Mzuri is only 2, she won’t be 3 until December. Late 2025 is the earliest there would possibly be another infant.
Rockhampton Zoo Rockhampton Zoo News
- Thread starter zooboy28
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That's correct, I've done the math wrong as Mzuri was born December of 2021 meaning she just turned two.
3.0 Sun Conures have arrived at Rockhampton. The conures have cleared quarantine and been introduced to the zoo's three Blue and Gold Macaws - reported on social media.
I wonder what they will use the empty aviary beside the macaws for. It was the original eagle aviary, but when i visited 2 months agi, keepers were working inside the aviary. Its not planted, but it is quite dark, despite its large size. Another primate could be a possibility.
That aviary was originally built for the macaws and then temporarily used to house Valkyrie the wedge tailed eagle. The macaws moved into the aviary a couple of months ago and now the sun conures are in that aviary too with them. The previous macaw aviary has since been demolished as part of the new entrance construction.
Alon, the zoo's alpha male chimp, and Jerry, the new male from Sydney Zoo, have successfully been introduced to each other and are exhibiting positive bonding behaviours - reported on social media.
That's excellent news indeed!
Five Frill-necked Lizards have arrived and are now mixed with the new Blotched Bluetongue Lizards. Their exhibit is near the cassowary boardwalk area - reported on their FB page.
The two adults male chimps Alon and Gerry have now met the younger chimps Capri and Gandali. Gandali and Jerry are sharing nest building activities and engaging in patrols, a positive sign - reported on social media.
Two female Green-winged Macaws have arrived at Rockhampton Zoo from Western Australia, being a new species for the collection. The pair will be introduced to the new Sun Conures and Blue-and-Gold Macaws - reported on their FB page.
Chimpanzee Transfers and Import
Rockhampton Zoo announces important changes to chimpanzee troop
As part of a carefully considered plan, Rockhampton Zoo’s chimpanzees, Leakey and her three-year-old infant, Mzuri, will be transferred to Sydney Zoo. In their place, two female chimpanzees will join the Rockhampton troop in the near future.
“Rockhampton Zoo will then welcome an 18-year-old female chimpanzee from Sydney Zoo soon after, with a 12-year-old female from Seoul joining the troop in the first half of next year.
Note: The female coming from Sydney Zoo is Sile (2006).
Rockhampton Zoo announces important changes to chimpanzee troop
As part of a carefully considered plan, Rockhampton Zoo’s chimpanzees, Leakey and her three-year-old infant, Mzuri, will be transferred to Sydney Zoo. In their place, two female chimpanzees will join the Rockhampton troop in the near future.
“Rockhampton Zoo will then welcome an 18-year-old female chimpanzee from Sydney Zoo soon after, with a 12-year-old female from Seoul joining the troop in the first half of next year.
Note: The female coming from Sydney Zoo is Sile (2006).
Two Sacred Kingfishers have arrived at Rockhampton and have been introduced to their bush bird aviary - reported on their FB page.
Sile the chimpanzee has arrived:
Female chimpanzee Sile arrived from Sydney Zoo in late December.
Following the departure of mother and daughter, Leakey and Mzuri, this takes Sydney Zoo’s chimpanzee population to 2.4 chimpanzees:
1.0 Cassius (18/10/1971) Chiko x Mary
1.0n Jerry (04/12/1995) Unknown x Mzde; Imported 2019
1.0 Alon (29/01/2008) Abshalom x Avigail; Imported 2015
1.0 Gandali (03/02/2020) Alon x Holly
0.1 Sile (03/07/2006) Unknown x Julchen; Imported 2019
0.1 Capri (11/02/2018) Alon x Leakey
An additional female is scheduled to be imported in the next few months from South Korea.
Female chimpanzee Sile arrived from Sydney Zoo in late December.
Following the departure of mother and daughter, Leakey and Mzuri, this takes Sydney Zoo’s chimpanzee population to 2.4 chimpanzees:
1.0 Cassius (18/10/1971) Chiko x Mary
1.0n Jerry (04/12/1995) Unknown x Mzde; Imported 2019
1.0 Alon (29/01/2008) Abshalom x Avigail; Imported 2015
1.0 Gandali (03/02/2020) Alon x Holly
0.1 Sile (03/07/2006) Unknown x Julchen; Imported 2019
0.1 Capri (11/02/2018) Alon x Leakey
An additional female is scheduled to be imported in the next few months from South Korea.
Updates:
- Boa Constrictor and Boyd's Forest Dragons are two species currently off-show that will be part of the exhibit portion of the brand new entrance. Two female dragons have been introduced together in preparation for their display soon.
- two new dingo pups have arrived from Victoria. They are named Bagari and Nhinda.
- night house and climbing structure developments for the chimps are underway. Sile, the new female chimp has been successfully integrated into the troop with much interest from alpha male Alon.
- the zoo turns 100 this year.
First stage of Chimpanzee exhibit renovations complete:
This is a great video, which showcases the entire exhibit; and also offers a look at the individuals in the troop. It appears Sile has settled well into the troop and has formed a strong bond with Gandali in particular. She’s currently the only adult female in the troop until the new female arrives from South Korea later this year.
From socials:
Part one of our Chimpanzee enclosure renovations are complete!
Major works were undertaken to remove existing timber structures, install two new climbing structures including a hammock and suspended platform.
Footings were also installed in preparation for part two of the renovations coming soon!
The new structures have been designed and placed to encourage natural movement of the chimpanzees through the exhibit and provide alternative resting and grooming areas.
This is a great video, which showcases the entire exhibit; and also offers a look at the individuals in the troop. It appears Sile has settled well into the troop and has formed a strong bond with Gandali in particular. She’s currently the only adult female in the troop until the new female arrives from South Korea later this year.
From socials:
Part one of our Chimpanzee enclosure renovations are complete!
Major works were undertaken to remove existing timber structures, install two new climbing structures including a hammock and suspended platform.
Footings were also installed in preparation for part two of the renovations coming soon!
The new structures have been designed and placed to encourage natural movement of the chimpanzees through the exhibit and provide alternative resting and grooming areas.
It appears Sile is getting along well with both youngsters - Capri and Gandali. With both no longer having mothers within the troop she'll be playing quite an important role in both of their developments being the only adult female in the troop.
Additionally, one thing I do appreciate about this exhibit is how naturalistic it looks fauna wise in relation to their natural habitat in Africa. A lot of the other exhibits regionally, and world wide even, fail to enhance this aspect often display Chimps in open enclosures, but this one certainly looks like one of the most realistic enclosures I've seen for chimps!
While the fully enclosed fencing gives the exterior a dated look, I agree the interior is nicely landscaped and far more reminiscent of a Central African rainforest than the open plan greased exhibits I’m more used to seeing.
Sile will be invaluable in role modelling maternal care to Capri when she welcomes her first infant (which could be as soon as later this year). Although Capri observed the raising of Mzuri by her mother for the first two years; and is practising maternal care on her juvenile half-sibling, it doesn’t hurt to compound this experience by observing Sile raise an infant. The long term plan is for Capri to transfer out and raise her own family.
Update on Chimpanzee Cassius
From socials:
Over the last 40 years, many people in Rockhampton have grown up with Cassius, our 53 year old chimpanzee, as a part of their life. He is a gorgeous old soul who manages to capture the heart of everyone he meets.
However, at 53 years old, Cassius is nearing the end of his life. He is currently the oldest male chimpanzee in Australasia. In the wild, he would not have reached this age, with the average lifespan of a wild chimpanzee ranging between 30 and 40 years.
Cass has been moving slowly and stiffly for some time now due to arthritis and general age related physical decline. Sadly we are also starting to see a mental decline. Just like humans, chimpanzees can experience dementia and other age related complications, and we are confident we are seeing dementia take hold of Cassie.
At the moment, we are able to manage his arthritic pain and mental decline with medication. Currently he is coping well, still engaging with the troop, but there will be a time when for his comfort and welfare, we will need to say goodbye as we love him too much to let him suffer.
We wanted to share this with the public as we know he holds a special place in the people of Rockhampton’s hearts, and wanted to give people the opportunity to spend time with him before we say goodbye. In saying that, we don’t know if that will be in a week, a month, six months or longer, it will depend on his decline. Hopefully for him (and all of us), it will be many months away.
From socials:
Over the last 40 years, many people in Rockhampton have grown up with Cassius, our 53 year old chimpanzee, as a part of their life. He is a gorgeous old soul who manages to capture the heart of everyone he meets.
However, at 53 years old, Cassius is nearing the end of his life. He is currently the oldest male chimpanzee in Australasia. In the wild, he would not have reached this age, with the average lifespan of a wild chimpanzee ranging between 30 and 40 years.
Cass has been moving slowly and stiffly for some time now due to arthritis and general age related physical decline. Sadly we are also starting to see a mental decline. Just like humans, chimpanzees can experience dementia and other age related complications, and we are confident we are seeing dementia take hold of Cassie.
At the moment, we are able to manage his arthritic pain and mental decline with medication. Currently he is coping well, still engaging with the troop, but there will be a time when for his comfort and welfare, we will need to say goodbye as we love him too much to let him suffer.
We wanted to share this with the public as we know he holds a special place in the people of Rockhampton’s hearts, and wanted to give people the opportunity to spend time with him before we say goodbye. In saying that, we don’t know if that will be in a week, a month, six months or longer, it will depend on his decline. Hopefully for him (and all of us), it will be many months away.
Interesting that the zoo is soft launching his passing. It's a good way to go about it. To many animal ethics people jump on zoo animals dieing as a reason that captivity is bad. When in reality a great many species survive as well, if not better in captivity and it is reflected in there life span.
In the case of Cassius, he’s an iconic resident many people have an affiliation for, so the announcement serves a practical purpose in that it gives people an opportunity to see him one last time.
Auckland and Hamilton both make numerous postings about care for animals in their old age and how they’re treating their medical conditions, leading up to their inevitable passing. The general public will have their own pre-conceptions of what’s a good age for an animal to live and so it creates awareness of what is actually considered the senior years (5-7 in Tasmanian devil, which seems to be the one that surprises people the most).