Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024

[Luke899]

From Monarto's socials:

Work at Monarto Safari Park’s elephant habitat is well underway getting the space ready for the arrival of Burma, Permai, Putra Mas, Pak Boon and Tang Mo!

Extensions and renovations to the elephant barn have started and trenching and pipework is being installed to feed water into the habitat, waterholes and mud baths!

 

[Tigergal]

From Monarto's socials:

Work at Monarto Safari Park’s elephant habitat is well underway getting the space ready for the arrival of Burma, Permai, Putra Mas, Pak Boon and Tang Mo!

Extensions and renovations to the elephant barn have started and trenching and pipework is being installed to feed water into the habitat, waterholes and mud baths!
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This is such fantastic news! I received an email about it, very sneakily titled ‘We’re not getting three elephants’. I cannot wait to see the new complex, and it’s exciting for Burma and Permai to be established in a larger herd then just the two of them.

 

[Zoofan15]

This is such fantastic news! I received an email about it, very sneakily titled ‘We’re not getting three elephants’. I cannot wait to see the new complex, and it’s exciting for Burma and Permai to be established in a larger herd then just the two of them.

It’s nice to see Monarto/Taronga/Auckland coordinated the announcements this time!

Monarto’s Elephant Complex came completely out of left field, but I commend them on their quick work to complete this; alongside projects like the hippopotamus and rhinoceros (ongoing).

 

[Luke899]

When are we going to see the 30 southern white rhinos arrive? It was hyped up but now its gone silent. I believe it was called the Australian Rhino project? Yet none have arrived. Could anyone shed some light on whats going on?

 

[Zoofan15]

When are we going to see the 30 southern white rhinos arrive? It was hyped up but now it’s gone silent. I believe it was called the Australian Rhino project? Yet none have arrived. Could anyone shed some light on whats going on?

That’s the million dollar question. Orana Wildlife Park have yet to receive them, so the programme is on pause until they do. After they’re imported into New Zealand, there’s a 12 month quarantine period, so the earliest Monarto will receive rhinos is the second half of 2025 (and that’s assuming Orana import this year).

 

[Jambo]

When are we going to see the 30 southern white rhinos arrive? It was hyped up but now its gone silent. I believe it was called the Australian Rhino project? Yet none have arrived. Could anyone shed some light on whats going on?

Still in the works. The rhinos will initially arrive to New Zealand first; to Orana where they will have to quarantine.

Monarto will then receive some. Monarto's newly completed facilities apart of Wild Africa will help accommodate them once they arrive.

So from what it seems, everything is ready for them. It's just a matter of when..

 

[Luke899]

I wanna hear the pitter patter of little rhino feet gonna be so cute

 

[Zoofan15]

I wanna hear the pitter patter of little rhino feet gonna be so cute

They’ll be multiple new founders coming in, so I’d expect a flurry of breeding recommendations and first generation calves to follow. It seems inevitable some cows will perform better than others but hopefully a more even representation of founders can be achieved than previous imports such as the 1999 Kruger imports.

 

[Zorro]

When are we going to see the 30 southern white rhinos arrive? It was hyped up but now its gone silent. I believe it was called the Australian Rhino project? Yet none have arrived. Could anyone shed some light on whats going on?

The project was first proposed in 2013 so its been coming a while now

 

[Luke899]

@Zoofan15 @Jambo I understand other zoos will get some sizeable amounts of rhinos aswell? Like dubbo and werribee

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 @Jambo I understand other zoos will get some sizeable amounts of rhinos aswell? Like dubbo and werribee

Werribee is only speculated. Dubbo, Monarto and Orana have been named as the recipients and will between them receive 35 rhinoceros.

With regards to other facilities receiving rhinos, I’d be amazed if Werribee didn’t receive a couple of cows. Auckland would also be a high contender now we know they’re planning to expand their rhino habitat into the elephant exhibit and hold double figures of rhinos. They currently hold a family herd of 1.3 rhinos.

 

[Tiger91]

It’s nice to see Monarto/Taronga/Auckland coordinated the announcements this time!

Monarto’s Elephant Complex came completely out of left field, but I commend them on their quick work to complete this; alongside projects like the hippopotamus and rhinoceros (ongoing).

I honestly think that someone at monarto was just switched on. The opportunity was there and instead of our typical zoo type mentality of passing it by. They jumped at it, much cheaper and quicker than importing African elephants. While also helping to support the current program.

 

[Tiger91]

The project was first proposed in 2013 so its been coming a while now

I wonder if they were truely wild caught or, if they were from that guy that has released all his white rhino into national parks. He had the largest captive heard and released them all to bolster numbers. Unfortunately white rhino have been hit hard by poachers and there population has dived.

 

[Zoofan15]

I honestly think that someone at monarto was just switched on. The opportunity was there and instead of our typical zoo type mentality of passing it by. They jumped at it, much cheaper and quicker than importing African elephants. While also helping to support the current program.

As much as i would have liked to have seen African elephants at Monarto, Asian elephants have always been the logical choice. There was speculation on here they could have become a facility for bachelor Asian elephants, but a multigenerational herd is even better.

Progress in building up the herd will be slow with only one viable cow (especially considering she’s 31 years old), but on the plus side, they’ll be making great use of an otherwise unrepresented founder cow. She and Putra Mas could easily have 2-3 calves together.

 

[Tiger91]

As much as i would have liked to have seen African elephants at Monarto, Asian elephants have always been the logical choice. There was speculation on here they could have become a facility for bachelor Asian elephants, but a multigenerational herd is even better.

Progress in building up the herd will be slow with only one viable cow (especially considering she’s 31 years old), but on the plus side, they’ll be making great use of an otherwise unrepresented founder cow. She and Putra Mas could easily have 2-3 calves together.

Its a good strategic move. Unlike taronga that has the odd birth then sits and waits, it will enable her to have consecutive births in close succession. Which will be good for revenue for the zoo. Especially if she births daughters, that can build up numbers once the old girls have passed. Which I imagine will be the plan, by the end of the next decade, she could have had two calves with a third on the way.
She is also supported by tang mo, who is maternal and experienced in being an aunt. So she has the help of an experienced adult female for raising the calves.
ETA: if she produces 2 daughters in the first 3 calves, I could see her going a 4th as well.

 

[Zoofan15]

Its a good strategic move. Unlike taronga that has the odd birth then sits and waits, it will enable her to have consecutive births in close succession. Which will be good for revenue for the zoo. Especially if she births daughters, that can build up numbers once the old girls have passed. Which I imagine will be the plan, by the end of the next decade, she could have had two calves with a third on the way.
She is also supported by tang mo, who is maternal and experienced in being an aunt. So she has the help of an experienced adult female for raising the calves.
ETA: if she produces 2 daughters in the first 3 calves, I could see her going a 4th as well.

Im optimistic we’ll see Pak Boon bred at natural birth intervals. Her last calf was born 2017, so I imagine they’ll look at breeding from her ASAP (2025), with the first calf potentially born 2027; and then 1-2 more at three to four year intervals.

Burma and Permai will hopefully have a good couple of decades each (Permai potentially 30 years). Neither have any health conditions I’m aware of e.g. arthritis; but Monarto will no doubt be considering succession. Two daughters from Pak Boon would be ideal.

 

[Luke899]

As much as i would have liked to have seen African elephants at Monarto, Asian elephants have always been the logical choice. There was speculation on here they could have become a facility for bachelor Asian elephants, but a multigenerational herd is even better.

Progress in building up the herd will be slow with only one viable cow (especially considering she’s 31 years old), but on the plus side, they’ll be making great use of an otherwise unrepresented founder cow. She and Putra Mas could easily have 2-3 calves together.

We would definitely have the space down here to accommodate a separate African elephant herd if we had the opportunity. Monarto Safari Park's only neighbours are two chicken farms, and a couple sparsely spread farmer shacks. Plenty of agricultural land for a new African Elephant herd. The problem would be getting African elephants here in the first place, they're so far away. But I agree, Pak Boon could pump out 2-3 kids

 

[Jambo]

Im optimistic we’ll see Pak Boon bred at natural birth intervals. Her last calf was born 2017, so I imagine they’ll look at breeding from her ASAP (2025), with the first calf potentially born 2027; and then 1-2 more at three to four year intervals.

Considering a lot of zoos seem to be prioritising matriarchal herds these days, it will be nice for Monarto to have the opportunity to develop one themselves with Pak Boon.

Cows can breed into their late 40's, early 50's. Not saying this is going to be the case, but if there is need for her to and she is in the right shape health wise, it could be a chance.

In saying that, three healthy calves from her should theoretically be adequate enough, especially if we get a few daughters from her. Taking into account the four year gaps, she could have her third and final calf come 2035 when she would be 43 years of age (very achievable).

 

[Luke899]

Can Permai breed?

 

[Zoofan15]

Considering a lot of zoos seem to be prioritising matriarchal herds these days, it will be nice for Monarto to have the opportunity to develop one themselves with Pak Boon.

Cows can breed into their late 40's, early 50's. Not saying this is going to be the case, but if there is need for her to and she is in the right shape health wise, it could be a chance.

In saying that, three healthy calves from her should theoretically be adequate enough, especially if we get a few daughters from her. Taking into account the four year gaps, she could have her third and final calf come 2035 when she would be 43 years of age (very achievable).

A son from Putra Mas would be no bad thing either to continue his line at other facilities. The plan from here forward is to undertake natural breeding at all zoos where possible, so I’d be surprised if Putra Mas has any other offspring besides his calves with Pak Boon for the foreseeable. Kanlaya will represent him at Dubbo in time too. 1.2 calves would therefore appear ideal, but that’s assuming all three survive which is optimistic.

Can Permai breed?

No. There were unsuccessful attempts to breed from her in the 2000’s. She’s now a non viable breeder (as is Burma and Tang Mo). Pak Boon will be Monarto’s only viable breeder for the foreseeable.