Australasian Giraffe Population

An article in the Newcastle Herald I read today in an actual-paper newspaper reported that the breeding bull at Hunter Valley has been moved to another zoo 'to ensure there is a broad genetic pool for the next round of calves' and that the bull calf would likely be the next breeding bull at Mogo.

Take this with a very big grain of salt (especially as it was in the copy rather than being a direct quote), but thought I would share to see if we can verify or not.

It also mentioned there may be imports of giraffes from overseas within 3-5 years (this will obviously depend on the IRA and/or imports taking place via NZ).
 
0.1 Ntombi at Dubbo gave birth to a male calf on 4th October. A naming competition is currently in place with:
  • Chacha – 'strong man' in Swahili
  • Lamai – an area in the northern Serengeti
  • Upepo – 'breeze/wind' in Swahili
  • Zuma – a rock formation in Nigeria
 
Psst. @Zoofan15 could we get a giraffe population update for 2025 if you could please. Cheers.

@WhistlingKite24 runs this population thread, so I will let him advise if that will be possible.

I run the following population threads (see below for status update re. 2025 population list):

Sumatran tiger - done
Asian elephant - done
Hippopotamus - done
Common chimpanzee - done
Porcupine - done

Sri Lankan leopard - coming very soon
Western lowland gorilla - coming very soon
Orangutan - coming very soon
Mandrill - coming very soon
Galapagos giant tortoise - coming very soon

African lion - coming soon
Spotted hyena - coming soon
African wild dog - coming soon
Asian small-clawed otter - coming soon
Hamadryas baboon - coming soon
 
Hi I went to Perth zoo a days ago and was told by a volunteer that in the Perth zoo African Savannah expansion the zoo will have more female giraffes coming to the zoo and a new breeding male.
 
Hi I went to Perth zoo a days ago and was told by a volunteer that in the Perth zoo African Savannah expansion the zoo will have more female giraffes coming to the zoo and a new breeding male.

That’s good to hear.

Perth Zoo has been without a breeding bull since Armani died in 2023 and currently have three cows: Kitoto (2010), Ellie (2016) and Zahara (2021).

There’s countless candidates in the region including Enzi (Auckland Zoo) and Nia (Wellington Zoo), who are 12 and 14 months respectively; as well as more recent births at Dubbo, Mogo etc.
 
Hi everyone, Once Putra-Mas leaves Perth zoo Perth zoo have announced that they would extend there Giraffes exhibit and they would get new Giraffes with a Male needed can anybody tell me any candidates that might make the move to Perth? Here are the once that a have technically been confirmed.

0.1 KItoto — Perth zoo

0.1 Ellie — Perth zoo

0.1 Zahara — Perth zoo

I am thinking Perth zoo would get 3-5 new Females and it has been technically confirmed that Perth zoo would a Male.
 
Hi everyone, Once Putra-Mas leaves Perth zoo Perth zoo have announced that they would extend there Giraffes exhibit and they would get new Giraffes with a Male needed can anybody tell me any candidates that might make the move to Perth? Here are the once that a have technically been confirmed.

0.1 KItoto — Perth zoo

0.1 Ellie — Perth zoo

0.1 Zahara — Perth zoo

I am thinking Perth zoo would get 3-5 new Females and it has been technically confirmed that Perth zoo would a Male.
At most, I can see Perth maybe acquiring one additional female giraffe, but if we are to assume they'll be breeding, they'd obviously want as much space as they can for that.

The three girls you list above are all still of reproductive age, and both Ellie and Zahara could theoretically breed for another decade or so, so I'd imagine Perth may be content with the cows they currently have and breeding them at regular intervals (like they used to).

A bull is likely imo (whether it's for breeding or not). Ultimately there's many options regionally; male calves have recently been born at Auckland, Dubbo, Monarto, Mogo, Hunter Valley ect.
 
Hi everyone, Once Putra-Mas leaves Perth zoo Perth zoo have announced that they would extend there Giraffes exhibit and they would get new Giraffes with a Male needed can anybody tell me any candidates that might make the move to Perth? Here are the once that a have technically been confirmed.

0.1 KItoto — Perth zoo

0.1 Ellie — Perth zoo

0.1 Zahara — Perth zoo

I am thinking Perth zoo would get 3-5 new Females and it has been technically confirmed that Perth zoo would a Male.
At most, I can see Perth maybe acquiring one additional female giraffe, but if we are to assume they'll be breeding, they'd obviously want as much space as they can for that.

The three girls you list above are all still of reproductive age, and both Ellie and Zahara could theoretically breed for another decade or so, so I'd imagine Perth may be content with the cows they currently have and breeding them at regular intervals (like they used to).

A bull is likely imo (whether it's for breeding or not). Ultimately there's many options regionally; male calves have recently been born at Auckland, Dubbo, Monarto, Mogo, Hunter Valley ect.

The most females I could see Perth bringing in is one or two, since they already have three females on site: Kitoto (2010), Ellie (2016) and Zahara (2021). Zahara is four years old, so will presumably remain on site now.

A male descent of Ntombi at Dubbo is a strong likelihood imo. This line descends from John, who is a poorly represented founder.

Auckland currently have no young bulls as Jabali was transferred to Hamilton Zoo last year.
 
@Jambo, I’m guessing the Bull would most likely come from Dubbo or Monarto mainly Monarto since Perth zoo has worked with them before with the Giraffe breeding program and Monarto is closer to Perth.
 
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