Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2022

Kifaru Bwana said:
In this respect, I would have favoured new imports to have had a much wider genetic base. Something that might yet be rectified with the Australia Zoo imports perhaps (even though they are getting on a bit).
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In my opinion, the Indonesian imports have been vastly under-utilised. One female (now deceased) produced one cub with another founder; while the other female has produced eight cubs (all sired by males from the Nico-Meta line); and the male hasn’t bred at all.

Like you say, they’re getting on in age, so Bashi really needs to breed ASAP - if not at Wellington, then somewhere else.
Kifaru Bwana said:
What I heard about Sumatera now is that poaching in parts of the Island is rife and unstoppable. Interesting that the Selatan park has seen good increases by well placed and stringent law enforcement. I would appreciate a source though ....!
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Sumatran Tigers on the Rise in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Using camera traps, researchers were able to determine that Sumatran tiger population density has increased from 1.6 tigers per 36 square miles in 2002 to 2.8 tigers per 36 square miles in 2015.

Furthermore, the proportion of male and female tigers recently recorded was 1:3, indicating that the tiger population in the National Park is in a healthy condition and breeding opportunity exists for many females within the areas surveyed.
 
@Zoofan15 That is so great about the increased population in Bukitan Barisan Selatan (thats like 1 tiger for every 33.3 sq km now). Also great about the breeding conditions for the females.

RE: The genetic health issues - had to google what CVD was lol, so the individuals who suffered from it had a common ancestor only four generations ago so I'm not sure if the counting starts at the individuals as gen 1 or if its their dams and sires as gen 1 but if its a great granddam/grandsire or great great granddam/grandsire it really reminded me reading it of the dangers of close relatedness even when its several generations removed. Placing people labels on this case for a moment: Nico was Meta's paternal 'uncle' and I believe Meta's parents were half siblings who were sired by the same tiger the very fruitful 'Paul von Esso' so in that regards he represented the patrilineal line twice for Meta in terms of being her only 'grandfather' and also being the father of Nico, its interesting because (anyone correct me if I'm wrong here) looking at Meta and Nico's long dynasty there has been a lot of longevity records and by that token I assume good health records like grandaughter Kemiri (to bring my post back to Adelaide for a moment lol) and that daughter of theirs Kali the littermate of Shiva, didnt she have a good long life and was the mother of the record holding tigress (Djelita), at the same time (this is the correct me if I'm wrong part) it seems some of their offspring didn't have the same luck and am wondering if its possible they had health issues arising from the level of inbredness that in their genepool at the time?

P.S Totally agree with you about the Sumatrans brought to Australia Zoo from Indonesia being wasted in terms of breeding pairings/plans. They came at the perfect time for the region to see new unrelated genes be part of the genetic makeup of the next generation of Sumatran Tiger cubs, yet they didnt really get given the opportunity.
 
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15 That is so great about the increased population in Bukitan Barisan Selatan (thats like 1 tiger for every 33.3 sq km now). Also great about the breeding conditions for the females.

RE: The genetic health issues - had to google what CVD was lol, so the individuals who suffered from it had a common ancestor only four generations ago so I'm not sure if the counting starts at the individuals as gen 1 or if its their dams and sires as gen 1 but if its a great granddam/grandsire or great great granddam/grandsire it really reminded me reading it of the dangers of close relatedness even when its several generations removed. Placing people labels on this case for a moment: Nico was Meta's paternal 'uncle' and I believe Meta's parents were half siblings who were sired by the same tiger the very fruitful 'Paul von Esso' so in that regards he represented the patrilineal line twice for Meta in terms of being her only 'grandfather' and also being the father of Nico, its interesting because (anyone correct me if I'm wrong here) looking at Meta and Nico's long dynasty there has been a lot of longevity records and by that token I assume good health records like grandaughter Kemiri (to bring my post back to Adelaide for a moment lol) and that daughter of theirs Kali the littermate of Shiva, didnt she have a good long life and was the mother of the record holding tigress (Djelita), at the same time (this is the correct me if I'm wrong part) it seems some of their offspring didn't have the same luck and am wondering if its possible they had health issues arising from the level of inbredness that in their genepool at the time?

P.S Totally agree with you about the Sumatrans brought to Australia Zoo from Indonesia being wasted in terms of breeding pairings/plans. They came at the perfect time for the region to see new unrelated genes be part of the genetic makeup of the next generation of Sumatran Tiger cubs, yet they didnt really get given the opportunity.
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You’re welcome. And I see you’ve since found it, but for anyone else who reads this and is wondering - the shared common ancestors of this family tree are Frank and Poetry. I’ve written a more in depth summary here (with a list of the affected tigers): Australasian Sumatran Tiger Population

You’re correct in that there’s some long lived tigers in this line. Djelita holds the world record for longevity of this species, when she died at the age of 25 in 2016. Kemiri also holds the regional record of 22 years and 7 months - though I suspect Mencari at Hamilton Zoo may break this record. She’s a first cousin of Djelita and Kemiri (they’re all granddaughters of Nico and Meta) - but doesn’t descend from Frank and Poetry.
 
steveroberts said:
Nico was Meta's paternal 'uncle' and I believe Meta's parents were half siblings who were sired by the same tiger the very fruitful 'Paul von Esso' so in that regards he represented the patrilineal line twice for Meta in terms of being her only 'grandfather' and also being the father of Nico, its interesting because (anyone correct me if I'm wrong here) looking at Meta and Nico's long dynasty there has been a lot of longevity records and by that token I assume good health records like grandaughter Kemiri (to bring my post back to Adelaide for a moment lol) and that daughter of theirs Kali the littermate of Shiva, didnt she have a good long life and was the mother of the record holding tigress (Djelita), at the same time (this is the correct me if I'm wrong part) it seems some of their offspring didn't have the same luck and am wondering if its possible they had health issues arising from the level of inbredness that in their genepool at the time?
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That’s correct:

- Nico was born to Paul Von Esso and Geunia.

- Meta was born to Raja and Kumari. Raja was born to Paul Von Esso and Geunia; and Kumari was born to Paul Von Esso and Santje.

- Poetry was born to Paul Von Esso and Cora.

- Frank was born to Suka and Sunda. Sunda was a full sibling to Paul Von Esso.

The second generation offspring (Jambi and Shiva’s cubs) have mostly lived long lives: Malu lived until she was 22 years, Mencari is 22 years and Shiva’s sons all died in their 19th year.

The third generation have mostly lived long lives. Lari and Malu’s litter are all still alive at almost 18 years; and Ramalon, Lari and Molek have several offspring between them aged 12-15 years.
 
@Zoofan15 Paul von Esso was a very productive chap indeed, good for him, he was like the Genghis Khan or Charlemagne of Sumatran Tigers lol. Has a very wide legacy of descendants now, the global breeding program just need to find a way to stop breeding them to one another though, but thats easier said than done I realise as the global captive population of Sumatran Tigers only has a limited number of founders (though the more recently wild caught or first generation from wild caught parents are like you've already pointed out, very valuable help as individuals in terms of potentially genetically broadening the gene pools of potential future cubs, if pairing and imports can be done).

Thanks for the info too, I remember reading somewhere on here that Poetry and Nico were half siblings but did not know anything about Frank and that his mother Sunda (cool name) was a full sibling of Mr von Esso.
 
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The proposed $7.5 million "African Oasis" that would be promised at Adelaide Zoo if the current state government is re-elected. The plans also show an indoor glass-fronted set of exhibits (which pictures bilbies) so I assume a nocturnal house upgrade is also proposed along with the giraffe enclosure.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2124651714365856

Edit: An additional article mentioning that the $7.5 million is for revamped giraffe, pygmy hippo, lion and meerkat exhibits among others finally realising the next stage of the zoo's masterplan: SA Labor promises new ambulance centre
 
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Patrick Keegan said:
I don't know if this has already been mentioned yet.

but little penguins have moved into the former pygmy hippo exhibit.

It is stated that a new colony of 8 little penguins arrived at Adelaide zoo and 6 established penguins were introduced to the exhibit with the new penguins.

https://fb.watch/cp2H0HPaZB/
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Did Obi move into the former Common Hippo enclosure then? That would obviously make the most sense as it would have much more space for him.
 
The common hippopotamus exhibit no longer exists; the area is now a lawn with memorials to Susie and Brutus.
Obviously a pygmy hippo exhibit doesn’t fit with the SE Asia trail it’s now part of, but it is conveniently next door to the part of the zoo where the African Oasis precinct is planned to use. I wonder if it will be linked in as part of the redevelopment.
 
marmolady said:
The common hippopotamus exhibit no longer exists; the area is now a lawn with memorials to Susie and Brutus.
Obviously a pygmy hippo exhibit doesn’t fit with the SE Asia trail it’s now part of, but it is conveniently next door to the part of the zoo where the African Oasis precinct is planned to use. I wonder if it will be linked in as part of the redevelopment.
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That’s quite a nice way to memorialise Brutus and Susie, who were longtime residents of the Zoo and especially well known to the public.

Maybe the exhibit will be linked into the future African precinct somehow; although it’s possible the move was just to give Obi more space and fill up an otherwise empty enclosure. Initially when Obi was imported there was talks of getting a mate for him in the future. Maybe, fingers crossed, this can occur once the new African complex is completed.
 
I visited Adelaide Zoo earlier this week and have a few updates along with being able to clarify some items discussed above.

- Most exciting news from the visit is that construction has begun on an outdoor exhibit for the Komodo dragon. A concrete base is poured and metal framing was being erected on the space which was formerly the nile hippo night quarters with this area having been cleared while the pygmy hippo space was prepared for the penguins.
- The penguin colony now in the former hippo exhibit is in addition to the original colony which was displayed in the children's zoo with the zoo now having two penguin habitats.
- In the nocturnal house ghost bats are no longer displayed with their exhibits now housing an olive python in two of the spaces and greater stick-nest rats in the third.
At present the nocturnal house contains spinifex hopping mice, greater stick-nest rat (2 enclosures), squirrel glider, barn owl, fat-tailed dunnart, greater bilby (2 enclosure), common ringtail possum, brush-tailed bettong and olive python. The former bilby enclosures in the centre are uninhabited with the bilbies in the former sloth and potoroo enclosures.
- 2 female hamadryas baboon have arrived and are being integrated with the troop. This has been ongoing since my last visit in February and appears to be going well.
- Additional African grey parrots have been added to the collection. I saw four on my visit up from a previous two.
- In the envirodome the former pot-bellied seahorses have been replaced with yellow seahorses.

In regards to the pygmy hippo discussion above the former sun bear habitat is not intended as the permanent home for Obi. Plans for the new African oasis zone were released before the recent state election as part of an election commitment. These are available through a google image search for anyone interested and show that the new area would have featured a giraffe exhibit taking in the current giraffe enclosure which would be extended back to the current perimeter of the zoo backing on to the river and over the lemur/capybara etc. area. The current free-flight holding aviaries and tamarin exhibits would be replaced by a viewing area and ''African village'' with a pygmy hippo exhibit with underwater viewing sitting on the current nocturnal house and colobus enclosures.

To accommodate this development the panda shop would have closed and a new nocturnal house would be established in this building which would have been focused on the zoos work with the greater bilby.

The party which made the funding commitment lost the election and as yet it is unclear if funding will be provided by the current government.
 
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