Perth Zoo Perth Zoo News 2016

J

Jabiru96

Well-Known Member
To start off the year, a new "Amazonia" precinct has opened featuring golden lion tamarin (1.1 from Melbourne Zoo), Bolivian squirrel monkey (2.0) and South American coati (6.0 from Melbourne Zoo in 2015):

– Perth Now

PERTH Zoo is now making room for critically endangered monkeys from South America after already becoming home to African, Asian and Australian animals.

A pair of golden lion tamarins, which number fewer than 2000 in the wild, are part of the new Amazonia precinct that has opened to the public.

The zoo said it hoped to breed the monkeys as part of a conservation program, which will also educate visitors on the illegal trade of wildlife.

The tamarins are joined by Bolivian squirrel monkeys and six coatis.

Perth Zoo’s supervisor of zoology, Holly Thompson, said: “The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and home to some remarkable wildlife.

“This revamped precinct gives Perth locals and visitors an opportunity to get up close and learn more about three fascinating species from that area.

“Our coatis arrived last year from Melbourne Zoo and have been behind the scenes until we renovated this area for them.

“We’re so excited to finally share them with our visitors.

“The boys provide endless enjoyment, they’re very mischievous and intelligent, and we were even able to train them to go into transport boxes for the move, which made it a stress-free experience for all involved.”

Perth Zoo has also recently welcomed two golden lion tamarins from Melbourne Zoo, eight-year-old male Ovo and six-year-old female Lyra, which now call Amazonia home.

“With their golden silky manes, these primates are truly a stunning species, but sadly endangered, and have become a flagship species highlighting the demise of their tropical rainforest home,” Ms Thompson said.

“We definitely hope Ovo and Lyra produce babies and contribute to the global insurance population. It’s all about providing a safety-net against extinction.”

Perth Zoo’s bachelor Bolivian squirrel monkeys, Marvin and Kyle, also live in the new Amazonia precinct.

“You will probably hear Marvin and Kyle before seeing them as they chirp and cluck in search of insects,” Ms Thompson said.
Click to expand...
 
Well that has taken some time to finally open! Three species isn't exactly a mindblowing start for a brand new area, also given there were macaws, amazons and conures housed in this area (the old 'World of Birds' which has been demolished for some time). Have these been moved? Hopefully they will give it a real push and encourage a nice range of species in a forgotten part of the zoo.
 
Jabiru96 said:
Tricia the Asian elephant has celebrated her 59th birthday: No Cookies | Perth Now
Click to expand...

With Tricia aging and a space in the female herd free since the death of Teduh in 2007, Perth Zoo will hopefully be looking to import at least one young female. With Permai now too old to breed, this will be their only option if they wish to breed onsite. Of course, Putra Mas is soon to become a father to the calf due at Melbourne Zoo in a few months.
 
A Radiated Tortoise has been stolen from Perth Zoo. Two were also stolen in 2011.

Story here: Endangered tortoise stolen from Australian zoo | Stuff.co.nz

A critically endangered tortoise has been stolen from Perth Zoo on Monday and the sensitive animal's life is in danger if it is not returned soon.

A spokeswoman for Perth Zoo said the ten-year-old Radiated Tortoise was discovered missing by zoo keepers on Tuesday morning.

Perth Zoo's Director of Life Sciences Maria Finnigan said the stolen animal was an extremely rare tortoise and in danger of extinction.

She said due to their stunning shells Radiated Tortoises were heavily targeted by the illegal wildlife trade and regularly sold on the black market.

"We hold grave concerns for the tortoise. This species have a specialised diet and like all tortoises it needs help thermo regulating which is especially important at the moment as we are experiencing cooler mornings", she said.

It is not the first time the rare tortoise was targeted by thieves at Perth Zoo.

"A couple of Radiated Tortoises were stolen in 2011, and since we have implemented security measures at the enclosure," a Perth zoo spokeswoman said.

"We would appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward. Our main concern is for the welfare of this animal, not prosecution", Mrs Finnigan said.

At about 15 centimetres in diameter, this tortoise is a sub-adult and like all Radiated Tortoise is very distinctive with its stunning star shaped shell.

It was yet to be given a name because the tortoise was too young to determine whether it is a male or a female.

Radiated Tortoises are native to the island of Madagascar and the largest of the star tortoise.

The animal is not only endangered by the illegal wildlife trade, they also face habitat loss, poaching and are hunted for their shells which are often turned into ornaments.
Click to expand...
 
The stolen radiated tortoise has been found:

Rare radiated tortoise stolen from Perth Zoo found, handed in to WA Police

A critically endangered tortoise stolen from Perth Zoo on Monday night has been recovered by police after it was anonymously dropped off in a back-pack out the front of Kensington police station.

Despite conflicting reports from police that the tortoise was handed into Perth police station by a naive buyer who didn't realise it was stolen, a Perth Zoo spokeswoman has since said the rare 10-year-old was actually found in a distressed state by Kensington police officers overnight on Saturday.

"It was in the backpack covered in faeces which is a sign of stress," she said.

On Tuesday, zookeepers held grave fears for the rare animal as it is often targeted by illegal wildlife traders and sold on the black market for its stunning shells.

Perth Zoo director of life sciences Maria Finnigan told Radio 6PR on Sunday morning she was grateful the tortoise had been returned.

"It seems to be in very good health which is very exciting," she said.

"Because we don't know where it's been kept, it will be thoroughly checked over by our vet department and go into quarantine for a little while just in case its been in amongst other tortoises somewhere."

It is not the first time rare tortoises were targeted by thieves at Perth Zoo, with Ms Finnigan confirming the tortoise enclosure would remain closed at the zoo while its security measures were reviewed.

It follows another radiated tortoise being stolen in 2011.
Click to expand...
 
Jabiru96 said:
Animatronic dinosaurs are beginning to go on display at Perth Zoo: Robotic dinosaurs make Perth Zoo their home - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Click to expand...
I just saw a couple of articles about that come up on the sidelines.

I haven't been to Perth Zoo since 2011. Where do they have room to display the dinosaurs? There will be 19 of them, the largest being an 18 metre long Argentinosaurus.

Edit: I just did some more reading and found out from the zoo's website the dinosaurs will be spread through the zoo rather than all in one place: http://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/zoorassic/
 
Interesting to see that they are doing dinos again (first time was 97 or 98). I assume that because they have commissioned the Chinese company to make them they will be either a semi-permanent fixture or wheeled out every couple of years. I know that the previous ones which were rented looked pretty worn out from the wear + tear of a scorching Perth summer. While I don't mind the models, it is a pity they are not in a central location rather than spread over half the zoo distracting from the live displays.

Looking at the PZ map I noticed:
No cheetah. I assume the last one died or sent away. I wonder if PZ has decided to go out of cheetah full-time. Instead there looks like a guinea-fowl image...?
Also in the Savannah there is an image of a snake. Any ideas on species? I think it must be the small pen/cave between hyena and meerkats.
 
tetrapod said:
Looking at the PZ map I noticed:
No cheetah. I assume the last one died or sent away. I wonder if PZ has decided to go out of cheetah full-time.
Click to expand...
the last cheetah at Perth was the female Kifani; she died in April 2015.
 
Two male hamadryas baboons, Chad and Taye, have had dental check-ups:

No Cookies | Perth Now

AS any dentist will tell you, patients can get cranky when getting a tooth pulled.

With Taye, one of Perth Zoo’s two “notoriously moody baboons”, vets adopted extreme measures to ensure surgery went smoothly last week.

Taye had to have a cracked incisor removed. The other male baboon, Chad, passed his health check with flying colours.

Perth Zoo’s senior vet Simone Vitali said the checks could be quite dangerous and at times, a complicated procedure.

“The creatures co-operated very well on the day which was lucky,” she said.

“First we have to dart them with an anaesthetic in the muscle and we wait for them to gradually fall asleep.

“We then go in with the keepers, pop them on a stretcher and place a net on top to make sure they don’t move.

“And then the move to the hospital begins.”

The examinations include X-rays, blood tests and checks on general body condition, ears, teeth and eyes.

It took an hour for Chad to be assessed, but two hours for Taye because of the tooth extraction.

A total of two vets and a nurse conducted the check-ups on the day.
Click to expand...
 
A Baudin's black cockatoo has been successfully rehabilitated after being treated for gunshot wounds:

No Cookies | Perth Now

AN ENDANGERED black cockatoo, nursed back to health after it was shot in WA’s South West, has been spotted doing well in the wild.

The Baudin’s Cockatoo was found with shotgun pellet wounds near Bridgetown in February and was transported to Perth Zoo for treatment.

Nicknamed `Sweetie’ by Perth Zoo staff, the endangered bird was sighted in the wild by Department of Parks and Wildlife officers this week.

The Baudin’s Cockatoo is one of three species of black cockatoo in WA’s South West and all are protected, with $10,000 penalties for shooting them under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top