Australasian Hippo Population

Zoofan15 said:
That’s interesting that Sea World planned to house just a single hippo. They likely chose Cuddles (2002) solely on the basis of her being younger than her mother, Solucky (1987). Genetically speaking, Solucky would have been more valuable (and still young enough to contribute calves to the population).

A contributing factor to the relecutance or zoos to show initiative in breeding can at least partly be attributed to the difficulty in placing offspring. Auckland Zoo first allowed their herd to self manage their population increase by not separating newborn calves from the herd (many calves were killed by the adults); and then from the early 90’s, implemented contraception of the females and later castration of the bull.

It’d be good to know what facilities are open to acquiring hippos e.g Altina was mentioned by someone a while back; and they’d be a perfect fit for Orana.
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There still are articles about this project online. One of them is "The Tourism News", were is states Seaworld wants to open a African exhibition in 2015 with Hippos, Crocodiles and Queenslands first Gorillas. It also states Australia zoo is another Queensland zoo showing interest in having Gorillas, A quick online search can fine this!
 
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Kifaru Bwana said:
I remain exasperated this common hippo (or the pygmy hippo) issue of low genetic diversity in both endangered / threatened taxa categories has not been fixed yet. There really is an abundance of hippos and pygmy hippo available in Asian mainland and island archipelago to choose from .... Bring in 3-6 common hippo and 2-4 pygmy hippo and the program could be home and dry for both. What is holding up this endeavour for the last decade now?
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One can not rush these Things @Kifaru Bwana ;)
 
Zorro said:
I knew long ago that they were sold to Indonesia and yes I agree with you completely that our major Hippo holders must of assumed they would get them given for free,LOL :rolleyes:. I feel there was a certain amount of arrogance on this side of the fence and also a certain amount of lack of real interest. I believe that Seaworld got one of the River Hippo females which ended up at the TWPZ and has bred a number of times which may of ended up saving this species within our region,also a Pygmy Hippo going to TZ. I view this as a major set back for both River Hippos and the Pygmy Hippo in our region. Our major zoos should of had this wrapped up and delivered ;). Now we wait and hope the IRA for Hippos will happen before to many more of the remaining animals get to old for breeding or pass on to that big river in the sky, but I am quite sure our bureaucrats and the ZAA are doing all they can :)
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The entire Mareeba/Shambala sell off is probably not the best example of in-country managing disbandment of an animal collection by the zoo federation. They obviously should have stepped in and stamped their authority over it. That way a good portion of the animals would have remained in Australia or New Zealand and their transfer / whereabouts guaranteed and monitored. It has turned out to be a complete shambles with people not even knowing what happened to scimitars .... and the like.

BTW:
A) Imagine: the administrators would have had to deal with the very same departments dealing with exports as well as imports, right?
B) The hippos were sold onto the Taman Safari group.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
The entire Mareeba/Shambala sell off is probably not the best example of in-country managing disbandment of an animal collection by the zoo federation. They obviously should have stepped in and stamped their authority over it. That way a good portion of the animals would have remained in Australia or New Zealand and their transfer / whereabouts guaranteed and monitored. It has turned out to be a complete shambles with people not even knowing what happened to scimitars .... and the like.

BTW:
A) Imagine: the administrators would have had to deal with the very same departments dealing with exports as well as imports, right?
B) The hippos were sold onto the Taman Safari group.
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The hippos were sold And move to Indonesia in 2013. It is now 2021. There are no regulations preventing export of hippos from Australia- but the import of Hippos is not currently allowed.
There is now talk of breeding female hippos back to their sire just to keep the species going in the region. I’m sure that would horrify your average zoo goer.
There were never Scimitar Horned Oryx in Cairns.
 
kiwimuzz said:
The hippos were sold And move to Indonesia in 2013. It is now 2021. There are no regulations preventing export of hippos from Australia- but the import of Hippos is not currently allowed.
There is now talk of breeding female hippos back to their sire just to keep the species going in the region. I’m sure that would horrify your average zoo goer.
There were never Scimitar Horned Oryx in Cairns.
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I am aware re export in 2013. I probably was the originator of the original postings that Taman Safari was the final destination as I am versed in Bahasa Indonesia and can both converse and read the language fairly well.

I was citing at the top of my memory that scimitars ran wild or on a farm following onto Mareeba, but I might have mixed up 2 different properties involving wildlife. Other Australian posters might nay / or yay your or mine (re-)collection.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am aware re export in 2013. I probably was the originator of the original postings that Taman Safari was the final destination as I am versed in Bahasa Indonesia and can both converse and read the language fairly well.

I was citing at the top of my memory that scimitars ran wild or on a farm following onto Mareeba, but I might have mixed up 2 different properties involving wildlife. Other Australian posters might nay / or yay your or mine (re-)collection.
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Tipperary dispersed many of it’s animals to Cairns Wildlife Safari in 2004 including Common and Pygmy hippopotami and African lions. Most of these were then sent on to Indonesia.

According to this article, 300 Scimitar-horned oryx were sold to the Mary River Station in 2004: No cookies | NT News

Their antelope and Banteng presumably came from Tipperary as well.
 
kiwimuzz said:
The hippos were sold And move to Indonesia in 2013. It is now 2021. There are no regulations preventing export of hippos from Australia- but the import of Hippos is not currently allowed.
There is now talk of breeding female hippos back to their sire just to keep the species going in the region. I’m sure that would horrify your average zoo goer.
There were never Scimitar Horned Oryx in Cairns.
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While I’m opposed to inbreeding if there’s an alternative; if there’s not, I’d rather have the species sustained in the region. We already do it with African lions and Sumatran tigers (both of which can be easily imported); and of course our highly inbred giraffe population.

At Dubbo, breeding Mana with his seven year old daughter, Kibibi, really seems like the best course of action given she’s of prime reproductive age and a less related mate won’t be born for many years.
 
kiwimuzz said:
The hippos were sold And move to Indonesia in 2013. It is now 2021. There are no regulations preventing export of hippos from Australia- but the import of Hippos is not currently allowed.
There is now talk of breeding female hippos back to their sire just to keep the species going in the region. I’m sure that would horrify your average zoo goer.
There were never Scimitar Horned Oryx in Cairns.
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I was told at the time that the Oryx were not allowed to be flown from the NT to Mareeba because the then state government had fears that if the aircraft had crashed these antelope could become feral, It sounds a bit ridiculous!.But knowing the State government at that time it would be no surprise if this was correct.
 
Dubbo’s Hippopotami

Kani turned a year old last week and is approaching weaning age:

Zoo Chat | First birthday for hippo calf Kani

According to the article, their hippos are kept in two pods:

1.0 Mana (31/03/1996) Ollie x Suzie
0.1 Nile (15/05/1999) Ollie x Suzie

0.1 Cuddles (00/09/2002) Fonzie x Solucky
0.1 Kibibi (11/09/2014) Mana x Cuddles
0.1 Kendi (25/05/2017) Mana x Cuddles
1.0 Kani (15/04/2020) Mana x Cuddles

Kani is one of two bulls in the region, so either a transfer to Werribee; or to Monarto to found a new pod (also with Werribee females), seem likely in the next two or three years.
 
1.0 Mana the Common Hippopotamus has died at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. He was the only breeding male in the Australasian region. His son is therefore the last male in Australia and all future breeding will rely on him. The national population now stands at 10 (1.9) individuals placing hippos in an increasingly dire situation without future importation: Log into Facebook | Facebook
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
1.0 Mana the Common Hippopotamus has died at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. He was the only breeding male in the Australasian region. His son is therefore the last male in Australia and all future breeding will rely on him. The national population now stands at 10 (1.9) individuals placing hippos in an increasingly dire situation without future importation: Log into Facebook | Facebook
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That is bad news indeed :(
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
1.0 Mana the Common Hippopotamus has died at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. He was the only breeding male in the Australasian region. His son is therefore the last male in Australia and all future breeding will rely on him. The national population now stands at 10 (1.9) individuals placing hippos in an increasingly dire situation without future importation: Log into Facebook | Facebook
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A rather sudden and dramatic unexpected loss.

Will this now propel the region into action on hippos?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
A rather sudden and dramatic unexpected loss.

Will this now propel the region into action on hippos?
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I love your optimism @Kifaru Bwana :D. But the chances of action are about 99% to 1% No. Without dragging up to much of what has been mentioned before what a different story it may of been if the Mareeba Hippos/River and Pygmys were snapped up by the ZAA instead of being exported, How short sighted was that ;). Dont hold your breath waiting on our government to complete the IRA for Hippos because you are going to be disappointed. As Corp Frazer of Dads Army once said. We Doomed. :D
 
What happens next depends on whether the zoos can share the toys in the sandbox.

For the sake of the population (genetics and the reproductive health of all females), Kani should be bred with the Werribee females ASAP - either at Werribee; or as the founders of a new pod at Monarto. The Werribee cows are getting on in their years; as opposed to the young daughters of Mana and Cuddles (born 2014 and 2017) and need to breed sooner rather than later. They’re related to Kani, but obviously more distantly than his mother and sisters at Dubbo.

And yes, if Kani dies it’s game over. We all know these imports will never happen.
 
Zoofan15 said:
What happens next depends on whether the zoos can share the toys in the sandbox.

For the sake of the population (genetics and the reproductive health of all females), Kani should be bred with the Werribee females ASAP - either at Werribee; or as the founders of a new pod at Monarto. The Werribee cows are getting on in their years; as opposed to the young daughters of Mana and Cuddles (born 2014 and 2017) and need to breed sooner rather than later. They’re related to Kani, but obviously more distantly than his mother and sisters at Dubbo.

And yes, if Kani dies it’s game over. We all know these imports will never happen.
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This situation has been on the cards for years. I believe many thought that importation would of been allowed before it got to this stage. Who would of thought the Mareeba Hippos would of been lost to being exported since importation is not allowed. It did not need someone that was 12 inches across the forehead to work out what was happening, If it was not for Seaworld obtaining one of the cows things would have been even worse than they are now. What were the ZAA doing?, Napping perhaps :confused: . Now things drag on, Will we ever see more imported? or is this the end of the road for Hippos within the region!
 
Sheesh. Taronga has really been pumping out rare ungulate babies in the last month! First a GOHR calf at Dubbo and now a pygmy hippo calf, both of which have very very small population sizes in the region. Good on them!
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
Sheesh. Taronga has really been pumping out rare ungulate babies in the last month! First a GOHR calf at Dubbo and now a pygmy hippo calf, both of which have very very small population sizes in the region. Good on them!
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It’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for this calf. Assuming imports are still no closer, it seems common sense to pair the two daughters of Kambiri and Fergus with the males at Adelaide and Melbourne.

It’d be better to have a population of inbred hippos than no hippos, which could soon become a reality. Yes we have three males and three females; but a few years ago we had three male Common hippopotami - after two unexpected deaths, we now have a single male calf.
 
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