Perth Zoo Perth Zoo News 2012

Apparently only approximately 2500 adult dogs remain in the wild.
 
zooman said:
Apparently only approximately 2500 adult dogs remain in the wild.
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This is a species I always think Zoos could help very much by reintroducing zoo-breds to the wild- they breed freely in some zoos e.g. as at Perth and litters are usually big. They would have to be 'rewilded' obviously but that's not too difficult in this day and age. The wild population is very low indeed and has been for a long time..
 
Pertinax said:
This is a species I always think Zoos could help very much by reintroducing zoo-breds to the wild- they breed freely in some zoos e.g. as at Perth and litters are usually big. They would have to be 'rewilded' obviously but that's not too difficult in this day and age. The wild population is very low indeed and has been for a long time..
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In a perfect world that seems like an obvious solution, zoos doing what so many zoos boast they're about [breeding for release], however I'm skeptical it would work with the wild dog - there are so many other issues that need to be ironed out.

Overpopulation in Africa means that human-inhabited areas are encroaching upon the land more and more, now with that in mind we have to remember why this canid is in trouble - persecution.

Are there enough places left where a newly released pack of wild dogs wouldn't end up at the nearest farm with a tethered goat, or even into a rural town? In my opinion, it could be a case of we very much need to educate before we can release - what's other's opinions on this?
 
My personal opinion is that many people still think of Africa as mainly vast areas of untouched wilderness, like the great national parks such as the Serengeti. Yet as I understand it these places really have become islands in a sea of human habitation, farms etc so the great predators are really confined.
 
jay said:
My personal opinion is that many people still think of Africa as mainly vast areas of untouched wilderness, like the great national parks such as the Serengeti. Yet as I understand it these places really have become islands in a sea of human habitation, farms etc so the great predators are really confined.
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A good book that discusses this is "The Myth of Wild Africa", although that book must be 20 years old now.
 
jay said:
My personal opinion is that many people still think of Africa as mainly vast areas of untouched wilderness, like the great national parks such as the Serengeti. Yet as I understand it these places really have become islands in a sea of human habitation, farms etc so the great predators are really confined.
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That is correct. Its certainly not my perception that Hunting Dogs could just fill up parts of their old range in Africa- that's not possible anymore. But in some areas like the Serengeti it might be possible to help the remaining and dwindling wild populations with introductions. Its just that this is an example of a species that is struggling in the wild but breeds freely in captivity. Another example might be the Black Rhino, which some places like Port Lympne and Frankfurt(?) are already helping with reintroduced specimens from Zoos.
 
Another 0.0.2 Pygmy marmoset born. This must be the third or fourth pair born in the last 6-8 months.
 
Perth Zoo unveils jumbo solar project | Perth Now
5 July 2012

PERTH Zoo has completed its jumbo-sized solar panel installation - stretching partly across its elephant enclosure - making it the city's largest single source of sun power.

A new 102m "solar pergola'' was unveiled today, completing the $2.7 million clean-energy project that began last year with the installation of 303 solar panels on eight zoo structures.

They include the elephant barn, reptile display, retail shop, maintenance and administrative buildings.

A total of 755 solar panels now adorn the zoo, with the potential to generate about a third of its energy needs - 370,000kW hours a year - saving the popular tourist attraction about $100,000 a year.

The installation was jointly funded by the state and federal governments as part of the nation's $94 million Solar Cities program.

While the steel-framed solar pergola is the centrepiece of the Perth Zoo project, it also doubles as a bus shelter, running along the northern perimeter road and propping up 452 solar panels with a power rating of 145kW.

The entire system is rated at 237kW, making it the largest single solar generator in Perth - the world's sunniest capital city, with an average eight hours sunshine a day over the entire year.

Perth Zoo hosts about 610,00 visitors a year.
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Now they just need to sort out the parking issue...
 
Nineteen numbat joeys! Can you imagine anything cuter?

:p

Hix
 
A penguin chick has hatched. It is the first since the redevelopment of the exhibit and the transfer back to Perth.
 
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