Orana Wildlife Park Orana Wildlife Park News 2023

Seven blue duck ducklings have hatched:

From socials:

We are delighted to announce that seven blue duck ducklings hatched at the Park last week and today they had their first swim they were a little nervous but a few brave souls ducked and dove.

Orana is privileged to be part of the captive component of the recovery programme for whio and have bred close to 100 for release to the wild.
 
Siamang update:

Following his import from Belgium last year, Suka has formed a bonded pair with Basuki. The zoo reports they’ve shown a lot of interest in each other and they’re hopeful for an infant in the future.

Reported on socials.
 
Southern white rhinoceros plans:

My friend visited this week and asked on my behalf how many white rhinoceros Orana Wildlife Park are planning to keep from the upcoming imports.

From the first batch of 15 rhinos, they’re planning to retain 1.2 rhinos, though as previously noted, any rhinos that arrive pregnant will remain at Orana. Consequently, no plans have been made regarding numbers kept from the second or third batch (each numbering 10 rhinos).

Orana Wildlife Park currently have three females:

0.1 Utani (1984)
0.1 Katala (1997)
0.1 Tamu (2002)
 
Zoofan15 said:
Southern white rhinoceros plans:

My friend visited this week and asked on my behalf how many white rhinoceros Orana Wildlife Park are planning to keep from the upcoming imports.

From the first batch of 15 rhinos, they’re planning to retain 1.2 rhinos, though as previously noted, any rhinos that arrive pregnant will remain at Orana. Consequently, no plans have been made regarding numbers kept from the second or third batch (each numbering 10 rhinos).

Orana Wildlife Park currently have three females:

0.1 Utani (1984)
0.1 Katala (1997)
0.1 Tamu (2002)
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I hope the import goes ahead as planned but since its taken well over a decade so far I am not getting my hopes up with this, A lot of changes along the way and still nothing so far to show for it,I will believe it when I see the results, Hoping for the best out come!
 
Zorro said:
I hope the import goes ahead as planned but since its taken well over a decade so far I am not getting my hopes up with this, A lot of changes along the way and still nothing so far to show for it,I will believe it when I see the results, Hoping for the best out come!
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I’m anticipating Auckland Zoo’s decision to expand their rhino facilities will be a game-changer. I find it hard to imagine 30+ rhinos will be accommodated by Dubbo and Monarto, especially with the latter now planning for elephants and hippopotami in the near future.

Auckland Zoo have previously accommodated multiple groupings of rhinos (with off display yards) and currently have a cohesive herd of two adults and two juveniles. Their capacity will increase further following the aforementioned expansion.

Hamilton’s rhinos are all well represented in the region and they’re almost at capacity, so I’m not expecting them to acquire any breeding rhinos (at most, perhaps an additional non-breeding female).
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m anticipating Auckland Zoo’s decision to expand their rhino facilities will be a game-changer. I find it hard to imagine 30+ rhinos will be accommodated by Dubbo and Monarto, especially with the latter now planning for elephants and hippopotami in the near future.

Auckland Zoo have previously accommodated multiple groupings of rhinos (with off display yards) and currently have a cohesive herd of two adults and two juveniles. Their capacity will increase further following the aforementioned expansion.

Hamilton’s rhinos are all well represented in the region and they’re almost at capacity, so I’m not expecting them to acquire any breeding rhinos (at most, perhaps an additional non-breeding female).
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I have seen pics of Monarto zoos rhino barn and yards and they are massive by any measure. I saw Whipsnades group of 20 not long after they arrived from South Africa in 1970 and the size or their barn and paddock of 30 acres looks very small in comparison. They could easily take the whole shipment with little problem!. (Wild Africa being 500 hectares should be able to house many animals with ease).
 
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Zoofan15 said:
It’d be great if Monarto housed large breeding herds like the ones held at Whipsnade and San Diego in the 70’s and 80’s. Many of the cows produced 10 or more calves and the large herd sizes appeared to negate the estrus supression that has afflicted so many small breeding herds held within Australasia.


Wild Africa is a precinct and will contain multiple exhibits for Southern white rhinoceros, Common hippopotamus, Cheetah and Spotted hyena amongst other species.
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Yes I am aware of this its been mention number of times recently. :)
 
Three Plains Zebra Arrive

Three Plains zebra have been transferred in from Hamilton Zoo. They’re an 11 year old stallion (Malawi) and his two sons:

1.0 Malawi (2012) Zambezi x Zahra
1.0 Okavango (2019) Malawi x Marbles
1.0 Zambia (2019) Malawi x Zalika

Orana Wildlife Park now have 3.2 zebra.
 
Orana/Australian Rhino Project Updates

A few updates not already mentioned in my end of year wrap up:

From socials:

The architectural drawings for our new NZ Native Centre have been finalised (watch this space).

Five emu chicks hatched to super Dad Dot.

Three chickens were introduced to our gorillas for enrichment.

The Rhino Conservation building which is part of Project Rhino is now complete and signed off (watch this space for more information to come).

Hopefully these long awaited rhino imports will follow in the near year!
 
Osedax said:
Wait, what‽

Great news about the rhinos though!
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My reaction exactly. I did hear Fataki and Fuzu have been separated, so this may have been an initiative to keep them occupied. Still, so many unanswered questions. Do they share the chickens or do they each have their own chickens? Do the chickens lay eggs in the exhibit for the gorillas to find each day?

Yes, hopefully in the new year we’ll hear the long awaited announcement that the rhinos are on their way. It will be of immense benefit to the region and there’s been speculation Werribee and Auckland could receive rhinos from these imports - with Werribee wanting more cows; and Auckland constructing a rhino complex around 2025.
 
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