I guess they are in no rush to breed them yet
Technically, CITIES have to go into breeding programs. You could have a breeding program outside ZAA but in reality it is the only game in town.
As I've said before, it is not ZAA per say who make these decisions, they are reliant on zoos offering places. No places, no program. The program will also need a species coordinator/studbook keeper who is usually a keeper or curator (a very small number of programs are managed by a professional officer within ZAA). A zoo has to put their hands up to provide the hours for a staff member to do this, or a staff member has to volunteer to do it in their own time. So starting new programs, or even maintaining old ones, can be difficult. Also, it has to be said, some zoos have very little interest in cooperating with programs.
36 (17.19) Dibblers bred at Perth Zoo have been released onto Dirk Hartog Island National Park. To date, 93 dibblers have been released across three releases: Media Statements - Conservation coup as endangered dibblers released into the wild
White-bellied frog release:
From the zoo’s social media:
Perth Zoo are celebrating the release of over 100 critically endangered White-bellied frogs into Western Australia’s south west. The zoo collects eggs from the wild, rears them into frogs and then releases them.
From the zoo’s social media:
Perth Zoo are celebrating the release of over 100 critically endangered White-bellied frogs into Western Australia’s south west. The zoo collects eggs from the wild, rears them into frogs and then releases them.
Last year was a very good one for the Western swamp tortoise and no less then 65 succesfull hatchling were counted ! Also 73 Swamp tortoises are prepared at the moment for releasing into the wild 
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A pair of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos have been exported to Jurong Bird Park, Singapore. The pair of cockatoos have arrived safely: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Great news. A Red-faced Turtle Emydura victoriae has hatched at Perth. The first one of its species since 2010: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Construction to begin soon on new cafe and function centre:
https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-n...projects-of-perth-zoo-redevelopment-c-7172907
I appreciate this isn’t the most exciting news, but once they get this out the way (2023), they can progress with the more exciting aspects of the masterplan.
WA builder appointed to tackle Perth Zoo redevelopment
The new cafe — which will be built in the heart of the zoo — will provide a variety of food and beverage options, alfresco dining opportunities and more visitor amenities.
A separate function centre will be built on the western boundary of the zoo, with its own entrance off Labouchere Road, for events, corporate functions, seminars and weddings.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-n...projects-of-perth-zoo-redevelopment-c-7172907
I appreciate this isn’t the most exciting news, but once they get this out the way (2023), they can progress with the more exciting aspects of the masterplan.
WA builder appointed to tackle Perth Zoo redevelopment
The new cafe — which will be built in the heart of the zoo — will provide a variety of food and beverage options, alfresco dining opportunities and more visitor amenities.
A separate function centre will be built on the western boundary of the zoo, with its own entrance off Labouchere Road, for events, corporate functions, seminars and weddings.
Perth Zoo have welcomed 13 Numbat joeys and 67 Western Swamp Turtle hatchlings so far for the 2022 season. The Dibblers have also been breeding well with four out of the nine breeding females each carrying eight joeys: Media Statements - Threatened species breeding boom at Perth Zoo
Some sad news from Perth Zoo this evening:
Tricia the Elephant's health has "deteriorated rapidly" says Perth Zoo - ABC Perth
Tricia has suffered a rapid decline in health and is close to the end of her life. She is being assessed day by day by staff, who will make a decision of when it’s in her best interests to make that difficult decision. It appears we’re talking days rather than weeks.
Tricia is the oldest elephant in the region at an estimated 65 years of age.
Tricia the Elephant's health has "deteriorated rapidly" says Perth Zoo - ABC Perth
Tricia has suffered a rapid decline in health and is close to the end of her life. She is being assessed day by day by staff, who will make a decision of when it’s in her best interests to make that difficult decision. It appears we’re talking days rather than weeks.
Tricia is the oldest elephant in the region at an estimated 65 years of age.
'Reptile Encounter' the zoo's reptile house has been open now for just over 25 years now (opened June 1997).
It’s a fantastic building - it’s aged well considering it’s now 25 years old and Taronga are rebuilding their’s which opened around the same time (1995).
Photo by @Chlidonias
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@Zoofan15 @Chlidonias @Patrick Keegan Great photo Chlidonias, I remember when the exhibit in the foreground was shared by Mitchell's Water Monitor and Pink-Eared Turtles. Only time I believe Mitchell's Water Monitors had been kept in publicly displayed captivity. They bred them successfully too I think from seeing the title of an article published about them.
Could other zoos learn how to keep these species?
Keeping numbats is not difficult. You just need a guaranteed, continuous supply of huge numbers of termites. Perth Zoo have a “termite farm” abiotic 100k away.
I highly doubt an overseas zoo will ever hold them though. Healesville Sanctuary had them a while back and a keeper there told me they're a relatively easy going species to hold. At the time it was hoped other Australian Zoos would jump on board with the regional breeding program.
Building is even older than that as it was a repurposed conference room.
I was more referring to the complex (and it’s exhibits) but that’s interesting to know it was remodelled from a previous building. It’s always great when zoos can do that - even more so if the building contains historic significance like an old elephant house or a bear pit.
Am not sure if Perth Zoo is keeping their Red-eared slider(s) (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) together in the old Otter exhibit between the older of the two Northern white-cheeked gibbon aviaries and the two Sun bear exhibits rather than in terrariums in the Reptile Encounter; personally (here I go again telling zoos how I think things should be done lol) having seen on the exotic reptile thread that Crocodylus Park currently has at least one Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) in their care; I think if Perth was in a position to persuade Crocodylus for a species swap that the Malayan box turtle(s) would be better suited for that exhibit due to the whole Asian rainforest theme of the area (am aware though that the exhibit in questions has a close-by date of deconstruction when Perth Zoo begins making way for the master plan undertakings..just was a minor idea in the interim, though probably pointless now.)
Still also think after Kifani the Cheetah passed away in April 2015 that the zoo maybe could have sourced a Serval (or two) to inhabit that exhibit over the last seven years rather than a flock of Helmet guineafowl (again just personal opinion); was very impressed though when Binturongs, Komodo dragon, Brown-nosed coatis and South African crested porcupines were arrivals during the last ten years, do want to acknowledge lots of positive things (and there are a tonne) about the zoo, the keepers are amazing and love the animals in their care (just looking at the Elephant keepers alone has been a major example have personally felt emotional seeing the bond). Just wanted to throw my 5c opinion in there about where I saw the zoo may have made a different decision a few years back with the inhabitant plans of a recently vacated exhibit.
PS Wondering if there may be space for an Antelope species to join the Giraffes and Zebras when the Savannah is expanded in coming years. Really wish that the Sun bears and the Hamadryas baboons were not on the phase out shortlist now too, though do realise that new individuals would need to be found in the future if they were not.
(Edit: PS am aware this is largely a 'shoulda-woulda-coulda' hypothetical..but ruminating none-the-less)
Still also think after Kifani the Cheetah passed away in April 2015 that the zoo maybe could have sourced a Serval (or two) to inhabit that exhibit over the last seven years rather than a flock of Helmet guineafowl (again just personal opinion); was very impressed though when Binturongs, Komodo dragon, Brown-nosed coatis and South African crested porcupines were arrivals during the last ten years, do want to acknowledge lots of positive things (and there are a tonne) about the zoo, the keepers are amazing and love the animals in their care (just looking at the Elephant keepers alone has been a major example have personally felt emotional seeing the bond). Just wanted to throw my 5c opinion in there about where I saw the zoo may have made a different decision a few years back with the inhabitant plans of a recently vacated exhibit.
PS Wondering if there may be space for an Antelope species to join the Giraffes and Zebras when the Savannah is expanded in coming years. Really wish that the Sun bears and the Hamadryas baboons were not on the phase out shortlist now too, though do realise that new individuals would need to be found in the future if they were not.
(Edit: PS am aware this is largely a 'shoulda-woulda-coulda' hypothetical..but ruminating none-the-less)
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At a minimum, I’d expect Perth Zoo to acquire Lowland nyala. They could easily assimilate into a mixed species Savannah setting as they have done at several other zoos across the region. Female waterbuck cows would also be a suitable addition. Multiple zoos have had integration issues with males of this species, so that wouldn’t be advisable imo.
It’d be nice to see Perth Zoo expand into antelope from other biomes too - the rainforest dwelling Eastern bongo; and the Scimitar-horned oryx and Addax of the desert. With the elephants leaving, they’ll be room to consider options like these - with bongo already identified by the zoo as a replacement.