Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo News 2024

Zoofan15 said:
Not with the pair they have. I’m hopeful the inclusion of tapir in the masterplan indicates an intention to import more Brazilian tapir. As a region, I think there’s reasonable potential to establish a thriving population if we sourced more founders and multiple zoos committed to them.
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It would be nice to see this species kept they are such a unique looking species.
I wonder if Brazilian tapir and spider monkeys would work as a substitute for the Malayan tapir and langurs. That exhibit is such a nice exhibit, with the mix and the big old tree.
 
Tiger91 said:
It would be nice to see this species kept they are such a unique looking species.
I wonder if Brazilian tapir and spider monkeys would work as a substitute for the Malayan tapir and langurs. That exhibit is such a nice exhibit, with the mix and the big old tree.
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I completely agree - and I would say the same about the dusky langurs.

This is my favourite exhibit in any zoo I’ve been to anywhere in Australia - and part of the reason it works is the 2 unique looking species (along with the beautiful old Morton Bay Fig tree).
 
Tiger91 said:
Yes, ironically the Malayans eyes are not made for our sun or that type of enclosure. Which is a shame they are an easily bred species and make a great display species.
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That’s true, though with the shade of a Moreton Bay fig tree and and the use of shade-sails, I’m confident the exhibit could be sufficiently shaded to account for their intolerance of the sun.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Tapir Update

In celebrating World Tapir Day, Adelaide Zoo mentioned they have three tapir (Jelita, Arturo and Chiquita). Combined with the removal of Talara from the website, this suggests Talara has passed away. It appears her last mention was on April 2023 last year.

Talara was born September 1987 (at Marwell Zoo), so she reached a remarkable age.

Malayan tapir:

0.1 Jelita (2000)

Brazilian tapir:

1.0 Arturo (2006)
0.1 Chiquita (2002)
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Very sad news, I caught the Keeper in charge of the three Brazilians cleaning the pool 18 months ago, very nice lady, and she was confident Adelaide would be continuing with Brazilians specifically, not sure about Malayans. They are in Adelaide's masterplan which gives me confidence since a lot of other species aren't.
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
Do we know if Adelaide have any intention of breeding? Of course they feature in the master plan but there’s still some confusion on my end. I also wonder if Melbournes plans for the elephant exhibit will affect Adelaide’s holding of either tapir species
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Once their current pair pass I believe the next import will likely be a breeding group. Australian Zoos don't import unless it is for breeding these days.

I wonder why Adelaide has never used Tapirs as a marketing point, now being the only holder of them in Australasia, and with two species at that. I believe most of the general public is at least familiar with Tapirs, so why don't they brand them.
 
Swanson02 said:
Once their current pair pass I believe the next import will likely be a breeding group. Australian Zoos don't import unless it is for breeding these days.

I wonder why Adelaide has never used Tapirs as a marketing point, now being the only holder of them in Australasia, and with two species at that. I believe most of the general public is at least familiar with Tapirs, so why don't they brand them.
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That sounds likely. There was an initial flurry of breeding (three calves born between 1990-1991), the what appears to have been sporadic breeding over the decade and a half that followed (last birth in 2006).

A better strategy would be a group import of 4.3 or 4.2 tapir with surplus males rotated around. Being reproductively inactive seems to do females no favours.
 
ReturnOfPaddyRick said:
Were Arturo and Chiquita intended to breed?
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Zoofan15 said:
No, apparently they were never intended for breeding as they’re related. Arturo was brought in for the sole purpose of providing Chiquita with companionship after Talara passed.
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Arturo isn't even displayed with Chiquita, I believe he was moved primarily because Melbourne didn't have the space for him anymore, with him sharing rotation of the enclosure with Semangka (Malayan Tapir). He was initially going into one of Melbourne's Pygmy Hippo enclosures, but these plans were quickly abandoned once Adelaide offered to take him.
 
Jambo said:
Arturo isn't even displayed with Chiquita, I believe he was moved primarily because Melbourne didn't have the space for him anymore, with him sharing rotation of the enclosure with Semangka (Malayan Tapir). He was initially going into one of Melbourne's Pygmy Hippo enclosures, but these plans were quickly abandoned once Adelaide offered to take him.
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That’s unfortunate him and Chiquita haven’t been integrated as that was the original intention. She was closely bonded to her mother Talara and there was some concern over how she would fare following Talara’s inevitable death (which now appears to have occurred). Perhaps now she’s on her own she will be more receptive to companionship.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s unfortunate him and Chiquita haven’t been integrated as that was the original intention. She was closely bonded to her mother Talara and there was some concern over how she would fare following Talara’s inevitable death (which now appears to have occurred). Perhaps now she’s on her own she will be more receptive to companionship.
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They live in two separate enclosures, so I'd imagine they'd keep them separate unless absolutely necessary. Since they don't wish to breed them it wouldn't really make any sense keeping them together (aside from companionship).
 
That Aussie Guy said:
Was speaking to a member of the education team at Adelaide Zoo today who, within an unrelated conversation, mentioned that porcupines from Monarto will soon be housed in the small enclosures where the last capybaras lived (opposite the lemurs near the nocturnal house).
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Cape porcupine have arrived:

A post on socials notes they have a new arrival - Cape porcupine. As mentioned by @That Aussie Guy, the species is housed in the small exhibits where the Capybara lived.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Cape porcupine have arrived:

A post on socials notes they have a new arrival - Cape porcupine. As mentioned by @That Aussie Guy, the species is housed in the small exhibits where the Capybara lived.
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Details on new porcupines:

The porcupines are two brothers born at Monarto Safari Park:

1.0 Walter (August 2023) Oliver x Rita
1.0 Winni (August 2023) Oliver x Rita
 
Mujambi the African lion - health update:

From socials:

On Monday this week, Mujambi had a dental operation to check on a few problematic teeth. Anaesthetic for any animal (or human) poses risks but even more so when you're a senior. However, after careful consideration, any risk was outweighed by the need to ensure Mujambi's best welfare and wellbeing.

Fortunately, Mujambi's operation went really well and after a few days of recouping from a root canal treatment on his own, he is now back to sharing his habitat with his bonded companion, Amani.

Mujambi and Amani are, in fact, both senior animals. With Mujambi at a stately 19-years, he is one of the oldest lions in the region, while Amani is the oldest female lion in the region.
 
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