Adelaide Zoo Adelaide Zoo visit, March 2010

[Kifaru Bwana]

In regards to the Pygmy Bluetongues the few they used to have never really had the right set up for breeding with very little effort was put into getting them to breed

In your opinion, .. have conditions improved? IME it takes time to really get reptiles to breed, esp. those deemed difficult. Allthough, I would say blue-tongeds are not that ... particularly difficult.

The moving of some out to Monarto seems like a good idea to spread out the captive assurance colony.

 

[Electus Parrot]

Pygmy bluetongues are much more difficult to breed than other bluetongues as they live their lives in holes, breeding and caring for young inside them plus many other reasons.
The conditions have definately improved since the past pygmies, with a new enclosure that was built at Adelaide and new larger behind the scenes facilities for them.

 

[MARK]

In your opinion, .. have conditions improved? IME it takes time to really get reptiles to breed, esp. those deemed difficult. Allthough, I would say blue-tongeds are not that ... particularly difficult.

The moving of some out to Monarto seems like a good idea to spread out the captive assurance colony.

Not just my opinion KB but some one who had worked in the zoo and knows that area well.

I did hear there was going to be a program with some better ideas than just a small display area like they have had, Blue tongues are not that hard to breed over all

 

[Pertinax]

until the relevant photos get purged from the system......

Not my fault... I decline any responsibility!

 

[Pertinax]

No, I didn't get a fine, which was lucky I suppose. I spent another ten minutes or so deciding what I was going to do next. I ended up driving down to Kangaroo Island and camping on a deserted beach (which is the subject of another thread).

I guess you were so engrossed in your visit you forgot the time .

 

[Pertinax]

The Dusky Langers would be worth a visit to Adelaide zoo alone, Wonderful animals wish we had more in Oz

These have always been one of my favourite Langur species. They were the first 'unusual' primates I ever saw back in the 1960's when Twycross imported a small group. The bright orange babies were amazing and something I had never seen back then. A well-known photo of them featured them on the cover of one of their early guidebooks too. The Twycross group flourished for many years but is now down to about five-strong- probably they are still descendants of the original group though.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Ghandi

Apparently Ghandi was born in about 1914.
Imported by Sole Bros Circus - date unknown.
Purchased from Soles by Bullens in 1936.
Transferred to Taronga - date unknown.
Euthanised at Taronga 19/04/1968.

His name was always spelt Ghandi.

Another source says he was born in 1912.

Apparently he went to Taronga on 15/05/1950

 

[Ara]

Thanks for that info. on Ghandi, Steve. I will bow to your expertise as regards the spelling of his name. (I've got an old Taronga book that spells it Gandy - now that can't be right!) So, from your info. I was five when he came to Taronga and in my early twenties when he "disappeared." He was therefore the bull elephant of my childhood and I was very impressed with him. Unforunately, his was a rather boring life, permanently chained by both front feet. Dunno who handled him, if anyone. Dave Cody, maybe?

No, never heard of Kangy Angy zoo before you mentioned it. Did I understand you to say that you volunteered there when you were a young bloke? What did they have there?

There was a small zoo at Charlestown, south of Newcastle when I was a kid. The "exotica" was limited to macaques and camels, otherwise it was the usual collection of cockatoos, kangaroos, goats and donkeys.

Oops - we've dragged this thread way off topic, so I will take it back by saying that I was amazed to see a photo of Pallas' Cat taken at Adelaide zoo by Hix in 1984. I didn't know that we had ever had them in Australia. Adelaide always has a few surprises for me - small animals that can't be seen anywhere else, and that's a real accomplishment in these days of standardisation.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Unforunately, his was a rather boring life, permanently chained by both front feet. Dunno who handled him, if anyone. Dave Cody, maybe?

No, never heard of Kangy Angy zoo before you mentioned it. Did I understand you to say that you volunteered there when you were a young bloke? What did they have there?

I remember seeing him out in the yard on a number of occasions in the early 60s completely unchained. In the later 60s he would always have a tether chain secured back in the house when he was out in the yard. Dave would have had the savvy to handle him - if he could have been handled by anyone.

Kangy had the usual Aussies, heaps of hybrid Rhesus/Common Macaques etc but, for me, the big attraction was the 6 Gibbons that they imported from Singapore.

Sorry mods - we're off track again.

 

[tetrapod]

Oops - we've dragged this thread way off topic, so I will take it back by saying that I was amazed to see a photo of Pallas' Cat taken at Adelaide zoo by Hix in 1984. I didn't know that we had ever had them in Australia. Adelaide always has a few surprises for me - small animals that can't be seen anywhere else, and that's a real accomplishment in these days of standardisation.

I remember seeing the Pallas cats, along with Senegal? bushbaby, springhaas and I believe slender loris, all in the noc house. Mid-80s sound right, but I cannot be sure.