Altina Wildlife Park Altina Wildlife Park News 2023
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I'm thinking it looks a lot like a Bongo...possibly Dubbo's young male, Kamau (2018).
Its a Nyala muzzle in the pic
The new species is indeed Lowland nyala as confirmed by clues on the zoo’s socials. I’ll hold fire on posting this in the exotic mammals thread until Altina detail specifics on the import - number, gender and origin.
There's a better up dated pic of the Nyala face on their socials page.
At least half the people guessing on their socials seem to think it’s a Kudu. It’s clearly a Lowland nyala, with the fact we don’t have Kudu in the region helping to whittle it down.
Well the area news spoilt the surprise that altina was teasing on social media, not like we didn't know already though.
Meet Altina Wildlife Park's newest residents
Meet Altina Wildlife Park's newest residents
Hopefully they can obtain some females!
I’m thinking they will. Altina have an interest in breeding ungulates and if there was an opportunity to stock up a holder with bachelor bulls, I’d expect there to have been a minimum of three in the herd. Given the size of the initial imports from South Africa, there’d surely be some unrelated females within the region.
I believe Monatro bred 4 calfs last years I don't know the sex of them but some holders appear to be holding on to the females?
Nyala Import
Altina have announced the import of the two males from New Zealand; and confirmed they plan to acquire females for breeding:
From socials:
Altina proudly welcome two male Nyala Antelope to the wildlife park!
These gorgeous new boys were imported from New Zealand over a month ago where they then spent one month in Altina’s quarantine facility!
Bahati & Salim were the Quarantine Keepers’ special friends from the very beginning! Their quirky and curious personalities shined through instantly!
They love their browse, grass and lucerne chaff and are a very chilled pair. As half-brothers they investigate anything new with much enthusiasm!
Currently Altina has imported the two males and we look forward to hopefully acquiring females in the near future.
Altina have announced the import of the two males from New Zealand; and confirmed they plan to acquire females for breeding:
From socials:
Altina proudly welcome two male Nyala Antelope to the wildlife park!
These gorgeous new boys were imported from New Zealand over a month ago where they then spent one month in Altina’s quarantine facility!
Bahati & Salim were the Quarantine Keepers’ special friends from the very beginning! Their quirky and curious personalities shined through instantly!
They love their browse, grass and lucerne chaff and are a very chilled pair. As half-brothers they investigate anything new with much enthusiasm!
Currently Altina has imported the two males and we look forward to hopefully acquiring females in the near future.
Wonderful news
In July 2022, they announced the birth of their fifth nyala calf for the year. Monarto’s herd was founded by 1.2 from Werribee, with unrelated bulls imported from Auckland Zoo in 2022 to breed with the herd which by then included several first generation daughters. It appears Monarto are retaining any females born within their herd to build up the numbers. They have the space to exhibit a huge herd.
I believe you noted in the Wellington thread, Wellington are now without males so they may have come from there?
I visited Wellington Zoo less than a week ago and saw 2 males there.
No, I was mistaken. While I didn’t see any bulls, Chlidonias advised they’re in an exhibit that’s wedged between the Savannah and the Australian precinct - I just didn’t see them.
While a large number of founders were imported, only so many bulls were brought in and the intergenerational gaps of this species is short. With prolific breeding, new bulls are frequently required and we’re fast approaching the stage where minor inbreeding will be occurring. Altina’s females will likely come from Auckland or Wellington, which both hold large numbers, but some new imports from South Africa would be beneficial down the line.
Some new imports from South Africa would be ideal
Seeing that Nyala appear to be breeding well in the region one would of thought Monarto Zoo would of been helping to get other holders started, having 5 calfs last year is a big increase.
Just my view any new holder who now have males only such as Altina and Sydney zoo could be better to perhaps do an import from South Africa now the long awaited IRA is now completed, At least they would be unrelated to what is now in the region and they can kick start their own aims at breeding them.
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Even if they want to grow an immense herd, I’m sure Monarto could supply two young females. A founder base of 1.2 enabled their herd to produce eight calves within a short space of time. They can sometimes have two calves in a year and twins aren’t uncommon.
Nonetheless, I agree imports would be beneficial. Altina will surely do well with this species either way.