Sydney Zoo Sydney Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Patrick Keegan
- Start date
That’s awesome news. I believe these infants take their troop to 19 baboons, with Sydney Zoo’s troop being the largest in the region - followed by Melbourne Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo (both at 15 baboons).
The infants appear to be around two and four months respectively (born June and August 2022).
Another new species for Sydney Zoo. A video of a Cape Porcupine has been posted on their social media page: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
Further information on the new Cape Porcupines received via email. The zoo acquired two female porcupines - Barbara and Cindy - from Monarto Safari Park in September. They were born there in 2017 and 2018 respectively and are now on display in the meerkat enclosure that adjoins the Boulevard Eatery (main restaurant). @akasha
I'd wondered whether they would be housed, although this doesn't surprise me. The zoo had two Meerkat exhibits previously, and I don't think that the one near the main entrance would be big enough for porcupines. If that means that it's a mixed exhibit with porcupines and meerkats, that's exciting!
Darling Downs zoo has had this mix for a while now!
Porcupines and meerkats are a popular mix. All four of New Zealand’s main zoos have held this species in a mixed species exhibit together. The cohabit well, though good luck to anyone expecting to see the porcupine during daylight hours. I’ve seen Auckland’s porcupine once across several visits when held in the outdoor exhibit; but during its brief but memorable stint in the nocturnal house, it made for a highly active exhibit. It’s a shame it never stayed in there.
It helps as in the case of DDZ that they do night time tours one day a week to see such species not active by day.
Auckland no longer do so though.
Hamadryas Baboon Troop
For those interested, I found out Sydney Zoo currently have 19 (9.9.1) baboons. They therefore hold the largest troop in Australasia.
The males are named Babi, Nyambi, Shezmu, Azizi, Bennu, Apophis, Ramses, Seti and Deshr; the females are named Izara, Aida, Anta, Kasmut, Zuri, Aza, Johari, Nyota and Zeinab.
The 19th baboon is an infant which is current unnamed.
I will elaborate further on this list in the baboon research thread: Australasian Baboon Population - Research and Discussion
For those interested, I found out Sydney Zoo currently have 19 (9.9.1) baboons. They therefore hold the largest troop in Australasia.
The males are named Babi, Nyambi, Shezmu, Azizi, Bennu, Apophis, Ramses, Seti and Deshr; the females are named Izara, Aida, Anta, Kasmut, Zuri, Aza, Johari, Nyota and Zeinab.
The 19th baboon is an infant which is current unnamed.
I will elaborate further on this list in the baboon research thread: Australasian Baboon Population - Research and Discussion
Raja, Sydney Zoo’s only Sumatran Tiger has been euthanised due to osteoarthritis and other health complications. The zoo still has one hybrid tiger Nika: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
It’s so sad to hear this, though of course not unexpected given Raja’s age. When Sydney Zoo first opened I had a membership and visited at least weekly and he was always such a vocal tiger and a joy to see.
Raja certainly lived a long life and would have been one of the longest living male Sumatran tigers in the region. I believe Tuan set the record when he died in 2017 aged 19 years and 8 months.
Raja sired 0.5 purebred Sumatran cubs - sadly no sons as his offspring with Soraya were genetically valuable and there would have been many females to have paired them with.
Four of his Sumatran offspring survive to this day:
0.1 Indah (31/03/2007) Raja x Soraya
0.1 Jaya (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya
0.1 Shanti (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya
0.1 Ndari (09/06/2008) Raja x Soraya
Just an edit here for those who want to be technical. Tuan died at the age of 19 years 7 months and 29 days; whereas Frank lived one day longer - dying in November 1999 at Melbourne Zoo aged 19 years 8 months and 0 days. He remains the record holder for longevity in the region of a male Sumatran tiger.
Another new species for the zoo - a recent video filmed in the aquarium shows that an Alligator Snapping Turtle has been added to one of the mixed freshwater tanks: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
Sydney Zoo's first male giraffe Akiki has been transferred from Perth Zoo. He has already been introduced to their two females: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
Nika, their hybrid tiger has been retired to Zambi Wildlife Retreat: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
Nika, their hybrid tiger has been retired to Zambi Wildlife Retreat: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
That also answers the mystery of which hybrid arrived at Zambi recently. From teaser photos, it was clearly a hybrid - but I was assuming it was a young male from Dreamworld.
With a vacant tiger exhibit, it’ll be interesting to see if Sydney Zoo acquire more Sumatran tigers - with surplus currently held at Australia Zoo and Taronga Zoo.
Great to see Akiki's arrived safe and well. Fingers crossed for a successful calf soon.
Sending Nika to Zambi obviously indicates Sydney potentially looking into holding Sumatrans now. I'm not sure if they plan to hold a breeding pair; but it's a chance as Sydney have elected to vacate two exhibits instead of one.