That was to be the Wild Africa resort; not the entrance. Not sure whether that has been completed yet.
Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2023
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
-
- Tags
- monarto safari park
That would be this photo here:
Work progresses on Monarto Safari Park's Wild Africa expansion
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6522b7e1-b2c2-442a-887a-21488db8492c_1200x675.jpeg
Management tend to keep things under tabs nowadays. As you said, transfers fall through a lot.
I was talking to a keeper, and even the keepers are unaware of any new arrivals until a few weeks before they arrive. Management (and senior keepers) usually handle transfers and rarely communicate to other staff until it's absolutely been confirmed.
That's why I wouldn't always rely on info from volunteers - they're usually the last in the chain to receive the info, and therefore, if it hasn't happened already by the time they tell you - it's probably been backlogged or canned.
Management tend to keep things under tabs nowadays. As you said, transfers fall through a lot.
I was talking to a keeper, and even the keepers are unaware of any new arrivals until a few weeks before they arrive. Management (and senior keepers) usually handle transfers and rarely communicate to other staff until it's absolutely been confirmed.
That's why I wouldn't always rely on info from volunteers - they're usually the last in the chain to receive the info, and therefore, if it hasn't happened already by the time they tell you - it's probably been backlogged or canned.
It’s a shame as historically a lot of planned transfers were announced ahead of time, which when they fell through, gave interesting insights into the regional breeding programmes for those species. Melbourne Zoo were originally scheduled to receive a male Sumatran tiger from New Zealand for example; while his mother was supposed to receive an unrelated mate, after producing two litters with his father. Neither eventuated (Melbourne received Ramalon).
The most well known cancellation (after Burma by Australia Zoo) was Auckland Zoo’s cancellation of Gung’s import. That said, I feel like the phase out of Auckland’s elephants was inevitable in line with Melbourne, Perth etc.
Yep that's the one!
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Would this make Monarto's Africa precinct the biggest in the Australasian region?
From that image I gather that its a real Africa precinct, not just named it like Taronga's failed attempt in the sydney CBD (and soon to be Adelaide's mistake aswell). It looks like a proper exhibit where the animals co-exist properly as they'd do in the savannah
Last edited:
Yes it would, though Taronga Western Plains Zoo are currently working on developing the largest integrated savannah exhibit (the precinct will be 55ha and include this savannah).
Inside the $30 million bid to create Australia's Serengeti
Certainly will be. Far bigger than Werribee's (the regions previous largest), which is 100 acres.
I agree. The original Zoos SA masterplan was good as it was, African species in large exhibits at the open range zoo; rainforest dwelling species like leopards and gorillas at Adelaide Zoo. Now we’re getting what’s essentially a mini-Monarto Zoo being built at Adelaide via a savannah exhibit for giraffe, ostrich and nyala.
Perhaps on your next visit you can try to getting a better look at the new Hippo exhibit and maybe a couple of pics of it?
Last edited:
I believe having 3 open range zoos with extensive exhibits both for Asian elephants and now River Hippos is the best possible out come, All can now work together with the extra room that is needed with these giant animals plus having extra yards/pens to mix match and seperate.
Hopefully this can also have a knock on effect with some of our antelope populations.
Hopefully this can also have a knock on effect with some of our antelope populations.
I’m just impressed that Monarto Safari Park have managed to proceed with the hippopotamus transfer, despite the comparatively last minute decision to build an elephant complex. People were speculating the latter would take priority and the hippopotami would be delayed only last week. Now we have news they’ll be on site as early as next month!
Yes of coarse, I would be interested to know the layout and how many Hippo it can hold. Is this stage one of more stages or have they built the whole thing and now completed it?
The plan was always to receive the two females first (and then receive the bull later). The fact Monarto are receiving two hippopotami next month (still believed to be Brindabella and Pansy) and not three implies Kani’s arrival will be delayed. Whether we’re talking months or a year or more remains to be seen.
I understand the plan is to form a pod of up to eight hippopotami, which would centre around the females and their young. The bull will likely be housed seperate once calves arrive, so building his yard is the next logical step (assuming not done already).
In any case, Kani (2020) won’t be full grown until five years old, so I imagine they’d wouldn’t risk introducing him to full grown females for at least another year. He’s too valuable to take risks with!
Well moving forwards to where things should stand in two years time.
The very long awaited Rhino import, One would believe would have to be done and dusted with a new group at Monatro by then?.
The new elephant exhibit/complex should up and away at the time perhaps even with 5 animals?
Also the new Hippos exhibit/complex should have the 3 adults perhaps even signs of breeding?.
So all in all Monarto should be a worth while place to visit especially with a possible two new antelope species added to wild Africa.
Well moving forwards to where things should stand in two years time.
The very long awaited Rhino import, One would believe would have to be done and dusted with a new group at Monatro by then?.
The new elephant exhibit/complex should up and away at the time perhaps even with 5 animals?
Also the new Hippos exhibit/complex should have the 3 adults perhaps even signs of breeding?.
So all in all Monarto should be a worth while place to visit especially with a possible two new antelope species added to wild Africa.
Assuming Orana imports their first 15 Southern white rhinoceros in the next 12 months, then yes they should be at Monarto within two years. There was a reluctance to import them during the summer months, so unless they arrive in the next month, we’ll likely be looking at next March onwards. I’d similarly expect Monarto to have five elephants on site by late 2025.
If Monarto can receive Kani within the next year and introduce him to the females around the age of five years, we could see the first two calves born in the second half of 2025. If they have three seperate yards, the breeding could work as follows:
Brindabella (1990) gives birth 2025
Pansy (2013) gives birth 2025
Brindabella (1990) gives birth 2027
Pansy (2013) gives birth 2028
Brindabella (1990) gives birth 2029
Pansy (2013) gives birth 2030
Brindabella, Pansy and their respective calves would be integrated into a cohesive pod in 2026, with Brindabella leaving this quartet to give birth two years later; returning the following year with her calf. Then repeat the process with Pansy. Female offspring would be retained in the natal pod and males would transfer to Werribee and Dubbo. This is all subject to relationships between the hippos, but breeding from a mother and daughter pair enhances their chances of making it work.
If the above Hippo breedings did happen I wonder assuming the time pending for the IRA for Hippos is completed "at some stage" what the recommend plan is for the remaining females at Dubbo and Werribee, surely there's some possibly to have some calfs with these cows providing the length of time does not run on for an overly extended period of time.
There’s definitely the opportunity to breed from the Dubbo and Werribee females. Victoria at Adelaide had almost a decade between her 15th and 16th calf; and Petre at Taronga gave birth to her first calf at the age of 24 years. The youngest Dubbo females are aged six and nine years, so there’s plenty of time.
Though our region’s hippopotami are inbred, they’re not well represented outside of Australasia, so I’d expect them to still receive breeding recommendations when the IRA allows us to import more.