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Cassius the Chimpanzee has died aged 53 years:

Rockhampton Zoo farewells beloved Cassius

Cassie passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon after a rapid decline in health earlier in the week

Cassius, who was born in Coolangatta in 1971, has called the Rockhampton Zoo home for the past 39 years. He was brought to the local area with his brother Ockie in 1986. The brothers remained together until Ockie sadly passed away in 2013.
 
1.1 chimps have arrived from Sydney Zoo. Many, a 25-year-old neutered male, and 22-year-old female Mary arrived last Wednesday. Mary is the sister of Jerry, the male chimpanzee who joined the zoo in 2023. The pair have engaged with positive behaviours during introductions including with alpha male Alon. It is hoped that Mary and Alon breed soon: Meet Many and Mary – Rockhampton Zoo’s newest chimpanzees
 
Additionally, Rockhampton Zoo have received a new Freshwater Crocodile hatchling. It was found wandering on a Gold Coast street by a member of public back in March, being a suspected illegal dumping. Named Goldie, it will be housed off-show while it grows to an appropriate size to join their resident male Hahn: Baby croc found wandering Gold Coast streets settles into new home
 
Northern white-cheeked gibbon transferring out:

It was mentioned on socials today that Northern white-cheeked gibbon Nakai (2011) is transferring out in the near future.

The receiving facility wasn’t announced, but was stated to have an open air, moated exhibit, which suggests it will be Taronga Western Plains Zoo. They had/have an elderly pair of Lar gibbons, which may well have passed on after being moved off display.

Nakai will apparently be joined by a female companion. The obvious candidate is Lulani (2019) from Perth.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Northern white-cheeked gibbon transferring out:

It was mentioned on socials today that Northern white-cheeked gibbon Nakai (2011) is transferring out in the near future.

The receiving facility wasn’t announced, but was stated to have an open air, moated exhibit, which suggests it will be Taronga Western Plains Zoo. They had/have an elderly pair of Lar gibbons, which may well have passed on after being moved off display.

Nakai will apparently be joined by a female companion. The obvious candidate is Lulani (2019) from Perth.
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It would be interesting to see Dubbo hold two species of Gibbon if so (with Taronga holding none). Still it's a good possibility as the Lar Gibbons haven't been on display for quite a while now. They moved across to the Saimang island, but after the arrival of the new female Saimang earlier this year, they haven't returned to their previous island.

Dubbo apparently plan to import a mate for their female Saimang, so if they are acquiring Nakai, it would make sense if they were also importing a female mate for him at the same time.

The only other realistic option regionally is to send him back to Perth to pair with Lulani in a non breeding pair. Their exhibits also fit the description.
 
Jambo said:
It would be interesting to see Dubbo hold two species of Gibbon if so (with Taronga holding none). Still it's a good possibility as the Lar Gibbons haven't been on display for quite a while now. They moved across to the Saimang island, but after the arrival of the new female Saimang earlier this year, they haven't returned to their previous island.

Dubbo apparently plan to import a mate for their female Saimang, so if they are acquiring Nakai, it would make sense if they were also importing a female mate for him at the same time.

The only other realistic option regionally is to send him back to Perth to pair with Lulani in a non breeding pair. Their exhibits also fit the description.
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There is the old silvery gibbon exhibit at Taronga that is moated, tho i think western plains zoo is the more likely option. There Lar gibbons were quite old.
Id love to see Taronga utilise the old silvery gibbon enclosure for gibbons again, it would need some expansion but that would be doable with the new love of overhead rope pathways.

Do we know why Rockhampton are phasing the species out, do they plan to reacquire in the future or go into another species.
 
Tiger91 said:
There is the old silvery gibbon exhibit at Taronga that is moated, tho i think western plains zoo is the more likely option. There Lar gibbons were quite old.
Id love to see Taronga utilise the old silvery gibbon enclosure for gibbons again, it would need some expansion but that would be doable with the new love of overhead rope pathways.

Do we know why Rockhampton are phasing the species out, do they plan to reacquire in the future or go into another species.
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Jambo said:
Transferring Nakai does indicate a phase out from the collection (whether temporary or permanent). I could certainly see them looking at instead accommodating a different species of gibbon, like Silverys or Saimang.
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Nakai was recommended for transferring out due to being hand-raised and reactive to visitors at the glass. Moving to a moated exhibit will lessen his interactions with the public and encourage natural behaviour.

With this in mind, I consider it likely a new pair will come to Rockhampton in the future.
 
Jambo said:
Transferring Nakai does indicate a phase out from the collection (whether temporary or permanent). I could certainly see them looking at instead accommodating a different species of gibbon, like Silverys or Saimang.
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Of memory isn't there a few silverys that are at dispersal stage and could do with the extra holder. If so that would be a great move for them to make. Globally silverys are a more pertinent species to keep, being less of them and harder to keep.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Nakai was recommended for transferring out due to being hand-raised and reactive to visitors at the glass. Moving to a moated exhibit will lessen his interactions with the public and encourage natural behaviour.

With this in mind, I consider it likely a new pair will come to Rockhampton in the future.
Click to expand...

That seems like a fair reason to move him, the moated exhibits at western plains would be ideal for him.
 
Tiger91 said:
Of memory isn't there a few silverys that are at dispersal stage and could do with the extra holder. If so that would be a great move for them to make. Globally silverys are a more pertinent species to keep, being less of them and harder to keep.
Click to expand...
Re. the Silvery Gibbons; there were plans to send 1.0 Owa (2014) to Mogo to pair with 0.1 Jawa (2015). I'm not sure if that has occurred yet, but either way, aside from them Perth has another younger male and Mogo has two younger females (so enough candidates to form a pair at Rockhampton if need be).
 
Nakai the Northern white-cheeked gibbon has transfered out:

His departure (presumably to Dubbo or Perth given his new home will have a moated exhibit) leaves Rockhampton Zoo without the species.

From socials:

This morning Nakai began his journey to meet his new companion! His keepers have been training with him in preparation for his move, and it all paid off when he was asked to enter his transport crate voluntarily this morning.

We are sad to see him go, but are thrilled to see him on his journey and look forward to seeing him thrive with a female companion!
 
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