Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2013

zooboy28

zooboy28

Well-Known Member
There hasn't been much news from Adelaide so far this year, possibly because they aren't doing much except trying to get out of their financial problems.

Small news so far has been posted in various threads:

http://www.zoochat.com/24/new-tree-kangaroo-france-312856/
http://www.zoochat.com/24/sun-bear-passes-away-308911/
http://www.zoochat.com/24/karta-orang-utan-pregnant-277135/
http://www.zoochat.com/24/warrawong-closing-307485/

And there isn't really much else to report yet - going through the zoo's news section, the biggest other news seems to be the arrival of highland cattle (Get in Swiftly, Adelaide Zoo Welcomes a Furry New Creature -).

But their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Adelaide-Zoo/160021607359286) has reported some worrying news today:

The condition of our Greater Flamingo has been a bit up and down recently. Over the weekend he seemed to have lost his appetite and was more wobbly than usual, although, today he was doing a lot better. His care team are monitoring him around the clock and progressing with his arthritis treatment plan that includes pain relief and joint repair medicine. As long as he continues to eat regularly and maintains his stance it’s hoped he’ll be with us for awhile longer, but it’s important for all to be aware that sadly, our time with this beautiful icon of Adelaide Zoo is nearing its end.
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Fingers crossed he recovers.
 
Are there still two flamingos at Adelaide Zoo?

The zoo seems to have stagnated since the arrival of the pandas (presumably for financial reasons) so I wonder what their next plans will be. It's fortunate that there is nothing in dire need of renovation but even a small new exhibit might be able to increase visitation amongst Adeladians.
 
PAT said:
Are there still two flamingos at Adelaide Zoo?

The zoo seems to have stagnated since the arrival of the pandas (presumably for financial reasons) so I wonder what their next plans will be. It's fortunate that there is nothing in dire need of renovation but even a small new exhibit might be able to increase visitation amongst Adeladians.
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Yes, they still have two - the Greater (possibly been at the zoo since mid-1930s) and the Chilean (the last of a large colony imported from South America to Taronga in 1955).

Hopefully they can add the occassional new exhibit, coatis would be an ideal species - could be easily sourced and displayed in a cheap exhibit.
 
Another new addition announced on facebook, this time a female Golden Lion Tamarin from the States (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Adelaide-Zoo/160021607359286).

Meet Aurora the Golden Lion Tamarin. She’s new to the zoo having recently arrived from the United States to kick-start our breeding program. It’s been eight years since Adelaide Zoo last breed this endangered creature and it’s hoped once she has been introduced to our resident male we will soon hear the pitter-patter of little monkey feet in the Tamarin House.
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Aurora is the only female GLT at Adelaide, they already had three males. I think this brings the regional population to 17, at only four zoos (Adelaide, Auckland, Melbourne, Mogo).
 
Giant Panda Update

Adelaide Zoo has released an article describing female Funi's second period of pseudo-pregnancy, which indicates that she may be ready for motherhood.

Story & Photos here: Funi Proves Ready for Motherhood -

The article concludes with:

All in all the team is really excited for what lies ahead this year. We hope and think that this is going to be a defining year for Wang Wang and Funi. We begun negotiations with our Chinese colleagues and hope they will be assisting us with artificial insemination this year as well as natural mating attempts. We have learnt so much from this last pseudo-pregnancy and it has really helped prepare for the upcoming breeding season and potential birth.
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New species for Adelaide

The arrival of a new species has been alluded to on facebook:

3/6/2013

Who am I? This species arrived via special delivery from Melbourne Zoo this afternoon and is a diurnal animal also known as the ‘Brazilian Aardvark’.
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Good to see this species (coati) making it to another major zoo! Hopefully this will boost visitor numbers a little bit in the upcoming school holidays.
 
well I can honestly say I have never in my life heard the name "Brazilian aardvark" before, but I just googled it and got tons of hits. There are more stupid people out there than I thought!

Good to see the coatis spreading out to another zoo!
 
Chlidonias said:
well I can honestly say I have never in my life heard the name "Brazilian aardvark" before, but I just googled it and got tons of hits. There are more stupid people out there than I thought!

Good to see the coatis spreading out to another zoo!
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I too have never heard that name before, if I had then I would've assumed they were talking about a giant anteater! (Makes more sense to me... :p)

And coatis are bloody everywhere in Europe and the States, I'd quite happily swap them for kaka, Tassie devils, more echidnas or any other natives the Australasian region want to throw this way... ;)
 
Chlidonias said:
well I can honestly say I have never in my life heard the name "Brazilian aardvark" before
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Same here. "Brazilian Mongoose" might be a better moniker.

:p

Hix
 
Adelaide Zoo has announced some more details on their facebook page: the coatis are three females and are the first at the zoo in almost 30 years. They will go on display next to the Fennec Foxes after completing 30 days quarantine.
 
Sad news from Facebook:

Yesterday we bid a sad farewell to one of Adelaide Zoo’s most unique creatures. The difficult decision was made to put our beloved Dwarf Mongoose, the last of his species to reside at the zoo, to sleep after his quality of life had deteriorated due to age related issues. He was born at Adelaide Zoo in 1999, and having out-lived his kin remained the last of his kind in the Australasian region. His presence will be sorely missed by staff and visitors alike.
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zooboy28 said:
Adelaide Zoo has released an article describing female Funi's second period of pseudo-pregnancy, which indicates that she may be ready for motherhood.
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How old is this pair of Pandas now?

Did they try to mate them already? Is the Zoo putting a positive spin here on the fact she didn't become pregnant- from the description of nesting and prolonged maternal care of a dummy object, I would say 'may be ready for motherhood' is rather an understatement, she obviously already is! So hopefully next time around they can get her pregnant.
 
zooboy28 said:
Sad news from Facebook:
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What?!!!

In 2010 there were three enclosures of these guys and at least 8 individuals, including two young ones.

What the hell happened to them all?

:confused:

Hix
 
The (downward) progression of the dwarf mongoose at Adelaide Zoo (and therefore Australia, as no-one else was interested in having them) was as follows:-

In 2002 there were 8 males and 6 females.
In 2006 there were 4 males and 4 females.
In 2009 there were 3 males and 2 females. Now, as of this week, there are none.

Being worried at their downward spiral, I started a thread on them in June 2007, pointing out that we were losing yet another interesting exotic species.

The majority of replies were more or less along the lines of "forget ''em - we would rather have meerkats."

Why can't we have both?

I assume that, being small, they have a short life span.
The impoverishment of Aussie zoos continues.........
 
I stand corrected - the youngsters I saw were in 2007. At that point there were two enclosures. When I saw them in 2010 there were some in a third, larger enclosure (but one of the original pair of enclosures may have been empty).

And apparently they have a life span of only 10 years or so.

With any luck, I'll see some in a couple of weeks.

:p

Hix
 
In Adelaide for a conference so looking forward to sneaking off for an afternoon visit today.
 
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