Australasian Sumatran Tiger Population

Tiger91 said:

They were always going to spread the genetics from the sumatran imports across the region then breed them together. We will be seeing many tigers in the future with her genetics being bred together. As long as the inbreeding coefficient used doesn't get to high, they will continue to do it. Sumatrans desperately needed new blood lines.

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The current focus is on breeding descendants of the Indonesia imports with Ramah and Zayana’s offspring:

Cahya will be transferring to Orana Wildlife to breed with Reggie (son of Maneki).

Cahya’s brother was intended to go to Hamilton Zoo prior to his death.

Hamilton’s females are still young (22 months old), so my prediction from here is that their parents will be retired to Wellington Zoo to replace their ageing pair (as and when they pass on); with their elderly grandmother Sali living out her remaining years at Hamilton Zoo. One of the female cubs would be an excellent candidate for export to Europe or Japan, neither of which have the genetics of the Indonesian imports. That would leave one female to pair with a male from Auckland’s next litter. If Ramah and Zayana’s next litter is born 2026, it’s not unrealistic to expect Hamilton Zoo could be down to single female tiger by 2030.

Zoofan15 said:

Clarence and Kartika don’t currently live together and then cohabiting long term isn’t something the zoo can rely on. They’ll need an exhibit for each half of the breeding pair; and an exhibit for their cubs once. That leave two exhibits free for the four surplus tigers. Two therefore need to transfer out. Dubbo is the obvious destination, but it’s a good opportunity to provide another zoo with ageing tigers with a replacement when their’s passes e.g. Tasmania, Darling Downs Zoo etc.

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Kartika currently still lives with her daughter I believe, so they would be a good candidate for retaining at Taronga. Due to Kembali's age, it would be difficult to see him transferring across to Dubbo. Clarence however, would be a good candidate. As would Tengah (if she's separated from her mother).

Jambo said:

Kartika currently still leaves with her daughter I believe, so they would be a good candidate for retaining at Taronga. Due to Kembali's age, it would be difficult to see him transferring across to Dubbo. Clarence however, would be a good candidate. As would Tengah (if she's separated from her mother).

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When I visited in November 2024, the groupings were:

Clarence
Kembali
Kartika and Tengah
Pemanah and Mawar

It would be great if Kartika and Tengah could remain together long term. Kirana at Hamilton Zoo remained with her mother until Sali’s transfer to Auckland Zoo when she was six; and Molek at Auckland Zoo lived with her son Berani until her death when he was 10 years old.

Whether any of the older tigers can transfer to Dubbo will depend on their health, but historically it was a good way to free up space at Taronga for breeding - beginning with the transfer of Selatan (then aged 12) to Dubbo; followed by her son Juara, once he’d sired cubs.

I found an interesting article on Melbourne's search for a mate for Ramalon back in 2001, which I thought might be worth sharing. Melbourne would end up acquiring a young Binjai in 2004 from the Netherlands.

Article:

Melbourne Zoo’s male Sumatran Tiger Ramalon may be a few steps closer towards finding a mate.

An international search for genetically suitable mates for Ramalon, conducted in consultation with the London Zoo-based International Studbook Keeper for Sumatran Tiger breeding program, has led to discussions with Medan Zoo, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Zoo Senior Curator Peter Stroud has met with Medan Zoo officials to express interest in the two young females born there, and emphasises that forming a link with the Sumatran zoo would also create new opportunities to strengthen Melbourne Zoo’s existing leadership role in the region.

Reports based on a Jakarta Post interview with Medan Zoo Manager Anhar Lubis suggest that those initial discussions may be bearing fruit.

While Peter Stroud is very encouraged by the reports, he is well aware that arranging transfers of endangered species from country to country are very complex and usually take considerable time.

‘We will need approval from the City of Medan, which operates the Zoo there, and from various authorities within Indonesia’s national government. At this end of the agreement, we will need approval from Environment Australia and federal quarantine authorities.

Peter Stroud hastens to add that he is by no means discouraged by this process, as it is the norm whenever endangered species breeding programs require international cooperation.

He also confirms that if the tiger transfer is approved, Melbourne Zoo will fund the transport costs: ‘it is the normal practise for the receiving zoo to meet these costs.’

‘We would see a link with the Medan Zoo as very much in line with our existing supportive relationships with other regional conservation organisations. We are already working successfully with the Saigon Zoo, the rescue centres for endangered primates and turtles in Vietnam’s Cuc Phuong National Park, and have strong links with major conservation agencies in the Philippines. Indeed, we have provided some funding for an Asian Elephant management workshop to be held shortly in Indonesia.

‘No details have been discussed with Medan as yet, but providing expertise in exhibit design and animal husbandry would be a priority for us, especially in relation to Sumatran Tiger management.’

Jambo said:

I found an interesting article on Melbourne's search for a mate for Ramalon back in 2001, which I thought might be worth sharing. Melbourne would end up acquiring a young Binjai in 2004 from the Netherlands.

Article:

Melbourne Zoo’s male Sumatran Tiger Ramalon may be a few steps closer towards finding a mate.

An international search for genetically suitable mates for Ramalon, conducted in consultation with the London Zoo-based International Studbook Keeper for Sumatran Tiger breeding program, has led to discussions with Medan Zoo, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

Zoo Senior Curator Peter Stroud has met with Medan Zoo officials to express interest in the two young females born there, and emphasises that forming a link with the Sumatran zoo would also create new opportunities to strengthen Melbourne Zoo’s existing leadership role in the region.

Reports based on a Jakarta Post interview with Medan Zoo Manager Anhar Lubis suggest that those initial discussions may be bearing fruit.

While Peter Stroud is very encouraged by the reports, he is well aware that arranging transfers of endangered species from country to country are very complex and usually take considerable time.

‘We will need approval from the City of Medan, which operates the Zoo there, and from various authorities within Indonesia’s national government. At this end of the agreement, we will need approval from Environment Australia and federal quarantine authorities.

Peter Stroud hastens to add that he is by no means discouraged by this process, as it is the norm whenever endangered species breeding programs require international cooperation.

He also confirms that if the tiger transfer is approved, Melbourne Zoo will fund the transport costs: ‘it is the normal practise for the receiving zoo to meet these costs.’

‘We would see a link with the Medan Zoo as very much in line with our existing supportive relationships with other regional conservation organisations. We are already working successfully with the Saigon Zoo, the rescue centres for endangered primates and turtles in Vietnam’s Cuc Phuong National Park, and have strong links with major conservation agencies in the Philippines. Indeed, we have provided some funding for an Asian Elephant management workshop to be held shortly in Indonesia.

‘No details have been discussed with Medan as yet, but providing expertise in exhibit design and animal husbandry would be a priority for us, especially in relation to Sumatran Tiger management.’

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What a shame this import never went ahead. It’s one of at least three failed attempts by an Australasian zoo to import Sumatran tigers from Indonesia; the other two I’m aware of being by Taronga Zoo in the 1990’s and 2010’s respectively. It’s also more than possible there’s been others that have never come to light.

The wave of imports of Sumatran tigers into the region from European zoos followed the cancellation of plans to import a large number of the North American population in the late 1990’s. Clearly a number of spaces were allocated for their planned acquisition, with those being dedicated in turn to breeding recommendations and European imports (not unlike our current rhino situation).

Binjai was a genetically valuable addition to the region. She descended from 10 wild born founders: Maximus, Deli, Caesar, Lissy, Geunia, Raduz, Slimme, Medana, Cora, Suka. Of these founders, Medana had no descendants in the region prior to Binjai’s import; and Suka’s only descendant to be imported into the region prior to this was Frank (grandfather of Ramalon).

Zoofan15 said:

What a shame this import never went ahead. It’s one of at least three failed attempts by an Australasian zoo to import Sumatran tigers from Indonesia; the other two I’m aware of being by Taronga Zoo in the 1990’s and 2010’s respectively. It’s also more than possible there’s been others that have never come to light.

The wave of imports of Sumatran tigers into the region from European zoos followed the cancellation of plans to import a large number of the North American population in the late 1990’s. Clearly a number of spaces were allocated for their planned acquisition, with those being dedicated in turn to breeding recommendations and European imports (not unlike our current rhino situation).

Binjai was a genetically valuable addition to the region. She descended from 10 wild born founders: Maximus, Deli, Caesar, Lissy, Geunia, Raduz, Slimme, Medana, Cora, Suka. Of these founders, Medana had no descendants in the region prior to Binjai’s import; and Suka’s only descendant to be imported into the region prior to this was Frank (grandfather of Ramalon).

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It's likely we could a nose dive with the numbers in coming years as the number of single held aged individuals pass away Australia wide!

Zorro said:

It's likely we could a nose dive with the numbers in coming years as the number of single held aged individuals pass away Australia wide!

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Unfortunately it’s looking that way. Ramah and Zayana were the first imports into the region in 14 years when they were imported in 2022 and along with the offspring of the Indonesian imports from 2008, represent the breeding population at present.

We’ve lost two zoos (Ballarat and Sydney) to the programme, with them switching to generics; and it’s not hard to see Dreamworld choosing to follow. I hope purebred Sumatran tigers can be provided to Mogo, Darling Downs and Tasmania at least to keep them as valued members of the regional population. It would be a great shame to lose these further three zoos on top of what we already have.

I’ve been advised the National Zoo plan to acquire a new breeding pair of Sumatran tiger long term, so hopefully they can work towards phasing out their generics long term.

Zoofan15 said:

Unfortunately it’s looking that way. Ramah and Zayana were the first imports into the region in 14 years when they were imported in 2022 and along with the offspring of the Indonesian imports from 2008, represent the breeding population at present.

We’ve lost two zoos (Ballarat and Sydney) to the programme, with them switching to generics; and it’s not hard to see Dreamworld choosing to follow. I hope purebred Sumatran tigers can be provided to Mogo, Darling Downs and Tasmania at least to keep them as valued members of the regional population. It would be a great shame to lose these further three zoos on top of what we already have.

I’ve been advised the National Zoo plan to acquire a new breeding pair of Sumatran tiger long term, so hopefully they can work towards phasing out their generics long term.

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I am somewhat surprised this drop was not addressed much sooner also it appears resent cubs born in the region mainly are exported which isn't addressing to problem here

Zorro said:

I am somewhat surprised this drop was not addressed much sooner also it appears resent cubs born in the region mainly are exported which isn't addressing to problem here

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I strongly agree that more breeding recommendations being issued would have addressed the apparent lack of surplus in Australia to supply some of the smaller zoos. The lack of surplus was entirely of their own making when repeat breeding recommendations could have easily been issued.

I understand there was an expectation from the North American breeding programme that they would receive tigers in exchange for Ramah and Zayana and as such, the exchanges have been beneficial to both regions:

Ramah and Zayana represent five wild born founders not previously represented in Australasia.

North America has received a descendant of Kaitlyn (Indonesian import) who descends from three wild born founders not previously represented in North America; with a further 1.1 from Adelaide to follow.

Zorro said:

It appears new tiger cubs are handed out with a tea spoon to other regional zoos around the region, It appears a small few are able to hog the bulk of them with others if they are lucky getting sent a spare and or old individuals

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An increased flow of surplus to the privately owned regional zoos would be of immense benefit to both the regional population and to the existing holders.

When Kemiri (1994) failed to breed with her mate at Adelaide, she had three full siblings, who were each paired with imported females. When Nisha (1996) unexpectedly died at the age of nine years, her intended mate was paired with one of her sisters at short notice. Both are examples of where having a breeding pair produce a second litter/having sufficient cubs for a contingency were beneficial; but it should be additionally noted that Nisha’s younger sister was part of a litter that was bred first and foremost to enable Hamilton Zoo to become a holder.

Zoos breeding Sumatran tigers to generate a surplus will benefit from the boost in visitation having another litter brings; while also benefiting from having an avenue to clear a backlog of surplus stock. Taronga is a prime example with five tigers held across five exhibits (three of which are display). As such, they already have two surplus tigers and assuming the intention is to pair one of their youngest tigers with a mate, four of their five tigers will be redundant to that plan. While we assume those tigers are earmarked for Dubbo to replace their ageing tigers as they pass, why not free them up to other holders and breed two litters at Taronga (with one designated for Dubbo)? It’s a win-win.