What happened to the 2 horses at Halls Gap zoo?
Horses possibly at Dubbo…
0.1 Genghis (Ronald x Naomi) 27/12/2003
1.0 Nikolai (Molya x Mahan) 13/05/2012 Transferred 2016 from Werribee
0.1 Zaria (Viktor x Suren) 29/01/2013
0.1 (Viktor x Genghis) 01/02/2013
0.1 Tegua (Viktor x Genghis) 13/02/2014
0.1 Dash (Nikolai x Zaria) 01/01/2018
1.0 Kahn (Nikolai x Genghis) 25/05/2018
0.1 (Nikolai x Mila) 09/10/2018
1.0 (Nikolai x Tegus) 10/10/2018
0.1 Tuya (Nikolai x Genghis) 28/06/2019
0.1 Tes (Nikolai x Zaria) 19/12/2018
1.0 Davi (Nikolai x Solongo) 17/12/2018
0.1 Solongo (Viktor x Genghis) 01/12/2010
What happened to the 2 horses at Halls Gap zoo?
History of Takhi at TWPZ (1982 - 1995)
In May 1982, Western Plains Zoo joined the Przewalski's Horse breeding program. They began with 10 (3.7) founders from Europe:
1.0 Silvio (Simon x Sira) 20/07/1978 Imported from Hellabrunn Zoo, Germany
1.0 Kirov (Haldo x Ema) 19/05/1981 - 24/05/2002 Imported from Whipsnade Zoo, UK
1.0 Nikoli (Haldo x Fay) 19/05/1981 - 12/07/2005 Imported from Whipsnade Zoo, UK (Transferred to Monarto)
0.1 Yashtar (Tarkor x Valentina) 18/04/1981 - 15/11/2004 Imported from Midway Manor, UK
0.1 Konnica (Basil x Lenka) 10/05/1981 - 11/01/2006 Imported from Marwell Zoo, UK
0.1 Ghia (Tarkor x Galina) 19/05/1981 Imported from Midway Manor, UK
0.1 Lena (Tarkor x Lola) 13/06/1981 Imported from Midway Manor, UK
0.1 Krista (Basil x Ledal) 20/06/1981 - 28/10/1995 Imported from Marwell Zoo, UK (Released in Mongolia)
0.1 Kiora (Basil x Taki) 23/06/1981 Imported from Marwell Zoo, UK
1.0 Viktorya (Haldo x Verona) Imported from Whipsnade Zoo, UK (Transferred to Monarto)
(*Note not all death dates are available.)
The first birth was a filly that did not survive. 6 more foals quickly followed:
0.1 (Nikoli x Kiora) 25/11/1984
0.1 Belhuka (Nikoli x Krista) 27/11/1984 - 29/05/2012
1.0 Dubbo (Nikoli x Ghia) 02/12/1984
0.1 Orana (Nikoli x Lena) 05/12/1984 - 20/01/2000 (Released in Mongolia)
0.1 Whylandra (Nikoli x Viktorya) 05/12/1984
1.0 Cunboogle (Nikoli x Konnica) 25/12/1984 - 21/03/1990
0.1 (Nikoli x Yashtar) 08/01/1985 (Did not survive)
19 more live foals were born up until the end of 1994:
1.0 (Silvio x Kiora) 14/04/1986 - 17/04/1986
0.1 Cudgegong (Silvio x Ghia) 08/06/1986 - 29/04/1987
0.1 Culgoa (Silvio x Krista) 21/06/1986
0.1 (Silvio x Yashtar) 24/11/1986 - 26/11/1986
1988
1.0 Kiren (Kirov x Lena) 04/02/1988 - 26/01/1989
0.1 Monique (Kirov x Konnica) 10/02/1988
0.1 Paroo (Silvio x Kiora) 06/10/1988 - 24/04/1989
1989
0.1 Darling (Kirov x Konnica) 17/01/1989 - 15/06/2016
0.1 Bell (Kirov x Lena) 07/02/1989 - 15/04/1995 (Released in Mongolia)
1.0 Lachlan (Silvio x Kiora) 13/06/1989 (Transferred to Monarto)
0.1 (Kirov x Lena) 26/11/1989 (Stillborn)
0.1 Tantawanglo (Kirov x Konnica) 27/12/1989 - 26/02/2015
1990
1.0 Macquarie (Silvio x Kiora) 17/10/1990 (Transferred to Altina)
0.1 Diamontina (Kirov x Lena) 14/11/1990 - 05/07/1995 (Sent to Mongolia)
1.0 Murray (Kirov x Konnica) 07/12/1990 - 23/05/2017 (Transferred to Halls Gap ~2010)
1991
0.1 Clarence (Silvio x Ghia) 01/10/1991 - 03/12/1991
1992
0.1 TD921 (Silvio x Belhuka) 14/09/1992 (Transferred to Werribee) (First 2nd generation foal)
0.1 Nattai (Silvio x Ghia) 01/12/1992 (Released in Mongolia)
1994
0.1 Tia (Silvio x Kiora) 17/12/1994 (Transferred to Werribee)
1.0 Barwon (Kirov x Culgoa) 22/12/1994 - 11/06/1998
This is a complete list of foals born up until this time.
(As a side note, I thought it was neat that they were mostly named after rivers in the Murray-Darling basin. It made tracking them easier for sure.)
In June 1995, five mares were sent to Mongolia for reintroduction into the wild:
0.1 Krista (Basil x Ledal) 20/06/1981 Imported from Marwell Zoo, UK
0.1 Orana (Nikoli x Lena) 05/12/1984
0.1 Bell (Kirov x Lena) 07/02/1989
0.1 Diamontina (Kirov x Lena) 14/11/1990
0.1 Nattai (Silvio x Ghia) 01/12/1992
(I will do a separate post detailing their fate.)
From here records of Dubbo’s horses are harder to find, and what I have is incomplete. I will do another post with what I have been able to piece together.
Good pick up. Must be an error. There’s fair bit of ‘near enough is good enough’ in the studbook that I’ve tried to correct. Must have missed that one. I’d say the first birth was reported later, and they used that date, instead of the birthdate.Wow, great research! This was really interesting to read through.
Just checking the dams for these two foals:
0.1 Paroo (Silvio x Kiora) 06/10/1988
1.0 Lachlan (Silvio x Kiora) 13/06/1989
Gestation is only eight months here; but should be around 11 months. Could this be an error in the data?
This is so interesting! Weren't some Tahki from Perth also released? What happened to them?Przewalski's Horses Released Into The Wild From Australia
Dubbo Zoo have always been very proud of their contribution to the reintroduction of this species into the wild, and rightly so. I was curious about the true impact their efforts had, so I looked into the history and fate of the 5 mares that went to Mongolia.
0.1 Krista (Basil x Ledal) 20/06/1981 Imported from Marwell Zoo, UK
0.1 Orana (Nikoli x Lena) 05/12/1984
0.1 Bell (Kirov x Lena) 07/02/1989
0.1 Diamontina (Kirov x Lena) 14/11/1990
0.1 Nattai (Silvio x Ghia) 01/12/1992
Horses sent to Mongolia for release go to Takhin tal Nature Reserve on the edge of Gobi B National Park for acclimatisation. Weather conditions in the Gobi Desert are severe, ranging from -40 to 40 Celsius. The vegetation is scarce and the horses face predation by wolves. They are also suspectable to tickborne disease. Horses in Takhin tal are monitored and managed, during winter the horses in the reserve are supplementary fed. With these tough conditions, only the strongest horses survive for release into Gobi B National Park.
Krista was born at Marwell Zoo and imported to Dubbo in 1982. At Dubbo she had 2 fillies, Belhuka and Culgoa. She died at Takhin tal, Mongolia on 28/10/1995.
Orana was released and produced two foals. Filly Zagaadai at Takhin tal in 1996, and a colt at Gobi B NP in 1999 that did not survive.
0.1 Zagaadai (Sirius x Orana) 06/06/1996 - 15/03/2009
1.0 3227 (Fjury x Orana) 23/04/1999 - 24/04/1999
Orana died in Gobi B NP, Mongolia on 20/01/2000. Her daughter Zagaadai survived in Gobi B NP until 2009, when she died in the harsh winter that killed many horses. She had 5 foals (4.1), 2 (1.1) of those survived to breeding age.
0.1 Mandal (Fjury x Zagaadai) 26/05/2002
1.0 4284 (Mundul x Zagaadai) 02/07/2006
Zagaadai’s only daughter, Mandal, had 5 foals (2.3), all surviving.
Diamontina made it to Takhin tal but died from trauma during transport on 05/07/1995.
Bell died at Takhin tal of bronchitis in 1995.
Nattai was still at Takhin tal as of May 2007 and was released into Gobi B NP before 2009. She had 7 foals, (5.1.1). 6 were born at Takhin tal, and 1 in Gobi NP. 4 (4.0) survived to breeding age in Gobi B NP.
1.0 Osama (unk x Nattai) 11/09/2002 - 15/10/2009
1.0 Taikhar (Sonid x Nattai) 12/05/2004 - 19/04/2009
1.0 Agsam (Sonid x Nattai) 24/06/2005
1.0 Mogoi (Sonid x Nattai) 11/05/2007
Her son, Mogoi, has one surviving daughter in Gobi B NP.
0.1 Huslen (Mogoi x Anar) 28/05/2018
In 1995, Monarto Zoo also sent 2 mares to Mongolia:
0.1 Khaliunaa (Khan x Viktorya) 16/03/1988
0.1 Varya (Khan x Viktorya) 14/05/1990
Khaliunaa had 5 foals (3.1.1) in Mongolia, 2 (2.0) survived to breeding age.
1.0 Myangan (Fjury x Khaliunaa) 01/05/2000
1.0 Arslan (Sonid x Khaliunaa) 07/07/2004
Khaliunaa died at Takhin tal from trauma on 03/06/2006. Her son, Myangan, sired 16 foals in Gobi NP, 3 (2.1) survived to breeding age.
Varya had one colt at Monarto in 1990 which did not survive. She died at Takhin tal of bronchitis on 23/04/1996.
This is so interesting! Weren't some Tahki from Perth also released? What happened to them?
I was told it was Perth by my friend Bob from TWPZ, but he may have been wrong.Did you mean Monarto Safari Park?
They returned Przewalski‘s horse to Mongolia in conjunction with Dubbo (the two mares @akasha mentions above):
Wild horse foal born - ABC ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
In 1995, five Western Plains Zoo-bred animals were part of an Australian herd created with Monarto Zoo in South Australia for translocation to a field station in Mongolia. Three of the seven animals translocated were successfully reintroduced into the wild in Mongolia in 1988.
I have never heard of horses from Perth being released, and couldn't find any evidence of it happening, so perhaps Bob was mistaken and meant Monarto.This is so interesting! Weren't some Tahki from Perth also released? What happened to them?
History of Takhi at Werribee Zoo
Werribee Zoo acquired their first Przewalski’s Horses in 2000. They began with 6 (1.5) horses:
1.0 Godan (Khan x Bianka) 23/04/1996 - 31/12/2012 (Transferred from Monarto)
0.1 2564 (1122 x Vize) 10/05/1992 - 31/12/2003 (Imported from Howletts Wild Animal Park, transferred from Dubbo)
0.1 TD921 (Silvio x Belhuka) 14/09/1992 (Transferred from Dubbo)
0.1 Tia (Silvio x Kiora) 17/12/1994 (Transferred from Dubbo)
0.1 Mahan (Lachlan x Rosanne) 03/02/1999 - ~2022 (Transferred from Monarto)
0.1 Dalay (Giacomo x Naomi) 26/06/1999 (Transferred from Dubbo)
They later transferred another stallion from Monarto:
1.0 Molya (Khan x Kataryna) 04/08/1990 - 09/04/2015
Their third breeding stallion was transferred from Altina:
1.0 Ronald (Sicaron x Natasha) 20/05/1995 (Imported from UK to Dubbo. Transferred from Altina)
The first birth was in 2001, followed by a decade without any breeding. In 2010 it was reported that a German scientist visited Werribee to artificially inseminate a Przewalski’s Horse.
2001
0.1 Kyakhta/Kay/K (Godan x Mahan) 29/11/2001 (Transferred to Dubbo, then transferred to Altina)
2012
1.0 Nikolai (Molya x Mahan) 13/05/2012 (Transferred to Dubbo)
2014
0.1 Hatan (Molya x Mahan) 11/05/2014
2015
1.0 Tahki (Molya x Mahan) 21/12/2015
2017
0.1 Saikhan (Ronald x Mahan) 00/12/2017
2018
1.0 Tsagaan (Ronald x Hatan) 07/05/2018 (gone by 2023)
2019
1.0 Bataar (Ronald x Mahan) 08/01/2019 (Euthanised due to a leg injury in 2020/2021)
0.1 (Ronald x unk) 00/04/2019 (gone by 2023)
0.1 Cyba (Ronald x unk) 00/07/2019
In 2020/2021 a stallion was transferred from Monarto and 4 mares were transferred from Dubbo:
1.0 Zhenjin (unk x unk) 00/02/2014
0.1 Mila (Viktor x Suren) 03/11/2014
0.1 Bukhara (Stan x Suren) 20/01/2016
0.1 Naruu (Stan x Suren) 22/02/2017
0.1 Numrug (unk x unk) 00/00/0000
In March 2023 the horses were moved to a new exhibit.
2024
A foal was reported on Facebook in March, but is no longer at the zoo, so presumably has died.
As of May 2024, Werribee held 10 (3.7) Przewalski's Horses.
I am getting to them, it just takes a bit of time to put all this together. Originally they came from Pearl Coast Zoo, and also some from Monarto. They were managed as part of the international studbook back in the late 80's/early 90's, and then a lot of them went to Tipperary. I'm not sure if the ones still at Fernhill are part of the studbook now. They are owned/managed by Greater Sydney Parklands. The latest on their website states 'Since becoming custodians of Fernhill Estate in 2020, we have worked to contain the impact of these wild animals while seeking a suitable alternative long-term home for them. We are working with a range of partners to rehome the Przewalski’s horses in 2023–24.'Where do the horses living in the western Sydney parklands fit into all this? Are they descended from the main zoos or a seperate import? Is their breeding managed? Photos of them on this site appear to show young ones.
One male and eight females were initially imported to the Pearl Coast Zoo from Marwell Zoo in 1987 and 1988. Following the zoo's closure in the early 90's, their remaining horses then were sold to the Tipperary Station and then went to Mulgoa (the land was owned by the Tipperary owner at the time).Where do the horses living in the western Sydney parklands fit into all this? Are they descended from the main zoos or a seperate import? Is their breeding managed? Photos of them on this site appear to show young ones.