Australasian Hippo Population

Zorro said:
Its a shame that some of the New Zealand zoos can't come on board with the Pygmys as they don't take up much room compared to the River Hippos and work as regional group.
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We all knew when Auckland Zoo said they planned to import more common hippopotamus after the deaths of Faith and Fudge in 2016 that this would never eventuate, but I had hoped they’d import Pygmy hippopotamus, which would have been the perfect fit for that exhibit.

Perhaps with an African forest precinct considered for replacing the elephants (unconfirmed), this could be the perfect opportunity. Though I note that New Zealand zoos require an import health standard to import hippopotamus.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s correct. I just copied it from the original population list.

Details for Beatrice are as follows:

0.1 Beatrice
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/04/1981
Arrived at Werribee Open Range 13/09/1982
Died at Werribee Open Range Zoo 06/02/2001


I’m hopeful we’ll see rapid growth within the common hippopotamus population, now things are finally happening at Monarto. They breed readily and they’ll soon have a bull and two cows. The cows can easily breed every two years and any bull calves born can supply Dubbo and Werribee, who will have four and three cows respectively.

The pygmy hippopotamus population will be slow going, though another female calf from Taronga would provide the option to form three pairs within the region.
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Hopefully they have built/building a few maternity pens/yards to minimise any accidents until the calfs can become big enough to be out of any potential danger.
 
Zorro said:
Hopefully they have built/building a few maternity pens/yards to minimise any accidents until the calfs can become big enough to be out of any potential danger.
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I hope so. Even siblings as young as two years old (half grown) have killed newborn calves of this species, so it would be prudent to allow separation of mothers and their neonatal offspring. Considering Brindabella and Pansy have a close relationship, it should be safe to reintroduce them within a couple of months of the birth; but Dubbo has typically waited around six months with their latest calves.

Breeding both females concurrently would ensure they each had a calf to focus on and could be reintroduced at the same time. I hope they aim to achieve this on the initial breeding attempt.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I hope so. Even siblings as young as two years old (half grown) have killed newborn calves of this species, so it would be prudent to allow separation of mothers and their neonatal offspring. Considering Brindabella and Pansy have a close relationship, it should be safe to reintroduce them within a couple of months of the birth; but Dubbo has typically waited around six months with their latest calves.

Breeding both females concurrently would ensure they each had a calf to focus on and could be reintroduced at the same time. I hope they aim to achieve this on the initial breeding attempt.
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I would imagine they would make good use of shade sails for the Hippos I would believe its likely a lack of any real large shade trees available, Hopefully I am wrong!
 
Zorro said:
I would imagine they would make good use of shade sails for the Hippos I would believe its likely a lack of any real large shade trees available, Hopefully I am wrong!
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I’ll be so interested to see what format the Monarto exhibit takes. Basically all I know at this stage is that it’ll feature a large waterhole.

Monarto will have a pipeline from the river to supply water, but the issue of effluent run off will need to be addressed. I’m curious if they’ll implement a natural ‘wetlands’ filtration system like at Werribee, which was pioneering technology when it opened.

Husbandry guidelines recommend natural screens (small raised banks) in the water area to replicate new mothers seeking privacy with their newborns from the wider herd. It wouldn’t surprise me to see these added, considering Monarto will be a breeding facility.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’ll be so interested to see what format the Monarto exhibit takes. Basically all I know at this stage is that it’ll feature a large waterhole.

Monarto will have a pipeline from the river to supply water, but the issue of effluent run off will need to be addressed. I’m curious if they’ll implement a natural ‘wetlands’ filtration system like at Werribee, which was pioneering technology when it opened.

Husbandry guidelines recommend natural screens (small raised banks) in the water area to replicate new mothers seeking privacy with their newborns from the wider herd. It wouldn’t surprise me to see these added, considering Monarto will be a breeding facility.
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Its very likely that they have done their homework perhaps even visited the Werribee Hippo exhibit, They appear to have done really well to date with Wild Africa, I would expect them to continue the same way!
 
Zorro said:
I am hoping the transfer of the hippos from Werribee and TWPZ to Monarto zoo happens sooner rather than later best before summer appears!
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Absolutely. Common hippopotamus have died in transit before within the region (Dubbo to Tipperary), and although I’m sure all precautions would be taken to mitigate risks; travelling outside of summer is surely advisable.

Brindabella (1990) and Pansy (2013) are two of the more genetically valuable females in the region; and prime aged Pansy is especially important to the breeding programme. And of course we all know how vital Kani (2020) is!
 
steveroberts said:
Wish we could import these Hippos from Colombia to save them from culling if another region does not offer to take them: Pablo Escobar's feral hippos face cull in Colombia
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Yes it would make an interesting documentary but unfortunately its highly unlikely because they are not zoo bred might make them ineligible due to our very strict quarantine laws.

I would hope at least some of the younger animals in Colombia could be caught by some zoos perhaps in the USA or else where.

At this point in time everything is hanging onto the IRA for Hippos, I guess its a matter of time whatever that takes but on the good side at least antelopes can now be imported even if it did take (I believe 13 years).
Logically when it is approved at least 1 bull for Dubbo and 1 bull for Werribee will be required?.
 
Zorro said:
Yes it would make an interesting documentary but unfortunately its highly unlikely because they are not zoo bred might make them ineligible due to our very strict quarantine laws.

I would hope at least some of the younger animals in Colombia could be caught by some zoos perhaps in the USA or else where.

At this point in time everything is hanging onto the IRA for Hippos, I guess its a matter of time whatever that takes but on the good side at least antelopes can now be imported even if it did take (I believe 13 years).
Logically when it is approved at least 1 bull for Dubbo and 1 bull for Werribee will be required?.
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Jambo said:
That would be a good start; assuming all cows are still alive by that time.:)
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Two bulls for Werribee and Dubbo sound like a good starting point. Ideally, new cows would be imported too; but bulls are the priority.

If Kani transfers to Monarto and breeds, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Cuddles and her two daughters live out their days in a non-breeding pod (either at Dubbo or a new holder that arises). They represent a rare cohesive grouping the region would be foolish to disrupt if more genetically valuable options present themselves via import.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Two bulls for Werribee and Dubbo sound like a good starting point. Ideally, new cows would be imported too; but bulls are the priority.

If Kani transfers to Monarto and breeds, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Cuddles and her two daughters live out their days in a non-breeding pod (either at Dubbo or a new holder that arises). They represent a rare cohesive grouping the region would be foolish to disrupt if more genetically valuable options present themselves via import.
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It would be unfair to put all the pressure upon one unproven young male, not attempting to breed the other females to unrelated bulls in my view would be a waste!
 
Zorro said:
It would be unfair to put all the pressure upon one unproven young male, not attempting to breed the other females to unrelated bulls in my view would be a waste!
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I agree, especially since Kani won’t be full grown for another two years. Last I heard, he’s still going to Monarto, so until the Hippopotamus IRA comes through, he’s our only hope!

I know Werribee are very keen to import a bull; and I imagine Dubbo are too.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I agree, especially since Kani won’t be full grown for another two years. Last I heard, he’s still going to Monarto, so until the Hippopotamus IRA comes through, he’s our only hope!

I know Werribee are very keen to import a bull; and I imagine Dubbo are too.
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Werribee sending the cows over to Monarto obviously indicates they have some hope for breeding at Werribee in the not so distant future.

I'm confident an IRA would be passed soon; and it won't get to the point where Kani's sons will be acquired for breeding (which will still be at least five years away).
 
Jambo said:
Werribee sending the cows over to Monarto obviously indicates they have some hope for breeding at Werribee in the not so distant future.

I'm confident an IRA would be passed soon; and it won't get to the point where Kani's sons will be acquired for breeding (which will still be at least five years away).
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It’s been two years since the Bovid IRA was completed, so they’ve had a while now to fully concentrate on the Hippopotamus IRA. Hopefully it won’t be much longer.

It’ll be interesting to see how Werribee handles breeding as there’s so many ways it could work. Primrose could potentially breed, with her and her new calf integrated with her adult daughters once old enough; though given the ages of all involved, I feel like it’d be better to retire off Primrose and Tulip and concentrate on breeding from Lotus, who may have to be permanently separated from her mother/sister to concentrate on her family.
 
I believe since there in not even one breeding pair currently in the region I believe the focus should be on trying to match up the potential breeding animals that can be used to go forward, I believe we are a long way off worrying about excess calfs and to whom they might be placed, lets just take stock of the bare minimum now and try to make the most of what we have left.

I am sure the head hippo keepers at Dubbo, Werribee and soon to be Monarto must have some sort of game plan, they know each animal and the best potential for each one of them so at this point the ball is in their court.
I hope they have some feelers out now to look for any potential animals to import to save some time until the nod is given for importation.
 
Zorro said:
I believe since there in not even one breeding pair currently in the region I believe the focus should be on trying to match up the potential breeding animals that can be used to go forward, I believe we are a long way off worrying about excess calfs and to whom they might be placed, lets just take stock of the bare minimum now and try to make the most of what we have left.

I am sure the head hippo keepers at Dubbo, Werribee and soon to be Monarto must have some sort of game plan, they know each animal and the best potential for each one of them so at this point the ball is in their court.
I hope they have some feelers out now to look for any potential animals to import to save some time until the nod is given for importation.
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The best option going forward is to pair Kani (2020) with Brindabella (1990) and Pansy (2013). Kani is nearly four years old and it would be advisable to delay introductions until he’s five years old (fully grown) to reduce any risk of injury. He’s been seperated from his natal pod and Dubbo have advised they have no plans to breed him with his mother or sisters.

You mention personality is important and indeed Brindabella (1990) is a less intimidating option for the inexperienced Kani than the more ferocious Primrose (1990). In addition, Brindabella has one daughter; Primrose has two, so with a cohesive pod do doubt the goal, introducing him to two hippopotami is preferable. Brindabella is also his best genetic match.
 
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