Auckland Zoo orangutans

Any chance of some transfers soon abroad or participation in the EEP or SSP for Bornean orangs? My hometown zoo could really use an unrelated (sub-)adult male for breeding purposes! ;)

I find the complexity to relate to non-breeding of an endangered taxon rather confusing (hell surplus ok, but .... something keeps nagging us here)! :(
 
I think in the future we will be looking outside of the region to transfer animals, as we are the only holders of Borneans in the whole area! Is just difficult being down this end of the world, and having to comply with various country's requirements etc. :) Would be lovely to contribute to the breeding program, but a bit stuck being the only place!
 
Yes actually. Our three in the old chimp enclosure are heading off to Florida in about a month. Horst, Intan and Indra are going to Busch Gardens Zoo in Florida to be part of an international breeding programn. Horst will become the number one male in the studbook when he arrives so will be a busy boy!
 
Laloba said:
Yes actually. Our three in the old chimp enclosure are heading off to Florida in about a month. Horst, Intan and Indra are going to Busch Gardens Zoo in Florida to be part of an international breeding programn. Horst will become the number one male in the studbook when he arrives so will be a busy boy!
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Thanks for replying I knew they were due to leave at some point this year but had no idea when. It will be a big change for them all as Indra and Horst have been in Auckland for over 20 years if I remember correctly and Intan was born in Auckland so she's never known any other home. I wish them all the best and will be listening out for the pitter patter of baby orang feet at Busch Gardens. I will make sure I pay them a visit when I go to Florida next year. Good luck guys.
Keep us updated please Laloba thanks.
 
What is happening to the enclosure..? Is this why I haven't seen them on display for a while..?
 
What is the plan for Isam? Will he stay in Auckland or be sent out of the region?
 
Isim

Nope they have not been taken off display, still all normal goings on, although due to the weather recently they often have access to their heated indoor dens and choose to hide out in there on yucky days!

The enclosure will be empty for a wee while, then Isim and Gangsa will move down there. This will be fantastic for all the animals as there won't be too adult males having to attempt to rotate around one area!
 
Laloba said:
Nope they have not been taken off display, still all normal goings on, although due to the weather recently they often have access to their heated indoor dens and choose to hide out in there on yucky days!

The enclosure will be empty for a wee while, then Isim and Gangsa will move down there. This will be fantastic for all the animals as there won't be too adult males having to attempt to rotate around one area!
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Laloba,

This was the move we discussed some wee time back! Does this now infer that Auckland is technically part of the SSP Bornean Orang Utan? Second, what is the immediate aim for the breeding group left behind ... any breeding recommendations now ... (after all we are talking ENDANGERED at 40-65,000 individuals in the wild (and even then separated into 3 separate subspecies ...). A definite case for captive treatment???????
 
Auckland Zoo has always wanted to be able to contribute to the breeding programs but being the only zoo in Australasia with Borneans is very difficult. It is a logistical nightmare to try and send animals so far, and as it is it has taken years to get this transfer sorted - the most difficult thing being import/export health requirements in the states.
No zoo works in exclusivity these days, the international zoo community always tries to work together, but Auckland Zoo is left in a difficult place being the only holders of Borneans in the region. No other zoos in the region want to take any of ours because the region is trying to focus on Sumatrans, and Auckland Zoo cannot breed because we don't have the space for offspring, and nowhere for them to go!
 
Is there any discussions about slowly phasing out Auckland's group via transfer, etc and introducing Sumatrans..?
 
I know that is the long-term goal. But we're talking very long-term here due to lack of space in the region and logistics of transfer! But yes, eventually we'd like to be in line with the rest of the region and be part of the Sumatran program!
 
Laloba said:
I know that is the long-term goal. But we're talking very long-term here due to lack of space in the region and logistics of transfer! But yes, eventually we'd like to be in line with the rest of the region and be part of the Sumatran program!
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Laloba,

I know I may be very ambitious and forward thinking here (I am WELL AWARE of the logistical nightmare that intercontinent transport can be), but ....! ;)

Four (sorry for being greedy .... :D) fundamental questions:
LOCAL
What is the total capacity for a breeding group of orang utan at Auckland Zoo exactly (with breeding females + capacity for offspring)?
What plans exist for expanding the orang exhibit at Auckland Zoo?

ARAZPA Orang BP
What if Auckland Zoo were to send its entire collection of Borneans (how many are left now, 5?) interstate out to EEP or SSP (the best functioning cooperative captive-breeding programmes outside the ARAZPA region) and change over immediately to Sumatrans (as the ARAZPA masterplan would have it). Your thoughts on this?
Are there in all fairness any surplus Sumatrans from the ARAZPA region that Auckland zoo would be able to take or get regional recommendation for transfer for (if and when the third fundamental question was adressed properly)?

Thank you very much,

K.B.
 
All the above questions are very interesting, and there are people far more qualified than I to answer them, such as the Species co-ordinator for each species/region etc.
In an ideal world, yes we would probably do as you suggest and simply send off our 5 Borneans to take part in their programs overseas and source Sumatrans. However it really is a very complicated issue!
We are probably talking decades before we can phase into Sumatrans, simply because of the problems with such long distance transfers and finding space for our animals etc.
As far as I'm aware Auckland Zoo have no plans to expand the current Orangutan exhibits, apart from long term changes such as possibly linking the two exhibits together with an aerial race, but again, this is a very distant idea!
Sorry I can't be more helpful!
 
Horst, Indra, Intan update

Hey, thanks for asking!
OUr lovely trio are doing amazingly well on their big OE. A keeper from Auckland Zoo is still with them and she has been so impressed with how they have coped and bounced back.
The trio have just finished their month-long quarantine in LA, and are right this very minute jetting to their final destination at Busch Gardens, Florida.
We miss them very much but it is so nice to hear they are just fine, and we are looking forward to being able to move one of our groups from the big exhibit, down to the other exhibit in the next few months :)
 
Kifaru Bwana,

from what i had heard auckland was, for a very long time having no takers on their offer to send their borneans to an overseas zoo to become part of a managed program
elsewhere. finally, it seems busch gardens took three.
 
I'm new to this zoochat and havn't caught up with everything would you be able to tell me what "SSP and EEP" stands for
 
Duma said:
I'm new to this zoochat and havn't caught up with everything would you be able to tell me what "SSP and EEP" stands for
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EEP stands for European Endangered Species program. They co-ordinate and oversea all breeding programs throughout European zoo's.
SSP stands for Species Survival Plan.
 
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