0.1 Jamila was born January 2023 at Adelaide Zoo to Jasiri and Adale (the latter of whom was imported from France). This and the young female born at Canberra are the only two infants born in the region since 2015.
Australasian Colobine Population
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
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0.1 Jamila was born January 2023 at Adelaide Zoo to Jasiri and Adale (the latter of whom was imported from France). This and the young female born at Canberra are the only two infants born in the region since 2015.
I had thought at one stage that the species was in far better shape when the Perth zoo also had their own breeding group which just seem to dissolve away to nothing.
Melbourne was also a successful breeder of this species just over a decade ago, but now hold a single pair, that have yet to produce offspring. When I visited, the exhibit was essentially screened off (as it has been for a while). I hope the privacy will encourage breeding, but what the region really needs is additional imports of young animals.
Typical group size is 3-15 individuals, so they’re ideal for city zoos. I’d especially love to visit London’s group in the Snowdon Aviary.
Perhaps there was not enough if any cooperation between past holders for the numbers to fall so quickly!
There was; but the region essentially only had two breeding facilities and so the animals soon become related in some way or another. New imports were required and Adelaide have assisted a re-establishment of the regional breeding program with the acquisition of three females from France.
But waiting until the 11th hour does not seem to cooperative to me, perhaps it could of been done better?
Imports are difficult to organise so I think we can congratulate Adelaide for taking initiative in regards to the French imports.
Melbourne sat on a father and daughter for many years; I believe simply due to the fact that he was a well represented male and the only unrelated females were much older.
0.1 Zamba the Eastern Black-and-white Colobus at Adelaide Zoo has given birth to a healthy infant - the third colobus birth in Australia this year: Black-and-white Colobus Birth - Adelaide Zoo
Hopefully it's a female.
I heard from a friend that, in 2018 following the birth of Didi, Taronga decided to adopt the first-initial naming convention for their Francois langurs.
These langurs were named as such:
1.0 Minh (Bobo x Meili) 00-00-2018 at Taronga Zoo
1.0 Ngai (Bobo x Noel) 26-09-2019 at Taronga Zoo
1.0 Manchu (Bobo x Meili) 22-03-2021 at Taronga Zoo
If Taronga resumes breeding in the future, it will be interesting to see if they continue with this trend or not.
These langurs were named as such:
1.0 Minh (Bobo x Meili) 00-00-2018 at Taronga Zoo
1.0 Ngai (Bobo x Noel) 26-09-2019 at Taronga Zoo
1.0 Manchu (Bobo x Meili) 22-03-2021 at Taronga Zoo
If Taronga resumes breeding in the future, it will be interesting to see if they continue with this trend or not.
I’m tempted to say they would adhere to this given they use it for their other primates (albeit great apes) like chimpanzees and gorillas. They don’t use it for squirrel monkeys, but their troop is considerably larger whereas the langurs breed far more intermittently.
In any case it makes it far easier to track lineages over years (and decades)!
With larger animals (that don't breed as often) it's much easier to use that convention, but it can become difficult with species that breed more frequently.
I agree. They’re a charismatic species (with the bright orange infants particularly eye-catching). They’re also endangered. The majority of Asian mammals held in Australasian zoos are from South East Asia, so it’s also nice to have a representative from South China.
It’d be good if more zoos considered this species over non-endangered primates such as the squirrel monkey and the brown capuchin. Francois langurs can live in troops of up to 30 individuals. Imagine if we had groups in the double figures across multiple facilities, with regular breeding and exchange; rather than the small non-breeding groups we currently have.
That would be ideal to have that. I actually like them and always go and hang around and watch them. They are a good size and different to the typical South American or African monkey species we have/have had here (excluding other langur species).
Its been a well over a decade and so far taronga has only ever been the zoo to import and breed. Im not sure if they are monopolising them or if other zoos are simply not interested. We do seem to have a rather unfortunate male infant bias. More female births may have helped expand there population.
Hopefully Adelaide will acquire them once the duskys are gone.
Very sad news. This leaves Melbourne in a precarious position breeding wise as there’s only four adult males left in the region. Jasiri is in place as Adelaide’s breeding male; and the other three (at Monarto) are full brothers of Kipenzi at Melbourne.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see Kipenzi transferred to Adelaide’s troop; with Melbourne taking a break from this species for a short while.
The species is breeding well in the region as of late, but new imports are certainly needed.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Doesn't National have any males any more?
They have three males (Indi, Colby, Colin), but they’re full brothers of Kipenzi. I said Monarto before, but meant Canberra.
That just leaves Jasiri, who’s unrelated to Kipenzi, but Adelaide’s breeding male. The sex of Adelaide’s latest infant (born November) hadn’t been announced yet; but even if it’s a male, won’t be mature for at least four years. I really don’t foresee any other option that to transfer Kipenzi to Adelaide at this stage. Bringing across one of her brothers would place both of them in a non-breeding position and prevent his reintroduction back into his troop as and when Melbourne are able to import a male.
