Perth Zoo Perth Zoo News 2025

[Zoofan15]

Perth Zoo will receive two new rhinoceros this year:

Perth Zoo to welcome new rhinos as elephants' departure triggers new development - ABC News

Once the elephants are gone, what's next for Perth Zoo?

Perth Zoo will welcome two new rhinos this year as the departure of its beloved elephants paves the way for another round of development at the popular attraction.

It’ll be interesting to see where these rhinos come from. It was previously mentioned the zoo planned to acquire females for Memphis, so Nyah (2020) at Auckland Zoo is a likely candidate. Nyah is related to all three bulls in New Zealand; and the zoo have recently separated her from her father to avoid putting her on contraception, citing plans to transfer her out.

 

[Luke899]

Perth Zoo will receive two new rhinoceros this year:

Perth Zoo to welcome new rhinos as elephants' departure triggers new development - ABC News

Once the elephants are gone, what's next for Perth Zoo?

Perth Zoo will welcome two new rhinos this year as the departure of its beloved elephants paves the way for another round of development at the popular attraction.

It’ll be interesting to see where these rhinos come from. It was previously mentioned the zoo planned to acquire females for Memphis, so Nyah (2020) at Auckland Zoo is a likely candidate. Nyah is related to all three bulls in New Zealand; and the zoo have recently separated her from her father to avoid putting her on contraception, citing plans to transfer her out.

I imagine they’ll all hang out in the new African precinct that’ll be built on the elephants site.

if they plan it right, it’ll be a really good city African experience.

 

[Zoofan15]

I imagine they’ll all hang out in the new African precinct that’ll be built on the elephants site.

if they plan it right, it’ll be a really good city African experience.

That seems likely. The articles states the African expansion will be built over the next 2-3 years.

From the map it appears the Giraffe exhibit expansion will extend into the site of the bull elephant exhibit; while the rhinoceros exhibit will be extended onto the site of the cow elephant exhibit.

 

[steveroberts]

I imagine they’ll all hang out in the new African precinct that’ll be built on the elephants site.

if they plan it right, it’ll be a really good city African experience.

That seems likely. The articles states the African expansion will be built over the next 2-3 years.

From the map it appears the Giraffe exhibit expansion will extend into the site of the bull elephant exhibit; while the rhinoceros exhibit will be extended onto the site of the cow elephant exhibit.

(source: https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/perthzoowebsite/media/perthzoo/7111-Master-Plan-2018_V19_web.pdf_

With the Savannah expansion the area that covers Permai and Putra Mas's homes and back of house areas behind and in between after they depart for Monarto, will give an additional ≈8,715 square metres of area to the Savannah precinct (albeit wont be all the area used as concept map shows, but most of it, saving some foliage and trees that already are planted around the boundaries of);
(also an additional ≈1,985 square meters for the exhibit marked ''Flexible exhibit'' on the concept plan above {the site of what is currently the 'Oak Lawn'}, albeit same as afforementioned: will probably be a bit less than this given the perimeters of that exhibit wont come right up to the pathlines and saving some boundary plants and trees as Perth Zoo is good at doing with immersive surroundings to help blend exhibit fences and walls).

 

[ramsayi]

(source: https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/perthzoowebsite/media/perthzoo/7111-Master-Plan-2018_V19_web.pdf_

With the Savannah expansion the area that covers Permai and Putra Mas's homes and back of house areas behind and in between after they depart for Monarto, will give an additional ≈8,715 square metres of area to the Savannah precinct (albeit wont be all the area used as concept map shows, but most of it, saving some foliage and trees that already are planted around the boundaries of);
(also an additional ≈1,985 square meters for the exhibit marked ''Flexible exhibit'' on the concept plan above {the site of what is currently the 'Oak Lawn'}, albeit same as afforementioned: will probably be a bit less than this given the perimeters of that exhibit wont come right up to the pathlines and saving some boundary plants and trees as Perth Zoo is good at doing with immersive surroundings to help blend exhibit fences and walls).

i just relized this plan hasn't got the Porcupine on it, i hope that was just an over sight of whoever did the graphic (the spot where they currently are is blank),i like them even if they can only be seen sometimes.

 

[Zoofan15]

i just relized this plan hasn't got the Porcupine on it, i hope that was just an over sight of whoever did the graphic (the spot where they currently are is blank),i like them even if they can only be seen sometimes.

Dont worry, this map (while a fascinating insight into how the African expansion might work) is dated 2018, so we can assume seven years on that Cape porcupine now feature in current plans.

Cape porcupine are a natural accompaniment to Slender-tailed meerkat and popular with visitors.

 

[Jaiden]

Hi I have recently done the Rhino experience at Perth zoo and while
Do it I asked the Rhino Keeper about the Masterplan and he said the zoo
Has plans to send Bakari the Rhino to Australia zoo this year for a Breeding program
And in his place the zoo will get two elderly female Rhinos. And he said the the gate separating Barkari and Memphis will be removed and the exhibit
Won’t really expand.

 

[Jaiden]

Does anyone knows will the African Savannah will be done in Phases?

 

[Jambo]

Does anyone knows will the African Savannah will be done in Phases?

It will just be a simple expansion of the current Giraffe/Rhino habitats into the current elephant complex with new holding facilities for both too from the looks of it in the mock design. And it seems it will indeed be conducted in separate stages (ie. one elephant paddock first then the next).

Perth stated the project will take two to three years to complete so 2027-2028 seems to be the goal for completion. In the meantime the two females will seemingly be accommodated together in one half of the elephant complex whilst the other undergoes construction (hence the prolonged construction timeframe).

 

[Jaiden]

Ok I wonder if the zoo will have places to keep the Animals in that time.

 

[Zoofan15]

Ok I wonder if the zoo will have places to keep the Animals in that time.

None of the Savannah species are leaving Perth Zoo. It’s an expansion, not a complete redevelopment and will be done in stages. Giraffes are difficult to transport logistically, so it’s preferable they remain on site.

The only departure of a Savannah animal I’m anticipating is that of the younger white rhinoceros bull, who was reportedly scheduled to leave; with his father receiving new females (coming this year).

 

[Tiger91]

Ok I wonder if the zoo will have places to keep the Animals in that time.

I think during the expansion, it wouldn't surprise me to see rhino kept in the elephant paddocks like Jambo said. It makes it easy to do development work if you just move animals to a new paddock.

 

[Luke899]

There aren’t many photos of this African savanna precinct, but I found two. Looks like part of it will be an elevated platform to feed giraffe.

 

[Luke899]

Hi I have recently done the Rhino experience at Perth zoo and while
Do it I asked the Rhino Keeper about the Masterplan and he said the zoo
Has plans to send Bakari the Rhino to Australia zoo this year for a Breeding program
And in his place the zoo will get two elderly female Rhinos. And he said the the gate separating Barkari and Memphis will be removed and the exhibit
Won’t really expand.

How disappointing that it will be elderly females. Seems to me like these new ones will just be for show to lessen the blow of the impact of the elephants departure. I think I speak for everyone when I say I wish Perth zoo were getting young females for breeding.

 

[Zoofan15]

Hi I have recently done the Rhino experience at Perth zoo and while
Do it I asked the Rhino Keeper about the Masterplan and he said the zoo
Has plans to send Bakari the Rhino to Australia zoo this year for a Breeding program
And in his place the zoo will get two elderly female Rhinos. And he said the the gate separating Barkari and Memphis will be removed and the exhibit
Won’t really expand.

How disappointing that it will be elderly females. Seems to me like these new ones will just be for show to lessen the blow of the impact of the elephants departure. I think I speak for everyone when I say I wish Perth zoo were getting young females for breeding.

It’s a disappointing, but understandable given Memphis’ line will be sufficiently represented with his son Bakari breeding at Australia Zoo (they potentially have up to three viable cows); his daughter Tamu possibly continuing to breed at Orana (there was a recent unsuccessful attempt to transfer a bull); and the potential for his grandson via Tamu to go into a breeding situation down the line.

In the meantime, it’ll be a good opportunity for another zoo to streamline their breeding programme. My money would be on Werribee, who have three older/non-breeding cows (Make, Letaba and Sisi); which in turn would allow Werribee to then receive young cows for breeding.

 

[Jaiden]

I feel like the zoo should phase out the White Rhinoceros and get the Black Rhinoceros since they are more threatened then the White Rhinoceros.
And since they are a smaller species they would take up less space of the zoo.

 

[Luke899]

What Perth should do is completely and utterly scrap their African expansion (same with Adelaide zoo) in my opinion.

Instead they should import silverback gorillas and build a gorilla precinct on the elephant site. City zoos should focus on Asian animals, not African.

I mean like Perth zoo has a massive statue of a gorilla, but no gorillas? Why not get gorillas.

 

[Luke899]

Also on another note, the Perth public now have just under 2 weeks to say goodbye to permai. I can just tell there’s going to be so many tears when she leaves. A great day tissue manufacturers.

Hope she doesn’t die of depression before then. She has a better quality of life ahead of her now.

 

[ramsayi]

Also on another note, the Perth public now have just under 2 weeks to say goodbye to permai. I can just tell there’s going to be so many tears when she leaves. A great day tissue manufacturers.

Hope she doesn’t die of depression before then. She has a better quality of life ahead of her now.

i'm hoping to vist her this weekend , one last time before her move.
is there a set date that i missed? i know i read before end of jan just not sure if i missed a given date.

 

[Zoofan15]

i'm hoping to vist her this weekend , one last time before her move.
is there a set date that i missed? i know i read before end of jan just not sure if i missed a given date.

No date has been advised for Permai’s transfer (and may not be until after she’s departed to avoid interference); but since they’ve advised late January, you’d be wise to get any last visits in sooner rather than later. I anticipate the zoo will be busier than normal with others wanting to say their farewells - combined with the school holiday crowds.

Hope she doesn’t die of depression before then.

It’s important not to avoid making comments like these, which could be defamatory to the zoo; or taken out of context with those unfamiliar with the topic.

The keepers doing everything they can to ensure Permai’s welfare in the interim until she can join Burma.

Abnormal behaviour such as swaying has been reported in the media and cited as one of the reasons for moving the transfer forward; but there’s no reason to assume her mental state has deteriorated to that degree.