Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo 2016

From Facebook:
Wang Wang had a special visit from the dentist today! A specialist veterinary dentist flew out from Melbourne this morning to cap Wang Wang’s tooth, which he broke while playing yesterday. The procedure went well and Wang Wang spent the rest of the day resting and being pampered by his dedicated keepers. He’ll be back on exhibit tomorrow, so come down and say hi!
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a new book has just been published about the history of elephants at the zoo: Elephants and Egotists- In search of Samorn of the Adelaide Zoo by Patricia Sumerling.

Samorn, the Adelaide Zoo's last elephant, was adored by generations of zoo visitors. A gift from the Thai government in 1956, she was transferred thirty-five years later to Monarto Zoo to live out her days. When she died there in 1994 there was an outpouring of sadness from all who knew or grew up with her.

Elephants and Egotists is a tribute to Samorn, but also tells of other elephants sent to South Australia and the colourful characters who decided their fate.
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Published by Wakefield Press: Wakefield Press :: History :: Elephants and Egotists (the first ten pages can be pre-viewed here).

And available also through Adelaide Zoo of course: Elephants and Egotists- In search of Samorn of the Adelaide Zoo Patricia Sumerling - Zoos SA
 
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Chlidonias said:
a new book has just been published about the history of elephants at the zoo: Elephants and Egotists- In search of Samorn of the Adelaide Zoo by Patricia Sumerling.

Published by Wakefield Press: Wakefield Press :: History :: Elephants and Egotists

And available also through Adelaide Zoo of course: Elephants and Egotists- In search of Samorn of the Adelaide Zoo Patricia Sumerling - Zoos SA
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Sounds like an interesting book, will try and pick it up from Adelaide or elsewhere and see what its like.
 
the first ten pages can be viewed on the Wakefield Press site (the first link above; I forgot to say that in my post).
 
Tree Kangaroo, Makaia is off to Singapore next week along with a female from Taronga

ADELAIDE Zoo’s orphaned tree kangaroo will be relocated to Singapore Zoo next week to be part of an international breeding program.

A Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, Makaia, will receive his final health checks before transferred to Singapore on Monday, July 4.

There, he’ll be paired with a female Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo from Taronga Zoo, to start a family of his own.

A story of survival, Makaia’s life was put at risk in November 2014 after his mother died when he was just seven weeks old.

In a world-first for conservation, Adelaide Zoo keepers and veterinarians kept the joey alive by using a yellow-footed rock-wallaby as a surrogate mother.

This “cross-fostering” breeding technique — pioneered by Adelaide Zoo in the 1990s — involved transferring the endangered tree kangaroo into the pouch of a yellow-footed rock wallaby, where Makaia stayed until he became too big for her pouch after about three and a half months.

Adelaide Zoo senior veterinarian Dr Ian Smith said Makaia thrived under the care of his adoptive mums, and the zoo was confident he was going to do well in Singapore.

“It was a huge achievement for the zoo,” Dr Smith said.

“We couldn’t be happier with how he has grown and developed.


“He is extremely genetically valuable for the region and we are hopeful he will form an important part of the international breeding program working to save this endangered species from extinction.”

An Adelaide Zoo spokeswoman said the cross-fostering accelerated the breeding cycle of the wallaby — increasing the female’s reproductive rate by up to six or eight times in some species — and enabled the zoo to quickly “build the captive population of an endangered species”.

Makaia’s departure coincides with the launch of a children’s book, Makaia’s Story, which shares his journey growing up.

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Makaia departed to Singapore yesterday:

Today we farewelled one of our most loved and well known residents, Makaia our miracle orphaned tree kangaroo. Makaia was up bright and early this morning to catch his flight to his new home at Singapore Zoo, where his new friend, a female Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo, and the Singapore keeping team are eagerly awaiting his arrival.
While we were sad to say goodbye, as Makaia’s Adelaide Zoo family, we are extremely proud to have been able to save his life using world-first techniques and help him on the first part of his exciting journey! We wish Makaia all the best at his new home in Singapore and will be sure to keep you updated on his progress!
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Article about Sumatran tiger Kemiri, undergoing a health check:

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The article states she is second oldest Sumatran in Australia. Does anyone know who the oldest is? As far as I'm aware, Kemiri (1994) is the oldest, followed by:

-Ramalon/Juara/Lari (1995)

-Malu (1996)

-Hari (1997)

-Tuan (1998)

-Assiqua (1999)

I'm thinking the article may be mistaken. They also refer to Kemiri as being 20 years of age in the heading, then cite her (correct) age as being 21 in the article. Maybe I should be impressed they didn't mistake her for being a Bengal.
 
Adelaide Zoo has a very disjunct South American collection at present, with species scattered right across the zoo. I think the maned wolf is most likely to be displayed in the current African wild dog exhibit, as the inhabitants are fairly old now, and there aren't many other exhibit options (without building something new).

I rather think they should stay at Adelaide too, quite a good species for an urban zoo (if they develop a South American section). As it is, Adelaide must have the best collection of species from South America in Australia.
 
To my knowledge, the last of the painted dogs have died now, so I'd be very surprised if that empty exhibit isn't the new home for the maned wolf. According to the zoo's master plan, the intention is to develop a South American precinct in the long term, and I imagine it is subject to adjustments so possibly the species will remain at Adelaide. Maned wolf don't seem to fit in with Monarto's predominantly African theme.
 
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soona said:
To my knowledge, the last of the painted dogs have died now, so I'd be very surprised if that empty exhibit isn't the new home for the maned wolf.
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hadn't heard about that. Is that a definite that they are gone from the zoo?
 
Five western swamp tortoises hatched at Adelaide Zoo will be sent to Perth Zoo next week in order to be prepared for release into the wild: No Cookies | The Advertiser

The article also mentions that Monarto Zoo will soon be breeding them, and a male from Perth Zoo is already on-site.
 
Adelaide Zoo have announced on Facebook that the Maned Wolf has gone on display, and in the comments it is confirmed that she has moved into the Wild Dog exhibit.

Meet the newest member of the Adelaide Zoo family, Senna the Maned Wolf. Standing at almost a metre tall and often referred to as a fox on stilts, this near-threatened species is the largest member of the canine family in its native South America and is under threat from habitat loss. It’s the first time this magnificent species has called Adelaide Zoo home in almost 20 years, so be sure to stop by and welcome Senna to our wild family!
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Ring-tailed lemur Little Joe has died at the age of 26:

Most days, working at Adelaide Zoo is incredible for our keepers, but unfortunately there are those that are a little more sad. On Monday, our keepers were sad to say goodbye to Little Joe, our oldest Ring-tailed Lemur. At 26 years of age, Little Joe was one of the oldest Ring-tailed Lemurs in our region. He touched the lives of many keepers and will be greatly missed by everyone here at Adelaide Zoo.
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The zoo's Chilean flamingo Chilli, the last flamingo in Australia, is turning from pink to orange after a dietary change that includes carrots:

ORANGE is the new pink for Chilli, Australia’s only remaining flamingo.

The Chilean flamingo arrived at Adelaide Zoo in the late 1970s. Now at the ripe old of age of 74, Chilli has become a “carrot top” because of a dietary change.

Shrimp have been eliminated from his diet because the zoo can’t source sufficient stocks for him to live on.

Instead, his favourite food is a daily “flamingo broth” that zoo keeper Di Pearson makes for him. “We make up a flamingo broth ... (and) we give him live pupae and mealworms but we don’t really give any shrimp,” she said.

In the wild, he would eat algae containing carotene which would maintain the colour of his feathers. It’s the carrot blended in the broth which is turning him orange.

“Even though he’s old, his plumage is still really well maintained and obviously the carrot is doing its job,” Ms Pearson said.

Chilli has been suffering with health problems including arthritis and during cold days remains in his heated lock-away at the back of his exhibit, to keep him warm as he struggles to regulate his body temperature.

Ms Pearson said Chilli was like a “grumpy old man” who has maintained his independence and loved to wade around in his pond.

She encouraged the public to visit him because “every day is a blessing”.

Chilli is likely to be the last flamingo in Australia because biosecurity concerns prohibit Australian zoos from importing any more.
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