Australasian Mandrill Population

[Zoofan15]

Placing any excess animals somewhere around the region shouldn’t be to hard with the number of smaller zoos dotted around the region

They're a charismatic species and I'm confident there would be interest from additional holders going forward. The current disinterest is partly due to the unavailable of this species within the region. I can imagine Mogo Zoo being interested in them and possibly Wildlife HQ or Australia Zoo.

 

[Zorro]

They're a charismatic species and I'm confident there would be interest from additional holders going forward. The current disinterest is partly due to the unavailable of this species within the region. I can imagine Mogo Zoo being interested in them and possibly Wildlife HQ or Australia Zoo.

I would expect a handful that would be interested but not all the smalls zoos have a major zoo budget.

 

[Zoofan15]

I would expect a handful that would be interested but not all the smalls zoos have a major zoo budget.

I'd imagine thats what puts a lot of zoos off from importing from overseas. The creation of a thriving regional breeding programme for this species and others e.g. hippopotamus could create a surplus and lead to other zoos coming forward as holders that wouldn't otherwise import.

 

[Zoofan15]

Melbourne Zoo Mandrill Update

Melbourne Zoo have confirmed via email there are no plans to receive Mandrill from San Diego Zoo (or anywhere). This information is apparently up to date and verified by the primate team and the Australasian species coordinator for Mandrill.

This was a surprise to me given we had two sources say otherwise. It’s possible they were referring to outdated information; or there was a miscommunication somewhere along the line.

On a personal level, I’m extremely disappointed to hear Melbourne Zoo won’t be acquiring this species. Another holder would have been an asset to the region given only Adelaide Zoo intends to holding a breeding troop in the future and Tasmania Zoo holds an elderly female.

Possibly long term, Melbourne Zoo may reconsider this phase out, but they currently have no plans to do so.

 

[Jambo]

Melbourne Zoo Mandrill Update

Melbourne Zoo have confirmed via email there are no plans to receive Mandrill from San Diego Zoo (or anywhere). This information is apparently up to date and verified by the primate team and the Australasian species coordinator for Mandrill.

This was a surprise to me given we had two sources say otherwise. It’s possible they were referring to outdated information; or there was a miscommunication somewhere along the line.

On a personal level, I’m extremely disappointed to hear Melbourne Zoo won’t be acquiring this species. Another holder would have been an asset to the region given only Adelaide Zoo intends to holding a breeding troop in the future and Tasmania Zoo holds an elderly female.

Possibly long term, Melbourne Zoo may reconsider this phase out, but they currently have no plans to do so.

Quite surprising news. But come to think of it, they did make some minor renovations to the Mandrill enclosure after the remaining two died, to of course prepare it for Cassowary.

It's interesting that one of the Adelaide keepers believed this was the case, but it's possible the keeper @Swanson02 was talking to, was referring to what they would want to see happen, rather than what was actually the plan.

 

[Zoofan15]

Quite surprising news. But come to think of it, they did make some minor renovations to the Mandrill enclosure after the remaining two died, to of course prepare it for Cassowary.

It's interesting that one of the Adelaide keepers believed this was the case, but it's possible the keeper @Swanson02 was talking to, was referring to what they would want to see happen, rather than what was actually the plan.

I think the most likely possibility was it was investigated to the point of identifying the role San Diego would play in the import, but was then canned. That would explain why a Melbourne keeper was singing from the same song sheet as Adelaide.

 

[Jambo]

I think the most likely possibility was it was investigated to the point of identifying the role San Diego would play in the import, but was then canned. That would explain why a Melbourne keeper was singing from the same song sheet as Adelaide.

It's possible Melbourne inquired, but as we know, San Diego only have four Mandrills, so wouldn't be able to provide a sustainable number for an import.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's possible Melbourne inquired, but as we know, San Diego only have four Mandrills, so wouldn't be able to provide a sustainable number for an import.

It was suggested that the role San Diego would have played was coordianting the export with other zoos - regardless of what they could or couldn't supply (identified as a surplus of one or two males).

 

[Jambo]

It was suggested that the role San Diego would have played was coordianting the export with other zoos - regardless of what they could or couldn't supply (identified as a surplus of one or two males).

I think it's more than likely than, that an import couldn't be coordinated; probably due to San Diego being unable to find an adequate number of them to be sent to Melbourne.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think it's more than likely than, that an import couldn't be coordinated; probably due to San Diego being unable to find an adequate number of them to be sent to Melbourne.

Not necessarily. Assuming they couldn't provide a demalefrom North America, there would have been multiple options in Europe to explore (which also would have been a simpler importation process).

Hopefully Adelaide will have more luck in organising imports in a few years.

 

[Jambo]

Hopefully Adelaide will have more luck in organising imports in a few years

If Adelaide can successfully work out an import, hopefully Melbourne will then have an incentive to join the import too. Or, Melbourne could even receive surplus Mandrills from Adelaide's program, which is better than nothing imo.

 

[Zoofan15]

If Adelaide can successfully work out an import, hopefully Melbourne will then have an incentive to join the import too. Or, Melbourne could even receive surplus Mandrills from Adelaide's program, which is better than nothing imo.

Melbourne Zoo will have opportunities down the line given the elephants are leaving in 2024, which will result in a seismic shift for the zoo's collection. Mandrill are not currently being considered, but with bressing at Adelaide, there may be an opportunity to acquire two or three from their troop. Tasmania Zoo no longer have a male, so they'd potentially take on a male, meaning a female or females could also be surplus.

If Adelaide import two or more females, an unrelated paring could be formed from a founder female and first generation son of another founder female. Something to consider...

 

[Zoofan15]

Regional Plan (1992)

I thought people would be interested to see historical information from the Primate Global Captive Action Plan (1992), which was compiled following meetings that began in 1991. As with the chimpanzee plans, I’ve briefly detailed the outcomes of these recommendations.

Later today, I will post a brief history of Mandrill in the region.

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There were four holders of Mandrill in 1991 – Adelaide Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Perth Zoo and Taronga Zoo.

The recommendations for 1992 were as follows:

Melbourne Zoo - ascertain purebred status of their troop with the aim of this to be completed by December 1992; and to acquire new stock unrelated to the regional breeding programme. It was revealed their troop were Mandrill x Drill hybrids and purebred Mandrill were imported - 0.2 from Adelaide Zoo in 1996 and 1.0 from Jerusalem Biblical Zoo in 2000.

Perth Zoo - review their decision to phase out. Perform tubal ligation on breeding female if not wanting larger group held; and consider holding non breeding troop. Very little is known about the troop at Perth, but they apparently phased out sometimes in the early to mid 1990’s.

Taronga Zoo - maintain bachelor troop. Acquire loan individuals from outside the region to be dispersed to other collections. Holding capacity would increase with plans for a new exhibit. Taronga’s Mandrill went off display when the gorillas arrived in 1996. They remained in an off display facility for a few more years before being sent to an unknown private zoo (no further details known).

Adelaide Zoo – interested in holding non breeding troop of 1.2; discontinue breeding if a smaller troop was wanted. Adelaide Zoo had bred several purebred Mandrill. Adelaide appeared to go back on these plans, breeding several infants throughout the 1990’s.

Auckland Zoo – consider acquiring this species after phase out of Chacma baboon. Sadly nothing ever came of these plans. Auckland Zoo held Chacma baboon until 2009, which were then replaced by Hamadryas baboon.

 

[Zoofan15]

History of Mandrill in Australasia

Part One - Melbourne Zoo:

The zoo’s first pair came from the Berlin Zoo. The male was a purebred Mandrill and the female was a Mandrill-Drill hybrid. They produced a daughter who was retained and later paired with a male Mandrill from Taronga named Max, who died in the early 1990’s. Max and this female produced five daughters, with Max siring infants to two of these daughters. By 1993, the founders and Max had all died, leaving behind these eight animals - all hybrids.

Two purebred females arrived from Adelaide Zoo in 1996 - these were a mother and daughter named Louise (25/02/1986) and Timbiri (23/12/1994). It unclear if all the eight members of the previous troop had passed away by this time, but I’d assume the Adelaide females were integrated with the remnants of this troop, which may have contained a male - as a purebred male didn’t arrive for another four years.

In 2000, a purebred male arrived from Jerusalem Biblical School. This male was named Yonaton (19/10/1994). He sired at least three offspring at Melbourne Zoo: 0.1 Lara (2002) to Louise - who’s currently at Tasmania Zoo; 1.0 Tabah (2005) to Timbiri - who’s currently at Adelaide Zoo; and 1.0 Leroy (2007) to Louise - whose fate is unknown (presumed deceased).

Yonaton died in July 2017; while Louise and Timbiri died in September 2017. All three were euthanised on medical grounds due to degenerative spinal disease.

 

[Zoofan15]

History of Mandrill in Australasia

Part Two - Adelaide Zoo:

Adelaide Zoo’s first Mandrill was a female that arrived in late 1963. She arrived along with two Mandrill-Drill hybrids that were initially believed to be purebred. When it was discovered they were hybrids (along with all offspring bred from these founders), the hybrid population was sent to circuses; and in 1975, a purebred male from Taronga Zoo was sourced to pair with Adelaide’s purebred female.

In 1986, a female named Louise was born; and in 1988, a female named Penny was born. Since Penny was the ninth Mandrill born at Adelaide Zoo, we know no more than seven Mandrill were born from between the arrival of the male from Taronga in 1975 and 1986. A female named Sanaga was born in 1991, noted to be the twelfth Mandrill born at Adelaide Zoo.

It’s reasonable to assume Louise, Penny and Sanaga were born to either the daughters or granddaughters of the founder female - sired by either the 1975 male or a replacement male.

Adelaide received a new male Mandrill named Brazza from Taronga Zoo, where he’d been born in 1987. His transfer date is unknown, but I’d assume 1993 given the zoo were debating ceasing breeding in 1992, which was followed by the births of 0.1 Timbiri (1994) to Louise, 0.1 Niari (1996) to Sanaga and 0.1 Moabi (1998) to Penny.

Penny gave birth to a male named Manja (DOB unknown), who was sired by Brazza. Manja was transferred to Tasmania Zoo and was presumably the castrated male they held there in 2010. If so, he was likely castrated at Adelaide Zoo with the intention of him living in the troop long term under his father.

Tabah (2005) was transferred from Melbourne Zoo and sired at least three offspring: 0.1 Mayombe (2010) to Niari, 1.0 Kouilou (2011) to Moabi and 1.0 Jumoke (2017) to Niari.

Kouilou was transferred to Tasmania Zoo to replace their male; and in 2021, Mayombe was also sent there. Moabi died the same month, reducing Adelaide’s troop to 2.1 Mandrill: Tabah, Niari and Jumoke.

 

[tetrapod]

AFAIK Perth only had the pair of mandrills. Sorry, don't know any of their history apart from being gone by the very early 90s (I think one died, maybe the other transferred?).

 

[Zoofan15]

AFAIK Perth only had the pair of mandrills. Sorry, don't know any of their history apart from being gone by the very early 90s (I think one died, maybe the other transferred?).

I’ve since found they were phased out in 1994. I they had a pair, it’s reasonable to assume the male died (difficult to place in another troop) and the remaining female (likely sterilised in 1992 as noted above) was transferred to live out her days as a non breeding member of another troop - likely Adelaide or Melbourne given Taronga held bachelor males that would have fought over her.

 

[Zoofan15]

Mandrill Population - 2022/2023 Summary

2022 Summary:

It was a disappointing year for Mandrill in Australasia with the revelation that Adelaide Zoo’s population has been reduced to an elderly pair and their young son, following the death of an elderly female last year; and Tasmania Zoo’s population has been reduced to a single elderly female.

There were no births in 2022.

There was rumours this year that Melbourne Zoo had plans to acquire Mandrill. This would have been an exciting development given we only have two holders; but sadly it appears there was a miscommunication, with Zoos Victoria confirming they have no plans to acquire Mandrill in the future.

2023 Summary:

Due to the demographics of the Mandrill held in the region, no births are expected in 2023.

It’s unlikely we’ll see any imports in 2023, though Adelaide have stated it’s their plan to acquire more Mandrill once their current troop pass on. This likely refers to their elderly pair - with new females joining their five year old son upon their passing.

Tasmania Zoo won’t acquire more Mandrill while their elderly female is still alive.

It’s unknown if any new holders will arise, though I’m not aware of any facilities who’ve expressed an interest.

————————————

Please note: This summary will be followed next month by a full population list update.

 

[Zoofan15]

Australasian Mandrill Population 2023

Adelaide Zoo:

1.0 Tabah (05/04/2005) Yonaton x Timbiri
0.1 Niari (00/05/1996) Unknown x Unknown
1.0 Jumoke (09/10/2017) Tabah x Niari

Tasmania Zoo:

0.1 Lara (20/01/2002) Yonaton x Louise

Total regional population: 2.2

 

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15

Would <3 to see this start to grow in individuals and number of holders across the next decade