I would hope if they did expand on the current area that extra room can be given to the two current elephant bulls also with some extra room to house a couple more addisional bulls in the future!
Sydney Zoo $36 million zoo with roaming African animals planned for Blacktown
- Thread starter Astrobird
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It wouldn’t amaze me to see a bull swap with Werribee Open Range Zoo down the line. Werribee will need a new bull within the decade; and long term Monarto will too (if Putra Mas sires female calves).
Transferring one (or both) of Sydney’s bulls to Werribee would be an ideal opportunity to bring over Luk Chai, Roi-Yim and any bull calves from the next cohort. Sydney has the facilities to manage a small number of bulls, with the potential for expansion.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
It was the leopards that were planned to be in the African precinct, as stand-ins for African Leopards.
The two bulls at Dubbo are realistically the obvious candidates to replace Luk Chai after he sires Werribee's next cohort. Besides Putra Mas of course, but it would surprise me to see him transfer out of Monarto so soon after his transfer there.
Sending Luk Chai and Roi Yim there in return makes the most sense assuming this transfer takes place circa 2032 in time for the next cohort to be sired. The other Sydney bull could also go to Werribee, or even Monarto, which might have the space. It'll be interesting to see whether they build their barn with holding multiple bulls in mind.
Ah I thought so. They seem to have the icons mixed up though on one of the older maps.
It seems they were eventually replaced by AWD's in that case.
I’ve never been a fan of species being a ‘stand in’ for others. Indian antelope on an African Savannah; and Asian elephants representing African elephants at an open range zoo are two concepts I find particularly grating.
However, I can’t deny it would have been hugely advantageous to have had another holder of Sri Lankan leopard in the region. Ditto for gorillas. It’s coincidental Adelaide and Sydney both planned to acquire these species (leopard and gorilla) and both just as quickly canned them for various reasons.
ElephasMaximus
Well-Known Member
I'm curious about what they might've intended for a Pampas exhibit. Beyond the fact that we have access to few South American species in Australasia, zoos here generally seem to prefer the Amazon to any other region of South America.
Looking over what species they might have access to for such an exhibit, Capybara and Maned Wolf seem obvious. Guanaco are extremely hard to come by in Australia, so if they wanted a camelid they'd likely go with llamas instead. Tapirs generally live north of the Pampas, but if they really wanted the species they might've been able to obtain one with planning. I can't remember off the top of my head if Patagonian Mara are available in Aus, but that might be an option if they were willing to have more of a "South American grasslands" theme rather than a strictly Pampas theme. Puma might be imported, but the restrictions are so great (only desexed males, iirc) they might not want to bother. Honestly, I can see why they didn't go with this exhibit theme - its species roster would be fairly limited.
They'd actually have slightly more options here if they were based in NZ - they could use White-Tailed deer as a stand-in for pampas deer species, and rhea might be possible too, though it would require long-term planning. Guanaco would be much more easily available as well.
I would imagine it would be a small themed area in general - with just Capybara, Maned Wolf and perhaps Brazilian Tapir (Melbourne at the time were considering offloading Arturo).
The last remaining Mara in Aus are at Adelaide, Gorge and Hunter Valley. They're descended from two pairs imported by Melbourne in 2012, but quickly sent away as they were originally planned for a tiny walkthrough area (not sure who thought that was a good idea).
I would be really surprised if Putma Mas ever left Monarto once there he doesn't like crates and at this stage I only hope he gets to Monarto zoo ok I hope the soon to be move goes well
I’m inclined to agree, taking his age into consideration as well. He’s 36 years old and if they commence natural breeding with Pak Boon within weeks of his arrival, they could welcome their first calf in the second half of 2027. By the time a second and third calf are born, he would be close to 50 years of age.
@Swanson02 said it had also been discussed Putra Mas remaining on site as a mentor bull to juveniles/adolescents if breeding is unsuccessful.
Maned wolf and Capybara are the obvious candidates, with the latter later taking up residence at the zoo. I find Capybara overrated to be honest, but they’re popular with the general public and have been housed successfully with species like Bolivian squirrel monkey.
We also can’t discount the possibility Sydney Zoo planned to acquire Collared peccary. Melbourne last bred in 2012 and very much had the potential to breed piglets for Sydney Zoo in the mid-2010’s if they didn’t wish to offload their own colony at the time (which has since been designated phase out).
ElephasMaximus
Well-Known Member
I forgot about collared peccary! It's a shame they're unlikely to ever reenter the region, I have fond memories of seeing them at Wellington Zoo as a kid.
Given the species available in or easily imported into Aus/NZ, I think if any zoo here wanted to do a South American plains exhibit, they'd be better advised to do a cerrado exhibit. It'd be much easier to incorporate primates into such an exhibit, which would both be easy to source in the region and would be popular with visitors.
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It’s interesting you mention this as despite holding Brown capuchin and Bolivian squirrel monkey, Sydney Zoo doesn’t have any small South American primates (tamarins, marmosets etc). Presumably the larger species found favour due to their suitability to living on open air, island style exhibits which Sydney Zoo favours versus small monkeys nobody would see.
I agree regarding Collared peccary. They were a great loss to Wellington Zoo and I made the most of seeing them on my visits to Melbourne Zoo in 2023, knowing the species will soon disappear from the region. I think the staff/volunteers were quite baffled with my interest in seeing this species, which garnered zero interest from any other visitor at the zoo on the days I visited.
I wish now that the hippo IRA has been approved ; they’d reconsider their decision n decide to actually import them . We need new founders and new holders !
With only three regional holders, the region is in desperate need of another holder imo to further increase the population to a sustainable level. Sydney importing them would be a great start.
The former area where they were planned to be exhibited is still enough space for a breeding pair plus offspring; and it currently holds Camel and Capybara, both of which could easily be accommodated elsewhere in the zoo.
If Werribee succeed in importing bulls in the next year, Sydney Zoo could have the option of receiving surplus within the next few years from within the region.
I’m wondering if the plan is for Bull A to transfer to Monarto once he’s sired 2-3 daughters at Werribee; with Bull B remaining at Werribee long term, with the option of breeding with those daughters. Such a plan (or Monarto importing their own founder bull) would leave most/all bull calves born at Werribee surplus, depending on whether Dubbo wanted one first for breeding (which could even free up some of their cows).
Its crazy to think about a zoo opening with only 4 species of birds
Otherwise this place seems to be turning out better than expected. From their facebook the reptile house looks great and they have done extensive planting to improve the site.
Wish they were able to Incorporate walk-in aviaries that reflected Australia’s different biomes . Or even large aviaries for guests to Observe and enjoy
Doesn’t Taronga have one pure chimp in their collection too ? I recall reading it on here
I believe Taronga’s community are all hybrids. They predominantly have Central and Western heritage.
Galatea (1999) at Monarto Safari Park (Western chimpanzee) is the only known purebred in the region to my knowledge.
Haaaaard . My first impression past the front entrance was “ very industrial” . Wasn’t a big fan of the primate enclosures .