I agree with you that a lot of the public would view them just as Donkeys but after standing back at different exhibits within zoos and observing things I have noticed the if there is good signage with a good eye catching photo and a good but short explanation about the "said" species explaining that there is only X number left in the wild and X number in zoos world wide many people do take notice which is great to see this, its educating them in a short and sweet way.
African Wild Ass: a possibility for Australian zoos?
- Thread starter Grant Rhino
- Start date
Similar to the Przewalski’s horse, which I feel the average visitor appreciates for their conservation status rather than viewing them as a domestic horse.
The additional advantage of the African wild ass is that it comes from an arid habitat. Replicating that in the design of its exhibit would make it appear even more exotic than if it was exhibited in a grass paddock.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
That would be great; both Indian Rhinos and Brazilian Tapirs are already on the live import list!
It would be great to see both these species imported in the future; and I definitely wouldn’t view the clause that the EEP can recall Brazilian tapir and their descendants as a reason not to import them:
Typically, the receiving zoo pays the import costs and so they’ll likely send us well represented individuals that are surplus to their breeding programme. Think of all the countless well represented tigers, lions, rhinos etc. we could happily export from Australasian zoos with the knowledge that was the last we saw of them.
If they breed well in Australasian zoos (as is the intention), we’d surely be happy to have an avenue for exporting surplus (there’s only so many we can hold).
I understand what you are saying but since the EEP seem to be stacked to the ceiling with some of these species they are full, where we are almost empty, like the exporting of young female gorillas to the EEP when now they are full to capacity where we are struggling to maintain a handful of animals, it appears to me its way out out balance and some common sense needs to be applied here.
The interesting thing about these species is while the abundance of gorillas in European zoos can simply be addressed by putting females on contraception and riding it out; that’s not an option for Indian rhinoceros or Brazilian tapir. The fertility of females from both these species is compromised when they’re not bred from for long periods of time, so they will have no choice but to keep breeding.
Factoring in the desire to maintain a genetically viable population and it has the potential to become an impossible situation. Australasia could potentially offer them an opportunity to preserve bloodlines, without necessitating the need to breed from those animals within Europe.
This could be a win win for the EEP and our zoos!
100%. With regards to rhinos and tapir, having a clear out of their stock within Europe will allow them to address the unbalanced population demographics while there’s still time. Right here and now, females are still reproductive and therefore desirable for import by other countries i.e. Australia. If left too late, nobody will want to import non viable breeders and they’ll have an ageing population.
With regards to gorillas, the same applies to shaping the population demographics, just without the same sense of urgency. I have no doubt there’s countless females they’d be happy to send our way though to improve the social dynamics of our troops. Mogo’s situation is especially precarious. The death of Kriba would reduce her troop to 1.1 and it’s clear Melbourne’s troop needs more females.
I am disappointed that things have had to reach this level here regarding our animal management, who's minding the store?
@Grant Rhino Such a great idea
Wonder if Darling Downs and Altina took to the idea import them and keep them if from there it would spark the interest of some other zoos (especially open-range ones and similar).
Wonder if Darling Downs and Altina took to the idea import them and keep them if from there it would spark the interest of some other zoos (especially open-range ones and similar).
I’d like to see a similar number of founders imported as with the Grant’s zebra. Importing multiple males is as important as importing multiple females as most zoos will likely breed from an initial herd of 1.2 or 1.3 in the hope of producing female offspring; which is great but then additional unrelated males are needed to breed with those first generation females.
Something similar to the following would be ideal:
1.2
1.3
1.1
3.0
That’s 6.6 with two herds, one pair and three bachelor males sustaining a regional population for at least three decades without further imports needed.
Just my guess would be DDZ want to build 2 herds of Zebra so I would imagine the effort and focus would be directed there. Since they don't get any government funding one can not do everything no matter how attractive it is. I can't see why some of our government funded zoos could not do it instead of building plastic supermarkets!
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Altina certainly love their ungulates so they would probably be the best bet for getting this done, but I think Monarto is where they would look best.
True - but I think there’s more to it than that. I genuinely think that most people (certainly most Australians) just like or admire horses: A lot of people ride them or have ridden them as kids, some people gamble on them, some people just love the muscles and power they exude, people like patting them and feeding them etc, people use their manure on their gardens, they pop up in fantasy fiction etc (unicorns and stuff), everyone seems to know someone who’s nickname is Horse etc, etc, etc. I think people just relate to them in a way - even people who aren’t that interested in animals generally still like them or appreciate them.
New Zealand is equally enamoured with horses, so it surprises me New Zealand zoos have never imported them. They’d be perfect for Orana Wildlife Park and Hamilton Zoo.
It’s good to see them at Monarto and Werribee, as both are otherwise very African centric in the collections.
I believe the time has come for some of the NZ zoos to raid their loose change jar to look at bring in a couple of new Zebras which would be pocket money for a major zoo.
I believe the time has come for some of the NZ zoos to raid their loose change jar to look at bring in a couple of new Zebras which would be pocket money for a major zoo.
I’m not gonna be impressed if Hamilton Zoo go back to breeding hybrid Plains zebra. They have the ideal opportunity now to import a purebred Grant’s colt (there’s three surplus at ZooDoo alone) and ideally a filly while they’re at it (since Hamilton’s Grant’s mare is 20 years old).
Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park are presumably happy with same sex herds (especially Auckland, who are breeding giraffe), but they could both receive surplus from Hamilton when breeding resumes.
Perhaps Hamilton have not even considered that!
IF Aust/NZ are cooperating between themselves (TAG team) I believe they could do better?
Perhaps Hamilton have not even considered that!
IF Aust/NZ are cooperating between themselves (TAG team) I believe they could do better?
There’s been a number of transfers between Australian and New Zealand zoos in recent years, but the lack of support for the Grant’s zebra breeding programme is baffling. I’m hoping this is partly circumstantial e.g. Hamilton Zoo waiting for their stallion to run it’s course.
Now the Giraffe IRA is completed, Hamilton could potentially play a role in importing/quarantining giraffe. To be clear, I’m stating that as an option, not confirmation of their plans. This could explain their announcement to take a pause from breeding zebra, which on the surface appears to reference allowing the newborn foal (and expected foal) time to mature.
Considering the amount of time it could take to acquire and shipping any new animals a lot of time can pass by and there is always an option animals imported could be kept at another place until the time is right there are other ways around these potential issues.