Australasian Rhino Population
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
It was mentioned in the news thread that the plan was for Memphis to be given one last chance to breed, and this news seemingly confirms this.
The article also mentions both exhibits will be developed into a mixed species 'African Savannah' so we can rule out Indian Rhinos there - which may have been the original plan.
We can also rule out black rhino, in a city zoo setting id be surprised if they attempted mixed exhibits with them. They are not as tolerant of other species like the white rhino are. Given the zoo wants to attempt breeding and creating a mixed African zone. White rhino are just about there only option.
It'll be interesting to see what they mix them with, Nyala would be a nice species to mix in with them.
I’d say it’s unlikely they will come from the same facility. Auckland theoretically has two females surplus - Nyah (2020) and Amali (2022), but they’re full siblings and pairing them with the same bull would not only be a genetic double up; but less likely to see both cows conceive. Estrus suppression is an issue in this species and is more prevalent between related cows.
My prediction remains for Nyah and an unrelated secondary cow (see my previous post). From there, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a mix up of the under-performing females (i.e a swap).
Correct. It will definitely be Southern white rhinoceros. Perth plan on continuing with their white rhino breeding programme and have no space to accomodate a second species of rhinoceros (nor is it in the master plan).
It was stated in the news thread last year that should Memphis pass before the new cows arrive, his son Bakari will stay on as breeding bull. With Memphis alive and well, we can expect to see Bakari transfer out in the near future.
Lowland nyala work well with Southern white rhinoceros at Auckland Zoo.
Not surprising to hear Australia will be acquiring a new bull. DJ's a very well represented bull now and he's been separated from the cows for a few years now and been retired off display where's he's doing well, still utilised in close up encounters. Breeding will likely be focused on Inyeti and Kibibi going forward imo.
In regards to the pair of females coming over, Werribee is theoretically the only facility that could send two cows over together. It would certainly be Sisi/Letaba in that case; those two have always been close and are both theoretically 'post reproductive cows' now.
If they were to come from different facilities however, perhaps Cabelle at Australia (who is well represented) and Uhura at Monarto (who hasn't bred in more than a decade now) would be the prime candidates. There aren't really many 'elderly' cows in the region at the moment; there are a few in their 40's now however I doubt they'd be moved due to their age, and a lot of the others that are slightly younger would still have application within the breeding program (at least to my knowledge).
I think we can take the staff’s use of the word elderly to mean post reproductive in this scenario in that Letaba (1992) and Sisi (1996), the younger of which I wouldn’t consider elderly compared to cows in the region a decade older; would be the best fit for Perth in that they’re a cohesive pair. It will simplify introductions at Perth if the two cows at least are familiar with each other.
The only other cow in Australia I’d consider elderly is Likwezi (1985) at Dubbo; but sending a cohesive dyad makes far more sense than undertaking additional introductions.
It’s possible they’d have one last shot at breeding Bakari with Caballe. Cows have bred well into their late 30’s/early 40’s; but I note she hasn’t bred in close to a decade, which means the odds for conceiving are against her. Despite producing a number of calves, she has no grandchildren and her only offspring in a breeding situation turns 14 this year and has yet to produce a calf.
The Future of Rhinoceros in Australasia
South-Central black rhinoceros:
Given the scarcity of South-Central black rhinoceros across North American and European collections, one has to wonder how viable Australasia’s population is long term. We’ve already resorted to inbreeding due to the difficultly in sourcing unrelated South-Central black rhinoceros (either via captive populations or from the wild).
North America and Europe are clearly focussed on the Eastern black rhinoceros with over 40 holders across those two continents; compared to just seven holders of South-Central black rhinoceros across the same two regions (with two of those being in Mexico and Cuba).
In the current state, our region has two options:
1) Continue as we are with minor inbreeding, with the acceptance a phase out is inevitable when the level of inbreeding becomes unacceptable (if no more can be imported).
2) Cease breeding, with the aim of achieving a phase out sooner; while attempting to establish a viable population of Eastern black rhinoceros in the interim. This would be dependant on availability overseas.
At this point in time, it’s clear Option 1 is what the region is going with.
Indian rhinoceros:
Our main hope for establishing a semi-sustainable population was for this species to replace elephants in city zoos. To date, only Taronga Zoo has confirmed their intention to acquire Indian rhinoceros.
Like the South-Central black rhinoceros, it’s difficult to envisage population growth of this species (albeit for a different reason).
Southern white rhinoceros:
This species has enjoyed reasonable success with a succession of calves born (including a number in recent years). A few facilities have been devastated by mass death events of reproductive aged cows, which has been a major blow; and a number of founder lines are well represented due to poor performance of their peers. Estrus suppression has been a contributing factor across many (small) herds.
Overall, I’m optimistic for the future of this species. The addition of founders via the Australian Rhino Project would have/will be (depending whether it eventuates) invaluable; but in their absence, there’s a reasonable surplus overseas we can tap in to, long before we need to resort to inbreeding.
Thanks for confirming our assumptions were correct. Of the post-reproductive/non-breeding cows in the region, they’re the only cohesive pair and therefore the obvious candidates.
Werribee’s remaining rhinos (Make, Kifaru, Kipenzi and Jabulani) are a cohesive grouping of four, so freeing up the space occupied by Letaba and Sisi could potentially lead to more cows being brought in in time (which would ideally be integrated with the existing herd).
As expected. This pair are closely bonded and are post reproductive so have little to no application to Werribee's breeding herd anymore.
The two females (plus bull, Umgana) were displayed together as a trio a few years back and it's obvious Kipenzi thrived better with just Kifaru and Make (her grandma, who she's close to), as evident with her recent breeding results. Letaba and Sisi were only reintegrated shortly after she fell pregnant with Jabulani I believe.
Retiring them to Perth seems the best course and gives Werribee the opportunity to renovate their rhino facilities in the meantime as has been the plan for years now and potentially acquire some additional cows down the line.
Im surprised Werribee doesn't have the facilities to run two seperate rhino herds. It would have to be a back of house exhibit no ?.
They can be kept with a range of species across multiple biotypes so could theoretically be housed in a few of Werribees areas of memory.
I believe that Werribee has had a lack of support for quite some time and has become somewhat neglected overall, I believe now things will change for the better with the brand new elephant exhibit/complex will help lift the zoo to the next level!
It's quite the irony that for so long our open range zoos seem to be the poor country cousins of the city zoo's. Yet now that seems to be disappearing.
I actually believe that Monarto zoo has gone from strength to strength it has a lot of support and has now reached a whole new level few will match, unfortunately for Werribee became a bit neglected, With all three open range zoos working together soon with elephant, rhinos and Hippos will help maintain the status of all three!
Werribee held three groupings of Southern white rhinoceros at one stage as they had three bulls:
1.0 Lee (1980) Died 2019
1.0 Umgana (1988)
1.0 Kapamba (1996) Transferred out 2019
Modifications would be needed to the fencing, but rhinos could theoretically be kept with the Lowland nyala and Indian antelope at Werribee. They have a number of off display paddocks also.
Let’s stay on topic guys. This is a rhino population thread, not a discussion on the state of the region’s open range zoos (of which we already have threads for).
A second group could theoretically be accommodated off display in the lower savannah but it's obviously not preferable if there are other options.
Werribee also has the upper savannah which has around three or four enclosures up there for the rhino. In the past, the surplus bulls have been held up there and this is where the rhino encounters have previously taken place. However, size wise they're more suitable for just a few rhino; not a crash like the lower savannah is.
Yes they will. The long term plan is to acquire a female and breed the species. My preference would be to see Bakhita (2002) transfer from Dubbo to Monarto and breed with Induna (2005), as not only are they the region’s only unrelated pair - one half of the pair is Australia’s most experienced breeding female. Turning 33 years old this year, she is past her prime, but still has reproductive potential.
Bakhita’s has female descendants breeding at Dubbo (Kufara, Mesi etc); and while they have a reasonable capacity (31 yards as reported by @Osedax), I agree with you @Kifaru Bwana that it would be good to establish a second breeding facility within the region.
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The 1.0 white rhino calf at Auckland has been named Zuka - reported on their FB page.