Australasian Spotted Hyena Population

Hamilton Zoo Update

I asked a keeper about Hamilton Zoo’s plans for importing Spotted hyena on my recent visit and was told the plan is no longer for them to replace African wild dog (opposite the tigers).

Instead, Spotted hyena will be accommodated in the Savannah precinct, which geographically is a better fit for them.

While I had previously assumed a non-breeding pair were the obvious candidates; the keeper said it’s also possible they could import a breeding pair. If so, it’d be great to see an import of a male and female from outside the region considering the majority of our hyenas descend from Kigali at Monarto.

In any case, only Monarto have more than one breeding female at this point in time (i.e. a breeding pair to spare) depending on whether there’s a need to split this recently merged pack:

1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
1.0 Enzi (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest

I imagine whether or not Hamilton Zoo breed could well be influenced by whether another New Zealand facility (realistically, only Orana) have any interest in acquiring this species.
 
Australasian Spotted Hyena Population (2024)

We’re in the midst of a baby boom, with litters born at Monarto Safari Park and Sydney Zoo within the last couple of months; and Cheka at Mogo Wildlife Park due December 2023/January 2024.

Altina Wildlife Park:

0.1 Malika (13/09/2020) Imported 2021 (South Africa)
1.0 Amani (09/04/2009) Mwenka x Kigali
1.0 Mkali (09/04/2009) Mwenka x Kigali

Mogo Wildlife Park:

0.1 Thandiwe (12/05/2014) Gamba x Forest - Pregnant
1.0 Cheka (13/09/2020) Imported 2021 (South Africa)

Monarto Safari Park:

0.1 Forest (24/10/2007) Mwenka x Kigali
1.0 Gamba (02/03/2003) Imported 2007 (Singapore)
1.0 Jabali (26/08/2022) Gamba x Forest
0.0.1 Unnamed (17/11/2023) Gamba x Forest

0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
1.0 Enzi (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)

1.0 Mkoko (13/07/2015) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Jaali (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
1.0 Majani (15/01/2018) Gamba x Forest

National Zoo and Aquarium:

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

Perth Zoo:

1.0 Kigana (28/11/2000) Imported 2007 (Singapore)
1.0 Sabi (18/05/2007) Gamba x Kigali

Sydney Zoo:

0.1 Mahali (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Etana (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.0.1 Unnamed (00/11/2023) Etana x Mahali

Total population: 15.6.2 hyena
 
Zoofan15 said:
Monarto Safari Park Update

Hyena Cub in Howling Good Health - Monarto Safari Park

1.0 Gamba (2003) passed away in December 2023.

DNA samples from the latest cub (born November 2023) have been sent to Berlin to confirm the sex.
Click to expand...

That's sad news about Gamba, although he was one of the oldest of his species in the region and is survived by the cub born in November.

Is Kigana at Perth related to Gamba? It seems unusual that a potential founder would remain unrepresented in a bachelor group, but perhaps I am missing something.
 
Abbey said:
That's sad news about Gamba, although he was one of the oldest of his species in the region and is survived by the cub born in November.

Is Kigana at Perth related to Gamba? It seems unusual that a potential founder would remain unrepresented in a bachelor group, but perhaps I am missing something.
Click to expand...

I had it in my mind that Kigana was the offspring of Kigali (from which most of the regional population descends), but can find nothing on the forum that confirms this. He was imported from Singapore; and I believe Kigali was too (despite being wild born).

His mother’s representation could therefore explain why he’s never been bred from as I agree it’d otherwise be a waste of a valuable founder.
 
Monarto Safari Park - Groupings Update

An update on the groupings, which are now as follows:

0.1 Forest (24/10/2007) Mwenka x Kigali
1.0 Jabali (26/08/2022) Gamba x Forest
0.0.1 Unnamed (17/11/2023) Gamba x Forest

0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)

1.0 Enzi (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
1.0 Mkoko (13/07/2015) Gamba x Forest

1.0 Jaali (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
1.0 Majani (15/01/2018) Gamba x Forest
 
Birth announcement:

Kanzi at Monarto Safari Park has given birth to twins. The sire is Endesha.

This birth brings their pack to 1.2.2 hyena:

0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.0.2 Unnamed (Endesha x Kanzi)

Reported on socials.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Birth announcement:

Kanzi at Monarto Safari Park has given birth to twins. The sire is Endesha.

This birth brings their pack to 1.2.2 hyena:

0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.0.2 Unnamed (Endesha x Kanzi)

Reported on socials.
Click to expand...
Amazing news! Really nice to see the success the region has had of late; with the previous cubs born at Monarto and Sydney in the last four months.

With that in mind, we still haven't heard anything re. Thandi's pregnancy at Mogo. She was apparently due Dec/Jan so she's a bit late. Hopefully everything's fine and we just haven't had an official announcement yet.
 
Jambo said:
Amazing news! Really nice to see the success the region has had of late; with the previous cubs born at Monarto and Sydney in the last four months.

With that in mind, we still haven't heard anything re. Thandi's pregnancy at Mogo. She was apparently due Dec/Jan so she's a bit late. Hopefully everything's fine and we just haven't had an official announcement yet.
Click to expand...

I was only wondering today what’s going on with Thandi at Mogo. There’s a high degree of risk associated with first time births, but Thandi is an experienced mother and should have had a smooth delivery.

Hyena cubs are precocious compared to young of most other mammalian carnivores, so I’d expect the young to be exploring the exhibit by now if there was any. Surely Mogo aren’t holding out for World Hyena Day in April to make a big announcement. :rolleyes:
 
Zoofan15 said:
Birth announcement:

Kanzi at Monarto Safari Park has given birth to twins. The sire is Endesha.

This birth brings their pack to 1.2.2 hyena:

0.1 Kanzi (13/09/2017) Piltengi x Thandiwe
0.1 Fahari (03/11/2020) Gamba x Forest
1.0 Endesha (01/03/2013) Imported 2019 (Singapore)
0.0.2 Unnamed (Endesha x Kanzi)

Reported on socials.
Click to expand...

Additional information on Kanzi’s litter (triplets):

Hyena clan is looking spot on with two new cubs - Monarto Safari Park

The cubs were born 23/01/2024.

The litter consisted of triplets! Unfortunately one did not survive. The survival of triplets is rare and to my knowledge, no Australian zoo has ever successfully reared hyena triplets (at least not in recent decades). The cub’s father was a triplet and imported with his siblings in 2019.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Additional information on Kanzi’s litter (triplets):

Hyena clan is looking spot on with two new cubs - Monarto Safari Park

The cubs were born 23/01/2024.

The litter consisted of triplets! Unfortunately one did not survive. The survival of triplets is rare and to my knowledge, no Australian zoo has ever successfully reared hyena triplets (at least not in recent decades). The cub’s father was a triplet and imported with his siblings in 2019.
Click to expand...

Any words on whether the cubs are males or females or one of each yet?
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
Any words on whether the cubs are males or females or one of each yet?
Click to expand...

No, it was mentioned that DNA samples will be sent abroad to the Serengeti Hyena Research Group in Berlin for testing (due to the unreliability of sexing this species via visual examination).

Samples from the older cub (born November) have already been sent, so hopefully we’ll have word soon on whether they’re a male or female.
 
Zoofan15 said:
No, it was mentioned that DNA samples will be sent abroad to the Serengeti Hyena Research Group in Berlin for testing (due to the unreliability of sexing this species via visual examination).

Samples from the older cub (born November) have already been sent, so hopefully we’ll have word soon on whether they’re a male or female.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that information! This is a fascinating species and I know very little about them!
 
ApeLadyNZ said:
Thanks for that information! This is a fascinating species and I know very little about them!
Click to expand...

Hyenas are literally unique in that they have their own family (Hyaenidae); and it’s been interesting for myself learning about their social structure of the Spotted hyena we have in the region. It’s difficult to introduce adults to other adults of the same sex in many carnivores, but can be successfully done in hyena. There’s so many quirks: females outranking males; multiple females breeding; and of course the influence of gender on the survival of pups (female twins can often fight to the death).

I was interested to know if Kanzi’s triplets were the first in the region. Neonatal deaths often aren’t announced, so apparent singleton cubs or twins in the region could have begun as triplets. Either way, I found an article from 1950 announcing the birth of triplets at Taronga Zoo (noted to have then been only the second recorded birth of hyena triplets in captivity). The cubs survived to 10 days of age, but given the mortality rate, I’d be surprised if they all survived to adulthood.
 
Birth Announcement - Monarto Safari Park

Twins were born March 5 to Fahari. A total of six hyena cubs have been at Monarto, with the new twins joining Forest’s cub born November 2023; and Kanzi’s triplets (two surviving) born January 2024.

Double the fun as new Spotted Hyena twins bring cub count to five! - Monarto Safari Park

The twins have already started to follow mum around and out of the den. They’ve seen dad next door and our matriarch Kanzi, so they’re starting to meet the rest of the clan. Everything is going really well!

This is the first time we’ve had this many mums and cubs at the same time. It’s great that we’ve got such a beautiful facility where we can breed so many of these amazing animals.
 
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