Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo News 2022

[Jambo]

Even if other zoos at that time were not interested Taronga could of done a lot more than obtaining a pair and then down the track another one, its hardly going to help retain them other than cronic inbreeding, If a Asian zoo can import ten why could not Taronga import 5? and they would not be in the current situation they are facing now!

The decision of Taronga importing three instead of potentially five or six probably came down to the spatial reasons they would've experienced if they chose to import say six Bongo.

Yes, they're a Rainforest species but I agree with @Zoofan15 in saying they should be displayed at the Open Range zoos where they can be held in large groups, and which would've enabled a bigger import to be undertaken, similar to what Dubbo have done with their Black Rhinos in the past too.

 

[Zoofan15]

A Black-handed spider monkey infant has been born:

The infant was born 27/11/2022 to Pedro and Rosa.

Rosa was born 08/12/1992.

Reported on socials.

 

[Zoofan15]

Opening of wildlife hospital:

https://www.miragenews.com/window-into-healing-in-wild-at-taronga-western-910227/

Nationals Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the new $14.6 million facility is increasing Taronga’s capacity to treat and rehabilitate native wildlife and improving the Zoo’s ability to act as first responders for animals in emergencies.

“Guests will be given a unique insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes, treating not only the zoo’s residents, including critically-endangered species like Greater Bilbies, Plains Wanderers and Regent Honeyeaters, but native wildlife like koalas, reptiles, platypus and birds like raptors.

 

[Zoofan15]

Two critically endangered Addax have been born:

Reported on socials.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

17 Plains-Wanderers have hatched at Taronga Western Plains Zoo across six pairs: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

[Zoofan15]

Eastern bongo calf now on exhibit:

The male bongo calf is now out in the main exhibit with his parents after bonding as a family in the calving yards.

Reported on socials.

 

[Zorro]

Eastern bongo calf now on exhibit:

The male bongo calf is now out in the main exhibit with his parents after bonding as a family in the calving yards.

Reported on socials.

Wonderful news with the birth, has any females been born to date?.
Hopefully some females can be imported to kick start the population!

 

[Zoofan15]

Wonderful news with the birth, has any females been born to date?.
Hopefully some females can be imported to kick start the population!

Unfortunately the majority of calves have been male.

The last female birth was Kiazi (born 02/04/2012) and she was exported to Singapore in 2014.

Prior to Kiazi’s birth, the last female was her mother, Djembe, who was born in 2008. Djembe’s next five calves were males.

New females are definitely needed, with the population all descended from one female bar the non breeding Singapore import.

 

[Zorro]

Unfortunately the majority of calves have been male.

The last female birth was Kiazi (born 02/04/2012) and she was exported to Singapore in 2014.

Prior to Kiazi’s birth, the last female was her mother, Djembe, who was born in 2008. Djembe’s next five calves were males.

New females are definitely needed, with the population all descended from one female bar the non breeding Singapore import.

What the point in exporting a female calf with only 1 female in the region and unable to import at the time

 

[Zoofan15]

What the point in exporting a female calf with only 1 female in the region and unable to import at the time

I assume she was sent in exchange for the unrelated cow we received from Singapore (Kiazi was related to all the bulls in the region).

Had the imported cow have bred, that certainly would have helped - though more than one cow was needed for building up a sustainable population.

 

[Zorro]

I assume she was sent in exchange for the unrelated cow we received from Singapore (Kiazi was related to all the bulls in the region).

Had the imported cow have bred, that certainly would have helped - though more than one cow was needed for building up a sustainable population.

Talk about trying to do something on the bare minimum, how do they believe this would pan out in the short or long term?

 

[Zoofan15]

Talk about trying to do something on the bare minimum, how do they believe this would pan out in the short or long term?

My guess is the intention was to build up numbers of the Dubbo herd via retaining daughters of the imported female (and Djembe if she’d had any) and then either sourcing an imported bull; or exchanging Kulungu for Ekundu at Taronga (the most distantly related).

For a sustainable population long term, they really need to bring in multiple pairs. An import of 3.3 would sustain the region for 25-30 years.