Australasian Tapir Population

PaddyRickMFZ said:
Seeing some calves in the future would be amazing. We all know how mesmerising their young is, and I know for a fact the average zoo goer would similarly appreciate it
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It’ll be interesting to see how future breeding programmes are managed.

Brazilian tapir will be readily taken up by a number of facilities and so I’d anticipate at least two zoos to act as breeding hubs to supply other holders. An initial import of 2.2 or 2.3 is likely, with calves bred at regular intervals.

Malayan tapir is more difficult to forecast due to the complications around holding them (shade cover). We have an indication Melbourne and Adelaide are willing to invest in this, but there’s no guarantee other facilities will be. With this in mind, I’d still expect an initial import of 2.2 (one pair at each zoo), but with breeding restricted.
 
Australasian Tapir Population 2024

Welcome to my long overdue update to This Population thread a lot has happened since the initial listing of 2021 and I'll be going over the many events previously mentioned as well as unmentioned. First off Darling Downs Zoo lost their last two Brazilian tapirs Male Alf (1991) and Female Tiquie (1998) in the December's of 2021 and 2022 respectively. Adelaide Zoo lost one of their two female Malayan Tapirs Mia (1996) in October 2021 as well as their elderly female Brazilian Tapir Talara (1987) in mid 2023 (neither of which were announced by the zoo themselves), Melbourne Zoo on the other hand Lost their Sole Malayan Tapir Female Semangka (1999) in June 2023 these five deaths leave only 2 (1.1) Brazilian Tapirs and 1 (0.1) Malayan Tapir all at Adelaide Zoo hence this listing is gonna be painfully short. Malayan are destined for Phase out of the region upon the death of the remaining female. Excitingly howver Melbourne Zoo is expected to receive a breeding Pair of Brazilian Tapirs from Europe within the next few months with Adelaide and Darling Downs Zoo also planning to import within the years to come hopefully giving the Brazilian Population a new start.

Malayan Tapir

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

0.1 Jelita (Sulkng x Mia) 00-00-2000 Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

Brazilian Tapir

Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia

1.0 Arturo (Tiapo x Tupi) 01-04-2006 Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW, Australia
0.1 Chiquita (Unknown x Talara) 27-08-2002 Adelaide Zoo, SA, Australia
 
Tiger91 said:
It's good to see that our zoos are going to reimport Brazilian tapirs again, they are a great species!.
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It’s great to hear there’s plans in place for multiple pairs (potentially three breeding pairs) to be imported. It demonstrates a level of long term commitment to this species on a regional level, with the potential for other holders to receive first generation offspring from these pairings. If all founders breed, the population could remain sustainable for up to three decades before new founders are required.

As striking as the Malayan tapir are, they were poorly suited to the Australian climate and having all tapir holders concentrating on Brazilian tapir will ensure the programme is well supported.
 
Jambo said:
Does anyone have any info on the history of both the Brazilians and Malayans in the region? I'm looking into perhaps doing some research into this.
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Some info on New Zealand’s last tapir:

1.0 Branco
Born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo October 1990
Arrived at Hamilton Zoo 1991
Died at Hamilton Zoo September 2016

0.1 Mrs Branco
Born at Adelaide Zoo May 1991
Arrived at Hamilton Zoo 1992
Died at Hamilton Zoo June 2019

It’s possible that Mrs Branco was the daughter of Talara (born at Marwell Zoo in 1987), as Talara was imported by Adelaide Zoo in 1990; though I note another tapir (Alf) was born at Adelaide Zoo the same year as Mrs Branco, suggesting they had two breeding females (or Mrs Branco and Alf were twins)
 
Ironically I did some research on the topic about 1 year ago. Here is the info a found

Adelaide Zoo (South Australia):

Malayan Tapirs:

Mia: Imported from Henry Doorly Zoo, USA, in 1998.

Sulong: Imported from Singapore Zoo in 1997; fathered Jelita; passed away in 2008.

Jelita: Born at Adelaide Zoo in 2000 to Mia and Sulong.

Brazilian Tapirs:

Talara: Born at Marwell Zoo, UK, in 1987; imported to Adelaide in 1990.

Chiquita: Born at Adelaide Zoo in 2002 to Talara.

Arturo: Born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2006; transferred to Adelaide Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo (Victoria):

Malayan Tapirs:

Semangka: Born at Taronga Zoo in 1999; transferred to Melbourne Zoo; passed away in 2023.

Taronga Zoo (New South Wales):

Malayan Tapirs:

Denise: Imported from Philadelphia Zoo, USA, in 1998; mother of Semangka; passed away in 2008.

Berani: Imported from Toronto Zoo, Canada, in 1996; father of Semangka; later moved to Hunter Valley Zoo; passed away in 2018.

Brazilian Tapirs:

Tiquie: Born at Adelaide Zoo in 1998; transferred to Taronga Zoo in 2006; later moved to Darling Downs Zoo in 2014.Â


Darling Downs Zoo (Queensland):

Brazilian Tapirs:

Alf: Born at Adelaide Zoo in 1991; transferred to Alma Park Zoo in 2012; moved to Darling Downs Zoo in 2014.

Tiquie: Born at Adelaide Zoo in 1998; transferred to Taronga Zoo in 2006; moved to Darling Downs Zoo in 2014.
 
Zoofan15 said:
It’s possible that Mrs Branco was the daughter of Talara (born at Marwell Zoo in 1987), as Talara was imported by Adelaide Zoo in 1990; though I note another tapir (Alf) was born at Adelaide Zoo the same year as Mrs Branco, suggesting they had two breeding females (or Mrs Branco and Alf were twins)
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I believe they may have had two adult females. There's record of a female passing in 2009 although they were unnamed in the report.

An article also mentioned a male was the first tapir born at Adelaide (and there was no mention of Ms Branco). I believe this was in reference to Alf; although the article is behind a paywall so can't confirm.
 
Jambo said:
I believe they may have had two adult females. There's record of a female passing in 2009 although they were unnamed in the report.

An article also mentioned a male was the first tapir born at Adelaide (and there was no mention of Ms Branco). I believe this was in reference to Alf; although the article is behind a paywall so can't confirm.
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I agree two females is the strongest possibility as twins are a rare event; and even today, survival of twins is rare.

Gestation is 13 months, so they couldn’t have been born to the same mother in a single year - leaving two females as the most likely scenario.
 
Tique was born in 1998 at Adelaide she was sent across to Taronga in October of 2006.

She was the daughter of Talara if memory serves.

In regards to the report, there may have been confusion with the male Malayan who passed around that time.

Tiapo and Tupi were the parents of Arturo at Dubbo. Tiapo passed in 2007. Tupi in 2011?? I may be wrong on their origins but I thought it was Adelaide?

Mogo's group were from Melbourne who sent a reasonable amount of their animals across in the late 90's.
 
Trua said:
Tique was born in 1998 at Adelaide she was sent across to Taronga in October of 2006.

She was the daughter of Talara if memory serves.

In regards to the report, there may have been confusion with the male Malayan who passed around that time.

Tiapo and Tupi were the parents of Arturo at Dubbo. Tiapo passed in 2007. Tupi in 2011?? I may be wrong on their origins but I thought it was Adelaide?

Mogo's group were from Melbourne who sent a reasonable amount of their animals across in the late 90's.
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If so, that means Talara (1987) had at least three offspring:

1.0 Alf (1991); or 0.1 Mrs Branco (1991)
0.1 Tique (1998)
0.1 Chiquita (2002)

Regarding Tiapo and Tupi at Dubbo, another possibility is one of them was born at Dubbo as Dubbo bred the species in 1990 (and may have had more offspring throughout that decade); with the other then coming from Adelaide Zoo (possible fourth offspring of Talara).

It seems unlikely full siblings would have been bred together; unless Tiapo and Tupi were born to the two females who produced offspring the same year at Adelaide in 1991 and were in fact half-siblings.
 
Zoofan15 said:
If so, that means Talara (1987) had at least three offspring:

1.0 Alf (1991); or 0.1 Mrs Branco (1991)
0.1 Tique (1998)
0.1 Chiquita (2002)

Regarding Tiapo and Tupi at Dubbo, another possibility is one of them was born at Dubbo as Dubbo bred the species in 1990 (and may have had more offspring throughout that decade); with the other then coming from Adelaide Zoo (possible fourth offspring of Talara).

It seems unlikely full siblings would have been bred together; unless Tiapo and Tupi were born to the two females who produced offspring the same year at Adelaide in 1991 and were in fact half-siblings.
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I do remember someone telling me Dubbo's breeding pair were from Adelaide. I could be confusing this with Tique however.

I knew Dubbo had them back then but never knew they bred them. I knew Melbourne and Adelaide had breeding groups. Both of their groups didn't end up welcoming calves until the 90's.
 
Thanks @Trua!

In regards to Dubbo I'm wondering whether Tupi and Tiapo were indeed from Adelaide.

It would theoretically make sense if Tupi may have been the other original female; and mother of Alf or Miss Branco (both born 1991). Tiapo could then have been a son of Talara. A lot of 'T' names I do believe there may have been a connection!

Tiapo passing in 2007 makes sense as Dubbo ceased breeding after Arturo's birth the previous year. Tupi passing around 2011 also makes sense as both Alf and Arturo were transferred out in 2012 (to Darling Downs and Melbourne respectively).

Any further info on Melbourne's pair would be much appreciated. In the history thread, Steve shared a video from 1989 which showed a pair of Brazilian Tapir which would have been the pair you referenced. Mogo's last male (Mendeze) was born 1991/1992 so he could have been their first offspring if they were all Melbourne's former animals.
 
Trua said:
I do remember someone telling me Dubbo's breeding pair were from Adelaide. I could be confusing this with Tique however.

I knew Dubbo had them back then but never knew they bred them. I knew Melbourne and Adelaide had breeding groups. Both of their groups didn't end up welcoming calves until the 90's.
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At a minimum, Dubbo had one birth during the 1990’s, which was the male sent to Hamilton Zoo:

1.0 Branco
Born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo October 1990
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 1991
Died at Hamilton Zoo September 2016

I don’t know any details on his parents, including if they had further offspring.
 
Talara and Tupi could have arrived together? Half sisters?

I do believe the Brazilian Tapir population began to inbred as time went on so that does support the theory of Dubbo's later pair (Tiapo and Tupi) being related. Melbourne's pair were fairly new too, only arriving mid to late 80's. So breeding in the region didn't kick off until the 90's.

Branco's parents are the biggest curiosity.

Not sure on the names of ex Melbourne animals. It might have been their breeding pair with their son and daughter? Memory's a little dodgy. The father passed in the mid 2000's and the others I dare say followed over the next decade around abouts until the last in 2016.
 
Trua said:
Talara and Tupi could have arrived together? Half sisters?

I do believe the Brazilian Tapir population began to inbred as time went on so that does support the theory of Dubbo's later pair (Tiapo and Tupi) being related. Melbourne's pair were fairly new too, only arriving mid to late 80's. So breeding in the region didn't kick off until the 90's.

Branco's parents are the biggest curiosity.

Not sure on the names of ex Melbourne animals. It might have been their breeding pair with their son and daughter? Memory's a little dodgy. The father passed in the mid 2000's and the others I dare say followed over the next decade around abouts until the last in 2016.
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Yes, I’m wondering if Tiapo and Tupi were born to the respective mothers of Alf and Mrs Branco, who were both born at Adelaide Zoo in 1991 (to what appears to be seperate mothers given the rarity of surviving twins).

It would make sense if one of those females had then transferred out of Adelaide sometime in the 1990’s.

I vaguely recall hearing Hamilton’s pair were distantly related, but am not 100% on this. Hamilton Zoo did attempt to breed them (unsuccessfully).

Talara alone is proof this species breeds relatively well if compatible pairs are formed. Hopefully the new pairs we import will have success.
 
Trua said:
Talara and Tupi could have arrived together? Half sisters?

I do believe the Brazilian Tapir population began to inbred as time went on so that does support the theory of Dubbo's later pair (Tiapo and Tupi) being related. Melbourne's pair were fairly new too, only arriving mid to late 80's. So breeding in the region didn't kick off until the 90's.

Branco's parents are the biggest curiosity.

Not sure on the names of ex Melbourne animals. It might have been their breeding pair with their son and daughter? Memory's a little dodgy. The father passed in the mid 2000's and the others I dare say followed over the next decade around abouts until the last in 2016.
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That could explain their similar 'T' names which Adelaide seemed to continue for a period.

Ms Branco was apparently named by Hamilton since they received her young. Do we know when Alf was sent to Dubbo? If he was sent to Dubbo in the early 90's it could indicate they may have lost their breeding male not long after Branco's birth (hence the need for a replacement?). This could explain why they presumably didn't breed after Branco.

I actually just read a post that confirms Mogo's individuals being ex Melbourne as you say and their being a mother/son pair. Mogo apparently had three individuals going into the early 2010's with the other female (the daughter?) remaining separate. I found photos online of a Brazilian Tapir offspring born at Melbourne which don't seem to have been taken in the early 90's (although I could be wrong).
 
Jambo said:
Thanks @Trua!

In regards to Dubbo I'm wondering whether Tupi and Tiapo were indeed from Adelaide.

It would theoretically make sense if Tupi may have been the other original female; and mother of Alf or Miss Branco (both born 1991). Tiapo could then have been a son of Talara. A lot of 'T' names I do believe there may have been a connection!

Tiapo passing in 2007 makes sense as Dubbo ceased breeding after Arturo's birth the previous year. Tupi passing around 2011 also makes sense as both Alf and Arturo were transferred out in 2012 (to Darling Downs and Melbourne respectively).

Any further info on Melbourne's pair would be much appreciated. In the history thread, Steve shared a video from 1989 which showed a pair of Brazilian Tapir which would have been the pair you referenced. Mogo's last male (Mendeze) was born 1991/1992 so he could have been their first offspring if they were all Melbourne's former animals.
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@Jambo I had thought that Alf came from the former old Alma Park zoo prior to his transfer to the DDZ?
 
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