ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
This is amazing news! I'm in full agreement that kangaroo will make a better use of the exhibit than wallaby and will attract more interest from visitors. The iconic lizards will also be quite the drawcard!
Auckland Zoo Auckland Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter ApeLadyNZ
- Start date
This is amazing news! I'm in full agreement that kangaroo will make a better use of the exhibit than wallaby and will attract more interest from visitors. The iconic lizards will also be quite the drawcard!
Will be interesting to see which kangaroo species they end up acquiring. Eastern Grey Kangaroos would be my guess, however I'd love to see Red Kangaroos at Auckland.
Hopefully either way, this particular group will be more active than Auckland's previous wallabies; who always preferred to be at the far back of the exhibit.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
I'd be thrilled to see either species of kangaroo at Auckland Zoo. In the past, I remember red kangaroos being part of the Australian exhibit, but that was many, many years ago.
I’m really hoping it’s Red kangaroo (the largest species), which were also held at Wellington Zoo until the 2000’s; and at Auckland and Orana until 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Potentially Auckland Zoo could breed them, with the view of supplying the other New Zealand zoos.
I agree the wallabies were never very visible. Having small numbers (especially in later years) didn’t help.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
It would be awesome to have a kangaroo breeding programme at Auckland Zoo!
The previous wallaby occupants of the walkabout, while cute, never seemed to impress the visitors much while I was in the area. The last of these seemed to spend much of its time hiding in the long grass of the brolga exhibit.
Causticjay
Member
I saw the Instagram post last night, I am really excited for the frilled lizards! In the comments the zoo account said they're hoping to have the new animals on display in the summer.
Tasmanian devil import:
From socials:
We’ve welcomed these two young devils to the Zoo!
Since their arrival on 4 September, these two-year-old sisters have been settling themselves into our Australia Bush Track, and we are seeking palawa kani names (the language of Tasmanian Aboriginals) to honour their heritage.
While still getting used to a whole new world of sights, sounds and smells, our night cameras reveal they’re having the time of their lives exploring the habitat when they’re not sleeping together in their nest box. They’ve been digging and climbing, and clearly love seeing male devil Nita,” explains our lead carnivore keeper Nick.
These devils arrived from Cressy Wildlife Facility in Tasmania, as part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program to raise awareness for their species.
These two new arrivals, along with male devil Nita, are among 54 ambassador devils now in zoos in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Europe, and the USA, whose genetics are well represented in the wild population.
From socials:
We’ve welcomed these two young devils to the Zoo!
Since their arrival on 4 September, these two-year-old sisters have been settling themselves into our Australia Bush Track, and we are seeking palawa kani names (the language of Tasmanian Aboriginals) to honour their heritage.
While still getting used to a whole new world of sights, sounds and smells, our night cameras reveal they’re having the time of their lives exploring the habitat when they’re not sleeping together in their nest box. They’ve been digging and climbing, and clearly love seeing male devil Nita,” explains our lead carnivore keeper Nick.
These devils arrived from Cressy Wildlife Facility in Tasmania, as part of the Tasmanian Devil Ambassador Program to raise awareness for their species.
These two new arrivals, along with male devil Nita, are among 54 ambassador devils now in zoos in New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Europe, and the USA, whose genetics are well represented in the wild population.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
This is amazing news, and very exciting to see a young pair imported!
Southern white rhinoceros calf due November!
Join us in celebrating World Rhino Day and a rhino pregnancy! | Auckland Zoo News
Jamila is pregnant and due this November!
Already an exceptional mother to four-year-old Nyah and two-year-old Amali, Jamila is now 14 months into her 16-month pregnancy (confirmed via faecal analysis testing). Since last November, she has gained well over 100kg and is now tipping the scales at a healthy 1880kg.
Jess and the team are continuing to weigh and monitor her regularly and in the final weeks leading up to her labour, this will also extend to monitoring her via remote cameras from home in the evening.
Join us in celebrating World Rhino Day and a rhino pregnancy! | Auckland Zoo News
Jamila is pregnant and due this November!
Already an exceptional mother to four-year-old Nyah and two-year-old Amali, Jamila is now 14 months into her 16-month pregnancy (confirmed via faecal analysis testing). Since last November, she has gained well over 100kg and is now tipping the scales at a healthy 1880kg.
Jess and the team are continuing to weigh and monitor her regularly and in the final weeks leading up to her labour, this will also extend to monitoring her via remote cameras from home in the evening.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Wow, that is amazing news! No wonder Jamila, when I've managed to spot her, tends to be hanging out with her daughters and shooing off Zambezi! This is quite a boost for Auckland's rhinos!
It’s very exciting news. I’d be wondering for a while if Jamila was pregnant again; as 24-26 months is a common natural birth interval for prime aged females of this species and Jamila’s previous births were:
0.1 Nyah (August 2020)
0.1 Amali (September 2022)
How amazing would a third female calf in November 2024 be! Especially ahead of the Australian Rhino Project, which will supply the region with founder bulls more genetically valuable than the first and second generation bulls we have in the region.
Causticjay
Member
Does anyone know the exact date Burma is leaving Auckland? I heard early November and I'm going around the 14th, hoping I'll get a chance to see her one last time before she leaves for Australia.
An update by Auckland Zoo posted July 1 said ‘early November’, so it might be wise to visit earlier if you’re able to do so to avoid disappointment.
This close out, we can be reasonably confident of departure arrangements not being delayed; and in any case, they’ll want to avoid having Burma in transit during the summer months (December to February).
Causticjay
Member
Yep I think I saw the same post you did. I am visiting Auckland from out of town for my birthday so can't change the dates, fingers crossed by "early" they actually meant "mid - late" November.
Article on zoo’s conservation achievements:
Auckland Zoo and Department of Conservation sign new strategic partnership | Auckland Zoo News
Achievements include:
427 kiwi hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild as part of ONE (Operation Nest Egg).
80 kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
43 whio/blue duck and 170 pāteke/brown teal hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
7,000+ wētāpunga bred at Zoo and released onto pest-free islands in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and Northland’s Ipipiri islands (Bay of Islands).
148 cobble skinks (rescued & Zoo-bred animals) destined for release back to safe areas on the South Island’s west coast in early 2025.
Auckland Zoo and Department of Conservation sign new strategic partnership | Auckland Zoo News
Achievements include:
427 kiwi hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild as part of ONE (Operation Nest Egg).
80 kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
43 whio/blue duck and 170 pāteke/brown teal hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
7,000+ wētāpunga bred at Zoo and released onto pest-free islands in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and Northland’s Ipipiri islands (Bay of Islands).
148 cobble skinks (rescued & Zoo-bred animals) destined for release back to safe areas on the South Island’s west coast in early 2025.
One of the few zoos actually making a positive impact in white rhino breeding (where much bigger ones keep on keep failing ...)!
Perhaps, it would be better if they manage the ZAA program .... (well, not that it is about the happen in the scheme of ZAA things).
Auckland Zoo are currently the ZAA species coordinator for Southern white rhinoceros in Australasia.
It’s fantastic to hear their breeding cow Jamila is about to produce her third offspring in four years (following on from Nyah, 2020; and Amali, 2022) - especially considering she initially lived in a 1.1 pair with the sire, Zambezi; as opposed to most zoos in the region, which house small herds.
Auckland Zoo have stated due to Nyah (2020) already cycling, she’s been separated from her sire and will be transferring out in the future. As nice as it’d have been to see Jamila and her daughters continue to live together as a family group (and a second bull brought in for breeding once they have the increased capacity of the elephant complex); since it’s been proven over decades of research that estrus suppression runs rife in mother-daughter herds, leaving her natal herd is surely in Nyah’s best reproductive interests.
My understanding is the people managing the White rhino program within the ZAA program seem to believe that spare males should only be sent to other holders already currently holding them like they need other males as companions which from my understanding often turns out to be the opposite where they have to be separated due to the aggression towards each other. This seems to point to a lack of the species needs. If there are other zoos willing to hold the spare bulls then do so!
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I know they are ...., but .... really that they have the regional clout and reach to put all the underperforming major zoos (Melbourne, Perth, Sydney) and their out back open range zoos on the spot and actually move the ex situ conservation program where it should be. As it is, it is down to a few smaller Australian zoos and Kiwi facilities to make that difference.
Further and on the double that IRA for rhinos and import from South Africa needs to be speeded up in Govt. circles both here and in South Africa (the SA Govt. is actually failing its white rhinos inside the most prominent reserves and national parks and to a lesser extend that is true for black rhinos as well) as well as the wider pachyderm drama surrounding the import/export regulations on elephants, tapirs and hippos (both species).
Every recommendation regarding Southern white rhinoceros is made by a species coordinator with an in depth knowledge of the species, their social structure, welfare and reproductive health. Prior to her unfortunate passing, the species coordinator for the region was Samantha Kudeweh, who had two decades experience working with Southern white rhinoceros; and whose research papers are testament to her extensive expertise. She made recommendations, including the placement of both juvenile bulls in bachelor herds; and the holding of two of more adult bulls at breeding facilities.
When you have a species producing offspring in an approximately 1.1 ratio, where only adult females can reliably live together, it’s obvious that the ongoing production of males is going to become an issue. The placement of said males in bachelor herds (where possible) is initially done for efficiency of space. Instead of three zoos holding three juvenile bulls, one zoo accommodates all three. In rare cases, these herds remain cohesive long term; but the usual scenario is that the bulls mature and separation is needed. So was it a waste of time? Of course not. By this time, those bulls are approaching their prime and are mature enough to assert their dominance over cows (should a placement in a female herd arise). In the meantime, those bulls have had the social experience of growing up with peers (as opposed to living in isolation), which is advantageous when the goal is for the bull to live with a female herd long term. In the 5-10 years that have passed since that bachelor herd was formed, spaces have opened up and those bulls can now fill them - something which was anticipated well in advance.
Moving onto multiple bulls at a breeding facility. The role of stimulant bull is one of many theories believed to promote reproduction, where the scent of a competitor motivates the breeding bull to mate with the females. Monarto, who have bred numerous calves, have previously cited the benefit of having Ibutho on site to motivate his more genetically valuable ‘rival.’
Though less opportunities to implement this have arose, it should also be noted the significance of compatibility in pairing this species. Some cows have successfully bred with more than one bull; while others have failed to breed with one bull, but succeeded with another. If a site has the capacity to offer a cow more than one suitable bull to breed with, there’s little reason to deny them this.
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