History of Australasia’s Zebra Population

[Zoofan15]

Great research.

Is it possible Zelda was born to one of the initial two foals (Tana or Tina)?

I'm assuming this group stopped breeding once the initial animals died?

Thank you. It was interesting to learn more about Orana’s zebras. Until this week, I was of the belief they’d never bred zebra. While I can’t guarantee the above in an exhaustive list of foals, clearly at least eight were bred throughout the 1980’s!

From memory, Zelda arrived in 2012 from a circus background.

A zebra stallion (possibly the breeding stallion) was killed by a rhinoceros at Orana in the early 1990’s. There were (unsuccessful) attempts to breed zebra in 2003. I don’t know if that was a continuation of the above line; or more likely, the introduction of a stallion from elsewhere (possibly a Grant’s from within New Zealand). Mares reportedly suffer sterility if not bred for long periods (10 years), so that would fit with a pause in breeding circa early 90’s; with unsuccessful attempts to breed from those mares a decade later.

 

[Zoofan15]

Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Grant’s Zebra

Taronga Western Plains Zoo imported 2.2 Grant’s zebra from Auckland Zoo in 1983:

1.0 Sundance (1982) - died 1992
0.1 Misty (1982) - died 2003
1.0 Shannon (1983) - died 1996
0.1 Cilla (1983) - died 2009

Thanks to @steveroberts for the following info:

Dubbo population:

June 1986: 2.3 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1987: 2.4 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1988: 2.5 Grant’s zebra

Since Dubbo had 2.3 Grant’s zebra in June 1986, my assumption is Misty (the eldest mare) foaled a filly circa 1985 (sired by Sundance); with both Misty and Cilla foaling fillies between June 1986 and June 1987 (one of which died the month before). Fillies were produced (presumably to Misty and Cilla again, 12-13 months after their previous foals) between June 1987 and June 1988, one of which died, taking the population to 2.5 Grant’s zebras by June 1988.

What a great run of female births!

 

[Zoofan15]

Early History (Chapman’s zebra)

Melbourne Zoo acquired two Chapman’s zebra in 1920. The stallion was named ‘Billy’ and lived with a mare. They had produced no foals, though the article mentioned the hybrid detailed above, which was apparently a huge attraction. It was therefore implied no zebra foals had been born throughout Melbourne’s history (as of 1926).

On 30/11/1937, a Chapman’s zebra foal was born at Perth Zoo. It was noted to be the first surviving foal, with two previous foals killed by their mother and father respectively. This herd had apparently died out by 1947.

In Novemver 1949, a colt named Zeke was born at Perth Zoo. The parents were the only other zebras at the zoo and had been imported from South Africa in 1947. This pair produced colts in March 1951 and November 1952; and a filly in October 1953.

The filly born in 1953 was noted to take Perth Zoo’s herd to five zebra. The missing foal was the colt born in March 1951. He was killed by his two year old brother at six months of age.

In December 1942, Taronga was noted to have Chapman’s zebra.

Adelaide Zoo received two Chapman’s from Perth Zoo in 1954. A colt named ‘Jimmy’ arrived 12/03/1954; and an unnamed filly arrived 28/06/1954. The pair were transferred from Perth Zoo and from the descriptions given would have been the colt born November 1952 and the filly born October 1953.

Melbourne Zoo received a Chapman’s zebra filly from Perth Zoo in October 1955. This foal was bred at Perth Zoo to their successful breeding pair in 1954 and was their fifth foal. It was noted they’d supplied every zoo in Australia with zebras, implying Taronga received Zeke (born 1949).

Perth Zoo - Chapman’s Zebra

Thanks to @steveroberts for the information via Perth Zoo’s 1986/1987 annual report that Perth Zoo’s zebra population between June 1986 and June 1987 consisted of a single male Chapman’s zebra.

As detailed in the quoted post, Perth Zoo were a prolific breeder of Chapman’s zebra in the 20th century and it’s a strong possibility this male was the last remnant of their breeding herd during the 1950’s.

The male Chapman’s zebra (likely elderly by 1987) was replaced by Grant’s zebra from Auckland Zoo not long after in 1988:

1.0 Charles (1987) - transferred out 1995
0.1 Maureen (1987) - died 2012
0.1 Shona (1987) - died 2013

 

[Zorro]

Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Grant’s Zebra

Taronga Western Plains Zoo imported 2.2 Grant’s zebra from Auckland Zoo in 1983:

1.0 Sundance (1982) - died 1992
0.1 Misty (1982) - died 2003
1.0 Shannon (1983) - died 1996
0.1 Cilla (1983) - died 2009

Thanks to @steveroberts for the following info:

Dubbo population:

June 1986: 2.3 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1987: 2.4 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1988: 2.5 Grant’s zebra

Since Dubbo had 2.3 Grant’s zebra in June 1986, my assumption is Misty (the eldest mare) foaled a filly circa 1985 (sired by Sundance); with both Misty and Cilla foaling fillies between June 1986 and June 1987 (one of which died the month before). Fillies were produced (presumably to Misty and Cilla again, 12-13 months after their previous foals) between June 1987 and June 1988, one of which died, taking the population to 2.5 Grant’s zebras by June 1988.

What a great run of female births!

Considering the Western Plains zoo had herd of pure bred Grants zebra for some time it seems counter productive that they did not keep and expand upon what they actually had

 

[Zoofan15]

Considering the Western Plains zoo had herd of pure bred Grants zebra for some time it seems counter productive that they did not keep and expand upon what they actually had

It was very disappointing. Auckland Zoo acquired their first Grant’s zebra (a stallion) in 1959 and followed that up with the import of a mare in 1963 and two fillies in 1980. From those four animals, a large regional population was then established across multiple holders.

I’m not sure whether Dubbo resorted to hybridisation after the death of the last founder male (Shannon) in 1996; or whether they continued to sustain a purebred herd with a first generation colt sired by either Shannon or Sundance. Auckland and Hamilton’s Grant’s herds remained purebred until the mid-2000’s when they imported generic zebra as mates for their purebred Grant’s.

Since the entire regional population of Grant’s zebra in the 2000’s descended from the four animals detailed above, I assume the decision to hybridise was seen as preferable to repeated inbreeding; but I’d prefer inbred Grant’s or (better yet) a zoo taking the initiative to import as Darling Downs Zoo later did.

 

[Zorro]

It was very disappointing. Auckland Zoo acquired their first Grant’s zebra (a stallion) in 1959 and followed that up with the import of a mare in 1963 and two fillies in 1980. From those four animals, a large regional population was then established across multiple holders.

I’m not sure whether Dubbo resorted to hybridisation after the death of the last founder male (Shannon) in 1996; or whether they continued to sustain a purebred herd with a first generation colt sired by either Shannon or Sundance. Auckland and Hamilton’s Grant’s herds remained purebred until the mid-2000’s when they imported generic zebra as mates for their purebred Grant’s.

Since the entire regional population of Grant’s zebra in the 2000’s descended from the four animals detailed above, I assume the decision to hybridise was seen as preferable to repeated inbreeding; but I’d prefer inbred Grant’s or (better yet) a zoo taking the initiative to import as Darling Downs Zoo later did.

I don't believe that a major zoos could not acquire and import a number of Grants if they really wanted too I would guess it came down to a "manager" making the call at the end of the day a bad choice in the scheme of things

 

[Zoofan15]

Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Grant’s Zebra

Taronga Western Plains Zoo imported 2.2 Grant’s zebra from Auckland Zoo in 1983:

1.0 Sundance (1982) - died 1992
0.1 Misty (1982) - died 2003
1.0 Shannon (1983) - died 1996
0.1 Cilla (1983) - died 2009

Thanks to @steveroberts for the following info:

Dubbo population:

June 1986: 2.3 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1987: 2.4 Grant’s zebra
0.2 born, 0.1 died < 30 days
June 1988: 2.5 Grant’s zebra

Since Dubbo had 2.3 Grant’s zebra in June 1986, my assumption is Misty (the eldest mare) foaled a filly circa 1985 (sired by Sundance); with both Misty and Cilla foaling fillies between June 1986 and June 1987 (one of which died the month before). Fillies were produced (presumably to Misty and Cilla again, 12-13 months after their previous foals) between June 1987 and June 1988, one of which died, taking the population to 2.5 Grant’s zebras by June 1988.

What a great run of female births!

Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Grant’s Zebra

Further information:

The 1986-1987 annual report states that the first zebra foal born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo was a filly named ‘Punda’, who was born October 1986 to Misty.

From this we can conclude:

Cilla’s first foal (born between June 1986 and June 1987) died as a neonate, as two fillies were born in that timeframe (one surviving) and we now know the other was Punda. Since the same formula (two foals born, one dying as neonate) repeated the following year, it’d be interesting to know if the mothers were the same.

The third female Grant’s zebra that was on site in June 1986 was not born at Dubbo as it originally appeared. I’m not aware of Auckland Zoo (the powerhouse of Grant’s zebra breeding at the time) sending Taronga Western Plains Zoo a third female, but will see if I can find anything.

Thank you to @steveroberts for this information.