@Jambo It’s a large lake and too deep for wading even at the edges from what I can tell. The Brolga were patrolling the perimeter of their “island”, but setting foot in the water. It’s a fairly secluded exhibit in that sense and I hope it’ll encourage breeding considering they’re the only pair in the country.
@Jambo Correct, the last successful hatching was Hamilton’s female (Kirra), who hatched 2014 at Auckland Zoo. There’s been at least one unsuccessful clutch since then, which was a chick that died in its first month at Auckland Zoo in 2020. The mother had been found deceased in the exhibit the week prior; and despite the staff’s attempts to hand raise, the chick didn’t make it. It was an unfortunate end to Auckland Zoo’s successful breeding pair, which produced several chicks.
@Jambo Sure are. Auckland Zoo’s elderly male (1982) and his mate (1991-2020) were the parents of all Brolga held across New Zealand zoos. They were held at Hamilton, Brooklands and Wellington throughout the 2000’s and 2010’s; but now only the father and this brother/sister pair remain. Inbreeding isn’t ideal; but since we can’t import, inbred Brolga are better than no Brolga imo.
