Perth Zoo Perth Zoo News 2022

[Zoofan15]

They do have the facilities so hopefully down the line we may see a breeding pair at Perth.

But for the meantime, it makes sense for Perth to hold a non breeding trio. Especially as all three of Perth's lions descend from very well represented lines.

With the open range zoos managing larger breeding prides, I think we’ll largely see the city zoo focussing on holding small non breeding pairs/trios.

In addition to all holding non breeding prides - Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth now all have lions born within 3-4 years of each other (2013-2017) - meaning all four facilities will all be renewing their prides around the same time around a decade from now.

With regards to Perth’s females - the key developments since the announcement they’d be breeding was made in 2018 are the transfer of their younger brother to Werribee for breeding; their littermate siring 2.1 surviving cubs at Mogo; and their mother producing quintuplets at Taronga. As a founder, she was once considered genetically valuable - but is now becoming increasingly well represented.

 

[Zoofan15]

Male lion Jelani goes on display today:

Meet Perth Zoo’s new lion king making a purr-fect debut

He’ll be introduced to the zoo’s lionesses in the coming weeks to form a non breeding pride.

Jelani is the zoo’s first male lion since 2016.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 Wonderful news (yet again another Lion media pun like you pointed out ''...new lion king making a purr-fect debut'')

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 Wonderful news (yet again another Lion media pun like you pointed out ''...new lion king making a purr-fect debut'')

Perth will be thrilled to have a male lion on display. Alistair was a well loved and iconic lion throughout his many years at Perth and Nelson and Mandela were equally as majestic.

I hear frequent comments about Auckland’s lack of a male lion - with a fully maned male being what most visitors expect to see when they visit a lion pride at a zoo.

 

[Pertinax]

I hear frequent comments about Auckland’s lack of a male lion - with a fully maned male being what most visitors expect to see when they visit a lion pride at a zoo.

London Zoo for one used to be very aware of this and made sure there was always a maned male on display.

 

[Zoofan15]

London Zoo for one used to be very aware of this and made sure there was always a maned male on display.

Perth Zoo have had non breeding prides since the late 1980’s and indeed Alistair was vasectomised. They surely chose this method of contraception over castration to allow him to retain his mane.

Orana Wildlife Park are the only zoo in the region who routinely castrate their male lions - but even they note the visitors (who think the castrated males are large lionesses) have a preference for seeing a maned male.

 

[tetrapod]

Perth Zoo have had non breeding prides since the late 1980’s and indeed Alistair was vasectomised. They surely chose this method of contraception over castration to allow him to retain his mane.

Orana Wildlife Park are the only zoo in the region who routinely castrate their male lions - but even they note the visitors (who think the castrated males are large lionesses) have a preference for seeing a maned male.

Alistair was intially vasectomised, then partially castrated due to a problem with one testes. He held on to his mane throughout this period. However a decision was made to remove the second testes (presume on health grounds) and that was when he did lose his mane.

 

[Zoofan15]

Article about the zoo’s conservation work with Western swamp tortoise:

Zoo keeping endangered species afloat

 

[steveroberts]

@tetrapod

Only remember noticing Alistair's mane had gone around about 2003-2004 but assume perhaps the removal of his last testes may have occurred a few years prior?

@Zoofan15

Cheers for the link about their latest with their Western Swamp 'Tortoises', man it has been an impressive amount of successful decades PZ has had with those little guys. Probably would have been extinct decades ago if not for the dedicated teams at PZ. Definitely one of their crowning achievements. Found an article on google scholar about their WS 'Tortoises' that was written back in the '70s or '80s, was a fascinating read (suspect have to look it up again as a lot of files got wiped off my computer saved folder when did one of those defragment processes to clear up some gigabyte space after ran out of file room).

 

[Zoofan15]

Tricia’s Final Resting Place

https://www.miragenews.com/tricias-tree-to-honour-giant-icon-in-heart-of-920351/

Perth Zoo will remember beloved Tricia the elephant with a towering Jacaranda tree named in her honour.

The 15-metre tree has stood proudly for four decades and has been chosen as the matriarch’s final resting place.

‘Tricia’s Tree’ is in the heart of Perth Zoo situated on the Main Lawn. It has special significance being one of the 65-year-old’s favourite places as she regularly walked the grounds. It also stands on the site of the original elephant exhibit.

The Asian elephant celebrated many birthdays beneath the tree surrounded by the adoring public.

Tricia’s ashes will be placed under her tree in a private ceremony with zoo staff. A plaque will also be unveiled.

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

Thanks for the news man, feel really emotional seeing/reading, Tricia really was a beautiful Ele' and an absolute sweetheart by all accounts have heard. Sounds like a good choice for her memorial place for her ashes, under a beautiful tree. Makes sense a tree on the main lawn as she spent a fair bit of time there too on her walks and for her birthday celebrations. Still trying to find a photo that have of her walking past the main lawn with 'toddler' Permai and Putra Mas (think Teduh couldn't do the walk because of her medical condition perhaps) in 1994.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15

Thanks for the news man, feel really emotional seeing/reading, Tricia really was a beautiful Ele' and an absolute sweetheart by all accounts have heard. Sounds like a good choice for her memorial place for her ashes, under a beautiful tree. Makes sense a tree on the main lawn as she spent a fair bit of time there too on her walks and for her birthday celebrations. Still trying to find a photo that have of her walking past the main lawn with 'toddler' Permai and Putra Mas (think Teduh couldn't do the walk because of her medical condition perhaps) in 1994.

No worries, I think it’s a nice tribute to Tricia and surely a good way to honour her memory. In addition, they’ll have the guard post in Sumatra.

I managed to find this photo of Tricia, Putra Mas, Permai and Teduh:


Photo source: Perth Zoo

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

Yeah it's a fitting tribute to Tricia. Brilliant photo find.