Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2023

An update on the Hamadryas Baboon troop:

10 month old female Lily born last year was born to first time mum Quasi but adopted by experienced mum chappi ( sorry if this had already been mentioned last year).

Quasi has now had a male infant born in late March with keepers also anticipating that Mahali is also expecting an arrival due any day with the Baboon enclosure closed until they are all settled in.

From their facebook link: Log into Facebook | Facebook


"The Hamadryas Baboon troop has seen a lot of action over the last year with more to come. Ten-month old "Lily' (named after the Cala Lily and the national flower of Ethiopia) was born to Quasi but adopted by experienced mum Chappi. Quasi then went on to have another baby, this time a male, who arrived in late March. Keepers anticipate that Mahali is also expecting and an arrival due any day."
 
Patrick Keegan said:
An update on the Hamadryas Baboon troop:

10 month old female Lily born last year was born to first time mum Quasi but adopted by experienced mum chappi ( sorry if this had already been mentioned last year).

Quasi has now had a male infant born in late March with keepers also anticipating that Mahali is also expecting an arrival due any day with the Baboon enclosure closed until they are all settled in.

From their facebook link: Log into Facebook | Facebook


"The Hamadryas Baboon troop has seen a lot of action over the last year with more to come. Ten-month old "Lily' (named after the Cala Lily and the national flower of Ethiopia) was born to Quasi but adopted by experienced mum Chappi. Quasi then went on to have another baby, this time a male, who arrived in late March. Keepers anticipate that Mahali is also expecting and an arrival due any day."
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Thanks for the update. Though Lily’s birth was announced, her name was not until now.

The news that the recent infant was born to the same mother came as a surprise to me. 15-24 months is a typical age gap for this species and factoring in the six month gestation, means Quasi conceived just two months after giving birth; though it’s noted Chappi took over the raising of her first infant.

Fingers crossed for a successful infant for Mahali!
 
Sign at Adelaide Zoo’s orangutan exhibit gives an expected completion date of September 2023 for renovations and expansion of orangutan climbing apparatus. An artist’s impression shows a new undercover viewing area that looks over the expanded climbing frame (see gallery!).
 
Giant panda contract expires November 2024:

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news...3/news-story/1c4ddef00e5cac14ad42368c25f19f49

It’s now just over a year until the lease on Wang Wang (2005) and Funi (2006) expires in November 2024.

It’ll be interesting to see what eventuates. Adelaide hasn’t been subjected to the negative comments plaguing US zoos; and international relations between Australia and China have thawed, suggesting continuing with pandas is a possibility (further supported by their inclusion in the masterplan).

In an article least year, Zoos SA spoke about the possibility of receiving a new pair. This at least suggests Wang Wang and Funi will be returning irregardless of whether the zoo continue with pandas.

Considering Wang Wang and Funi have had 11 breeding seasons and all have been unsuccessful, I’m of the opinion swapping them is the best option at this point. Statistically speaking, there’s close to no chance of Adelaide breeding this pair successfully now.

Wang Wang and Funi - Reproductive Timeline

2009: Wang Wang and Funi arrive
2011: Natural only (fails)
2012: Natural only (fails)
2013: Artificial insemination (fails)
2014: Natural only (fails)
2015: Artificial insemination (fails)
2016: Artificial insemination (fails)
2017: Artificial insemination (fails)
2018: Artificial insemination (fails)
2019: No breeding due to contract negotiations
2020: Natural only (fails)
2021: Natural only (fails)
2022: Artificial insemination (fails)
Aaa
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Glad I saw them when I did in April!
When there the staff did seem confident that they would be continuing on with Giant Pandas, but then that may have been their own optimism and probably not indicative of actual negotiations.
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The decision of whether to re-negotiate will surely be influenced by visitor numbers, especially over the summer of 2023-2024. Despite the initial (and predicted) surge in visitation following the arrival of the pandas, visitation had returned to pre-panda levels by 2020.

Since then we’ve had Covid and it’s reasonable to assume visitation will never be higher over the next decade than it is now (in the height of the post-Covid travel boom of 2022-2024). If the visitor numbers aren’t there, then renewing the contract isn’t a good investment imo.

I agree with you, there’s likely some optimism amongst the staff. If the pandas are leaving, they’ll be a period of time for locals to farewell them etc. but until that decision’s confirmed, there’s no point in causing the general public needless upset. It never ceases to amaze me how emotive they get over stuff like this.
 
No Giant panda breeding this year:

A decision regarding the future of this species at Adelaide Zoo will be made in the second half of 2024.

From socials:

Spring is here! Unlike other years, we will not be carrying out any breeding (either assisted or natural) between Fu Ni and Wang Wang.

In 2019, Zoos SA signed a five year extension for the loan of the Giant Pandas with the China Wildlife Conservation Association which will come to an end in November 2024.

Formal discussions with China regarding the future of the Giant Pandas at Adelaide Zoo will commence shortly and we do not expect to know the outcome of these until the second half of 2024. Therefore we will not be introducing our Giant Panda pair as it would not be in the best welfare interest for Fu Ni if she were to fall pregnant or have a young cub and need to travel.
 
The Sleepy Hippo said:
Maybe like the GP, Melbourne will swoop in and steal them in negotiations ;)
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After 11 years of failed breeding attempts, I’d say the joke would be on Melbourne if they acquired this pair. :p

It’ll be interesting to see if Adelaide continue with Giant panda, but either way, I’m confident this is the end of the road for Wang Wang and Funi. They’re getting on in years and what hasn’t worked 11 times isn’t gonna work the 12th. Since it’s now recognised multiple males enhance breeding success, it’s a shame the loan format remains a 1.1 pair.
 
Naga the Komodo dragon has died:

From socials:

It is with sadness we share that our male Komodo Dragon, Naga, was found deceased this morning.

Naga had been under medical treatment for the past six weeks and had been responding to treatment well. The veterinarian team and keepers are undertaking a thorough investigation into the cause of his death. This may take up to four weeks.

Naga arrived in Adelaide on loan from Taronga Zoo in July 2022. He was originally from Los Angeles Zoo, and came to Adelaide Zoo as part of the regional breeding program. He was much-loved by staff and visitors.

Our female Komodo Dragon Cecilia and Naga did not share a habitat. Cecilia is continuing to do well and she is not at risk.
 
Zorro said:
Very sad news indeed.
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Naga was only 11 years old, so unfortunately he died quite young considering this species can live 30 years. His predecessors at Taronga were Tuka, who died in 2015 aged 33 years; and Keith, who was imported as a mature animal in 1963 and lived for 27 years until his death in 1990.

Adelaide have a good set up for housing a breeding pair and will hopefully receive a replacement male in due course to pair with Cecilia.
 
Adelaide Zoo Annual Report 2022-2023:

Some of the highlights from the recent annual report for Adelaide [https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Annual-Report-22-23.pdf]:
  • a Nankeen Kestrel was added to the free-flight show.
  • a new nocturnal show was created for Light Creatures with Barking Owl, Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and Brush-tailed Bettong.
  • their population of Nicobar Pigeons increased to 21 individuals and their penguin colonies totals 29 individuals with several new chicks.
  • Orange-bellied Parrots, Regent Honeyeaters, Western Swamp Turtles and Red-tailed Phascogales all produced offspring throughout the year. A Black-footed Rock-Wallaby was reared at Adelaide before being returned to the wild.
  • a second Komodo enclosure was constructed for the female (back when they had the pair). This connected to an outside habitat that would have been shared at different times for both dragons.
  • four new aviaries were constructed at the Variety Children’s Zoo to house education animals.
 
Patrick Keegan said:
Second black and white colobus birth

A black and white colobus was born on November 27 to zamba this is the second colobus to be born at Adelaide Zoo in its history following 0.1 jamila on January 30 as well as the third born in Australia this year alone

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Wow, what a great year for the region’s Black and white colobus population. Fingers crossed Melbourne’s pair will welcome an infant in the future.
 
Patrick Keegan said:
Second black and white colobus birth

A black and white colobus was born on November 27 to zamba this is the second colobus to be born at Adelaide Zoo in its history following 0.1 jamila on January 30 as well as the third born in Australia this year alone

Log in to Facebook | Facebook
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Great to see Adelaide's other breeding female successfully conceive as well. The regions had a great year with them so far!

This is the first time a single facility has had more than one colobus infant since Melbourne over a decade ago too; exciting times ahead.
 
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