Mandrills in Australia

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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15+ year member
what is the story with mandrills in Australia? ISIS says there are 1.5 at Adelaide and 2.2 at Melbourne. I'm assuming that they are all closely related? This is one of those species that Australian (and NZ) zoos could use so well for display because they are large (sort of an ape substitute almost, which would work well for zoos that don't or can't display real apes), popular with the public for various reasons (visible, group-dwelling, funny-looking, featured in a movie cartoon, etc), and they are endangered so can be used for promoting conservation. Is it yet another case of missed opportunities?
 
Adelaide may have two mandrills pregnant at the moment, but this is not 100% sure, supposedly one is due in February or March. Adelaide also sent a pair somewhere else but I have no idea where. I'm not sure what the story is with Melbourne's mandrills.
 
In my opinion this is one of the best "smaller" display animals. An alpha male with his harem and offspring would make a great exhibit. They are so photogenic.
I agree totally with Chlidonias on this one.
 
Chlidonias said:
This is one of those species that Australian (and NZ) zoos could use so well for display because they are large (sort of an ape substitute almost, which would work well for zoos that don't or can't display real apes), popular with the public for various reasons (visible, group-dwelling, funny-looking, featured in a movie cartoon, etc), and they are endangered so can be used for promoting conservation. Is it yet another case of missed opportunities?
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You're right in the above...:) I agree they are an ideal 'Ape' subsitute and a spectacular display in their own right.

Colchester in the UK have a group that is usually about 25 strong, yet they started with just a trio and the group has grown from this. Southport(a small seaside Zoo now closed) claim to fame used to be their Mandrill groups, stemming from just a pair initially. So its possible to increase numbers to decent troop size this way from very small initial numbers, provided genetics and over-management aren't allowed to get in the way. Australian/NZ zoos need to remember their own special mantra 'once lost, not easily replaced'.:(
 
I thought they were a phase out species for Australia.
 
'Phase out' seems to be the favourite phrase among Australia's Zoos. Do they want an even smaller range of species than they have now?:rolleyes:
 
I don't think Adelaide ever planned to phase them out, as a keeper told me that in the future they could end up at Monarto. I guess they would go along with the chimps and the colobus (which currently don't have an exhibit).
 
Pertinax said:
'Phase out' seems to be the favourite phrase among Australia's Zoos. Do they want an even smaller range of species than they have now?:rolleyes:
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It's all a secret plot by animal rights groups to eradicate zoos. Every year phase out another species from anz zoos and eventually there will be nothing in them. It will take maybe 50 years till the last die but hey they'll get there.:D
 
Electus Parrot said:
I don't think Adelaide ever planned to phase them out, as a keeper told me that in the future they could end up at Monarto. I guess they would go along with the chimps and the colobus (which currently don't have an exhibit).
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And they seem to breeding them quite well with one birth late last year and possibly 2 more on the way this year.
 
jay said:
It's all a secret plot by animal rights groups to eradicate zoos. Every year phase out another species from anz zoos and eventually there will be nothing in them. It will take maybe 50 years till the last die but hey they'll get there.:D
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It is very sad...:( I've visited Taronga, Melbourne & Perth Zoos in the past and I liked them all. They are often far more pleasant to visit than our UK zoos, because you have a great climate for year-round zoo visiting-here its more a summer occupation April-September,- yet we are the ones with the greater variety of species..:confused:
 
jay said:
It's all a secret plot by animal rights groups to eradicate zoos. Every year phase out another species from anz zoos and eventually there will be nothing in them. It will take maybe 50 years till the last die but hey they'll get there.:D
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You may be closer to the mark than you realise!
 
I also hope not.

But are there main reasons as to why Australia has "lost" so many species?
are they unpopular because of little awareness or do the zoos just want animals that breed well and gain public notice because of the cute babies?

also do you think that with alot of hard work Australia could have a very sucessful zoo similar to Jersey or the RSCC in the UK?
 
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