Three three-year-old Tasmanian Devils have arrived from Devils@Cradle, Tasmania: Threatened devils arrive at National Zoo & Aquarium | Canberra Weekly
National Zoo and Aquarium National Zoo and Aquarium News 2023
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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News Update (September 2023)
My friend visited recently and has kindly provided me with this news update:
A male Pig-nosed turtle is now on display in the aquarium.
Two new native snakes have arrived - a male Black headed python and a male Diamond python.
Other new arrivals include a male Dingo, a female Black-capped capuchin (Santana) from Perth and a sibling pair of Serval (Meiko and Zuri) from Hunter Valley Zoo. The zoo’s elderly pair of Serval (Souda and Ashaki) are still alive. Souda will turn 19 in November!
The young male Nepalese red panda (Raj) has sadly passed away.
My friend visited recently and has kindly provided me with this news update:
A male Pig-nosed turtle is now on display in the aquarium.
Two new native snakes have arrived - a male Black headed python and a male Diamond python.
Other new arrivals include a male Dingo, a female Black-capped capuchin (Santana) from Perth and a sibling pair of Serval (Meiko and Zuri) from Hunter Valley Zoo. The zoo’s elderly pair of Serval (Souda and Ashaki) are still alive. Souda will turn 19 in November!
The young male Nepalese red panda (Raj) has sadly passed away.
A female giraffe was born to experienced pair Mzungu and Shaba. Named Mkali she was born two weeks ago and is calf number five for Canberra: Zoo beauty: baby giraffe Mkali brightens up the capital
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Mkali was out on display yesterday and you can tell she’s very beloved by the team at NZA. It was great to see her interacting with the other giraffes, even if she was a bit anxious and made some quick exits when they showed her too much attention
A male Plains Zebra and female Black-and-white Colobus has been born at Canberra. This is the zoo’s first colobus infant in seven years born to male Colin and female Halle. The infant has been named Aida: Two new arrivals at the Canberra zoo | Canberra CityNews
Updates from my visit today:
- I saw the male Plains Zebra foal. There are 5 zebras in the main exhibit (including the foal and one older juvenile) and another zebra in an adjoining yard separate from the main group, as well as the two with the giraffes in the original giraffe exhibit. The baby was very cute as expected.
- Speaking of cute ungulate babies, we also saw Mkali the most recent giraffe addition. Unfortunately baby Aida the new colobus monkey doesn't seem to be on display as it seems she is in the Jamala-only colobus enclosure. I saw three colobus in the on-display exhibit next to the langurs.
- The zoo's blackbuck have been incorporated with the giraffes but kept to the back of the exhibit - a keeper told me they're reasonably shy. The previous blackbuck exhibit now houses the llama which used to live in the walk-through, which now just houses deer. The llama and kangaroos next door seemed to be getting used to each other across the mesh.
- The kangaroo walk-through was closed to the public and keepers seemed to be in there observing the animals. Unfortunately, this meant that the relatively new alligator exhibit and wombat exhibit were also not able to be accessed by the public, as you can only get to them through the walk-through.
- In the Aquarium, a classroom-type room has been added between the diamond python and reticulated python enclosures. It didn't seem to have regular public access but contained smaller tanks built into the walls, unsure of the species being housed there. I would say it's a new addition since my last visit in June.
- Saw both white lions (the female Mishka was even awake!), didn't see the tawny lions. I saw an Insta post back in August where I thought that Nairibi looked pregnant, but I'm by no means the best judge of these things and, if she had been visibly pregnant at the time, a successful litter of cubs would probably be out and about by now.
- A lace monitor is now being housed in the previous red panda exhibit opposite the meerkats. It was pretty cool getting to see the monitor climb a metre or so off the ground in the tree! A novel use of the exhibit and it appears to be a permanent arrangement as there is signage in keeping with the other signs around the zoo.
- Speaking of red pandas, the relatively new red panda exhibit (opposite the giraffes; kind of behind the siamangs) was closed with signage removed. I never liked that exhibit much anyway as it was very difficult to view the animals due to the slope and the fence. Are there no red pandas left at Canberra?
To clarify on some of the things from your visit;
Some of the kangaroos are still iffy with guests so walk through is closed every now and again for slow introductions.
The new reptile classroom is aiming to open soon, with some previously off-display animals hopefully moving on display. It will double as being open to the public but also bookable for functions/meetings etc.
The red panda exhibit you mention wasn’t designed to be on display (at least in the short term); it backs onto the owners’ house and it currently houses female Nasarpati. She is quite shy and is best suited to being semi off display for now but she is able to be seen when she is up in the trees, but yes signage has been removed.
Some of the kangaroos are still iffy with guests so walk through is closed every now and again for slow introductions.
The new reptile classroom is aiming to open soon, with some previously off-display animals hopefully moving on display. It will double as being open to the public but also bookable for functions/meetings etc.
The red panda exhibit you mention wasn’t designed to be on display (at least in the short term); it backs onto the owners’ house and it currently houses female Nasarpati. She is quite shy and is best suited to being semi off display for now but she is able to be seen when she is up in the trees, but yes signage has been removed.
The five zebra on main exhibit would've been Johari (2016), Kiva (2017), Kyan (2022), Kamandi (2023) and the young colt, Ndefu (2023). The individual next door probably would've been the zoos stallion Tambo (2010); and the two with the giraffes would be the two older foals, Jabari (2021) and Kiambo (2021).
I'd assume the three colobus you saw were the three boys National has; but I'm not entirely sure how they group their Colobus. From social posts it appears they're kept all together, but I may be wrong.
Hopefully if she isn't pregnant, she will fall pregnant soon. Mlinzi's a valuable male!
I don't believe Canberra have had lion cubs in their history too, so cubs would be quite exciting. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Kyan is currently separated as preparation to disperse from the herd. Tambo is still with the herd.
Only male Colobus still held are Indy and Colin. The three on display are Safi, Masika, and Indy. Colby, Colin’s brother, moved to SA a while ago. Colin lives with Halle and now their offspring Aida.
Male lion cubs Marjan and Sabi were born 20 years or so ago, Sabi is still alive today at 22 years old, but no lion cubs for over 20 years.
I’m hopeful Nairibi will fall pregnant soon, though she’s 11 years old and getting on in years. Nairibi is a founder with no offspring in breeding prides; and Mlinzi may well end up the only reproductively viable descendant of his line if Makena doesn’t produce any more cubs at Monarto.
The National Zoo have bred lions once. Kimba and Millie produced 3.0 cubs in 2002 (two of which survived to adulthood).
Thank you, that would make sense. Presumably the best course is to integrate him with his half brothers unless there's a facility out there that wants him as their breeding stallion which I doubt looking at the regional population.
Also interesting re. the Colubus. I wasn't aware of Colby transferring back to SA. I assume he's living at Adelaide with the other male there (Jasiri). It makes sense the two groups are kept separate to prevent inbreeding between Indy and his daughter.
Thanks for the correction too. I knew I was forgetting some lions!
Sorry, another correction. Halle was not sired by Indi, but rather Chadwick before he passed.
Thanks for that! Much appreciated, hopefully the population list can be updated. Was Chadwick born in Canberra?
Thank you.
After looking back it does seem Canberra only had three Colobus as of early 2015 (Chadwick, Masika and Safi).
The younger Melbourne born males must've been transferred sometime later that year.
Thank you for your informative and thoughtful replies.
That sounds cool about the reptile room and a great hybrid use of the space as a function/meeting room and also part of the zoo's public display when not being used for bookings.
I'm pleased to hear that Nasarpati is still alive and well and able to enjoy the more quiet semi off display life. I agree it makes sense to remove the signage considering the circumstances. The terrain between the siamangs and Fern Gully must be difficult to work with in terms of developing exhibits, it makes for a spectacular giraffe/zebra exhibit though!
Very tragic news at the zoo today (unrelated to the animals except for us people-human beings)
https://www.news.com.au/national/cr...o/news-story/468ec53381eba0474d111e3d6dfe840e
https://www.news.com.au/national/cr...o/news-story/468ec53381eba0474d111e3d6dfe840e
National Zoo Update
Update from my friend’s visit:
Nairibi the African lion is showing stronger signs of cycling, so a pregnancy is still hopeful.
A White-browed wood swallow has arrived.
Four Little blue penguins have been hatched, successfully raised and integrated into the main colony (which now numbers 16 penguins).
Matilda the Koala may be pregnant following a successful mating.
Update from my friend’s visit:
Nairibi the African lion is showing stronger signs of cycling, so a pregnancy is still hopeful.
A White-browed wood swallow has arrived.
Four Little blue penguins have been hatched, successfully raised and integrated into the main colony (which now numbers 16 penguins).
Matilda the Koala may be pregnant following a successful mating.