Depending on the size of Monarto’s exhibit, it may be possible to integrate additional males; but it makes the most sense to add additional females from Sydney/DDZ/Overseas and breed until the desired population is reached.
It may be wise to preempt an unbalanced gender ratio in births by sourcing multiple females (up to 12) which combined with the three females from Adelaide (one elderly) would give Tomkay and Djibouti large harems of around seven females each. Upcoming males would then have females to acquire as they mature.
Certainly sounds like the best plan. New females would certainly be desirable to even up the sex ratio.
Taking into account the space Monarto has I would hope they would have a very very large exhibit. If Melbourne's exhibit has a capacity of 40 baboons, one at Monarto could certainly hold up to double that at the very least!
Certainly sounds like the best plan. New females would certainly be desirable to even up the sex ratio.
Taking into account the space Monarto has I would hope they would have a very very large exhibit. If Melbourne's exhibit has a capacity of 40 baboons, one at Monarto could certainly hold up to double that at the very least!
I’d like to see something on the scale of Emmen and Singapore, which each hold 100+ baboons. I imagine if any zoo in the region would aspire to similar, it’d be Monarto given their inclination towards housing species in large natural sized groups.
Werribee clearly have other priorities for now; but long term, I have to agree with your previous idea of them phasing out baboons at Melbourne and transferring them to Werribee. Probably not an exhibit on the scale of Monarto, but certainly 40-50.
It all makes sense as the inventory is dated June 2023:
Melbourne’s baboons:
In July 2022, Melbourne Zoo had 7.11 baboons; which had decreased to 5.10 baboons by January 2023 when I posted the current population list (i.e. two males and one female died between July and December 2022).
Then in February 2023, the 1.2 baboons from Perth Zoo arrived, which took the troop to 6.12 baboons as reported in the June 2023 inventory report.
Then in November 2023, I was advised the 1.2 baboons from Perth were deceased, placing their deaths between June and November 2023.
The zoo currently hold 5.10 Hamadryas baboon:
0.1 Huddo (1999) Grijs x Unknown
0.1 Macey (2004) Rameses x Beth
0.1 Qetesh (2010)
1.0 Jabari (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
1.0 Azizi (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
0.1 Juju (2015) Jabari x Huddo
1.0 Melako (2017) Jabari x Macey
0.1 Gana (2017) Unknown x Grace
0.1 Hudson (2018) Unknown x Huddo
1.0 Quimby (2018) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Makali (2019) Unknown x Macey
1.0 Quill (2019) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Quilton (2020) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Muna (2020) Unknown x Macey
0.1 Mei (2021) Unknown x Macey
There are eight holders in Australasia: Auckland Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, Banana Cabana, Crocodylus Park, Darling Downs Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Sydney Zoo and Wildlife HQ. The hundreds of baboons held in private research facilities are not detailed for obvious reasons.
New Zealand Population
Auckland Zoo:
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Unknown x Zara
0.1 Kito (2002) Unknown x Greet
1.0 Afar (2005) Jarmah x Gina
1.0 Wasaro (2005) Jarmah x Gen
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito
1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
Australian Population
Adelaide Zoo:
0.1 Chappi (2003) Jarmah x Gina
1.0 Tomkay (2014) Horus x Chappi
1.0 Djibouti (2016) Horus x Chappi
0.1 Quasi (2017) Jabari x Qetesh
0.1 Mahali (2018) Jabari x Macey
0.1 Lily (2022) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Jabari (2023) Tomkay x Quasi
1.0 Rameses (1997) born at Alma Park Zoo
0.1 Cagney (2006) born at Warsaw Zoo
0.1 Lacey (2007) born at Warsaw Zoo
0.1 Cleo (2011) born at Alma Park Zoo
1.0 Gyasi (2014) born at Sydney Zoo
0.1 Mandy (2014) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Cruella (2016) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Horace (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selma (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Isla (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Seti (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selene (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Angelica (2020) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Julius (2021) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Jafar (2021) born at Darling Downs Zoo
Melbourne Zoo:
0.1 Huddo (1999) Grijs x Unknown
0.1 Macey (2004) Rameses x Beth
0.1 Qetesh (2010)
1.0 Jabari (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
1.0 Azizi (2010) Imported 2012 (USA)
0.1 Juju (2015) Jabari x Huddo
1.0 Melako (2017) Jabari x Macey
0.1 Gana (2017) Unknown x Grace
0.1 Hudson (2018) Unknown x Huddo
1.0 Quimby (2018) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Makali (2019) Unknown x Macey
1.0 Quill (2019) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Quilton (2020) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Muna (2020) Unknown x Macey
0.1 Mei (2021) Unknown x Macey
At the Baboon feed the keeper mentioned the younger boys have been separated from the girls with the breeding male off display exactly where the youngster males are I'm not sure of though I noticed a crate with auckland zoos logo on it, now I reckon that they may be looking at exporting some animals to auckland zoo despite the apparent planned phase out.
I can confirm after visiting the zoo on 14/04/2024 that Auckland Zoo have not yet exported any of their Hamadryas baboon. For context, the species has been designated as phase out and it’s therefore reasonable to assume the four youngest females will join another troop in the region.
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Unknown x Zara
0.1 Kito (2002) Unknown x Greet
1.0 Afar (2005) Jarmah x Gina
1.0 Wasaro (2005) Jarmah x Gen
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito
1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
Despite the zoo holding 4.6 baboons as of last year, I only saw 4.5 baboons. This included three caped males (Afar, Wasaro and Badi); the two youngest baboons (Iniko and Jabari); and four adult females, one of which looked ancient. Since there should be two elderly females (Ayisha and Kito), I’m wondering if one of them has passed on. I asked three different volunteers (none of whom knew) and unfortunately couldn’t find a keeper to confirm. Perhaps @ApeLadyNZ could count them if you end up visiting before I do.
Photo of the troop (running for a scatter feed) from my visit:
Badi is the caped male at the front; Naeemah and Mali are to the left; Jabari is to the far left; the caped male at the back is Afar or Wasaro.
I can confirm after visiting the zoo on 14/04/2024 that Auckland Zoo have not yet exported any of their Hamadryas baboon. For context, the species has been designated as phase out and it’s therefore reasonable to assume the four youngest females will join another troop in the region.
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Unknown x Zara
0.1 Kito (2002) Unknown x Greet
1.0 Afar (2005) Jarmah x Gina
1.0 Wasaro (2005) Jarmah x Gen
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito
1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
Despite the zoo holding 4.6 baboons as of last year, I only saw 4.5 baboons. This included three caped males (Afar, Wasaro and Badi); the two youngest baboons (Iniko and Jabari); and four adult females, one of which looked ancient. Since there should be two elderly females (Ayisha and Kito), I’m wondering if one of them has passed on. I asked three different volunteers (none of whom knew) and unfortunately couldn’t find a keeper to confirm. Perhaps @ApeLadyNZ could count them if you end up visiting before I do.
Photo of the troop (running for a scatter feed) from my visit:
Thanks for the update! I'll certainly check on my next visit to the zoo and see if I can catch a keeper talk and ask personally for any updates. It's frustrating, sometimes, the lack of updates about animals passing away or giving birth when they're not high-profile animals or are scheduled to be phased out. I wish that zoos in New Zealand posted more day-to-day updates about the animals in their care. Their conservation work and events are valuable and interesting, but I like to hear about the goings-on that make a zoo a zoo, if you know what I mean!
Im pleased to report from my visit 31/10/2024 that all 10 baboons are alive and well, which was encouraging to hear given the advanced age of the troop’s four founders.
With regards to the harems, the baboons are grouped as follows:
Wasaro’s harem:
1.0 Wasaro (2005) Jarmah x Gen
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Unknown x Zara
Afar’s harem:
1.0 Afar (2005) Jarmah x Gina
0.1 Kito (2002) Unknown x Greet
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito
Badi’s harem:
1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
Iniko is approaching the age where she’ll be recruited into one of the harems. Badi’s harem seems the mostly likely given she’s already on the periphery of this group via her mother; and as a prime aged male, Badi would have more chance of securing an additional female than his elderly father and uncle.
Badi is largely independent of his mother. The usual trajectory for a young male Hamadryas baboon is to remain a follower/satellite male to his father’s harem into adolescence/young adulthood. I enjoyed watching him climb a tree on my visit.
Im pleased to report from my visit 31/10/2024 that all 10 baboons are alive and well, which was encouraging to hear given the advanced age of the troop’s four founders.
With regards to the harems, the baboons are grouped as follows:
Wasaro’s harem:
1.0 Wasaro (2005) Jarmah x Gen
0.1 Ayisha (2001) Unknown x Zara
Afar’s harem:
1.0 Afar (2005) Jarmah x Gina
0.1 Kito (2002) Unknown x Greet
0.1 Naeemah (2011) Afar x Kito
Badi’s harem:
1.0 Badi (2012) Afar x Kito
0.1 Zala (2013) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Mali (2015) Wasaro x Ayisha
0.1 Iniko (2020) Yafeu x Mali
1.0 Jabari (2022) Badi x Mali
Iniko is approaching the age where she’ll be recruited into one of the harems. Badi’s harem seems the mostly likely given she’s already on the periphery of this group via her mother; and as a prime aged male, Badi would have more chance of securing an additional female than his elderly father and uncle.
Badi is largely independent of his mother. The usual trajectory for a young male Hamadryas baboon is to remain a follower/satellite male to his father’s harem into adolescence/young adulthood. I enjoyed watching him climb a tree on my visit.
Thanks for this update! I hope that Auckland Zoo will reconsider phasing out the baboons, as they are very popular with the visitors, especially Jabari with his lively antics!
Thanks for this update! I hope that Auckland Zoo will reconsider phasing out the baboons, as they are very popular with the visitors, especially Jabari with his lively antics!
That’s unlikely given Adelaide Zoo are phasing out baboons, with the intention of transferring their entire troop to Monarto Safari Park. Adelaide’s troop contains two adult males, so integrating them with Auckland’s troop would be difficult.
Furthermore, most of Auckland’s troop (including all breeding aged females) are closely related to the Adelaide troop via Afar/Wasaro, who were Adelaide born and the brother/half-brother of Chappi.
If Auckland are willing to continue with baboons (unconfirmed at this stage), sourcing new males from Sydney Zoo would be the ideal imo. They’ve had several female infants born of late, which are better matches to Auckland’s troop.
It's awesome to have another holder on the board, especially another holder planning to breed. We now have six breeding facilities in the region:
Adelaide, Auckland, Darling Downs, Melbourne, Wildlife HQ and Tasmania.
Melbourne aren't breeding at the moment though, and Wildlife HQ doesn't have any unrelated pairings at the moment (unless they've acquired additional individuals recently).
Do we know whether Cleo is related to Ramses and whether she has given birth before?
It's awesome to have another holder on the board, especially another holder planning to breed. We now have six breeding facilities in the region:
Adelaide, Auckland, Darling Downs, Melbourne, Wildlife HQ and Tasmania.
Melbourne aren't breeding at the moment though, and Wildlife HQ doesn't have any unrelated pairings at the moment (unless they've acquired additional individuals recently).
Do we know whether Cleo is related to Ramses and whether she has given birth before?
Tehuti and Abeba were Wildlife HQ’s breeding pair, with Abeba unexpectedly producing her first ever infant at the age of 17 years. Three years on and no further infants have followed, so it’s likely she’s now post-reproductive. Chacma baboons have bred into their 20’s at Auckland Zoo, but the smaller Hamadryas species seems to age faster by comparison (and live shorter life spans).
I’m hopeful we’ll see more infants from Adelaide’s troop soon - with both females having had sufficient gaps since their last infants to be breeding again. Sydney Zoo had an infant of a few months old when I visited with @steveroberts and @Abbey last month. Their troop’s social structure was excellent, with individuals of a wide range of ages.
I’m not sure re. Ramses and Cleo being related. They both come from Alma Park, so could be relatives. Cleo has bred before. A 2019 article details her giving birth to a daughter - which appears to be Selene. Three infants were born in 2018 also, suggesting one each to Cleo, Lacey and Cagney.
New Holder - Central Coast Zoo/Amazement Farm & Fun Park
A post on the Central Coast Zoo’s Facebook page notes Hamadryas baboon are on display at the conjoined Amazement Farm & Fun Park. The Wiki page for these facilities notes they’re actually held at Central Coast Zoo; but this may be outdated, and in any case the facilities are conjoined.
This would be the tenth holder; joining Tasmania Zoo and the eight listed in the population list above.
The individuals are unknown at this stage, with potential candidates being Darling Downs Zoo’s four adolescent males; or baboons from Sydney Zoo’s sizeable troop. As noted, it’s difficult to ascertain from the photos on socials whether these are females or young males bulking up (yet to develop their silvery capes).
Updated population list coming soon, once a few confirmations have been received.
New Holder - Central Coast Zoo/Amazement Farm & Fun Park
A post on the Central Coast Zoo’s Facebook page notes Hamadryas baboon are on display at the conjoined Amazement Farm & Fun Park. The Wiki page for these facilities notes they’re actually held at Central Coast Zoo; but this may be outdated, and in any case the facilities are conjoined.
This would be the tenth holder; joining Tasmania Zoo and the eight listed in the population list above.
The individuals are unknown at this stage, with potential candidates being Darling Downs Zoo’s four adolescent males; or baboons from Sydney Zoo’s sizeable troop. As noted, it’s difficult to ascertain from the photos on socials whether these are females or young males bulking up (yet to develop their silvery capes).
Updated population list coming soon, once a few confirmations have been received.
The baboons are four males and came from Darling Downs Zoo:
1.0 Horace (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Seti (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Julius (2021) born at Darling Downs Zoo
1.0 Jafar (2021) born at Darling Downs Zoo
With the recent transfers to Tasmania Zoo, it would appear this leaves Darling Downs Zoo with 1.6 baboons:
1.0 Gyasi (2014) born at Sydney Zoo
0.1 Mandy (2014) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Cruella (2016) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selma (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Isla (2018) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Selene (2019) born at Darling Downs Zoo
0.1 Angelica (2020) born at Darling Downs Zoo
Melbourne Zoo have a new female Hamadryas baboon, which appears to be Kasmut (imported from Singapore Zoo by Sydney Zoo in 2019).
The new arrival takes Melbouren’s troop to 5.11 baboons.
From socials:
New female Baboon Kas is turning heads at Melbourne Zoo, attracting the attention of two different males in the troop.
Originally our Keepers thought Kas and young Melako might make the perfect match... but headstrong Kas had other ideas, coupling up with the older Azizi after she was impressed by his brightly-coloured behind.
Melbourne Zoo have a new female Hamadryas baboon, which appears to be Kasmut (imported from Singapore Zoo by Sydney Zoo in 2019).
The new arrival takes Melbouren’s troop to 5.11 baboons.
From socials:
New female Baboon Kas is turning heads at Melbourne Zoo, attracting the attention of two different males in the troop.
Originally our Keepers thought Kas and young Melako might make the perfect match... but headstrong Kas had other ideas, coupling up with the older Azizi after she was impressed by his brightly-coloured behind.
Great news to hear; Melbourne's first new import in a decade!
Hopefully this may indicate plans to breed again; I'm surprised they've only chosen to acquire a single female, especially when Sydney has a large, successful troop.
Perhaps it's simply to do with their capacity ie. they'd much rather just one female breeding regularly. Or maybe they plan to acquire some more females from overseas down the line and she is a complacency for the mean time.
Great news to hear; Melbourne's first new import in a decade!
Hopefully this may indicate plans to breed again; I'm surprised they've only chosen to acquire a single female, especially when Sydney has a large, successful troop.
Perhaps it's simply to do with their capacity ie. they'd much rather just one female breeding regularly. Or maybe they plan to acquire some more females from overseas down the line and she is a complacency for the mean time.
It is surprising to see what appears to be a single female transfer in; though unlike other baboon species where the females inherit their rank through their mother, Hamadryas baboons have a social structure where the strongest bond is between the harem leader and each of his individual female followers. Therefore Kas will not be disadvantaged by coming into a troop of mostly related females.
It would be great to see breeding resume. When I visited November 2023, a volunteer told me that in addition to the females being on contraception, Azizi and Jabari, were non-breeding. She said they’d been castrated, but I assume she meant vasectomised as they’ve retained their secondary sexual characteristics. She said the young males - Melako (who is the third harem leader), Quimby and Quill were intact.
Wellington Zoo vasectomised their harem leaders back in the 2000’s. Many of their females subsequently fell pregnant, which was a result of sneak matings with the adolescent males. Therefore Kas being recruited into Azizi’s harem will not necessarily prevent her from falling pregnant (if breeding is indeed the aim).
Troop before Kas’ arrival:
0.1 Huddo (1999) Grijs x Unknown
0.1 Macey (2004) Rameses x Beth
1.0 Jabari (2010) Imported 2012 (USA) Harem Leader
1.0 Azizi (2010) Imported 2012 (USA) Harem Leader
0.1 Qetesh (2010)
0.1 Juju (2015) Jabari x Huddo
1.0 Melako (2017) Jabari x Macey Harem Leader
0.1 Gana (2017) Unknown x Grace
0.1 Hudson (2018) Unknown x Huddo
1.0 Quimby (2018) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Makali (2019) Unknown x Macey
1.0 Quill (2019) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Quilton (2020) Unknown x Qetesh
0.1 Muna (2020) Unknown x Macey
0.1 Mei (2021) Unknown x Macey
Melbourne Zoo have a new female Hamadryas baboon, which appears to be Kasmut (imported from Singapore Zoo by Sydney Zoo in 2019).
The new arrival takes Melbouren’s troop to 5.11 baboons.
From socials:
New female Baboon Kas is turning heads at Melbourne Zoo, attracting the attention of two different males in the troop.
Originally our Keepers thought Kas and young Melako might make the perfect match... but headstrong Kas had other ideas, coupling up with the older Azizi after she was impressed by his brightly-coloured behind.
