Great news!
Kufara can be eliminated as she gave birth April 2023 to Matabo. Mothers would be Bakhita and Mesi.
Mesi is approaching reproductive age (seven years); while Bahkita last gave birth in February 2021.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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Great news!
Kufara can be eliminated as she gave birth April 2023 to Matabo. Mothers would be Bakhita and Mesi.
Mesi is approaching reproductive age (seven years); while Bahkita last gave birth in February 2021.
I am glad that the Australian southern black rhino counterpart in this IRF (International Rhino Foundation auspices ... under which the program is run) shows up some form of consistency in breeding their rhinos now ... - I would even go so far as to say - regularly.
Not to say, I do not have a few things to comment where the WPZ could improve upon.
I) Really, there is an imperative need to expand the ex situ conservation breeding program in Australia for the southern black rhinos beyond the sole breeding facility that is WPZ and provide their colleagues at Monarto with some female stock to enable them to initiate that breeding extension beyond both male black rhino they now maintain.
II) The second fairly important note concerns the immediate need for fresh imports of both male and female southern black rhino. The Eswatini deal for new southern black rhino from inside range and/or a further import of new unrelated male rhino from the North American part of the southern black rhino offshoot (where effectively only White Oak and Fossil Rim are any credible partners in this long running IRF sponsored program).
I am glad that the Australian southern black rhino counterpart in this IRF (International Rhino Foundation auspices ... under which the program is run) shows up some form of consistency in breeding their rhinos now ... - I would even go so far as to say - regularly.
Not to say, I do not have a few things to comment where the WPZ could improve upon.
I) Really, there is an imperative need to expand the ex situ conservation breeding program in Australia for the southern black rhinos beyond the sole breeding facility that is WPZ and provide their colleagues at Monarto with some female stock to enable them to initiate that breeding extension beyond both male black rhino they now maintain.
II) The second fairly important note concerns the immediate need for fresh imports of both male and female southern black rhino. The Eswatini deal for new southern black rhino from inside range and/or a further import of new unrelated male rhino from the North American part of the southern black rhino offshoot (where effectively only White Oak and Fossil Rim are any credible partners in this long running IRF sponsored program).
All good points.
I have long been of the opinion that Dubbo should transfer Bakhita to Monarto to breed with Induna. Aside from the fact he’s the only bull in the region unrelated to her, Bakhita is a proven breeding cow and therefore a good choice for a new holder/first time breeder of the species.
Either way, new imports/founders would be of great benefit to the regional population, which has now resorted to inbreeding.
The news clip confirmed Bakhita is one of the pregnant females, and nice to know that Mpenzi is confirmed as a sire. It's a rare zoo pregnant announcement when we know the identity of the sire before the mother! Hopefully TWPZ will follow up with their own comms shortly to confirm, although I agree Mesi is likely.
Yep, it was process of elimination in the end given they have three reproductive age cows and one gave birth 13 months ago.
This will be Bakhita’s fifth calf and Mesi will produce Bakhita’s first great-grandchild.
Indeed, confirmed via social media. Bakhita is due in July at the earliest, and Mesi is due to give birth from August.
Without any real commitment and active determination upon the species coordinator for the black rhino program at Taronga/TWPZ, the main zoo involved in the breeding program, an import nor a transfer of individuals to Monarto is ever going to happen nor likely. It has been a closed shop from the time go ....
Monarto are optimistic of receiving female black rhinoceros in the future:
Black Rhinoceros Explore New Exhibit at Monarto Safari
The opening of the new habitat is only the first stage of the black rhinoceros expansion at Monarto Safari Park. Further habitats are planned which will allow females to move in and a breeding program to commence.
“There is a large space adjoining the new exhibit, which we plan to create further areas to house more black rhinos in the future, including females.
“There is a large space adjoining the new exhibit, which we plan to create further areas to house more black rhinos in the future, including females.
Whether this would involve importing from outside the region or sourcing them from Taronga Western Plains Zoo is unclear; but it’s worth considering that Dubbo now have four cows (three of which are proven breeders; and the fourth being a three year old juvenile) - two of which are pregnant.
It’s not difficult to image the birth of an additional female calf this year (or two) at Dubbo would enable them to concede one or two to Monarto - perhaps Bakhita, who’s the eldest; most experienced breeder; and unrelated to Induna:
0.1 Bahkita (22/03/2002) Siabuwa x Kalungwizi
0.1 Kufara (17/02/2010) Ibala x Bahkita
0.1 Mesi (11/04/2017) Kwanzaa x Kufara
0.1 Sabi Star (24/02/2021) Kwanzaa x Bahkita
Again, I should underline that in order for Monarto Safari Park to receive female black rhino from Dubbo TWPZ requires commitment from the latter zoo and species coördinator to actually act in a more expeditient fashion. ATM, I have not seen this for the last few years ... event though it is crystal clear for genetic management the gene pool needs to be expanded with new unrelated individuals from outside Australia (whether born from AZA program or in situ from South Africa or Eswatini is rather immaterial at this point).
That is a very good point to make
While its a good point, monarto are a zoo that has had plans for import. We dont know whether female black rhino are on that list. There acquisition of elephants has put some of these plans back a bit. Importing of new blood to monarto would be more valuable to the region then from monarto. The mix of induna to unrelated females would give extra added blood lines that western plains could utilise for any females bred there.
Monarto has held southern black rhino for .. Yonkers years already. The import could have been eventuated some time back. For goodness sakes', They have held them since 2007 ...., so that import could have happened years ago....!!!
I never heard there was an IRA block on import of rhinos (white, black or Indian greater one-horned)?!!!
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I agree very slow off the mark yes it could of happened if they really wanted it to, It really needed more commitment early on, having one zoo with all the Black rhino (for a long time) and again with the Indian rhino in one zoo was and is a mistake in my view. A two zoo (open range) would have been a much better and more logical solution with each zoo trying to work together to broaden the gene pool as much as possible.
Rhinos require offshore quarantine, like the white rhinos will go to orana first then get sent to Australian zoos. The quarantine facility of the cocus islands of memory has shut or been very much reduced where a lot of animals used to go.
So while there isnt a block per say it is one of the more difficult species to import compared to large cats and monkeys which can go through quarantine at specific quarantine facilities in Aus.
Monarto acquired black rhino with the intention of breeding in the future. However they have had to compete with large scale projects that zoos SA has headlined. Which pushes imports like this back. The new African precinct will more then likely see imports of new animals occur and hopefully we will see some black rhino imported.
Exhibit change for Indian rhinoceros:
From socials:
Greater One-horned Rhinos Amala and Hari have had a change of scenery! The mother-son dynamic duo have moved from our grasslands habitat, near The Waterhole, down to the Asian Wetlands habitat near Otters where Hari is loving the water and extra mud wallows!
But don’t worry! You can still see Dora on the grasslands habitat, and the three rhinos will alternate between the two spaces from time to time. Moving between habitats is great enrichment for our animals, as they explore different sights, sounds and even smells!
From socials:
Greater One-horned Rhinos Amala and Hari have had a change of scenery! The mother-son dynamic duo have moved from our grasslands habitat, near The Waterhole, down to the Asian Wetlands habitat near Otters where Hari is loving the water and extra mud wallows!
But don’t worry! You can still see Dora on the grasslands habitat, and the three rhinos will alternate between the two spaces from time to time. Moving between habitats is great enrichment for our animals, as they explore different sights, sounds and even smells!
I seen that on FB, it made me wonder how long until we see another calf. Especially now with Hair moving to Taronga.
Up to six giraffe calves due in Spring:
It was mentioned on socials this evening that up to six giraffe calves are expected in Spring 2024.
The sire will be Mtoto, which follows on nicely from a news article in June 2023 expressing hopes for calves in 15 months time.
The most likely dams are the following:
0.1 Asmara (24/07/2006) Nakura x Tuli - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Ntombi (25/07/2007) Zabulu x Kay - Auckland Zoo
0.1 Mvita (04/04/2011) Unnami x Mutangi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Nyah (01/01/2016) Unnami x Ntombi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Zane (00/02/2016) Unnami x Tuli - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Malaika (11/09/2017) Unnami x Ntombi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Though cows as young as these two have produced calves:
0.1 Layla (01/07/2020) Unnami x Asmara - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Losiligi (21/09/2020) Unknown x Zane - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
It was mentioned on socials this evening that up to six giraffe calves are expected in Spring 2024.
The sire will be Mtoto, which follows on nicely from a news article in June 2023 expressing hopes for calves in 15 months time.
The most likely dams are the following:
0.1 Asmara (24/07/2006) Nakura x Tuli - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Ntombi (25/07/2007) Zabulu x Kay - Auckland Zoo
0.1 Mvita (04/04/2011) Unnami x Mutangi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Nyah (01/01/2016) Unnami x Ntombi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Zane (00/02/2016) Unnami x Tuli - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Malaika (11/09/2017) Unnami x Ntombi - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Though cows as young as these two have produced calves:
0.1 Layla (01/07/2020) Unnami x Asmara - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
1.0 Losiligi (21/09/2020) Unknown x Zane - Taronga Western Plains Zoo
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Two old female Malleefowl have recently been added to the Regent Honeyeater display aviary in the wildlife hospital - mentioned in a bird identification FB group.
Cheetah imported from the US:
https://www.ketk.com/news/animals/caldwell-zoo-cheetahs-arrive-safely-at-australian-zoo/
Males, Ichabod and Lee, were born 2020 at the Caldwell Zoo.
https://www.ketk.com/news/animals/caldwell-zoo-cheetahs-arrive-safely-at-australian-zoo/
Males, Ichabod and Lee, were born 2020 at the Caldwell Zoo.