The Darling Downs Zoo also have Caracals in purpose built enclosures!
Felids in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion
Zookeeper Chad is the director for Australia Wildlife Parks, so I think it’s safe to assume it’s one of the parks that are part of that brand. DDZ is not
Regarding Caracal groupings:
My friend visited in December 2024 and reported that Sabi and Jasiri were at Mogo Wildlife Park; and Kora was at Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.
Kora had preciously been reported to have been sent from Hunter Valley to Mogo last year, so perhaps ahe was transferred across for breeding and then returned pregnant to Hunter Valley.
Also, I saw two kittens - twins!
Yes that's quite right, I thought you were looking at holders for the Caracal
I thought I might have seen two, but wasn’t 100% sure. Exciting times ahead! Hopefully if Kora is back at the Hunter Valley there’ll be an opportunity to see her and the kittens somehow
I definitely saw two kitten heads and that’s not to say there’s not more, with the litter size for the species ranging from 1-4 kittens.
It’d be nice if Mogo/Hunter Valley/Chad reported more on these sort of events. Rather than seeing the tenth gorilla infant video in a row, I’d rather hear about Caracal breeding transfers or introductions. Even if it’s documented and shared retrospectively once a birth has been announced (as per some zoo’s preference not to announce a birth until there’s some confidence around the litter surviving).
The Caracal mystery deepens…
Mogo are now reporting Kora is at Mogo and ‘one of our two Caracal girls’.
It appears Sabi or Jasiri is the mother of the twins born at Hunter Valley Zoo; with the other joining Kora at Mogo.
I’ll email Mogo/Hunter Valley to see if we can get some answers on which Caracals are where.
Mogo are now reporting Kora is at Mogo and ‘one of our two Caracal girls’.
It appears Sabi or Jasiri is the mother of the twins born at Hunter Valley Zoo; with the other joining Kora at Mogo.
I’ll email Mogo/Hunter Valley to see if we can get some answers on which Caracals are where.
I know Jesiri was at Mogo as of late last year. But that does leave time for her to transfer back to Hunter Valley (pregnant) and birth there.
Zoofan, did either zoo reply? Not sure if there's been a further update that I missed, but when I was at the WCCC they said that Kora was the mother (As her parents are at the WCCC), saying she had had her second litter ealier this year
No they haven’t, but we can assume Kora is the mother in that case. Thanks for confirming.
As of May 2025, Kora and Jesiri were at Mogo; and Sabi was at Hunter Valley Zoo.
Does anyone know the father’s name? Hunter Valley received a male from the Hammerton import that I assume is the father.
Auckland Zoo - Serval History
The first breeding pair were imported from Taronga Zoo in 1983:
1.0 Kudamane
0.1 Selinda
They produced a litter of 1.2, but all three kittens died as neonates.
After the death of Kudamane, two females were transferred in from New Plymouth in 1997:
0.1 Izazi (02/03/1997)
0.1 Mzimba (02/03/1997)
After the death of Selinda, a male was imported from Germany in 2001:
1.0 Indlozi (30/03/2000)
Indlozi and Mzimba produced a litter in 2002:
1.0 Sika (00/03/2002)
Mzimba and Sika were exported to Australian zoos.
In 2003, Auckland Zoo imported a female from South Africa:
0.1 Shey (29/09/2000)
Indlozi and Mzimba produced a litter in 2004:
1.0 Souda (30/11/2004)
0.1 Nkeru (30/11/2004)
0.1 Ngozi (30/11/2004)
Souda and Ngozi were exported to Australian zoos; while Nkeru transferred to Wellington Zoo.
Indlozi and Izazi produced a litter of two in 2009, but the kittens (delivered by caesarean) died at birth.
Indlozi, Izazi and Shey all died at Auckland Zoo (dates unknown, but presumably at least two had died prior to the import of the new pair).
In 2013, a male was imported from Mogo Zoo (notably the son of Auckland’s first surviving Serval kitten, Sika):
1.0 Moholo (00/00/2005)
In 2014, a female was imported from Zoo Boise:
0.1 Shani (27/03/2013)
Moholo and Shani had at least two non-surviving litters (further details unknown).
After the death of Moholo in 2021, a male was imported from Singapore in 2022:
1.0 Toure (00/00/2013)
Toure died in late 2024/early 2025, leaving the zoo with one female Serval (Shani), who is also the last Serval in New Zealand.
Auckland Zoo are currently planning to phase out Serval.
The first breeding pair were imported from Taronga Zoo in 1983:
1.0 Kudamane
0.1 Selinda
They produced a litter of 1.2, but all three kittens died as neonates.
After the death of Kudamane, two females were transferred in from New Plymouth in 1997:
0.1 Izazi (02/03/1997)
0.1 Mzimba (02/03/1997)
After the death of Selinda, a male was imported from Germany in 2001:
1.0 Indlozi (30/03/2000)
Indlozi and Mzimba produced a litter in 2002:
1.0 Sika (00/03/2002)
Mzimba and Sika were exported to Australian zoos.
In 2003, Auckland Zoo imported a female from South Africa:
0.1 Shey (29/09/2000)
Indlozi and Mzimba produced a litter in 2004:
1.0 Souda (30/11/2004)
0.1 Nkeru (30/11/2004)
0.1 Ngozi (30/11/2004)
Souda and Ngozi were exported to Australian zoos; while Nkeru transferred to Wellington Zoo.
Indlozi and Izazi produced a litter of two in 2009, but the kittens (delivered by caesarean) died at birth.
Indlozi, Izazi and Shey all died at Auckland Zoo (dates unknown, but presumably at least two had died prior to the import of the new pair).
In 2013, a male was imported from Mogo Zoo (notably the son of Auckland’s first surviving Serval kitten, Sika):
1.0 Moholo (00/00/2005)
In 2014, a female was imported from Zoo Boise:
0.1 Shani (27/03/2013)
Moholo and Shani had at least two non-surviving litters (further details unknown).
After the death of Moholo in 2021, a male was imported from Singapore in 2022:
1.0 Toure (00/00/2013)
Toure died in late 2024/early 2025, leaving the zoo with one female Serval (Shani), who is also the last Serval in New Zealand.
Auckland Zoo are currently planning to phase out Serval.
Mirri, Australia’s first clouded leopard cub has been exported to Howlett’s in the UK
From Instagram
We're so happy to share that Mirri has arrived safely at her new home at @howlettspark in the UK. Moves like this take a lot of planning and preparation, including our staff making the journey to the UK with Mirri to ensure she settles in well to her new environment!
From Instagram
We're so happy to share that Mirri has arrived safely at her new home at @howlettspark in the UK. Moves like this take a lot of planning and preparation, including our staff making the journey to the UK with Mirri to ensure she settles in well to her new environment!
Howletts have an ageing population.
Last I heard, they have eight on site:
0.1 Henswi (2007)
1.0 Neptune (2008)
0.1 Aranya (2008)
1.0 Sandoway (2008)
0.1 Matsi (2010)
1.0 Maidong (2011)
0.1 Bua (2017)
0.1 Taiyin (2018)
Their website states they have nine, but this includes a Clouded leopard that died in 2024 (therefore taking them to eight if no further changes have occurred).
It appears the population is being allowed to naturally dwindle, with ageing cats obviously being unsuitable candidates for rewilding.