Australasian Hippo Population

[Zoofan15]

Breeding at Adelaide Zoo

Albert and Victoria produced a total of 17 calves at Adelaide Zoo.

Apparently a calf born in January 1980 was their sixth calf - with five calves noted as dying as neonates in between their arrival at Adelaide Zoo in 1975 and 1979; and their last calf (non surviving) born in 2009.

Bearing in mind they welcomed Rumbin in 1986 and Kibu in 1989 (as discovered today by @Jambo), this leaves eight calves unaccounted for. I’d imagine the bulk of these were non surviving calves born throughout the 1980’s; as by the 1990’s, it was becoming difficult to place zoo bred hippos and it would have been an option to place Victoria on contraception as was done at Auckland Zoo.

Brindabella’s mother was therefore born in the 1980’s at Adelaide Zoo. She was possibly the calf born in 1980 (I can only find a birth announcement stating it had survived to two weeks of age). A transfer of this calf to Werribee at around four years of age would have tied in with Harold’s transfer there in 1984.

 

[Jambo]

I found this note re. Taronga bred offspring from October 1980:

Little Louise is two weeks old and comes from a long and successful line of Taronga Zoo hippos. Father, Billy, came to Taronga in 1954 and has sired seven healthy young. This is the fourth successful birth since 1967 for mother, Lindy. Taronga has supplied hippos to zoos throughout Australia and New Zealand, including all the hippos now at the Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo.

Up Boss Baby Louise -- Lindy with her 2 week old daughter... News Photo - Getty Images

The seven offspring sired by Billy appear to be: Lindy (1954), Bonnie (1957), Albert (1965), Victoria (1967), Suzie (1970), Toby (Unknown) and Louise (1980). However, the male Taronga transferred to Dubbo in 1979 was presumably Taronga born, so I’m wondering if he remained at Taronga for a while prior and sired at least one of the offspring born there (or vice versa was sired by Toby).

Additionally, Happy (1977) was apparently Lindy’s third successful calf (this article states Louise was her fourth), so she either Happy survived to 1980 (to be counted as successful); or Lindy had a calf between in 1978 or 1979.


Daisy is a possibility. If Ollie was eight in March 1996, that means he could have been born anytime from April 1987 to March 1988. That could have made him anything up to 2.5 years old upon Daisy’s transfer in October 1989. By this age, a mother would have weaned her calf and could even have had another.

Happy would be included from that list though too if he was one of Billy's offspring? Lindy, Bonnie, Albert, Victoria, Toby and Suzie make six of Billy's seven offspring. The other would have to be Louise of course, unless by seven they're referring to seven in the past, in which case would include Happy. If not, Happy probably died prior to Louise's birth.

Toby could've definitely remained at Taronga a while prior to his transfer to Dubbo, if he was a calf of Hilda's or Henrietta's born in the 60's.

Lindy's four calves seem to be Victoria (1967), Suzie (1970), Happy (1970) and then Louise (1980). She most likely had un-surviving calves between Suzie and Happy, and possibly some beforehand, as she had Victoria at 13, which is quite late for a first time mother.

I'm thinking Ollie's more likely the son of Suzie. His birth in say late 1987, rounds in at around the time Suzie would've given birth again following Happy's birth in late 1984. She then had a stillborn in 1990, so Ollie definitely sounds to be in the right time frame for her. He was most likely paired with his mother due to no other better options at the time; which seems to indicate Toby died soon after his stillborn offspring in 1990. Billy would've been a better option, but he may have died also soon after his transfer to Dubbo. And Happy of course was paired with Rumbin at the time.

 

[Zoofan15]

Toby could've definitely remained at Taronga a while prior to his transfer to Dubbo, if he was a calf of Hilda's or Henrietta's born in the 60's.

Lindy's four calves seem to be Victoria (1967), Suzie (1970), Happy (1970) and then Louise (1980). She most likely had un-surviving calves between Suzie and Happy, and possibly some beforehand, as she had Victoria at 13, which is quite late for a first time mother.

I'm thinking Ollie's more likely the son of Suzie. His birth in say late 1987, rounds in at around the time Suzie would've given birth again following Happy's birth in late 1984. She then had a stillborn in 1990, so Ollie definitely sounds to be in the right time frame for her. He was most likely paired with his mother due to no other better options at the time; which seems to indicate Toby died soon after his stillborn offspring in 1990. Billy would've been a better option, but he may have died also soon after his transfer to Dubbo. And Happy of course was paired with Rumbin at the time.

It makes sense for Taronga to have retained a first generation bull. They paid a significant sum of money for Billy, so if they could accomodate one, they probably felt it was wise to have a back up on site. A rubber ball could come along at any moment!

If Toby was a son of Hilda or Henrietta, then he would have been ideal for the breeding programme given most of the other calves appear to descend from Lindy and Mumsy - though that would have been more of a happy coincidence given such things were given little thought in those days.

What’s interesting about Lindy’s first (surviving) calf being born in 1967 is that it’s the year after Bonnie (a nine year old cow) was exported to Auckland Zoo. Combined with the fact that Hilda and Henrietta appear to have passed by then and the decrease in population density probably improved the mortality rate of calves at Taronga for a while - allowing Lindy to finally rear a calf.

Daisy was Suzie’s daughter, so either way Ollie bred with his mother or grandmother. It’s not ideal, but Auckland Zoo happily bred Kabete with his daughters at Auckland Zoo up until the 1990’s; and Harold was bred with his daughters at Werribee up until the 2010’s, so it’s not beyond the realms to imagine Dubbo did the same.

 

[Zorro]

It makes sense for Taronga to have retained a first generation bull. They paid a significant sum of money for Billy, so if they could accomodate one, they probably felt it was wise to have a back up on site. A rubber ball could come along at any moment! If Toby was a son of Hilda or Henrietta, then he would have been ideal for the breeding programme given most of the other calves appear to descend from Lindy and Mumsy - though that would have been more of a happy coincidence given such things were given little thought in those days.

What’s interesting about Lindy’s first (surviving) calf being born in 1967 is that it’s the year after Bonnie (a nine year old cow) was exported to Auckland Zoo. Combined with the fact that Hilda and Henrietta appear to have passed by then and the decrease in population density probably improved the mortality rate of calves at Taronga for a while.

Daisy was Suzie’s daughter, so either way Ollie bred with his mother or grandmother. It’s not ideal but Auckland Zoo happily bred Kabete with his daughters at Auckland Zoo up until the 1990’s and Harold was bred with his daughters at Werribee up until the 2010’s so it’s not beyond the realms to imagine Dubbo did the same.

After reading all of the current family hippo history up until the present time it will be interesting to see these bloodline’s matched to the possible imported line’s once importation gets the nod, not just for the river hippos but also what’s left of the pygmy hippos in our region

 

[Jambo]

Extra info on Taronga's herd:

An article I found mentions a female Hippo named 'Heather' who was 12 at the time of 1968, meaning she was born in 1956. The father is said to be ten year old 'Bill' who we can assume to be Billy, although he would've been eighteen at the time, not ten.

 

[Zoofan15]

After reading all of the current family hippo history up until the present time it will be interesting to see these bloodline’s matched to the possible imported line’s once importation gets the nod, not just for the river hippos but also what’s left of the pygmy hippos

It’s been interesting to uncover information about the history of the Common hippopotamus in the region.

It appears the entire population share Billy as a common ancestor given we can reasonably assume he was the sire of Bonnie (Cuddles’ paternal great grandmother); and that Adelaide’s pair were sired either by Billy or one of his sons.

Through her maternal line, Cuddles descends from two additional founders (Kabete and Nada), so she would be the most genetically valuable Common hippopotamus in the region.

 

[Jambo]

Breeding at Adelaide Zoo

Albert and Victoria produced a total of 17 calves at Adelaide Zoo.

Apparently a calf born in January 1980 was their sixth calf - with five calves noted as dying as neonates in between their arrival at Adelaide Zoo in 1975 and 1979; and their last calf (non surviving) born in 2009.

Bearing in mind they welcomed Rumbin in 1986 and Kibu in 1989 (as discovered today by @Jambo), this leaves eight calves unaccounted for. I’d imagine the bulk of these were non surviving calves born throughout the 1980’s; as by the 1990’s, it was becoming difficult to place zoo bred hippos and it would have been an option to place Victoria on contraception as was done at Auckland Zoo.

Brindabella’s mother was therefore born in the 1980’s at Adelaide Zoo. She was possibly the calf born in 1980 (I can only find a birth announcement stating it had survived to two weeks of age). A transfer of this calf to Werribee at around four years of age would have tied in with Harold’s transfer there in 1984.

There had to have been at least some calves born between the one in 1980 and Rumbin in 1986. I indeed believe the 1980 calf is Beatrice, as there was an article I read a while back talking about the fact that Werribee had never imported any hippos besides their original trio in 1984, which would've been Harry, Beatrice and then Primrose's mother.

The only thing regarding Primrose's mother is, that at the time, Taronga only had three hippos. Unless Louise (1980) was the female?? Otherwise, the mystery female must've been Mumsy from Dubbo, which sounds the most theoretical to me.

 

[Zorro]

It’s been interesting to uncover information about the history of the Common hippopotamus in the region.

It appears the entire population share Billy as a common ancestor given we can reasonably assume he was the sire of Bonnie (Cuddles’ paternal great grandmother); and that Adelaide’s pair were sired either by Billy or one of his sons.

Through her maternal line, Cuddles descends from two additional founders (Kabete and Nada), so she would be the most genetically valuable Common hippopotamus in the region.

I believe it’s remarkable that any wild caught hippos ever came out of Africa of both species direct to Australia

 

[Zoofan15]

There had to have been at least some calves born between the one in 1980 and Rumbin in 1986. I indeed believe the 1980 calf is Beatrice, as there was an article I read a while back talking about the fact that Werribee had never imported any hippos besides their original trio in 1984, which would've been Harry, Beatrice and then Primrose's mother.

The only thing regarding Primrose's mother is, that at the time, Taronga only had three hippos. Unless Louise (1980) was the female?? Otherwise, the mystery female must've been Mumsy from Dubbo, which sounds the most theoretical to me.

The studbook number of Primrose’s mother is relatively early compared to the others (1012). Though the numbers are all a bit of mess, if somebody was piecing together a studbook then known founders e.g. Kabete (1009) imported 1953; and Billy (1010) imported 1954 were an obvious place to start - with early numbers allocated to these animals.

It would also explain why both of Werribee’s founding cows had passed away by 2000. Had Primrose’s mother been a young animal, than that would have meant two cows passed away prematurely at Werribee which is unlikely statistically. Mumsy could have easily reached 40+ years of age if she’d passed in the 1990’s.

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe it’s remarkable that any wild caught hippos ever came out of Africa of both species direct to Australia

It was certainly a much simpler time with zoos able to order a wide variety of species via animal dealers. It was interesting to see Sir Edward Hallstrom purchased some of the founders e.g. Billy and Mumsy in 1954. Our region could certainly do with an IRA for hippos and a new age Hallstrom to fund the import. He was truly a man who got things done.

 

[Jambo]

The studbook number of Primrose’s mother is relatively early compared to the others (1012). Though the numbers are all a bit of mess, if somebody was piecing together a studbook then known founders e.g. Kabete (1009) imported 1953; and Billy (1010) imported 1954 were an obvious place to start - with early numbers allocated to these animals.

It would also explain why both of Werribee’s founding cows had passed away by 2000. Had Primrose’s mother been a young animal, than that would have meant two cows passed away prematurely at Werribee which is unlikely statistically. Mumsy could have easily reached 40+ years of age if she’d passed in the 1990’s.

I agree too, it would also explain what happened to Musmy. At the time in the early 80's Dubbo only had one enclosure, and so having to rotate four possible groups would've certainly caused them a lot of issues. It would make sense then for them to offload Mumsy and Harry to Werribee, leaving Suzie, Daisy and Toby at Dubbo who could share the same enclosure.

Mumsy (1954) could possibly be another of the main founders of our region, with her descendants being born through Brutus's and Primrose's line, all of which are at Werribee.

It would make sense for her to die in the 90's then as she would've been in her 40's. Beatrice is quite a mystery regarding her dying young. Due to no calves surviving in the 90's (or any even being known to be born), i'm thinking Beatrice died soon after Brindabella's birth. Mumsy then would've been past breeding age, which would make sense.

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree too, it would also explain what happened to Musmy. At the time in the early 80's Dubbo only had one enclosure, and so having to rotate four possible groups would've certainly caused them a lot of issues. It would make sense then for them to offload Mumsy and Harry to Werribee, leaving Suzie, Daisy and Toby at Dubbo who could share the same enclosure.

Mumsy (1954) could possibly be another of the main founders of our region, with her descendants being born through Brutus's and Primrose's line, all of which are at Werribee.

It would make sense for her to die in the 90's then as she would've been in her 40's. Beatrice is quite a mystery regarding her dying young. Due to no calves surviving in the 90's (or any even being known to be born), i'm thinking Beatrice died soon after Brindabella's birth. Mumsy then would've been past breeding age, which would make sense.

If all our assumptions about Mumsy are correct, she certainly led an eventful life. Born in Africa, captured and sent via ship to Australia, grew up at Taronga Zoo, transferred to Dubbo and then finally retirement at Werribee. Not to mention being one the founder of our breeding programme having produced several calves including one at the upper limits of her reproductive years.

 

[Jambo]

If all our assumptions about Mumsy are correct, she certainly led an eventful life. Born in Africa, captured and sent via ship to Australia, grew up at Taronga Zoo, transferred to Dubbo and then finally retirement at Werribee where she produced at least one more calf.

I'd like to hope so! We can assume she's wild-born, which means she must be the female who arrived from Africa in 1954. She then went on to give birth to calves at Taronga, including Brutus, and then went to Dubbo (possibly to allow Taronga to just hold a single breeding pair), and then on to Werribee to finally get the opportunity to breed again.

If she is the female from Werribee, I also find it highly likely she's the mother of the male sent to Tipperary, who was born soon after their arrival from Dubbo.

She also still has descendants today at Werribee! A daughter, Primrose, three granddaughters, Tulip, Lotus and Brindabella, and a great granddaughter in Pansy. It's really interesting to see Werribee's females all related in some way but just goes to show how closely related the region's individuals are!

 

[Jambo]

Some additional information i've found:

• Ollie was born in late summer 1988, which i'm assuming to be January/February. His parents are likely Toby and Daisy.
• The 1985 born male to Harold and 1012, was sent to Tipperary in 1989 and died in transit. He was sent there via Dubbo, and apparently died on route from Dubbo to Tipperary.
• Daisy (1982) was also sent to Tiperrary, and died a few days after her arrival there. We can assume she was sent there to make space for Rumbin.
• Toby may be the son of Billy?? His studbook number begins with 11 which may refer to him being a second generation bull? I'm not entirely sure. Solucky and Fonzee were also individuals with a studbook number of 11..
• Mumsy cannot be Primrose's mother. The studbook numbers unfortunately do not match. Primrose's mother is definitely born in the 50's though, and may possibly be the female, Heather, who was supposedly born in 1956 at Taronga. I'm assuming 'Heather' who bred with Billy was the offspring of Billy and Hilda/Henrietta.

 

[IndianRhino]

Would anyone (Jambo or Zoofan) be able to post a full family tree sort of thing for the common hippos in the region? I’m quite interested in this but all your posts are a little confusing to piece together. I know there are several gaps in knowledge but anything you can put together would be very helpful and interesting to see.

 

[Zoofan15]

Would anyone (Jambo or Zoofan) be able to post a full family tree sort of thing for the common hippos in the region? I’m quite interested in this but all your posts are a little confusing to piece together. I know there are several gaps in knowledge but anything you can put together would be very helpful and interesting to see.

Yes, I’m happy to do this. I will get this up shortly.

 

[Zoofan15]

Some additional information i've found:

• Ollie was born in late summer 1988, which i'm assuming to be January/February. His parents are likely Toby and Daisy.
• The 1985 born male to Harold and 1012, was sent to Tipperary in 1989 and died in transit. He was sent there via Dubbo, and apparently died on route from Dubbo to Tipperary.
• Daisy (1982) was also sent to Tiperrary, and died a few days after her arrival there. We can assume she was sent there to make space for Rumbin.
• Toby may be the son of Billy?? His studbook number begins with 11 which may refer to him being a second generation bull? I'm not entirely sure. Solucky and Fonzee were also individuals with a studbook number of 11..
• Mumsy cannot be Primrose's mother. The studbook numbers unfortunately do not match. Primrose's mother is definitely born in the 50's though, and may possibly be the female, Heather, who was supposedly born in 1956 at Taronga. I'm assuming 'Heather' who bred with Billy was the offspring of Billy and Hilda/Henrietta.

A few notes on the Tipperary Holdings:

Tipperary Station received 2.2 Common hippopotamus:

A hippo of details unknown arrived from Dubbo in 1982. This was likely the bull transferred from Taronga to Dubbo in 1979 that disappeared from their records shortly after. They already had a bull on site (Toby) and this additional bull would have been surplus. This hippo appears to have died sometime before 1988.

1.0 Fonzee (1986) and 0.1 Solucky (1987) were imported from Auckland Zoo in 1988. They produced two calves - 0.1 Cuddles in September 2002 and Tippi in February 2004. This quartet were transferred to Cairns Wildlife Safari in September 2004, where Fonzee died shortly after. Tippi sired a calf to Cuddles which was born in 2007 and did not survive.

0.1 Daisy (1982) was transferred from Dubbo in 1989 and died shortly after. The bull sent from Werribee via Dubbo on the same truck died during transit, so was never recorded as received by Tipperary.

 

[Jambo]

Would anyone (Jambo or Zoofan) be able to post a full family tree sort of thing for the common hippos in the region? I’m quite interested in this but all your posts are a little confusing to piece together. I know there are several gaps in knowledge but anything you can put together would be very helpful and interesting to see.

I've already made one for the regions hippos and was just about to post it. I'll get it up later today.

 

[Zoofan15]

Would anyone (Jambo or Zoofan) be able to post a full family tree sort of thing for the common hippos in the region? I’m quite interested in this but all your posts are a little confusing to piece together. I know there are several gaps in knowledge but anything you can put together would be very helpful and interesting to see.

I thought this would be the best way to present it:

================================

This is the current population:

Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

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

Werribee Open Range Zoo:

0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Beatrice (assumed)
0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella

================================

And this is how we arrived here:

Taronga Zoo:

Dizzy and Fatima produced Nada (1939).

Billy (1949) sired Lindy (1954), Bonnie (1957) and Albert (1965).

Billy and Lindy produced Victoria (1957) and Suzie (1970).

Billy and Unknown produced Toby (Unlnown).

——————

Adelaide Zoo:

Albert and Victoria produced Beatrice (1980).

——————

Auckland Zoo:

Kabete (1953) and Nada produced Snorkel (1959).

Kabete and Snorkel produced Solucky (1987).

Kabete (1953) and Bonnie produced Faith (1975).

Kabete and Faith produced Fonzee (1986).

——————

Tipperary Station:

Fonzee and Solucky produced Cuddles (2002).

——————

Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

Tony and Unknown produced Ollie (1988).

Suzie and Toby produced Harold (1984).

Suzie and Ollie produced Mana (1996) and Nile (1999).

Mana and Cuddles produced Kibibi (2014), Kendi (2017) and Kani (2020).

——————

Werribee Open Range Zoo:

Harold and Beatrice produced Brindabella (1990).

Harold and Brindabella produced Pansy (2013).

Harold sired Primrose (1990).

Harold and Primrose produced Tulip (2003) and Lotus (2008).

================================

Note:

This is a basic list detailing the existing population. It omits more detailed records of calves born. For example, Faith produced a total of 14 calves; but only Fonzee is listed, as the other contributed no further to the regional population.

More detailed records on Auckland Zoo’s hippos can be found here (Post #54): Australasian Hippo Population

More detailed records on Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s hippos can be found here (Post #29): Common Hippopotami in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion

 

[Zoofan15]

Would anyone (Jambo or Zoofan) be able to post a full family tree sort of thing for the common hippos in the region? I’m quite interested in this but all your posts are a little confusing to piece together. I know there are several gaps in knowledge but anything you can put together would be very helpful and interesting to see.

Yes, I’m happy to do this. I will get this up shortly.

I've already made one for the regions hippos and was just about to post it. I'll get it up later today.

Post overlap! You posted this as I was writing.

Not to worry, mine is more of basic family tree aimed at giving a concise overview of how we arrived at the current population. Still post yours as it’ll be a variation or expansion on mine and give some interesting insight to @IndianRhino and other visitors to this thread.