Australasian Sumatran Tiger Population

Nisha said:
If space at Melbourne is considered to be the reason for phase out - then could they not consider building a (larger) Tiger exhibit at Werribee for them? They'd be able to link them into the upcoming Elephant build with both being South East Asian species...

A very short sighted decision otherwise.
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That’s a great idea. I feel like Werribee have always withheld from exhibiting tigers because they’re a South East Asian species and they want to focus on the African theme. However like you say, the addition of the Asian elephants presents the perfect opportunity to follow up with exhibiting Sumatran tigers.

Depending on funding, they may be interested in constructing a complex to house multiple tigers - like the complexes at Taronga and Auckland Zoo. Being an open range zoo, there’d be an even larger scope to do this - with Werribee then having the prestige of having the largest elephant complex and the largest Sumatran tiger complex in the region. With Monarto’s impressive work with ungulates, Werribee need to stay on the ball.
 
Zorro said:
I suspect there are other factors involved here and its nothing to do with any space issues
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I too would be surprised if space was the reason. Many city zoos in the region hold this species and have no issues. Taronga Zoo even found Assiqua was unhappy when sent to the open range zoo at Dubbo and preferred the surroundings of her city home at Taronga.

More important than space is an enriching exhibit. Indrah (who reportedly doesn’t pace) has a pulley mechanism in her exhibit which is sometimes used to deliver her food. It’s one of many examples that stimulate the lives of cats.

I’ve also observed many examples of tigers paired with at least one other tiger seeming content in their exhibit, while their single counterparts have paced. While regarded as a solitary animal, they are in reality a semi-social species that often enjoy the company of a compatible tiger companion.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s a great idea. I feel like Werribee have always withheld from exhibiting tigers because they’re a South East Asian species and they want to focus on the African theme. However like you say, the addition of the Asian elephants presents the perfect opportunity to follow up with exhibiting Sumatran tigers.

Depending on funding, they may be interested in constructing a complex to house multiple tigers - like the complexes at Taronga and Auckland Zoo. Being an open range zoo, there’d be an even larger scope to do this - with Werribee then having the prestige of having the largest elephant complex and the largest Sumatran tiger complex in the region. With Monarto’s impressive work with ungulates, Werribee need to stay on the ball.
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Werribee for such a long time has been very African centric in their animal selection, also I now suspect since the Asian elephants are now going to be transferred there it will help bring in more asian species in the future perhaps even tigers.
 
Zorro said:
Werribee for such a long time has been very African centric in their animal selection, also I now suspect since the Asian elephants are now going to be transferred there it will help bring in more asian species in the future perhaps even tigers.
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They’ve got a few things to work through on their masterplan - upgraded lion exhibits, Spotted hyena etc. but once that’s completed they’ll be looking at the next thing. The obvious starting point is building up their South East Asian collection, with an emphasis on high profile species like the Sumatran tiger.

Either way, I anticipate some exciting years ahead for the regional Sumatran tiger population. Many zoos have ageing cats - which mean new pairings to produce cubs to fill these vacant exhibits; and the potential for new imports.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s a great idea. I feel like Werribee have always withheld from exhibiting tigers because they’re a South East Asian species and they want to focus on the African theme. However like you say, the addition of the Asian elephants presents the perfect opportunity to follow up with exhibiting Sumatran tigers.

Depending on funding, they may be interested in constructing a complex to house multiple tigers - like the complexes at Taronga and Auckland Zoo. Being an open range zoo, there’d be an even larger scope to do this - with Werribee then having the prestige of having the largest elephant complex and the largest Sumatran tiger complex in the region. With Monarto’s impressive work with ungulates, Werribee need to stay on the ball.
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That's an idea, and i'd love to see this pursued long term if they don't have a future at Melbourne. They'd have the space to create a worldclass complex; something with multiple expansive exhibits. However, I don't see Werribee pursuing this plainly due to the fact that they'd rather maintain their 'open range' persona. Their new masterplan also seems to cover the entirety of the zoo, leaving no space for a large tiger complex - but long term I guess space could be found.

It's an interesting time for Melbourne; but I feel like losing both tigers AND elephants is probably not the best going forward. If space is an issue - sending the lions to Werribee and only holding them there seems the best option, leaving Melbourne to focus on Sumatran Tigers and Snow Leopards. With the elephants leaving too, Melbourne will have the opportunity to transform that area too (potentially with additional tiger exhibits too); the waterhole habitat has a really cool temple like building adjacent to it, which would look really nice apart of a tiger exhibit.
 
Zoofan15 said:
They’ve got a few things to work through on their masterplan - upgraded lion exhibits, Spotted hyena etc. but once that’s completed they’ll be looking at the next thing. The obvious starting point is building up their South East Asian collection, with an emphasis on high profile species like the Sumatran tiger.

Either way, I anticipate some exciting years ahead for the regional Sumatran tiger population. Many zoos have ageing cats - which mean new pairings to produce cubs to fill these vacant exhibits; and the potential for new imports.
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Its seems unusual that a few years ago there appeared to be quite a few tiger cubs produced but now as you say there are quite a few ageing animals scattered around the zoos within the region.
I would of thought that a X number would have been produced per year to keep up regional numbers to cover animals of all stages of life, also having more imports and not just keep exporting out with little coming into the mix?.
 
Zorro said:
Its seems unusual that a few years ago there appeared to be quite a few tiger cubs produced but now as you say there are quite a few ageing animals scattered around the zoos within the region.
I would of thought that a X number would have been produced per year to keep up regional numbers to cover animals of all stages of life, also having more imports and not just keep exporting out with little coming into the mix?.
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After the excessive breeding recommendations issued in the late 2000’s that generated a large surplus of tigers, we’re now in the recovery phase with an ageing population that requires succession via imports and breeding.

While several breeding recommendations have been issued, there’s been widespread failures of pairs to breed at Wellington Zoo, the National Zoo, Adelaide Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo. Consequently, only two zoos have bred in the past five years - Australia Zoo and Taronga Zoo.

Future of the breeding programme:

Breeding is likely at Adelaide Zoo, Auckland Zoo and Hamilton Zoo within the next two years - which will likely produce around seven or eight cubs between them.

Ballarat Wildlife Park and Sydney Zoo have elderly males and Perth Zoo hold a male that has already exceeded his life expectancy due to health reasons, so it’s probable these three facilities will find themselves without Sumatran tigers within the next few years.

They’ll be an opportunity for these (and other facilities) to take surplus from the projected breedings; or from the surplus at Taronga and Australia Zoo. Taronga will want to retain one of their 2019 cubs for future breeding; while Australia will likely retain two of their 2019-2020 cubs - one for breeding; one as a spare.
 
Reading back in one of the US threads, I discovered 0.1 Cathy (2016) was actually recommended for transfer to the Sydney Zoo back in 2019 from the San Diego Safari Park. As it turned out, she was not imported, and Sydney ended up sourcing a hybrid female and an older male from Dreamworld.

It's a big shame as Cathy would've presented the region with new genetics, and could've potentially been paired up for breeding in our region which is in desperate need of new genetics.
 
Jambo said:
Reading back in one of the US threads, I discovered 0.1 Cathy (2016) was actually recommended for transfer to the Sydney Zoo back in 2019 from the San Diego Safari Park. As it turned out, she was not imported, and Sydney ended up sourcing a hybrid female and an older male from Dreamworld.

It's a big shame as Cathy would've presented the region with new genetics, and could've potentially been paired up for breeding in our region which is in desperate need of new genetics.
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It was disappointing when her import fell through.

Bashi at Wellington Zoo would have been 11 years old upon her import and considering he’s an unrepresented wild born founder, their pairing at Sydney Zoo would have been a valuable match.

Irregardless of if she was paired with Bashi, Sydney Zoo would have been in the interesting position of being a new holder - yet holding one of the most genetically valuable animals in the region.

With regards to cancelled imports, nothing can beat the disappointment of the pair from Indonesia in 2018 being cancelled. Though it was implied to be a five year loan, this would have been ample time to breed to breed three litters of cubs.
 
Raja (2003-2022)

Raja at Sydney Zoo has passed away, a month before his 19th birthday. His death leaves Sydney Zoo without Sumatran tigers as their remaining tiger is a hybrid tigress.

Raja was the eldest male Sumatran tiger in the region and the second oldest. Following his death, the eldest living tigers are as follows:

0.1 Mencari (10/01/2000) Jambi x Cantic
1.0 Juma (01/04/2004) Lari x Malu
1.0 Ranu (01/04/2004) Lari x Malu
0.1 Singha (01/04/2004) Lari x Malu
 
Zoofan15 said:
It’s a significant achievement for the zoo as Delilah was peer raised. She’s only the second female peer raised Sumatran tiger in the region to successfully breed (the first being Kembali’s mother, Sali); and many previous pairings of peer raised females have failed - including several of Soraya’s daughters.
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Seems the region is over due for some tiger cubs. :cool:
 
Zorro said:
Seems the region is over due for some tiger cubs. :cool:
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Very much so. A number of pairs across several zoos have failed to breed in recent years, meaning we have a deficit of Sumatran tigers for the first time in the region.

I believe the next few years will be very exciting with Auckland Zoo hopefully breeding next year as well; and Hamilton Zoo hopefully receiving a male from Orana Wildlife Park soon, which will also free up Orana to import a female.
 
Nine News have posted a video segment filmed at Adelaide Zoo, which details Delilah’s pregnancy that was announced today:

https://www.9news.com.au/videos/nat...-new-tiger-arrivals/clbbxk6n100230jmz507e461u

It’s noted that Kembali has a very placid personality - like his parents, with Oz being able to live with Mencari (an elderly, speyed female) in his final years a testament to his good nature.

Kembali and Delilah are being held separately from each other. I think it’s a shame as this represents an opportunity where the male could remain with his cubs (which hasn’t been possible with more ferocious males e.g. Satu at Taronga). I’m hopeful this is something that may be trialled at Auckland Zoo.

The zoo’s director noted the expected litter size is 3-4 cubs, noting a possible range of 1-6 cubs. I’m aware of no litter in the region exceeding four cubs - with only one litter of quadruplets having a 100% survival rate to adulthood.
 
Satu at Ballarat has Died (2005-2022)

With Satu’s passing, Ballarat no longer hold this species.

From socials:

Satu, like many aged cats was experiencing kidney issues and over the last few days was showing signs that his condition was worsening.

Our thoughts also go out to those who knew and cared for Satu before he came to live out the rest of his life at Ballarat Wildlife Park.

We will always be grateful and feel very privileged to have known, loved and welcomed Satu into our family.

REST EASY BUDDY.

REUNITED WITH MANEKI.
 
Zorro said:
It appear tigers are now becoming less common in our zoos? :(
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We have an ageing population of Sumatran tigers due to the rampant breeding of the late 2000’s/early 2000’s - so a number of these tigers are now in their senior years.

It appears we’re in a baby boom at the moment as we play catch up (following multiple failed pairings). Eight cubs were born 2019-2020, a litter is due in the next month and Auckland will hopefully breed 2023. That could potentially mean around 16 tigers born with four years - which is just under half the regional population.

It’ll be interesting to see if Ballarat and now Sydney Zoo continue with Sumatran tigers.
 
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