Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2013

I think the problem with these species in australia is that there are not enough zoos to maintain a stable poupulation as in europe and north america. I think that australia has to lower its restrictions on new species or will be left with zoos with the same 30 species. Australia must pair with another region and zoo assocation to bring in new bloodlines and species.
 
I actually disagree with this statement, no offense. :)
When you think about it, we effectively have 4 major city zoos in Australia, 3 of which have world-class open range campuses to compliment. When you factor in all of the high-standard private zoos, ranging from Australia Zoo down to the tiny but charming Symbio Zoo, and all of the up and coming facilities, like Altina, Darling Downs and Halls Gap, I think collectively, despite some minor variances with State legislation (QLD grrr) excluding some zoos from holding animal species, I think that our region certainly has the capacity to hold a range of species in much more sustainable numbers. 15 zoos, across the country and not including wildlife parks, is not a bad start. When you factor in our Kiwi neighbours, and the 4 'zoos' they have there, there certainly is the capacity to at least rely on importing new animals quite so often as we currently do.
I would say we have around
We have shown it can be done. Unfortunately, what we seem to lack in our zoo community here, with regards to ex-situ holdings, is a bit of a lack of leadership. Almost no new developments look at increased holdings. There seems to be a rigid attitude and (ironically) almost an emphasis on too much planning, which takes away from our zoos community to be flexible, and respond to not only changes but also opportunties.
The Asian Elephant breeding program has been a success, but it has proven to be quite a reactive process, particularly where bull elephants are concerned. Fortunately, it is going well. On the other hand, we are about to lose a significant collection of exotic species to a zoo in Indonesia. No doubt, in fifteen years time, puzzled zoo managers will be left wondering, where did all the hippos go? Kuba River Brazillian Tapir Safari anyone?
A new emphasis amongst our bigger zoos needs to be placed on creating additional holdings of species. This needs to include within their own facilities, as well as regionally.
And Australian Zoos do need to stop looking at their European and American counterparts as resevoirs to top up our exotic animal collections when they become, effectively, regionally extinct or defunct due to our own mismanagement or disinterest. Not only do we have such strict quarantine laws, and I cant see them changing, but increasingly, we are seeing that species populations in Europe and North America are also failing.
Taronga, time to step up to the plate. Great Zoo. But $45 million for an asian rainforest. $56 million for some seals, penguins and pelicans. Surely, some of that money could have been directed into creating some behind-the scenes holding faclilites for say, a couple of extra pairs of fishing cats and binturongs.
 
So true glyn! I agree all the way.

For years now I've been griping about the way that the big Aussie zoos "adopt" a new species, go well for a few years, then lose interest and let the animals either die out or flick-pass them to the smaller zoos. (Typical species - De Brazza's guenon.)
Thank heavens for the smaller zoos, which seem to be the real innovators in this country.

I also agree that the large zoos should have off-exhibit holding and breeding facilities to increase their holding capacity with small mammals, for example. A zoo can't trumpet their conservation credentials when they only have capacity to keep one pair of any species. Unfortunately, such off-display areas won't increase gate takings at all, and that seems to be the main priority these days.
 
I agree. I am so over meerkats :)
Red Pandas, Sumatran Tigers, WC Gibbons, Asian Elephant, Hunting Dog, Lion, White Rhino. Shining examples of what can be done when there is a true regional focus and proper management. In spite of the need to still bring in new bloodlines from time to time, I would regard these programs as relatively sustainable.
On the other hand, there is still that cohort of animals which could seem to go the other way, the same way as golden cats (remember them). Thankfully, snow leopards are becoming more widespread, now held by five institutions. But I can think of a lot of other species, like francois langur, which I would regard as teetering, given the track record of 'vogue' species.
 
Complete agreement with Glyn and Ara's comments.

My main beef is with the various (exotic species) TAGs and the dominance of a couple of the big 4 zoos when it comes to decision making. The smaller private zoos are (or at least were a decade ago, but I suspect it hasn't changed) an addendum rather then being a vital part of good captive species population management. Too many species have been lost from the region or are on the brink due to poor decisions.
 
Ara said:
. A zoo can't trumpet their conservation credentials when they only have capacity to keep one pair of any species. Unfortunately, such off-display areas won't increase gate takings at all, and that seems to be the main priority these days.
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Its a failing with certain species in many places apart from Australia too.

To use an example of a Primate species, often, although they breed repeatedly, the group is never given a proper opportunity to expand as it would naturally. The young are later removed and sent elsewhere- often on SB keeper recommedation- so the original group doesn't expand. And in these pair situations, the loss of one partner often means the end of breeding anyway. But with the right management(stockpiling) and the luck of consecutive female births, a much larger group could be achieved in just a few years.

Chester in the UK did it with Lion-tailed Macaques- unable to source a bigger group initially, they started with just a trio- fortuitously they had a run of about 6 female babies. When these matured they kept them all and changed the male- the new one then had about 8 breeding partners. As a result they now have a large thriving group.

Colchester did similarly with their Mandrills, going from 1.2 in a decade to 25+ and with surplus young bolstering other zoo's holdings too.

Yet in GB some other species, particularly the Guenons, are struggling, largely for lack of this sort of management and a certain lassitude about keeping them at all, I think. The few zoos that hold them keep them as 'pairs' or very small family groups despite in the wild being 'large troop'-dwellers. To have real success, they really need to be allowed to grow into those big troops I think.
 
Much need IMO, Fataki is now very problematic to his father and Mouila in particular. One thing I noted is that he tends to move away from the adults into the left hand part of the exhibit, which is rarely used (if not never) by the adults. I think that is the first time I have seen any of the gorillas not near the indoor dayroom.
 
Jabiru96 said:
One thing I noted is that he tends to move away from the adults into the left hand part of the exhibit, which is rarely used (if not never) by the adults. I think that is the first time I have seen any of the gorillas not near the indoor dayroom.
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The usual thing- they want to get back indoors 'under cover'. If the blackback is using the far end area away from the rest, the group are in the process of gradually isolating him.
 
Supposedly, in regards to the gorillas:
-Kibali will eventually be housed with Kimya, Frala and Mbeli (b2003. Kibabu x Mouila, from Melbourne) this means that majority of the gorillas will be moving from Taronga to other zoos, including some females and offspring.
-Frala will move with her sons Fataki and Fuzu to Mogo Zoo but then eventually move back to Taronga to be grouped with Kibali and the two younger females.

I speculate that the whole family group will move to Mogo, with Kibali and Kimya using the main exhibit. Frala will then eventually move back and be grouped with Kibali, Kimya and Mbeli, while Kibabu, Fataki and Fuzu (and maybe Mahale?) moving to Orana in due course. This leaves Mouila, Kriba and her daughter Kipenzi at Mogo. This is purely speculative though.

I got this info from a person on Flickr (who I occasionally flick through their Taronga photos) who got told this by a keeper.
 
Those moves all seems very confusing and complicated.:D It seems a bit odd to get 'Mbeli' back from Melbourne as they are soon to exchange males and getting a breeder from Howletts, so she would breed at Melbourne, but I suppose Taronga want her back as she's useful for their future group now. It doesn't really matter which zoo she breeds at now as there are/will be unrelated males at both.

It seems to me Taronga have too many Gorillas at present- perhaps they should have held off bringing in the new male until they could place some of the others. Either that or enlarge the accomodation!;)
 
I'm certainly intrigued by the changes happening with Australia's gorilla groups at the moment! It'll certainly be interesting to see what's happening over the coming months.

It's a bit surprising to me to send Mbeli back to Taronga, because I would've thought that she'd be the most likely of Melbourne's group to successfully rear an infant and be a role model to the other females. I assume she'll be going back to Taronga after Kibabu etc. have moved out , I imagine it'll be pretty crowded (if the gorilla exhibit isn't crowded enough) with an extra female on top of the gorillas already living there.
 
soona said:
It's a bit surprising to me to send Mbeli back to Taronga, because I would've thought that she'd be the most likely of Melbourne's group to successfully rear an infant and be a role model to the other females.
Indeed she would as she's the one with the (overall) best group experience of seeing mother-rearing etc. Possibly she might still be at Melbourne when the new Howletts male(?) arrives, so might breed there before being returned to Taronga at a later date. No doubt they want her back because she's currently one of only two younger females of their group.
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Update from the zoo's facebook page today:

The Leopard Seal exhibit and Seal Cove are currently being given a make-over. New paint, additional mock-rock and large boulders with multiple hiding places for the seals to investigate are among the modifications. The exhibits are due to be reopened in mid-June.
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Amazing. Great Southern Oceans was the zoos most expensive exhibit when it opened just a few years ago and already 'modifications' are needed. For all the money and planning that went into it, this is a bit of a disappointment (though excellent for the animals which is good)
 
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