Australasian Asian Elephant Population 2022

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Zoofan15 said:
The cost to export Burma to the US would be astronomical, not to mention the necessary permits needed making the whole thing a logistical nightmare. The zoo will be familiar with inter-Tasman transfers which they undertake several times a year and the costs would be significantly less. Werribee tick all the boxes re. a large herd held within world class facilities. I imagine Auckland would be VERY keen to see this happen.
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I agree 100 percent!
 
Zoofan15 said:
If Monarto were to form a breeding herd, it’d probably be preferable to receive cows from Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Removing from Num Oi and her line from Werribee would reduce their herd to a single matriarchal line which wouldn’t be ideal genetically. AI would then have to be undertaken to mix up the genetics from the bulls they had on site.

Speaking frankly, Taronga have more cows than they know what to do with (four). None are being bred at even close to capacity with 7-8 year birth intervals between their calves. For the sake of succession, they’d probably prefer to retain Porntip (1992) and Kanlaya (2018); along with Anjalee (2006). This would free up Pak Boon (1992) and Thong Dee (1997) to transfer to Monarto. Of course this is based around the current population. Monarto could easily be a decade away from acquiring elephants and by then the herd structure at Taronga could look very different (depending on who gives birth to what); combined with the fact the 1992 cows will be at the end of their reproductive lifespan.
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At the end of the day I believe that would all come down to the money the new African exhibit and rhino importation would of cost plenty
 
Zoofan15 said:
The cost to export Burma to the US would be astronomical, not to mention the necessary permits needed making the whole thing a logistical nightmare. The zoo will be familiar with inter-Tasman transfers which they undertake several times a year and the costs would be significantly less. Werribee tick all the boxes re. a large herd held within world class facilities. I imagine Auckland would be VERY keen to see this happen.
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I agree, Werribee tick all the boxes, and even their elephants are possibly the perfect individuals they could get personality wise.

Compared to Taronga’s elephants; Porntip is incredibly dominant, and Pak Boon who can prove to be difficult and sometimes intolerant of other individuals. Even Thong Dee can be quite a moody cow, and has her good and bad days.
 
Zorro said:
At the end of the day I believe that would all come down to the money the new African exhibit and rhino importation would of cost plenty
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Monarto may well find their niche in rhinoceros and specialise in breeding them rather than competing inter-state with the zoos holding elephants. A bachelor facility will never hold the same appeal as a breeding facility and concentrating their efforts on rhinoceros may prove more fruitful.
 
Zoofan15 said:
For now, they’ll have to share that honour with Dubbo and Werribee, but I can foresee Monarto identifying rhinoceros as their chance to shine. Long term, they may aspire to import Indian rhinoceros and could theoretically hold a small herd compared to the 1.1 pair held at Dubbo.
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Considering I believe there’s a move at the moment to halt breeding of Indian rhinos in Europe zoos due to lack of new holders now would be a perfect time to acquire some
 
Zorro said:
Considering I believe there’s a move at the moment to halt breeding of Indian rhinos in Europe zoos due to lack of new holders now would be a perfect time to acquire some
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As with many species, once a couple of initial holders have done the hard work of importing, other holders are willing to acquire them knowing the transport costs will be a fraction of what it cost to bring them in from overseas; as well as eliminating paperwork related to international transfers. The upside is the early holders can breed regularly, with any surplus taken up by secondary holders.
 
Zoofan15 said:
As with many species, once a couple of initial holders have done the hard work of importing, other holders are willing to acquire them knowing the transport costs will be a fraction of what it cost to bring them in from overseas; as well as eliminating paperwork related to international transfers. The upside is the early holders can breed regularly, with any surplus taken up by secondary holders.
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I could see Monarto becoming the rhino breeding centre in our region in time while Werribee new elephant complex becomes its crowning glory
 
Zorro said:
I could see Monarto becoming the rhino breeding centre in our region in time while Werribee new elephant complex becomes its crowning glory
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Perth have their Orangutans, Melbourne have their gorillas, Taronga have their tigers and chimps, Werribee have their lions and their amazing Savannah, with a world class elephant complex coming up. Each zoo has a star animal attraction that they work with, and I can definitely see Monarto doing well and being well known for their rhinos.
 
Jambo said:
Perth have their Orangutans, Melbourne have their gorillas, Taronga have their tigers and chimps, Werribee have their lions and their amazing Savannah, with a world class elephant complex coming up. Each zoo has a star animal attraction that they work with, and I can definitely see Monarto doing well and being well known for their rhinos.
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I could see Monarto new safari becoming its trademark
 
Zorro said:
Just its sheer size of 500 hectares puts it in a class of its own
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Monarto is on track to becoming intentionally recognised. Considering they’re not government funded, it’s especially impressive. Their focus is on space rather than aesthetics and it will ultimately pay off in dividends given there’s no greater sight than large herds roaming open fields.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Monarto is on track to becoming intentionally recognised. Considering they’re not government funded, it’s especially impressive. Their focus is on space rather than aesthetics and it will ultimately pay off in dividends given there’s no greater sight than large herds roaming open fields.
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I believe if they take advantage of the new importation approval for bovines it could take them to an even higher level with having species like sable antelope and impala running around in such a massive exhibit
 
Jambo said:
Perth have their Orangutans, Melbourne have their gorillas, Taronga have their tigers and chimps, Werribee have their lions and their amazing Savannah, with a world class elephant complex coming up. Each zoo has a star animal attraction that they work with, and I can definitely see Monarto doing well and being well known for their rhinos.
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It’s good to see zoos have focus species. Homogenisation benefits no zoo from a tourism perspective as it eliminates their points of difference; but since it serves to support a breeding programme, perhaps the compromise is the breeding complexes we see at Taronga and Auckland for Sumatran tiger - supported by many regional holders who have less impressive tiger exhibits, but a better set up for a different species e.g. Perth Zoo with Sumatran orangutan.
 
Zorro said:
I believe if they take advantage of the new importation approval for bovines it could take them to an even higher level with having species like sable antelope and impala running around in such a massive exhibit
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I have high hopes for Monarto’s with regards to imports. I’d love to see new species of bovids, but I’d hate for it to come of the expense of rejuvenating populations of existing species. I get the impression that could fall by the wayside when zoos are considering what will bring in the visitors - a new species or more of what they already have. The average visitor doesn’t know or care how inbred the Indian antelope they’re looking at is. Hell, most don’t even know they’re out of place on the African Savannah.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I have high hopes for Monarto’s with regards to imports. I’d love to see new species of bovids, but I’d hate for it to come of the expense of rejuvenating populations of existing species. I get the impression that could fall by the wayside when zoos are considering what will bring in the visitors - a new species or more of what they already have. The average visitor doesn’t know or care how inbred the Indian antelope they’re looking at is. Hell, most don’t even know they’re out of place on the African Savannah.
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Perhaps dubbos African savanna could set a new trend of muti National species exhibit since they added Indian blackbuck to it African area maybe add some bison and kangaroos it might catch on ;)
 
Zorro said:
Perhaps dubbos African savanna could set a new trend of muti National species exhibit since they added Indian blackbuck to it African area maybe add some bison and kangaroos it might catch on ;)
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Australia Zoo are way ahead of the game with Bindi’s Island then!

What I’d actually like to see is a recognition the Plains theme need not end with the African Savannah. Like Werribee are building a Bison exhibit to represent the North American Plains, other zoos could focus on the Indian Plains with Indian antelope and other South Asian species. The latter would be a nice compliment to the many South East Asia exhibits that otherwise serve as the majority representation of the Asian continent.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Australia Zoo are way ahead of the game with Bindi’s Island then!

What I’d actually like to see is a recognition the Plains theme need not end with the African Savannah. Like Werribee are building a Bison exhibit to represent the North American Plains, other zoos could focus on the Indian Plains with Indian antelope and other South Asian species. The latter would be a nice compliment to the many South East Asia exhibits that otherwise serve as the majority representation of the Asian continent.
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I seem to remember that Werribee use to run Asian water buffaloes in its African savanna years ago as stand in cape buffaloes :D
 
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