According to The Zoo (Australia), Werribee housed a stallion in his late teens named Banjo in 2008/09. I couldn't find any other information about him on the forum, so not sure if that's helpful - hopefully it is. This would put his birth (whether born at Werribee or elsewhere) around late 1980s/early 1990s. He was housed on the savannah with a group of females so was possibility the breeding stallion. The episode is available on 7Plus for Australian viewers, from Season 3, episode 2.
Australasian Zebra Population - Research/Discussion
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That’s interesting as Christou (purebred Chapman’s stallion, imported 1997) was still in place as the breeding stallion in 2008, so I would assume Banjo was heading up the retired group (which were later led by a stallion named Sabe). Unless Banjo/Sabe were the same animal.
Banjo was still at the zoo in 2016 and apparently had only one eye:
Melbourne: Home, home on the open range - NZ Herald
Interesting! I'm wondering if he and Christou were in fact the same individual. From what's referenced in the article provided and the fact that he was alive in 2016, means he would've been theoretically been in the breeding group on the lower savannah (with Christou's son, Melako as the stallion).
Either that, or he could've been apart of the bachelor group - but I believe by 2016 the bachelors had all passed or had been moved off display as there was only the breeding group on lower savannah.
Thanks for finding that article. It's not out of the question that Banjo was the same individual as Christou or Sabe. In the episode, he was being housed on what looked like the savannah (the exhibit was drive-through and shared with eland, at least) and with a group of females. I think he lost the eye after that point. Being season 3, it would have been filmed in 2008 or 2009. To me, Banjo sounds like a pretty Aussie nickname (a la Banjo Patterson), but that doesn't mean that was the source of the name.
I was incorrect - it was Season 3, Episode 3 (not 2), but that seems to have disappeared from 7Plus since I watched it this morning. I was going to go back and screenshot to work out whether or not Banjo looked like a purebred Chapman's Zebra or not. Apologies if this has already been covered, what stock would Werribee's non-Chapman's animals have been around this time, or were they all Chapman's?
Werribee bred their first hybrid foal circa 2009. The region’s zebra population appeared to descend into hybridisation that decade, with Auckland and Hamilton breeding their first hybrid foals in 2007 and 2008. Werribee had predominantly purebred Chapman’s at this time, with a handful of mares received from Dubbo, which had a strong Grant’s influence (the founders of their herd being purebred Grant’s zebra from Auckland Zoo).
That would indeed be the lower savannah exhibit meaning he was indeed apart of the breeding group! Interestingly Werribee's breeding group have had multiple adult males over the years, so we can't fully guarantee him being Christou (the stallion). But imo there's a good chance considering he was the only zebra mentioned - usually reserved for the dominant/most popular individual/s when keepers reference a group of animals.
It seems a lot of zebras at Werribee have been re-named or something to that extent. Two females produced calves earlier this year and in the media release they were two females I had never heard of. So there's a possibility they have in house nicknames or something of the sort.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Banjo was one of the other stallions we’d researched (Christou, Sabe etc). It makes sense for them to identify the stallion/leader of the herd by name as unless they know one of the mares to be heavily pregnant/have a foal at foot, there’s otherwise little to identify them from each other within the main herd (considering the size of the Werribee herd).
It similarly wouldn’t surprise me if they used media names, especially on the Safari Bus based on what names roll off the tongue easier etc.
The stallion, Banjo, was being referred to in the context of having a hoof procedure (which went successfully). He was mentioned to be a stallion multiple times and that he was in a group with females. I agree it's quite possible that one of the known stallions has been renamed and is the zebra in question. He was potentially born as early as 1987 - so clearly had a very long life to be still alive in 2016!
The only alternative is that he was a descendant of the founders imported from Rotterdam in 1980. They would have produced foals from the early 1980’s until the mid-1990’s, with the import of Christou in 1997 being for the purpose of him siring the next generation. I imagine some first generation females (mature at age 2-3) bred with their father during that 10 year span (unless the two original stallions rotated), so any colts from those matings may have been designated non breeding.
After watching the episode (which has been re-uploaded); Banjo is referenced as being the 'stallion' and having mares, so I would assume he was the breeding stallion at the time on the lower savannah. It appears that he has a strong Grant's influence to him, but could be a Chapmans hybrid too.
Considering he was in his late teens (placing his birth date in the early 90's) it's probably unlikely he was Christou. I would also doubt he was Werribee born as he doesn't look Chapmans. Imo it's probably likely he was born at another facility - Dubbo did have a predominantly Grant's herd, but I seem to remember there being a Banjo from South Australia when I was younger (could be thinking of a completely different animal though, or could just be my imagination!).
It's also worth mentioning as far as I can remember, Christou's breeding group was in the waterhole exhibit at the time so it's possible there were two breeding herds at Werribee.
Considering he was in his late teens (placing his birth date in the early 90's) it's probably unlikely he was Christou. I would also doubt he was Werribee born as he doesn't look Chapmans. Imo it's probably likely he was born at another facility - Dubbo did have a predominantly Grant's herd, but I seem to remember there being a Banjo from South Australia when I was younger (could be thinking of a completely different animal though, or could just be my imagination!).
It's also worth mentioning as far as I can remember, Christou's breeding group was in the waterhole exhibit at the time so it's possible there were two breeding herds at Werribee.
There are three groups of zebra on display at Taronga Western Plains Zoo:
4.0 are housed with the breeding group of giraffe.
Two of these males are 1.0 Kwasi (2007) and 1.0 Mstari (2017), I'm not sure of the identities of the other two.
3.0 are housed on the mixed species savannah. I don't know their names unfortunately, but one male is 24 years old and the other two are both 8 years old. If the guide was rounding or he was born in January, one of these animals could be 1.0 Khari (2016). Could 1.0 Runanko also be 8 years old?
1.4 are housed as a breeding group in the main zebra exhibit near the elephants.
Two of the females are 0.1 Kioni and most likely 0.1 Isi (Imivimbo) (2017) - the latter's name was listed as Immi. The other three names were Kisani (possibly 0.1 Kijani if I misread or the name in the population list is a typo), Crossing and Gogo - one of which must be the stallion.
This doesn't account for 1.0 Zuri, 0.1 Marzuka, or the more recent foals 0.1 Dalia (2019) and 0.1 Mara (2022).
I hope this helps, or at least serves as a springboard for future research.
4.0 are housed with the breeding group of giraffe.
Two of these males are 1.0 Kwasi (2007) and 1.0 Mstari (2017), I'm not sure of the identities of the other two.
3.0 are housed on the mixed species savannah. I don't know their names unfortunately, but one male is 24 years old and the other two are both 8 years old. If the guide was rounding or he was born in January, one of these animals could be 1.0 Khari (2016). Could 1.0 Runanko also be 8 years old?
1.4 are housed as a breeding group in the main zebra exhibit near the elephants.
Two of the females are 0.1 Kioni and most likely 0.1 Isi (Imivimbo) (2017) - the latter's name was listed as Immi. The other three names were Kisani (possibly 0.1 Kijani if I misread or the name in the population list is a typo), Crossing and Gogo - one of which must be the stallion.
This doesn't account for 1.0 Zuri, 0.1 Marzuka, or the more recent foals 0.1 Dalia (2019) and 0.1 Mara (2022).
I hope this helps, or at least serves as a springboard for future research.
Dalia (2019) and Mara (2020) were the daughters of Kioni and Kijani respectively, so even with an unrelated stallion covering this herd, they may have transferred his daughters out for the sake of genetic diversity. Both are now of reproductive age.
It sounds like Imivimbo has been shortened to Immi. I vaguely remember a Hamilton keeper referring to her as this when I asked about her being expected to Australia. It was a bit of a mouthful.
Thank you for this update.
It's interesting to Mstari has been retired quite likely, although it's probably important to note he is probably closely related to Dubbo's females (via his mother who was Dubbo born).
Runanko was Dubbo born, so it's very reasonable to assume he is the eight year old male. I was under the impression he was on the younger side too, so that would make sense.
Kijani is certainly her name - she was Werribee born. It's possible she could have passed and Kisani is a new female. I have never heard of 'Crossing' or 'Gogo' and both have quite interesting names imo. I might contact Dubbo again to get confirmation.
Zuri might actually be the 24 year old male. There was a male of the same name at Taronga going back almost two decades, so there's a chance this is him.
Dubbo update:
They currently have eleven zebras (7.4).
Gogo is the new stallion and he arrived from Monarto.
The other ten are as follows:
1.0 Kwasi (2007)
1.0 Marzuka
1.0 Khari (2016)
1.0 Runanko
1.0 Zuri
1.0 Masi or Mstari (2017)
0.1 Kioni
0.1 Kijani
0.1 Imivimbo (2017)
0.1 Mara (2022)
I had previously listed Marzuka as a female due to misinterpretation as he and Kioni both arrived from the National Zoo, but after further confirmation he is in fact a male.
It's also interesting as @Abbey mentioned twelve zebras, unless there's been a death within the past few days, it looks like the males may be kept in groupings of three.
It appears the only changes since the initial population list was posted (a year ago), was the departure of Dalia (2019) and the acquisition of Gogo.
I have further acquired re. Dalia and the exact groupings.
They currently have eleven zebras (7.4).
Gogo is the new stallion and he arrived from Monarto.
The other ten are as follows:
1.0 Kwasi (2007)
1.0 Marzuka
1.0 Khari (2016)
1.0 Runanko
1.0 Zuri
1.0 Masi or Mstari (2017)
0.1 Kioni
0.1 Kijani
0.1 Imivimbo (2017)
0.1 Mara (2022)
I had previously listed Marzuka as a female due to misinterpretation as he and Kioni both arrived from the National Zoo, but after further confirmation he is in fact a male.
It's also interesting as @Abbey mentioned twelve zebras, unless there's been a death within the past few days, it looks like the males may be kept in groupings of three.
It appears the only changes since the initial population list was posted (a year ago), was the departure of Dalia (2019) and the acquisition of Gogo.
I have further acquired re. Dalia and the exact groupings.
@Abbey listed a 12th zebra named ‘Crossing’, so her account of three groupings of 3.0, 4.0 and 1.4 ties in well with the list you’ve researched.
The herd of 1.4 would be Gogo, Kioni, Kijani, Imivimbo and Mara. There’s no foals yet because of transferring in the new stallion.
The herds of 3.0 and 4.0 would then be comprised of the following seven males: Kwasi, Mstari, Marzuka, Khari, Runanko, Zuri, and Crossing (with Kwasi and Mstari in the trio, along with a third male from that list).
Gogo and Crossing are indeed unusual names. Gogo is a name originating from Zambia that means ‘grandmother.’ My guess is the colt was identified as a future breeding stallion from birth and using an online translator or similar to find a name referencing him as an ancestor of many/grandparent, they came up with that. Either that, or he was mis-sexed as zebra foals often are. Crossing of course references the zebra crossing, but thwarts attempts to research the origins of this zebra via a search engine.
It's good to have confirmation of where Gogo came from. We therefore do know he's the offspring of their stallion (Storm) who was Werribee born.
I agree re. their names. It's possible that Gogo was born soon after the death of his grandmother, hence the name honoring her, but that would just be me guessing. Crossing is also a zebra name I didn't think I would ever hear.
Australia Zoo must've named him!@Abbey did mention Crossing as being apart of the breeding group which doesn't make sense. Unless that is young Mara's nickname? It's quite confusing imo.
It's good to have confirmation of where Gogo came from. We therefore do know he's the offspring of their stallion (Storm) who was Werribee born.
I agree re. their names. It's possible that Gogo was born soon after the death of his grandmother, hence the name honoring her, but that would just be me guessing. Crossing is also a zebra name I didn't think I would ever hear.
@Abbey did mention Crossing as being apart of the breeding group which doesn't make sense. Unless that is young Mara's nickname? It's quite confusing imo.
Thanks for your research!
I saw three zebras on the savannah, which sounds like they were Khari, Runanko and Marzuka potentially based on age. I also saw five zebras in the breeding herd, so it makes sense that Mara's nickname is Crossing, as she is otherwise not accounted for.
I didn't pay too much attention to the bachelor herd in with the giraffe breeding group, although I can only spot three in my photos. Possibly a male has recently died or transferred out, and was still included in addition to Mstari, Kwasi and Zuri, with the board not having been updated yet - this was occasionally the case elsewhere, ie at the hippos and lions.
Our research would be so much easier if foals were named with their mother’s initial, Z names (the most common letter) were ceased immediately and nothing was double named/nicknamed.
That sounds likely. Wellington Zoo are smart. Each of their chimpanzees has an individual board. If one dies or transfers out, the board can be removed within the day; if one is born, a new board is commissioned. Obviously Dubbo aren’t gonna bother with foals that will transfer out at adolescence; but the bachelor herds and the breeding herd of 1.4 should be more stable bar the inevitable deaths that come with age.
Can confirm Dubbo do indeed have eleven zebras at the moment.
Zuri is on the savannah, with Khari and Runanko. He is actually twenty nine years of age at the moment!
The other three in with the giraffes are therefore Marzuka, Kwasi and Mstari.
I was also advised Dalia (2019) sadly died a while back which is a shame to hear.
I will post an update in the population list once I hear back from some other facilities too.
Zuri is on the savannah, with Khari and Runanko. He is actually twenty nine years of age at the moment!
The other three in with the giraffes are therefore Marzuka, Kwasi and Mstari.
I was also advised Dalia (2019) sadly died a while back which is a shame to hear.
I will post an update in the population list once I hear back from some other facilities too.