Their parents are Mary Jo and Satan, and if I have not heard a more 'Merican sounding pair of animal names
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Taronga Western Plains Zoo News 2024
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Their parents are Mary Jo and Satan, and if I have not heard a more 'Merican sounding pair of animal names
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Fantastic! It's great to finally have this species on display!
Groundbreaking Platypus research programme commences:
From socials:
A groundbreaking research program to save the iconic Platypus is officially underway at Taronga Western Plains Zoo!
Four new platypuses have completed quarantine, passed their health checks, and are now settling into the research facility at Platypus Rescue HQ. This provides scientists with a unique opportunity to study the species’ breeding behaviour and biology, and improve the conservation of this beloved species - before it’s too late!
The multi-year research program will combine ex-situ monitoring and wild population fieldwork to refine the conservation strategy for the Platypus. The goal is to understand how this vulnerable and elusive monotreme is responding to environmental stressors like climate change and to identify interventions required to protect the animal’s future.
From socials:
A groundbreaking research program to save the iconic Platypus is officially underway at Taronga Western Plains Zoo!
Four new platypuses have completed quarantine, passed their health checks, and are now settling into the research facility at Platypus Rescue HQ. This provides scientists with a unique opportunity to study the species’ breeding behaviour and biology, and improve the conservation of this beloved species - before it’s too late!
The multi-year research program will combine ex-situ monitoring and wild population fieldwork to refine the conservation strategy for the Platypus. The goal is to understand how this vulnerable and elusive monotreme is responding to environmental stressors like climate change and to identify interventions required to protect the animal’s future.
Southern white rhinoceros update:
From socials:
Our White Rhino crash just got bigger, with White Rhino bull Satara joining females Likwezi and Mopani, and male calf Jabulani, on the main White Rhino habitat!
After many months of preparation, keepers carefully orchestrated the introduction. Mopani and Likwezi set their boundaries but Satara was very respectful, and excited to be part of a herd once more!
Keepers hope this introduction will pave the way for future White Rhino breeding successes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo which was the first Zoo in the region to breed this near threatened species.
From socials:
Our White Rhino crash just got bigger, with White Rhino bull Satara joining females Likwezi and Mopani, and male calf Jabulani, on the main White Rhino habitat!
After many months of preparation, keepers carefully orchestrated the introduction. Mopani and Likwezi set their boundaries but Satara was very respectful, and excited to be part of a herd once more!
Keepers hope this introduction will pave the way for future White Rhino breeding successes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo which was the first Zoo in the region to breed this near threatened species.
Asian Elephant Calf Due Late 2025
From socials:
We are delighted to announce that 18-year-old Asian Elephant Anjalee is pregnant with her first calf!
Anjalee joined our herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo from Auckland Zoo in 2022, and is a significant addition to the Australasian breeding program.
With a 22-month gestation period, Anjalee is expected to give birth in late 2025. Our team over the next 14-months will ensure her pregnancy, delivery and introductions to the seven herd members are as smooth as possible.
Successfully integrating a new individual into the female herd and fostering positive introductions with experienced breeding bull, Gung is no small feat. Our dedicated Elephant Keepers have worked tirelessly for this incredible outcome and we are thrilled that Anjalee has adapted well to her herd and home in Dubbo and has become a loving aunty to Kanlaya, our youngest elephant.
From socials:
We are delighted to announce that 18-year-old Asian Elephant Anjalee is pregnant with her first calf!
Anjalee joined our herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo from Auckland Zoo in 2022, and is a significant addition to the Australasian breeding program.
With a 22-month gestation period, Anjalee is expected to give birth in late 2025. Our team over the next 14-months will ensure her pregnancy, delivery and introductions to the seven herd members are as smooth as possible.
Successfully integrating a new individual into the female herd and fostering positive introductions with experienced breeding bull, Gung is no small feat. Our dedicated Elephant Keepers have worked tirelessly for this incredible outcome and we are thrilled that Anjalee has adapted well to her herd and home in Dubbo and has become a loving aunty to Kanlaya, our youngest elephant.
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Male giraffe calf born:
From socials:
We are thrilled to welcome and announce the birth of a male Giraffe calf into our breeding herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
Born just under two-weeks-ago, experienced mum, Mvita, has been “stashing” the newborn in a safe, quiet spot towards the back corner of the herd’s paddock, as Giraffe mums do.
Keepers have observed other experienced mums in the herd who are very maternal sharing calf-sitting duties with Mvita.
From socials:
We are thrilled to welcome and announce the birth of a male Giraffe calf into our breeding herd at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
Born just under two-weeks-ago, experienced mum, Mvita, has been “stashing” the newborn in a safe, quiet spot towards the back corner of the herd’s paddock, as Giraffe mums do.
Keepers have observed other experienced mums in the herd who are very maternal sharing calf-sitting duties with Mvita.
African lions Zalika and Tiombe have died:
Some sad news from Taronga Western Plains Zoo tonight that Zalika and Tiombe have died, aged 20 years.
From socials:
Today we’re sharing the very sad news that we’ve bid farewell to our two elderly lionesses, Tiombe and Zalika.
Keepers noticed both lionesses slowing down in recent months, but in the past couple of weeks Tiombe experienced a sudden decline in her health. As a closely bonded pair and due to Zalika’s own age related health issues, the decision was made to humanely euthanise both lionesses, to ensure Tiombe and Zalika could pass away peacefully and with dignity.
Some sad news from Taronga Western Plains Zoo tonight that Zalika and Tiombe have died, aged 20 years.
From socials:
Today we’re sharing the very sad news that we’ve bid farewell to our two elderly lionesses, Tiombe and Zalika.
Keepers noticed both lionesses slowing down in recent months, but in the past couple of weeks Tiombe experienced a sudden decline in her health. As a closely bonded pair and due to Zalika’s own age related health issues, the decision was made to humanely euthanise both lionesses, to ensure Tiombe and Zalika could pass away peacefully and with dignity.
A sorry loss, yet both reached a respectable age (not reached in lions in the wild / natural state)!
What will happen next for lions at TWPZ now? Are there any future plans for the species or precinct?
What will happen next for lions at TWPZ now? Are there any future plans for the species or precinct?
Osedax
Well-Known Member
They still have a large breeding pride.
Dubbo’s breeding pride consists of the following:
1.0 Lwazi (12/08/2017) Johari x Nilo
0.1 Marion (22/06/2014) Imported 2018 (United States)
0.1 Amali (07/04/2022) Lwazi x Marion
0.1 Imani (07/04/2022) Lwazi x Marion
0.1 Mara (07/04/2022) Lwazi x Marion
1.0 Bahati (04/10/2023) Lwazi x Marion
1.0 Jabari (04/10/2023) Lwazi x Marion
0.1 Zawadi (04/10/2023) Lwazi x Marion
A reasonable assumption is that the second exhibit could be used to house the two young males (Bahati and Jabari) a year or so from now; or alternatively, Monarto may elect to transfer across their three older lionesses (born 2013), to facilitate the introduction of unrelated males to their younger cohort of lionesses (born between 2020 and 2023).
Its sad to see the old girls go, i like that instead of leaving one without the other they took both out at once.
I think a better option would be to see them turn there pride into a larger pride. It's a fantastic oportunity to keep marion and her daughters together, bring in some new lionesses like those from monarto. Then introduce new males, if they used billabongs males they would have a genetically valuable pride to work with, where breeding could be spread out and multiple females could be bread from. Mogo's large pride is a sight to see, it wuld be good to see western plains replicate this.
Lwazi and his sons could then be separated into a bachelor pride, in the other exhibit. Or moved to a private zoo thats after some lions for display. Bonus points, this would actually follow the dispersal pattern lions follow in the wild.
They built a large habitat for the lions, it would be nice to see them take the opportunity to create a large pride for the space they have.
Ultimately the den space will limit the expansion of Dubbo’s pride. Monarto have a massive exhibit, but they’re now at capacity (with regards to the dens); and any zoo holding a large pride has to account for fall outs, which are common as lionesses reach adolescence and challenge for their position in the hierarchy.
It’d be nice to see a multigenerational pride form at Dubbo. Marion’s youngest daughter is 11 months old; and combined with Marion heading towards the end of her reproductive years, 2025-2026 represents the best opportunity to bring in new males. This would be preferable to breeding a third litter from Lwazi and Marion imo as opportunities for succession are otherwise limited.
If a new pride was formed around Marion and her four daughters, a minimum of two males would need to be brought in. Experienced breeding males from overseas would be ideal, as the majority of the lions in the region are related. It was reported Mansfield intend to breed from Judah, so unfortunately it’s unlikely he’d be transferring to Dubbo.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
When Lion Pride Lands opened in 2018, it was stated that it had a capacity of up to 16 lions, suggesting there is plenty of den space.
They do have a few decent sized off display enclosures too.
A male South-central Black Rhino calf has been born to female Mesi. The calf was born on 24th August and marks the fifth generation of Dubbo's black rhino programme - reported on their FB page.
Black rhinoceros Bakhita has unfortunately suffered a stillbirth:
New arrival in time for World Rhino Day
Taronga Western Plains Zoo had been expecting the birth of two rhino calves this year, however Black Rhino Bakhita sadly gave birth to a stillborn calf. Bakhita has been closely monitored to ensure her wellbeing and recovery and is doing well.
New arrival in time for World Rhino Day
Taronga Western Plains Zoo had been expecting the birth of two rhino calves this year, however Black Rhino Bakhita sadly gave birth to a stillborn calf. Bakhita has been closely monitored to ensure her wellbeing and recovery and is doing well.
That is sad and unfortunate, yet these things do happen from time to time.
Is it - per chance - known when Bakhita gave birth and what was the sex of the calf?
The sex of Bakhita’s calf hasn’t been reported, but she was due anytime from July 2024.
What would have been Bakhita’s fifth calf was sired by her half-brother (Mpenzi). A bull from Monarto is reportedly going to be transferred across and I really hope this is Induna (the only bull in the region unrelated to Bakhita).
On a positive note, it’s encouraging to see Mesi (2017) giving birth for the first time in her seventh year, like her mother before her. She will hopefully have a long and successful reproductive life ahead of her.
We have talked alot about the need for fresh genes into the population. The need to transfer out some rhino to other collections and bring in the fresh blood that has been talked about from US zoos or in situ from South Africa or from Eswatini!
I would hope that Monarto and a third Australian zoo get a more robust role in southern Black Rhino breeding in Australia.