Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo News 2023

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

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Quokka update:

The female Quokka joey born last year has been named Djinda, meaning “star” in Noonga (a language from South West WA) - reported on socials.

The zoo has a trio of Quokka on display in the Australia Walkthrough comprising of Murruwa (born late 2021), Djinda and Wir - who is the mother of these two females.
 
Dubbo's 35-year-old male Siamang Saudara has been euthanised today due to extensive heart damage. He had been paired with female Puteri since 1993 and produced several offspring. The lone female Puteri who is 37 is currently being closely monitored - reported on social media.
 
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Update as the zoo celebrate their birthday:

From socials:

Since the Zoo opened in 1977, we have celebrated so many amazing breeding and conservation achievements. And there's so much more to come!

Later this year we will open Platypus Rescue HQ – Australia’s first centre dedicated to Platypus rescue, rehabilitation and research.

We'll also commence work on our biggest and most ambitious project to date - the Serengeti Plains, a 55 hectare habitat home for giraffe, zebra and antelope; 20 premium eco cabins and a two-storey café, function centre and restaurant.

In the coming weeks, we'll add some final touches to our Wildlife Hospital that opened late last year. If you haven't seen it as yet, make sure you check it out and see our expert veterinary and sciences teams at work!
 
Zoofan15 said:
Update as the zoo celebrate their birthday:

From socials:

Since the Zoo opened in 1977, we have celebrated so many amazing breeding and conservation achievements. And there's so much more to come!

Later this year we will open Platypus Rescue HQ – Australia’s first centre dedicated to Platypus rescue, rehabilitation and research.

We'll also commence work on our biggest and most ambitious project to date - the Serengeti Plains, a 55 hectare habitat home for giraffe, zebra and antelope; 20 premium eco cabins and a two-storey café, function centre and restaurant.

In the coming weeks, we'll add some final touches to our Wildlife Hospital that opened late last year. If you haven't seen it as yet, make sure you check it out and see our expert veterinary and sciences teams at work!
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The Serengeti plains seems amazing! Is it an expansion on current exhibits or just an additional exhibit?
 
Greater bilby conservation success:

From socials:

In 2022, Taronga Western Plains Zoo assisted in the reintroduction of the threatened Greater Bilby to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary (NT), located on the traditional lands of the Ngalia-Warlpiri/Luritja people.

A total of 66 Bilbies were specially selected, including 32 founders (18 males and 14 females) from the Taronga Sanctuary here in Dubbo, and reintroduced into the 9,450-hectare feral predator-free Newhaven area - one of Australia's largest fenced safe havens!

Since then, AWC ecologists have closely monitored the small mammals, and we're delighted to share that they've recently managed to capture the first photo evidence of a young Bilby following its mum!
 
10 new founders for the Western Quoll programme have been added to Dubbo's breeding efforts, doubling their capacity for the upcoming season. Five quolls arrived from various locations in Western Australia and the other five from the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, South Australia to form eight new breeding pairs with the offspring produced last season. This follows last season's success with 17 offspring from four pairs: Log into Facebook | Facebook
 
Zoofan15 said:
Four Slender-tailed meerkat pups have been born:

Reported on socials:

Mum Midra and Dad Howell have had their third litter: three little girls and a boy bringing the Waterhole Meerkat mob total to 11!
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The meerkat pups have been named:

1.0 Kheo - "positive and cheerful"
0.1 Nia - "purpose and tenacity" in Swahili"
0.1 Asali - meaning "sweet like honey" in Swahili
0.1 Karoo - a region in South Africa
 
A male South-Central Black rhino calf was born about 2 weeks ago to second-time mom, Kufara:

The chunky, big-headed boy emerged feet first at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo two weeks ago.

The calf, which is yet to be named, is the 16th born under the zoo's long-running breeding program for the critically endangered species.

His mother, 13-year-old Kufara, had her first calf, Mesi, six years ago but failed to conceive naturally again.

When zoo experts delved into why, they discovered the outward signs she displayed of being in season didn't line up with the release of her eggs, so the sexy time she was spending with the bulls was futile.

Black rhino supervisor Jennifer Conaghan explains what it took to solve the problem.

"We ended up having to internally ultrasound her twice a week ... to determine the size of her follicle to pinpoint when she was most receptive, regardless of what behaviour she as displaying."
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Read more here: Black rhino birth a true labour of love
 
IndianRhino said:
A male South-Central Black rhino calf was born about 2 weeks ago to second-time mom, Kufara:



Read more here: Black rhino birth a true labour of love
Click to expand...

It’s great news to hear of a successful birth. The sire isn’t mentioned, but Dubbo has four bulls:

1.0 Chikundo (Siabuwa x Pepe Kalle) 30/03/2000
1.0 Mpzeni (Kwanzaa x Kalungwizi) 14/02/2005
1.0 Dafari (unk x Bahkita) 20/04/2015
1.0 Pampoen (Kwanzaa x Bahkita) 31/10/2017

Of these, Chikundo and Mpenzi are the logical choices as they’re half uncles to Kufara (i.e. the most distantly related).

Sentwali at Monarto is also a possibility since this wasn’t a natural mating; and would have provided Monarto’s staff with reproductive husbandry experience.
 
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