I wish I can slap the stupid out of those responsible for the restrictions / challenges we’re facing regarding the imports of fresh blood .
Taronga Zoo Future of Taronga Zoo (Speculation / Fantasy)
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
I wish I can slap the stupid out of those responsible for the restrictions / challenges we’re facing regarding the imports of fresh blood .
There's just limited reason to do so these days. Most of our hoofstock species are already inbred and are currently populous in significant numbers which are deemed adequate enough to sustain regional breeding long term without the need of imports.
Take zebra for example; regional management isn't the least concerned about inbreeding, maintaining the previous purebred populations or even importing these days. You'd hope some zoos would be willing to help with Steve's initiative up at DDZ but alas, none are interested.
There's just limited reason to do so these days. Most of our hoofstock species are already inbred and are currently populous in significant numbers which are deemed adequate enough to sustain regional breeding long term without the need of imports.
Take zebra for example; regional management isn't the least concerned about inbreeding, maintaining the previous purebred populations or even importing these days. You'd hope some zoos would be willing to help with Steve's initiative up at DDZ but alas, none are interested.
It upsets me to think that no other zoo would support Steve by continuing the importation of purebred stock . Upsets me to think that he invested time and money to import them only for them to probably crossbreed in the future .
Luckily Steve doesn't give up so easily! He still has some tricks up his sleeve.
ZooDoo received zebra from the same import, but unfortunately the only viable female has died, ending their breeding programme. It’s a shame that they never transferred out their colts (as was originally the plan) to pair with first generation fillies from Steve’s herd.
Even if she was still alive (and breeding) their purebred program wouldn't have continued for too long anyhow unless there was a change of heart on the management side of things.
To keep the first generation fillies from suffering from reproductive issues due to not breeding he's unfortunately had to acquire a colt from Altina in the mean time. This isn't a permanent move though.
Luckily Steve doesn't give up so easily! He still has some tricks up his sleeve.
I’ll be more than happy to sneak a surplus heard of Zebra on my acreage one day n to invite him over to kick back over Shisha n baklava
Yes, it’s good that at least the first generation mares and fillies at Darling Downs Zoo will remain reproductively viable via regular breeding in the meantime. Orana may have left things too late with their eldest mate, who is nulliparous in her mid-teens; with breeding focussing on the younger mare.
ZooDoo also have a mate that has yet to join the mainland population. Whether that’s still the plan (as it was a couple of years ago) is unclear; but they need to be similarly mindful she’s seven years old now.
Zoodoo will likely be gearing their efforts towards breeding from that filly now that her mother has passed. She's currently the only viable female that Zoodoo have!
If you recall that cockatoo that was terrorising that Cole’s Store for a while ; it was rescued by Ravi from feathered friends birds sanctuary . Aaaaand upon browsing their instagram page ; they houses what appeared to be a pair of condors !
Feathered Friends - Visit the Birds on Instagram: "Celebrating International Vulture Awareness Week!! How beautiful are these two Andean Condors
. . . #bird #birds #condor #andeancondor #birdsofprey"Were the breeding pair named Bruce and Connie ? If so ; that’s them in this video
If you recall that cockatoo that was terrorising that Cole’s Store for a while ; it was rescued by Ravi from feathered friends birds sanctuary . Aaaaand upon browsing their instagram page ; they houses what appeared to be a pair of condors !
Feathered Friends - Visit the Birds on Instagram: "Celebrating International Vulture Awareness Week!! How beautiful are these two Andean Condors
Were the breeding pair named Bruce and Connie ? If so ; that’s them in this video
Yes, Taronga’s breeding pair of Andean condor (Bruce and Connie) were retired to Feathered Friends. That’s good to know they’re still alive.
1.0 Bruce (September 1979) Wild x Wild
0.1 Connie (September 1979) Wild x Wild
They have three offspring in Australia:
0.1 Leslie (November 2003) Bruce x Connie
1.0 Inti (November 2006) Bruce x Connie
0.1 Kondira (November 2011) Bruce x Connie
Bruce and Connie were siblings hatched September 1979 to two wild caught birds imported from South America in 1947. This pair were transferred to Adelaide Zoo in 1988, where they’ve since died.
Inti was transferred first to Australia Zoo; and then to Feathered Friends, where he was paired with Leslie. Kondira remains at Taronga Zoo.
Yes, they have 0.1:
0.1 Kondira (November 2011) Bruce x Connie
Bruce and Connie (Taronga’s breeding pair) were full siblings; but I assume their wild born parents were unrelated. Therefore, the level of inbreeding shouldn’t become an issue at the next generation, especially if no genetic flaws have presented to date.
If we’re to assume Bruce and Connie are past breeding age, their offspring are the only hope for the future of his species in the region given we can’t import.
Attachments
She is/was used still in the Free Flight Show. So she's essentially an ambassador animal these days.
Taronga don't have the facilities to manage multiple groupings so I imagine they've just elected to let Feathered Friends attempt to breed them if they do have the space for that.
Kondira is still used in the free flight demonstrations, I saw her in the presentation in November. She was let out of a large crate at the top of the hill and then flew down to the stage.
Feathered Friends was likely chosen as the site for the potential breeding pair (Inti and Leslie) as it offers them more privacy than they would receive at Taronga. I can’t imagine Australia Zoo agreed to send their only condor there lightly, so there’s presumably a lot of hope this will pay off.
According to socials it appears Taronga are planning to use the interior of Gung's former barn for their new 'train', which is apparently a stand in until the sky safari construction begins again (which is taking longer than expected).
Not sure what that means for Gung's barn and the future of that exhibit!
Not sure what that means for Gung's barn and the future of that exhibit!
My interpretation is the entire area has been dedicated to temporary displays and the aforementioned train until future redevelopment occurs. Like you say, the train is merely a stand in for the SkySafari.
Given how Taronga is one of Australia’s most busy zoos, I struggle to see much point in further congesting the paths with a train once an aerial alternative opens up.
Last edited:
I would've hoped they would've planned to utilise the current facilities there for another species of hoofstock (like Pygmy Hippos), although if they have indeed moved the train in there that seems to indicate they've taken down the 'stalls' in the exterior.
The problem is the sky safari is still pending approval so they won't be able to build it until that point in time. They need funding too - so it's looking it's now another two to three years before the sky safari re-opens unfortunately.
Hopefully those two to three years will give them enough time to decide what to do with this space!
Pygmy hippopotamus are definitely the best fit for this space long term as they require flat space, which is in short supply at Taronga. Additionally, there’s space to build at least three decent sized Pygmy hippopotamus exhibits on this space.
The elephant barn would need a more significant redevelopment for Pygmy hippopotamus than it would say rhinoceros, so I’m not too concerned about the space being used for the train in the interim regarding the existing/pre-existing internal infrastructure.
If they do intend to go the route of Pygmy Hippos here, I'd hope they plan to construct at least one indoor enclosure in the barn too (with viewing). The size of the elephant barn would easily allow this.
This would effectively also allow two sizeable enclosures to be built on the outside; with a third off display behind the barn.