Hello, I was wondering if the there are any Jaguars in Australia anymore, I know there used to be a female in Mogo Zoo but if I remember correctly I think she died. According to the ISIS Australia has none but I was hoping that some non-ISIS would have them as I do not think you are able to import big cats these days and I don't want them to die out of Australia.
Jaguars
- Thread starter nrg800
- Start date
Too late! I'm revved!
What phoenix means is that there are a lot of us out here (well there's me anyway) who, in blatant disregard of the sound principles of collection planning as proposed by the Carnivore TAG of ARAZPA, are bemoaning the fact that Aust. zoos no longer intend keeping any big cats except lions, Sumatran tigers and snow leopards.
Importation of big cats is certainly not prohibited by the Australian government.
This issue has been fiercely debated on various old threads on this forum; not always logically, I'm the first to admit. I can understand ARAZPA's decision, but I don't have to like it.
What phoenix means is that there are a lot of us out here (well there's me anyway) who, in blatant disregard of the sound principles of collection planning as proposed by the Carnivore TAG of ARAZPA, are bemoaning the fact that Aust. zoos no longer intend keeping any big cats except lions, Sumatran tigers and snow leopards.
Importation of big cats is certainly not prohibited by the Australian government.
This issue has been fiercely debated on various old threads on this forum; not always logically, I'm the first to admit. I can understand ARAZPA's decision, but I don't have to like it.
Pumas are on the way out, if not already.
Going along with Ara about not following sound, logical principles I personally would like to see a zoo that specialises in the animals that can be imported with relative ease, that is felines, canines and primates.
Going along with Ara about not following sound, logical principles I personally would like to see a zoo that specialises in the animals that can be imported with relative ease, that is felines, canines and primates.
in all honesty - i would love to see representatives of all the big cats in the country again, but i know its probably a bit much to expect of a region that can't seem to agree/commit to so many species.
still jaguars would be no 3 on my priority list (after tigers and lions) as they represent the most beautiful rosetted coat of all the cats. they also come in "panther" giving zoos two for the price of one so to speak. they will form one breeding program, but effectively give zoos two types of cats to display. of course leopards perform equally at the above criteria, and i'd love to keep them two - however the jaguar creeps higher in priority simply as it hails from the americas. giving any zoo that finally decides to do take a break from the afro-asia complex, a star attraction.
still jaguars would be no 3 on my priority list (after tigers and lions) as they represent the most beautiful rosetted coat of all the cats. they also come in "panther" giving zoos two for the price of one so to speak. they will form one breeding program, but effectively give zoos two types of cats to display. of course leopards perform equally at the above criteria, and i'd love to keep them two - however the jaguar creeps higher in priority simply as it hails from the americas. giving any zoo that finally decides to do take a break from the afro-asia complex, a star attraction.
Mogo Zoo originally had two Jaguars, Oscar and Olive and supposedly "Oscar died of natural causes mid 2007". I haven't heard anything about Olive. Unfortunately, these are/were the last jaguars in Australia.
animal kid
Well-Known Member
also while were on the big cat topic
are there plans to breed cheetahs or pumas in aus especially at werribee or melbounre and has melb got plans for the small cat alley or the big cat cages?
are there plans to breed cheetahs or pumas in aus especially at werribee or melbounre and has melb got plans for the small cat alley or the big cat cages?
Monarto, Western Plains and Orana are all trying to breed cheetahs and the species are a priority for the region. Werribee only have two males currently.
There is currently no regional program for pumas despite several institutions expressing interest in displaying them. I think Melbourne's pumas are post-reproductive anyway.
Major upgrades to the two cat alleys at Melbourne are unlikely because a majority of the animals are nearing the end of there life and there is no regional program for most of the species.
MARK
Well-Known Member
in all honesty - i would love to see representatives of all the big cats in the country again, but i know its probably a bit much to expect of a region that can't seem to agree/commit to so many species.
So true
Orana has had cheetah cubs this year and cubs were born at Western Plains last year/ (I think it was last year).
i've pretty much come to the conclusion that this is the result of australian zoos indulgence in the over-capitalisation of mega immersion exhibits.
whereas we once used fences to contain animals the trend has been to substitute this for (more often than not, unsightly) mock rock and now exotic themed architecture. whilst this is all good, using the theme of a real forest and simply using plants as a way of screening fencing is a much cheaper, and in my opinion, attractive alternative.
i want melbourne to refurbish rather than demolish its big cat alley. at a guess the zoo intends on demolishing this whole area and replacing it with a one or two snow leopard enclosures that, neither offers more space for the animals and simply lowers our holding capacity. no doubt a nepalese style pavilion will take up the majority of the space.
i don't know what the indoor quarters are like - but from a visitor perspective all it really needs is some new harp string wire fronts to the cages, new garden beds, and visitor barriers would be all it needs to completely modernise this facility.
its as if with all this theming we forgot that orangutans don't live in malayan longhouses or buddhist temples. they live in forests. chuck up some fences and spend the cash on plants and more animals!
whereas we once used fences to contain animals the trend has been to substitute this for (more often than not, unsightly) mock rock and now exotic themed architecture. whilst this is all good, using the theme of a real forest and simply using plants as a way of screening fencing is a much cheaper, and in my opinion, attractive alternative.
i want melbourne to refurbish rather than demolish its big cat alley. at a guess the zoo intends on demolishing this whole area and replacing it with a one or two snow leopard enclosures that, neither offers more space for the animals and simply lowers our holding capacity. no doubt a nepalese style pavilion will take up the majority of the space.
i don't know what the indoor quarters are like - but from a visitor perspective all it really needs is some new harp string wire fronts to the cages, new garden beds, and visitor barriers would be all it needs to completely modernise this facility.
its as if with all this theming we forgot that orangutans don't live in malayan longhouses or buddhist temples. they live in forests. chuck up some fences and spend the cash on plants and more animals!
At Melbourne I wonder if people take the time to enjoy the stroll through the gardens between the tigers and the elephants. It is a lovely area but is it necessary or would it have been better to have used the space for the elephants? and why is it that this area hasn't been better used for small enclosures? Perhaps an asian monkey species, or fishing cats?
I emphatically agree with phoenix. I would rather see 5 pairs of tigers? jaguars? or whatever in 5 modest but suitable enclosures than just 1 pair in some over-the-top hideously costly display.
The whole purpose of cooperation between zoos as represented by the formation of ARAZPA was to increase the effectiveness of breeding programs. Instead it has been used to reduce the number of cats held by each zoo. In the 1960's, for instance, Taronga had capacity to accommodate up to 10 lions and 10 tigers . At the same time Melbourne had 12 lions and 8 tigers. Both also had a good number of leopards, jaguars, and pumas.Nowadays the total capacity of all Australian mainstream zoos wouldn't be much more than that.
The whole purpose of cooperation between zoos as represented by the formation of ARAZPA was to increase the effectiveness of breeding programs. Instead it has been used to reduce the number of cats held by each zoo. In the 1960's, for instance, Taronga had capacity to accommodate up to 10 lions and 10 tigers . At the same time Melbourne had 12 lions and 8 tigers. Both also had a good number of leopards, jaguars, and pumas.Nowadays the total capacity of all Australian mainstream zoos wouldn't be much more than that.