Australasian Hippopotamus Population - Discussion, History and Research

[Zoofan15]

Am aware of the groupings but there's nothing stopping them keeping more than one group

They may look at implementing a similar set up to Dubbo with multiple exhibits.

The medium sized female pod would be their main drawcard - in the largest exhibit; with additional facilities and hippos acting in support of this. Single hippos e.g. a bull won’t bring in additional visitors, so they’ll likely be mindful of that in that additional exhibits will be simple and equipped to hold a small number of hippos.

A starting point could be three (small) additional exhibits - one to hold the bull; the other two to hold cows and their newborns. This will be necessary once there’s adolescent and adult offspring from their previous births in the main pod.

 

[Jambo]

They may look at implementing a similar set up to Dubbo with multiple exhibits.

The medium sized female pod would be their main drawcard - in the largest exhibit; with additional facilities and hippos acting in support of this. Single hippos e.g. a bull won’t bring in additional visitors, so they’ll likely be mindful of that in that additional exhibits will be simple and equipped to hold a small number of hippos.

A starting point could be three (small) additional exhibits - one to hold the bull; the other two to hold cows and their newborns. This will be necessary once there’s adolescent and adult offspring from their previous births in the main pod.

I think three enclosures is what they're aiming for to begin with. It would be ideal to give them the opportunity to hold a bull, and the cows seperate if needed (especially for the birthing process).

Oh bulls are definitely a drawcard! Harry at Werribee was Werribee's most popular animal; most guests new his name. He was known to 'yawn' and show those massive teeth of his, and 'swim' right up to where the bus passed through. He really was a wonder, and Werribee's ability to get guests so up close to him on the Safari Tour, I think contributed to his popularity. Something Dubbo's enclosures haven't been able to achieve.

 

[Jambo]

I've contacted the European Studbook Coordinator and he too dosen't know much about the hippos within the region, although he's provided me this piece of information:

As of 07/08/1999, Werribee had 2.4 hippos . We know Werribee had Harry, Makoko, Brindabella and Primrose at the time. The other two females are up in the air although there's only three options; Genevieve, Beatrice, and Leopolda. The two females were deceased within a years time.

The coordinator plans to get ahold of the Australian studbook for me so hopefully we can have some more info soon.

 

[Zorro]

I've contacted the European Studbook Coordinator and he too dosen't know much about the hippos within the region, although he's provided me this piece of information:

As of 07/08/1999, Werribee had 2.4 hippos . We know Werribee had Harry, Makoko, Brindabella and Primrose at the time. The other two females are up in the air although there's only three options; Genevieve, Beatrice, and Leopolda. The two females were deceased within a years time.

The coordinator plans to get ahold of the Australian studbook for me so hopefully we can have some more info soon.

Perhaps they know of some surplus animals within the EEP?

 

[Zoofan15]

Perhaps they know of some surplus animals within the EEP?

That would be a good question to ask too @Jambo.

The European breeding programme is our most likely source for imports. It'd be interesting to know numbers available when we have the ability to import.

 

[Jambo]

Perhaps they know of some surplus animals within the EEP?

That's a good question, I'll make sure to ask that too.

The US population dosen't have the surplus to give us a decent amount of hippos, so once we are able to import, we'll probably have to source them from Europe/Asia.

 

[Zorro]

That's a good question, I'll make sure to ask that too.

The US population dosen't have the surplus to give us a decent amount of hippos, so once we are able to import, we'll probably have to source them from Europe/Asia.

From my understanding some asian zoos seem to have quite a few both river and pygmy hippos but not sure if importation is allowed from there?
Even if just 2 or 3 are available could make the difference between our zoos retaining hippos or end up losing them in the short term!

 

[Zoofan15]

From my understanding some asian zoos seem to have quite a few both river and pygmy hippos but not sure if importation is allowed from there?
Even if just 2 or 3 are available could make the difference between our zoos retaining hippos or end up losing them in the short term!

The list of approved countries would be similar to the IRA for tapir, so an import from Singapore would be allowed I'd imagine. The IRA (if drafted) isn't public at this stage for me to confirm for sure, but it seems a strong likelihood.

If allowed, Tasman Safari have a large number (albeit some related to ours). Indonesia is unlikely to be approved though imo.

 

[Jambo]

From my understanding some asian zoos seem to have quite a few both river and pygmy hippos but not sure if importation is allowed from there?
Even if just 2 or 3 are available could make the difference between our zoos retaining hippos or end up losing them in the short term!

I believe if importation is allowed, they could still be imported from Asia.

Asia has the most surplus hippos as far as i'm aware.

Europe may have a selective few, i'll have to see via the studbook coordinator.

 

[Zoofan15]

New Werribee Information

New information:

I have new information regarding these three hippopotami, which all died at Werribee Open Range Zoo:

0.1 Beatrice (08/04/1981) died 06/02/2001
0.1 Leopolda (21/04/1989) died 01/06/1991
1.0 Makoko (12/02/1998) died 23/02/2003

It’s interesting to note that Beatrice died in February 2001, which is the same month that Brindabella gave birth to Kijana. It’d be interesting to know if there was an attempt to integrate Beatrice with the other hippopotami to give Brindabella privacy to raise her calf; or whether they were housed together until her death.

I was interested to learn Makoko died in February 2003 (a month after Tulip was born). I’d assumed he’d died much earlier. He’d just turned five years old and would have likely been housed separately from Harold given this is the age they’d begin to clash. I’m assuming the groupings at this time were Harold and Brindabella; Primrose and Tulip (newborn); and Makoko.

Full details:

0.1 Beatrice
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/04/1981
Arrived at Werribee Open Range 13/09/1982
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 06/02/2001

0.1 Leopolda
Born at Adelaide Zoo 21/04/1989
Arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo 28/11/1990
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 01/06/1991

1.0 Makoko
Born at Adelaide Zoo 12/02/1998
Arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo 27/06/1999
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 23/02/2003
Fggg

 

[Jambo]

New Werribee Information

New information:

I have new information regarding these three hippopotami, which all died at Werribee Open Range Zoo:

0.1 Beatrice (08/04/1981) died 06/02/2001
0.1 Leopolda (21/04/1989) died 01/06/1991
1.0 Makoko (12/02/1998) died 23/02/2003

It’s interesting to note that Beatrice died in February 2001, which is the same month that Brindabella gave birth to Kijana. It’d be interesting to know if there was an attempt to integrate Beatrice with the other hippopotami to give Brindabella privacy to raise her calf; or whether they were housed together until her death.

I was interested to learn Makoko died in February 2003 (a month after Tulip was born). I’d assumed he’d died much earlier. He’d just turned five years old and would have likely been housed separately from Harold given this is the age they’d begin to clash. I’m assuming the groupings at this time were Harold and Brindabella; Primrose and Tulip (newborn); and Makoko.

Full details:

0.1 Beatrice
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/04/1981
Arrived at Werribee Open Range 13/09/1982
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 06/02/2001

0.1 Leopolda
Born at Adelaide Zoo 21/04/1989
Arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo 28/11/1990
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 01/06/1991

1.0 Makoko
Born at Adelaide Zoo 12/02/1998
Arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo 27/06/1999
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 23/02/2003
Fggg

Thanks, where did you get this long awaited info from?

Beatrice died fairly young. I'd be interested to find out why.

Makoko was initially grouped with the females as of 2000, with Harry living seperate, but I assume this changed that same year, with Harry siring Kijana in 2001.

We can thus confirm Genevieve was the other female alive in 1999. It'll be nice to get a death date for her.

 

[Zoofan15]

Thanks, where did you get this long awaited info from?

Beatrice died fairly young. I'd be interested to find out why.

Makoko was initially grouped with the females as of 2000, with Harry living seperate, but I assume this changed that same year, with Harry siring Kijana in 2001.

We can thus confirm Genevieve was the other female alive in 1999. It'll be nice to get a death date for her.

You’re welcome. I contacted the zoo directly.

Beatrice was 20 years old, so indeed wasn’t an old animal by any means. Given the number of offspring Harold sired, I suspect she had a few non surviving calves throughout the 1990’s - in addition to her previous offspring.

Genevieve reached a decent age given she was still alive in 1999. Hopefully your contact with the European studbook coordinator can shed some light if I’m unable to find anything else.

 

[Jambo]

Genevieve reached a decent age given she was still alive in 1999. Hopefully your contact with the European studbook coordinator can shed some light if I’m unable to find anything else.

She would've been forty four which makes her definitely one of the oldest females on record in our region.

Yes, if I can get access to the studbook, hopefully we'll have info on the calves that died young too (who was their dam ect).

 

[Zoofan15]

Updated Werribee Information

Alice:

Alice, who was transferred from Adelaide Zoo, died at Werribee Open Range Zoo in December 1986.

0.1 Alice
Born at Adelaide Zoo 19/01/1980
Arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo 25/03/1981
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 31/12/1986

Since female Common hippopotamus can give birth as young as three years of age and Alice died three weeks before her seventh birthday, it’s possible she gave birth to at least one non surviving calf during her time at Werribee - childbirth may have even been her cause of death (as it was for a female at Auckland Zoo).

Known Werribee Founders:

0.1 Genevieve (00/11/1955) Arrived 1982, died 1999/2000
0.1 Henrietta (00/02/1961) Arrived 1982, died unknown
1.0 Harold (07/03/1978) Arrived 1984, died 2014
0.1 Alice (19/01/1980) Arrived 1981, died 1986
0.1 Beatrice (08/04/1981) Arrived 1982, died 2001
0.1 Leopolda (21/04/1989) Arrived 1990, died 1991
1.0 Makoko (12/02/1998) Arrived 1999, died 2003

In addition to these hippopotami, there was at least one more (a male of details unknown), who was transferred from Melbourne Zoo in 1982. It’s reasonable to assume his death led to the transfer of Harold from Dubbo in 1984.

 

[Jambo]

Since female Common hippopotamus can give birth as young as three years of age and Alice died three weeks before her seventh birthday, it’s possible she gave birth to at least one non surviving calf during her time at Werribee - childbirth may have even been her cause of death (as it was for a female at Auckland Zoo).

She gave birth in December too, and hippos tend to give birth in the warmer months, so it makes sense.

In addition to these hippopotami, there was at least one more (a male of details unknown), who was transferred from Melbourne Zoo in 1982. It’s reasonable to assume his death led to the transfer of Harold from Dubbo in 1984.

What's your thoughts on this? I'm thinking the only plausible explanation for his origins are him being Taronga born.

It's also interesting that Werribee elected to continue breeding Harry with his daughters when they had Makoko, who died when he was five. It seems Makoko was separated from the girls (and Harry) for one reason or another shortly after his arrival.

 

[Zoofan15]

What's your thoughts on this? I'm thinking the only plausible explanation for his origins are him being Taronga born.

It's also interesting that Werribee elected to continue breeding Harry with his daughters when they had Makoko, who died when he was five. It seems Makoko was separated from the girls (and Harry) for one reason or another shortly after his arrival.

I’d say that’s likely. I can’t imagine they’d go to the expense of importing when hippopotamus were being bred so readily in captivity by that stage. Auckland Zoo had a spare bull around that era (Scuba), who they decided to retain - so I’d say Taronga was the probable option as we can rule out him coming from Adelaide.

Initially Makoko should have been kept seperate for his safety (he was only 16 months old and would have been killed), but it is indeed strange why he was never mated with Brindabella instead of Harold to conceive the calf she had in 2001 (Kijana). He was her maternal uncle, but that’s better than a sire-daughter mating imo.

 

[Jambo]

I’d say that’s likely. I can’t imagine they’d go to the expense of importing when hippopotamus were being bred so readily in captivity by that stage. Auckland Zoo had a spare bull around that era (Scuba), who they decided to retain - so I’d say Taronga was the probable option as we can rule out him coming from Adelaide.

Initially Makoko should have been kept seperate for his safety (he was only 16 months old and would have been killed), but it is indeed strange why he was never mated with Brindabella instead of Harold to conceive the calf she had in 2001 (Kijana). He was her maternal uncle, but that’s better than a sire-daughter mating imo.

The bull was also imported in 1966, two years prior to the death of Rangi. The plan was to pair him with Henrietta, and hold two groups (with Rangi and Genevieve as the other pair).

As of early 2000, Makoko was in with both Brindabella, Beatrice and Primrose. He would've only been two years old, so rather young. It seems he was moved out of the group for one reason or another, possibly aggression from the older cows as he got older and instead was replaced by Harry. That seems the only explanation, otherwise it would've made sense to breed him with both, Brindabella and Primrose.

 

[Zoofan15]

The bull was also imported in 1966, two years prior to the death of Rangi. The plan was to pair him with Henrietta, and hold two groups (with Rangi and Genevieve as the other pair).

As of early 2000, Makoko was in with both Brindabella, Beatrice and Primrose. He would've only been two years old, so rather young. It seems he was moved out of the group for one reason or another, possibly aggression from the older cows as he got older and instead was replaced by Harry. That seems the only explanation, otherwise it would've made sense to breed him with both, Brindabella and Primrose.

It’s a real shame Auckland Zoo didn’t send them Scuba as he was born 1964 and having him on site as well as Kabete meant there was no capacity to seperate off mothers and newborn - and the cows (split between two groups) were kept permanently with one of the bulls. Scuba was bullied by two of the cows and suffered injuries that led to his decline.

Werribee had the facilities to hold three groups, so it’s strange why they didn’t have Makoko seperate in 2000. Any cow/cows that couldn’t live cohesively with the others could have been accommodated with Harold (with contraception applied if desired). Housing all cows with Harold would have been preferable come early 2001 as Brindabella needed to be separated ahead of Kijana’s birth.

 

[Jambo]

It’s a real shame Auckland Zoo didn’t send them Scuba as he was born 1964 and having him on site as well as Kabete meant there was no capacity to seperate off mothers and newborn - and the cows (split between two groups) were kept permanently with one of the bulls. Scuba was bullied by two of the cows and suffered injuries that led to his decline.

Werribee had the facilities to hold three groups, so it’s strange why they didn’t have Makoko seperate in 2000. Any cow/cows that couldn’t live cohesively with the others could have been accommodated with Harold (with contraception applied if desired). Housing all cows with Harold would have been preferable come early 2001 as Brindabella needed to be separated ahead of Kijana’s birth.

I think a male from Taronga was just much easier and cheaper than getting a bull all the way from NZ. That was probably the whole thinking behind the decision at the time.

It's interesting that Werribee attempted to integrate all their four hippos together in 2002 (Harry, Primrose, Brindabella and Kijana). This was likely due to them moving Makoko from the off display enclosure, on display.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think a male from Taronga was just much easier and cheaper than getting a bull all the way from NZ. That was probably the whole thinking behind the decision at the time.

It's interesting that Werribee attempted to integrate all their four hippos together in 2002 (Harry, Primrose, Brindabella and Kijana). This was likely due to them moving Makoko from the off display enclosure, on display.

Yes, I’d assume that was the reason. It always thought it was interesting that Auckland Zoo acquired Bonnie in 1966 rather than inbreed Snorkel and Kiboko to their father or brother. Inbreeding was later allowed under the same director.

The integration of Harold and Primrose with Brindabella and her calf was accidental. The former pair broke down a barrier dividing the exhibit.