Jamoke and some new females.

For Lara's sake though, they may want to send Tabah to Tasmania now for companionship.

Niari will still be living with her son, Jumoke, at Adelaide. And upon her death, Adelaide could go straight into sourcing some females from overseas.

 

[Zoofan15]

For Lara's sake though, they may want to send Tabah to Tasmania now for companionship.

Niari will still be living with her son, Jumoke, at Adelaide. And upon her death, Adelaide could go straight into sourcing some females from overseas.

That would depend on the individuals involved and whether Adealide have an option to source females at short notice for Jamoke upon Niari's passing (or he'll be in the same boat as Lara).

If Lara is content on her own, then it's probably best to have US or European imports on the way for Jamoke until transferring out family members from his troop. This process hasn't even begun to my knowledge and could be two years away.

 

[Astrobird]

I expect San Diego will just be facilitating Melbourne to source Mandrill, rather than supplying from their own stock. They would have the contacts within America to source, and if needed, quarantine them before export to Australia. I remember hearing the 2 fm Babboons from Poland were quarantined at Melbourne Zoo before going to DDZ, not sure if Melbourne helped in the sourcing of them.

 

[Jambo]

I expect San Diego will just be facilitating Melbourne to source Mandrill, rather than supplying from their own stock. They would have the contacts within America to source, and if needed, quarantine them before export to Australia. I remember hearing the 2 fm Babboons from Poland were quarantined at Melbourne Zoo before going to DDZ, not sure if Melbourne helped in the sourcing of them.

That sounds about right. Melbourne’s cooperated with San Diego in the past (namely the export of Ongard back in 2018). And have also worked together with the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect breeding program.

It’s good to know Melbourne thus have connections in the US, which they could also potentially use to import other species.

 

[Zorro]

That sounds about right. Melbourne’s cooperated with San Diego in the past (namely the export of Ongard back in 2018). And have also worked together with the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect breeding program.

It’s good to know Melbourne thus have connections in the US, which they could also potentially use to import other species.

I hope MZ are planning on obtaining a good size group for importation or they will quickly become inbred a mistake which seems common in the region.

 

[Zoofan15]

I expect San Diego will just be facilitating Melbourne to source Mandrill, rather than supplying from their own stock. They would have the contacts within America to source, and if needed, quarantine them before export to Australia. I remember hearing the 2 fm Babboons from Poland were quarantined at Melbourne Zoo before going to DDZ, not sure if Melbourne helped in the sourcing of them.

That sounds more likely. @IndianRhino advised the breeding pair at San Diego had a reccomedation to breed this year, so it was obvious they wouldn't be coming. This only left two young males. It's possible San Diego will receive females and form a troop with one of these young males for export; or receive unrelated animals and export from there.

 

[Zoofan15]

I hope MZ are planning on obtaining a good size group for importation or they will quickly become inbred a mistake which seems common in the region.

I would hope Melbourne are planning on importing at least 1.2 Mandrill. Melbourne will be limited by exhibit size, but theoretically could transfer first generation females from this troop to Adelaide, who will be building a larger exhit

Adelaide won't need to import a male, but by receicing their own founder females, they could exchange with Melbourne (as well as receiving from them). This could be achieved by Melbourne importing 1.4 founders and holding 0.2 as non breeding until Adelaide can receive them a year or so later.

 

[Zorro]

I would hope Melbourne are planning on importing at least 1.2 Mandrill. Melbourne will be limited by exhibit size, but theoretically could transfer first generation females from this troop to Adelaide, who will be building a larger exhit

Adelaide won't need to import a male, but by receicing their own founder females, they could exchange with Melbourne (as well as receiving from them). This could be achieved by Melbourne importing 1.4 founders and holding 0.2 as non breeding until Adelaide can receive them a year or so later.

I am surprised they let numbers get this low before they started to act

 

[Zoofan15]

I am surprised they let numbers get this low before they started to act

Melbourne decided to stop breeding which led to the phase out of their troop a few years later.

Adelaide similarly stopped breeding (Jumoke was unplanned) which was a shame. Obviously Tabah couldn't mate with his daughter, but there was the option to breed further offspring from Niari and Moabi.

I'm guessing breeding at Adelaide ceased over uncertainty of where to place male offspring. Possibly, they may look at castration to negate this issue in the future.

 

[Jambo]

Melbourne decided to stop breeding which led to the phase out of their troop a few years later.

Adelaide similarly stopped breeding (Jumoke was unplanned) which was a shame. Obviously Tabah couldn't mate with his daughter, but there was the option to breed further offspring from Niari and Moabi.

I'm guessing breeding at Adelaide ceased over uncertainty of where to place male offspring. Possibly, they may look at castration to negate this issue in the future.

The halt in breeding was due to placing.

Melbourne is restricted to around six Mandrills, and Adelaide could only hold a little more. Melbourne's male was 'well represented' anyway, within the region, with most individuals being descended from him.

 

[Zoofan15]

The halt in breeding was due to placing.

Melbourne is restricted to around six Mandrills, and Adelaide could only hold a little more. Melbourne's male was 'well represented' anyway, within the region, with most individuals being descended from him.

Melbourne last bred in 2009, with a male offspring taking the troop to 2.2 so given they could have accommodated a further two Mandrill, it’s a shame they never followed though with this. Presumably they were cautious the birth of male offspring would unbalance the troop, with no option of shifting them on - similar to Adelaide who finished breeding at 2.3 given the opportunity to transfer out the male born 2011 was uncertain and indeed only came a decade and a half later.

Going forward, more thought needs to be given to long term planning. Additional holders would be welcome and given the charisma of this species, it’s surprising there isn’t more interest - especially from Taronga who are planning a Congo precinct; and Auckland, who are considering one.

 

[Zorro]

Melbourne last bred in 2009, with a male offspring taking the troop to 2.2 so given they could have accommodated a further two Mandrill, it’s a shame they never followed though with this. Presumably they were cautious the birth of male offspring would unbalance the troop, with no option of shifting them on - similar to Adelaide who finished breeding at 2.3 given the opportunity to transfer out the male born 2011 was uncertain and indeed only came a decade and a half later.

Going forward, more thought needs to be given to long term planning. Additional holders would be welcome and given the charisma of this species, it’s surprising there isn’t more interest - especially from Taronga who are planning a Congo precinct; and Auckland, who are considering one.

Placing any excess animals somewhere around the region shouldn’t be to hard with the number of smaller zoos dotted around the region