Koalas in US Zoos
- Thread starter Ituri
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mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure, but I think LA's koalas don't belong to SD.
Buckeye092
Well-Known Member
When were Victorians first exhibited and where? Note: Columbus koala breeding has been stopped due to hip dysplasia in both koalas born here.
After some further research, the only Queensland Koalas in the US not owned by San Diego are at San Francisco (descendants of their original Australia import in the 1980s), Los Angeles Zoo (on loan from Australia), and Riverbanks Zoo (on loan from an Australia zoo).
Its also important to note (from the Koala SSP) that all Koalas imported to the US and originating from Australia after 1999 fall under the Australian Government Environment Australia's Koala Ambassador Agreement. All progeny, in perpetuity, of these imported animals also fall under the terms of this agreement, under which ownership is retained by the Australian Government. Beacause of this agreement, all koalas under this agreement cannot necessarily be paired with those Koalas not in the agreement (ie San Diego and San Francisco's) as the ownership of any offspring produced from the pairing would then become property of the Australian Government.
Its also important to note (from the Koala SSP) that all Koalas imported to the US and originating from Australia after 1999 fall under the Australian Government Environment Australia's Koala Ambassador Agreement. All progeny, in perpetuity, of these imported animals also fall under the terms of this agreement, under which ownership is retained by the Australian Government. Beacause of this agreement, all koalas under this agreement cannot necessarily be paired with those Koalas not in the agreement (ie San Diego and San Francisco's) as the ownership of any offspring produced from the pairing would then become property of the Australian Government.
The Victorian subspecies was first exhibited (in the US) in 1982 at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The first to arrive at Columbus was in 1991. The last Victoria Koala at Columbus (Gumnut) left for Albuquerque in 2006. Columbus had three Victorian joeys total born at the zoo. Two died soon after birth and one lived only 10 months.
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the info Okapikpr!
Cleveland Zoo has a permanent Koala display and they recently in 2007 had a baby.
That said. Can you clarify what happens in case pairings are set up with the US-based Queensland ssp. koalas where individuals are involved from both the MOU-agreement and non-MOU agreement?
Is the breeding programme negatively impacted at all by the distinction between populations being MOU-operated and those predating that period?
As an example San Diego recently sent out a pair to Calgary for exhibition purposes. Would that exemplify the dillema within the Koala SSP?
As mentioned before, the offspring from said pair would become property of the Australian Government.
No yet, as far. as I can see from the studbook data
Not really, San Diego itself has had its own Koala Ambassador Program and has been doing this for years to various zoos around the world (except Australia of course!). San Diego has had a pretty good track record with its loaning program of Koalas.
Hello All, I know this thread is old but I'm hoping it can help me. Does anyone know of any zoos in the US that have a permanent koala exhibit? I know San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Albuquerque Zoo, Cleveland Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo, and (I think) the Palm Beach Zoo and Columbus Zoo still have them. Does anyone know of any others/are there any others? Thanks!
mstickmanp
Well-Known Member
I think the San Francisco Zoo has a permanent exhibit.
Lowry Park's has temporarily held male koalas (about a year for each one) in the past, but for their latest male, they've brought in a female for breeding. That seems to indicate that the latest pair will stay for a while.
Zoo Miami has them. Not sure how permanent they are, but I think that they have been there for years.
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Wasn't one of Columbus' koalas Wruwallin? At the Cleveland Zoo, a docent told me that their koala Midgee is the mom of Wruwallin, and I know Wruwallin has hip dysplasia. Is Moondani the other koala?
http://http://www.local10.com/news/north-america-europes-oldest-koala-dies-at-zoo-miami/33332380
Zoo Miami's last koala, who was also the oldest koala in North America, died about 2 weeks ago. Exhibit will be empty until more become available.
Current zoos w/koalas: San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Dallas, Columbus, Cleveland Metroparks, Riverbanks, Lowry Park, Palm Beach, and (temporarily) Indianapolis.
Zoo Miami's last koala, who was also the oldest koala in North America, died about 2 weeks ago. Exhibit will be empty until more become available.
Current zoos w/koalas: San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Dallas, Columbus, Cleveland Metroparks, Riverbanks, Lowry Park, Palm Beach, and (temporarily) Indianapolis.