Australasian Spotted Hyena Population

Awesome news! This is the first import of a female of this species since 1997. I’m glad they had the commonsense to import a young female, who will soon grow to maturity and have her entire reproductive life ahead of her.

We currently have 13 living descendants of the last female (Kigali), who arrived as a 10 year old.

Given the need for new genetics, it’s a shame none of the other zoos joined Altina in making a joint import like we’ve seen in Cheetah etc.
 
Here is an updated version of the Spotted Hyena population list for Australia. The main news is the importation of a young sibling pair from Africa by Altina, meaning that two facilities now hold females. Also, Adelaide no longer hold hyena, with their animals being transferred back to Monarto.

Spotted Hyena (2022)

Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia

0.1 Malika (unk x unk) 00/00/2020 Imported from Africa 2021
1.0 Amani (Mwenka x Kigali) 00/00/2009 Transferred from Monarto 2016
1.0 Mkali (Mwenka x Kigali) 00/00/2009 Transferred from Monarto 2016
1.0 Cheka (unk x unk) 00/00/2020 Imported from Africa 2021

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia

0.1 Forest (unk x Kigali) 00/00/2007
0.1 Thandiwe (Gamba x Forest) 00/00/2014
0.1 Kanzi (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
1.0 Gamba (unk x unk) 00/00/2003 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2007
1.0 Mkoko (Gamba x Forest) 00/07/2015
1.0 Jaali (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
1.0 Majani (Gamba x Forest) 00/01/2018

National Zoo, ACT, Australia

1.0 Pinduli (Gamba x Kigali) 12/06/2012
1.0 Zuberi (Gamba x Forest) 06/02/2013

Perth Zoo, WA, Australia

1.0 Kigana (unk x unk) 28/10/2000
1.0 Sabi (Gamba x Kigali) 18/05/2007

Sydney Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Enzi (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019
1.0 Etana (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019
1.0 Endesha (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019

Spotted Hyena Population Total: 20 (14.6)
 
Here is an updated version of the Spotted Hyena population list for Australia. The main news is the importation of a young sibling pair from Africa by Altina, meaning that two facilities now hold females. Also, Adelaide no longer hold hyena, with their animals being transferred back to Monarto.

Spotted Hyena (2022)

Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia

0.1 Malika (unk x unk) 00/00/2020 Imported from Africa 2021
1.0 Amani (Mwenka x Kigali) 00/00/2009 Transferred from Monarto 2016
1.0 Mkali (Mwenka x Kigali) 00/00/2009 Transferred from Monarto 2016
1.0 Cheka (unk x unk) 00/00/2020 Imported from Africa 2021

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia

0.1 Forest (unk x Kigali) 00/00/2007
0.1 Thandiwe (Gamba x Forest) 00/00/2014
0.1 Kanzi (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
1.0 Gamba (unk x unk) 00/00/2003 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2007
1.0 Mkoko (Gamba x Forest) 00/07/2015
1.0 Jaali (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
1.0 Majani (Gamba x Forest) 00/01/2018

National Zoo, ACT, Australia

1.0 Pinduli (Gamba x Kigali) 12/06/2012
1.0 Zuberi (Gamba x Forest) 06/02/2013

Perth Zoo, WA, Australia

1.0 Kigana (unk x unk) 28/10/2000
1.0 Sabi (Gamba x Kigali) 18/05/2007

Sydney Zoo, NSW, Australia

1.0 Enzi (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019
1.0 Etana (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019
1.0 Endesha (Karoi x Dots) 01/03/2013 Imported from Singapore Zoo 2019

Spotted Hyena Population Total: 20 (14.6)
A real shortage of females within the region
 
Got really friendly email responses from Perth Zoo and Berkeley Campus UC's Animal Behavioural Department from someone who worked with the Spotted Hyenas there for 30 years.

1.0 Ferret {No.#41 in North American Studbook}
born: 23 May 1990 at Berkeley, California, U.S.
(dam: Diagonal {#8} | sire: Two-Notches {#3} - both wild caught in Kenya in 1985 and amongst the first wild caught Spotted Hyenas for the Berkeley UC Uni's Spotted Hyena research)
arrived Perth Zoo: 21 August 1991 with Annaru (Annie) and Vinnie {0.2}
died: 24 December 2010 aged 20.7 years

0.1 Annaru/Annie
born:≈1 November 1985 in wild outside Mara Reserve, Kenya.
(caught as infant and brought to Berkeley, California along with Vinnie born around same time as part of the second group of wild caught Spotted Hyenas for Berkeley)
arrived Perth Zoo: 21 August 1991 with Ferret and Vinnie
died: 28 February 2008 aged 22.4 (euthanised due to poor health)

Ferret and Annie' had three cubs (apparent name for baby Hyenas)

Spud (1.0) and stillborn twin born 1 August 1994 but dominant (but sterilised) female Vinnie killed Spud same day.

Later that year (want to thank @Zoofan15 heaps here for helping with piecing together info) Annie' fell pregnant again and had two female cubs Karli and Sheba (0.2) in late 1994 (sired by Ferret).

In May 1995 Vinnie was sent to Whyalla Wildlife Park where she was kept in cruel conditions (no other way of putting it) until she went to Monarto Zoo around 2003? 2004? to live out her days fortunately in very decent conditions.

In 2001 Karli and Sheba were sent to Singapore Zoo and would be interested to learn how their lives there went.

PS: Apologies as some of this is repeating what has already been documented.
 
Got really friendly email responses from Perth Zoo and Berkeley Campus UC's Animal Behavioural Department from someone who worked with the Spotted Hyenas there for 30 years.

1.0 Ferret {No.#41 in North American Studbook}
born: 23 May 1990 at Berkeley, California, U.S.
(dam: Diagonal {#8} | sire: Two-Notches {#3} - both wild caught in Kenya in 1985 and amongst the first wild caught Spotted Hyenas for the Berkeley UC Uni's Spotted Hyena research)
arrived Perth Zoo: 21 August 1991 with Annaru (Annie) and Vinnie {0.2}
died: 24 December 2010 aged 20.7 years

0.1 Annaru/Annie
born:≈1 November 1985 in wild outside Mara Reserve, Kenya.
(caught as infant and brought to Berkeley, California along with Vinnie born around same time as part of the second group of wild caught Spotted Hyenas for Berkeley)
arrived Perth Zoo: 21 August 1991 with Ferret and Vinnie
died: 28 February 2008 aged 22.4 (euthanised due to poor health)

Ferret and Annie' had three cubs (apparent name for baby Hyenas)

Spud (1.0) and stillborn twin born 1 August 1994 but dominant (but sterilised) female Vinnie killed Spud same day.

Later that year (want to thank @Zoofan15 heaps here for helping with piecing together info) Annie' fell pregnant again and had two female cubs Karli and Sheba (0.2) in late 1994 (sired by Ferret).

In May 1995 Vinnie was sent to Whyalla Wildlife Park where she was kept in cruel conditions (no other way of putting it) until she went to Monarto Zoo around 2003? 2004? to live out her days fortunately in very decent conditions.

In 2001 Karli and Sheba were sent to Singapore Zoo and would be interested to learn how their lives there went.

PS: Apologies as some of this is repeating what has already been documented.
If this was direct from PZ's records then there is a mistake in the system (it does happen). Annie had a third litter as a pair of offspring went to Singapore in ~97 (I know as I dropped them off at the airport!). Don't know about names but these were (presumably) the 94 litter. And I'm pretty sure they were both brothers. It was necessary to move them on for subsequent breeding as the exhibit wasn't even big enough for 2 adults, let alone grown up young. The pair that went in 2001 would be the third litter.
 
@tetrapod Hey ok cool cheers for clearing it up, yeah the info came from PZ so there must be a mistake in the system. I take it Karli and Sheba were the third litter then born later (guestimating '98? '99?) as you have pointed out the second litter were 2 males.
 
One of the Monarto bred males at Altina has been introduced to Malika, the female imported from Africa last year. If the introduction goes well, the second Monarto male will be introduced to her. Depending on Malika’s preference, both males could potentially live with her, or if she clearly prefers one, they will be kept as a pair.

The Monarto males, Amani and Mkali, are 13-year-old brothers, and the only offspring of their sire, Mwenka, who was imported from Singapore.
 
As mentioned by @Patrick Keegan in the Mogo news thread, It appears Mogo now have at least one Hyena.

I'm leaning towards it maybe being the two males from Monarto who live separately from the main group.

You’re Temporarily Blocked

That would make sense as the packs are otherwise having to rotate:

1.0 Jaali (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
1.0 Majani (Gamba x Forest) 00/01/2018

The visitor states they have a hyena (singular); so if that’s accurate, it’s also possible one of the younger females at Monarto has been transferred.

0.1 Kanzi (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020

Rank is typically inherited, but being from the same litter would place Forest’s twin daughters on an even footing. They’re now adolescents and conflict may have peaked.
 
Last edited:
That would make sense as the packs are otherwise having to rotate:

1.0 Amani (Mwenka x Kigali) 2009
1.0 Mkali (Mwenka x Kigali) 2009

The visitor states they have a hyena (singular); so if that’s accurate, it’s also possible one of the younger females at Monarto has been transferred.

0.1 Kanzi (Piltengi x Thandiwe) 13/09/2017
0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020

Rank is typically inherited, but being from the same litter would place Forest’s twin daughters on an even footing. They’re now adolescents and conflict may have peaked.

I heard Amani and Mkali were both being introduced to Malika though, and if all three were compatible together; they would be grouped together. It may even be Cheka, as he would be living separately anyways and sending him to Mogo would remove the fact that he would need to rotate the enclosure with the other group.

Or, they could very well be some of Monarto's males, possibly getting ready to make space for a male from Sydney.
 
I heard Amani and Mkali were both being introduced to Malika though, and if all three were compatible together; they would be grouped together. It may even be Cheka, as he would be living separately anyways and sending him to Mogo would remove the fact that he would need to rotate the enclosure with the other group.

Or, they could very well be some of Monarto's males, possibly getting ready to make space for a male from Sydney.

I copied in the wrong male hyenas, but either Amani or Mkali remain a possibility. The female may accept one of the brothers and reject the other, necessitating a transfer; but the transfer of her brother (Cheka) to Mogo sounds more likely unless they intend to run two packs.

Malika and Cheka are a new bloodline and would ideally both be breeding, which is something that can’t happen while they’re both in one pack. If Cheka has been transferred, Mogo will likely receive a female for breeding too (probably one of Forest’s twins for the reasons I listed above).
 
Mogo Zoo have confirmed the hyena they received is the African import from Altina.

1.0 Cheka (unk x unk) 00/00/2020 Imported from Africa 2021

They are receiving a female to pair with him the next month or so.

That's good news. Cheka is a valuable animal, so it's good to see him going into a breeding situation.

Though I prefer @Zorro's suggestion of an unrelated founder, I suspect his mate will be one of these females:

0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020

This would still form a viable young breeding pair that should have many years ahead of them together.
 
That's good news. Cheka is a valuable animal, so it's good to see him going into a breeding situation.

Though I prefer @Zorro's suggestion of an unrelated founder, I suspect his mate will be one of these females:

0.1 Fahari (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020
0.1 Mahali (Gamba x Forest) 03/11/2020

This would still form a viable young breeding pair that should have many years ahead of them together.
I think you’re right, it will most likely be Fahari or Mahali.
 
Mogo's new female hyena has arrived. Her name is Thundi (Th-oon-di). She is 8 years old and came from a zoo in Africa.

Considering we were all expecting a female to be transfer from Monarto, I’m thrilled to see a new founder imported.

Her addition to the breeding programme is significant as with the exception of Malika, all the female hyena in the region are descended from Kigali.
 
Back
Top