Australasian Sumatran Tiger Population

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Import Update

Import permits were previously approved for the import of Ramah and Zayana from the USA. Unfortunately due to the delays in constructing their exhibit at Auckland, the permits expired and he to be re-applied for. This has been a time consuming process, but thankfully not as lengthy as applying from scratch (which can take up to two years).

Though Auckland Zoo have yet to announce an arrival date (or even tell people which two tigers are coming), the Topeka Zoo have stated Zayana will be exported in fall this year (September to December). I’d imagine Auckland Zoo will be doing everything they can to ensure the transfer occurs closer to September/October while the temperatures are cooler.

The import of Ramah can be expected to follow a similar time frame. Given they’re coming from neighbouring states, they may even come on the same plane.

 

[Jambo]

Auckland Zoo Import Update

Import permits were previously approved for the import of Ramah and Zayana from the USA. Unfortunately due to the delays in constructing their exhibit at Auckland, the permits expired and he to be re-applied for. This has been a time consuming process, but thankfully not as lengthy as applying from scratch (which can take up to two years).

Though Auckland Zoo have yet to announce an arrival date (or even tell people which two tigers are coming), the Topeka Zoo have stated Zayana will be exported in fall this year (September to December). I’d imagine Auckland Zoo will be doing everything they can to ensure the transfer occurs closer to September/October while the temperatures are cooler.

The import of Ramah can be expected to follow a similar time frame. Given they’re coming from neighbouring states, they may even come on the same plane.

The Topeka Zoo plan to import an entire new pair later this year, so it's likely Zayana will be moved sooner than later - the plan is for this spring (fall in the northern hemisphere).

Ramah's mother recently welcomed twin cubs earlier this month at OKC, so they'll definitely be wanting to move him on to Auckland asap.

Hopefully these moves occur sooner rather than later. Although i'm fairly certain myself they'll both be happening soon.

 

[Zoofan15]

The Topeka Zoo plan to import an entire new pair later this year, so it's likely Zayana will be moved sooner than later - the plan is for this spring (fall in the northern hemisphere).

Ramah's mother recently welcomed twin cubs earlier this month at OKC, so they'll definitely be wanting to move him on to Auckland asap.

Hopefully these moves occur sooner rather than later. Although i'm fairly certain myself they'll both be happening soon.

Ultimately it will depend on when the permits are approved. Like you say, their departure at their respective zoos will free up space, so there’s motivation from both sides to shift them on and therefore I don’t anticipate them to remain in the US for any longer than required (unlike previously when they were delayed by their exhibit not being ready by the anticipated date).

Aside from not wanting them in transit during the hotter months of the year, it would be preferable to allow them a few weeks to adjust before the start of the summer holidays in New Zealand, when visitation soars.

The interesting thing about their arrival is hype will be lessened by the fact Sali was transferred to Auckland Zoo in April. Had Ramah and Zayana arrived as the first tigers in three years, people would have arrived in the droves; but a number of visitors would have been by now, seen a tiger in the new exhibit and therefore not be as enthralled as we all are that the zoo now has a couple more.

 

[Jambo]

Ultimately it will depend on when the permits are approved. Like you say, their departure at their respective zoos will free up space, so there’s motivation from both sides to shift them on and therefore I don’t anticipate them to remain in the US for any longer than required (unlike previously when they were delayed by their exhibit not being ready by the anticipated date).

Aside from not wanting them in transit during the hotter months of the year, it would be preferable to allow them a few weeks to adjust before the start of the summer holidays in New Zealand, when visitation soars.

The interesting thing about their arrival is hype will be lessened by the fact Sali was transferred to Auckland Zoo in April. Had Ramah and Zayana arrived as the first tigers in three years, people would have arrived in the droves; but a number of visitors would have been by now, seen a tiger in the new exhibit and therefore not be as enthralled as we all are that the zoo now has a couple more.

It shouldn't take long; Topeka especially seem confident they'll get Zayana to Auckland before the end of this year.

It will be great to have a pair of Tigers at Auckland again. Sali seems very active (especially around the overhead walkways), and has given Auckland a very good placement in the meantime whilst they're still waiting for the US pair to arrive.

It's ben 14 years since the last tiger cubs at Auckland, so I think the public too cannot wait for this pair to arrive and begin breeding.

 

[Zoofan15]

It shouldn't take long; Topeka especially seem confident they'll get Zayana to Auckland before the end of this year.

It will be great to have a pair of Tigers at Auckland again. Sali seems very active (especially around the overhead walkways), and has given Auckland a very good placement in the meantime whilst they're still waiting for the US pair to arrive.

It's ben 14 years since the last tiger cubs at Auckland, so I think the public too cannot wait for this pair to arrive and begin breeding.

Although Sali is surplus to the breeding programme, she’s been an excellent acquisition given she was handraised and therefore confident around people. Visitors aren’t interested in a shy tiger that hides in the undergrowth.

Auckland’s complex can accomodate seven to eight adult tigers depending on social groupings. The small exhibit is ideal for cubs emerging from the den and will be used in their first few months before they’re old enough to navigate the more complex exhibits. Long term, the largest exhibit can accomodate Zayana and her adult offspring while Ramah and Sali rotate use of the other exhibits.

 

[Jambo]

Although Sali is surplus to the breeding programme, she’s been an excellent acquisition given she was handraised and therefore confident around people. Visitors aren’t interested in a shy tiger that hides in the undergrowth.

I think that was the whole purpose behind her acquisition in the first place. She wasn't required in the breeding program; and Auckland desired a tiger in the interim, so a confident tiger like her was perfect. I've seen multiple videos of her going back and forth across the overhead walkways and it really looks breathtaking; can't even begin to imagine experiencing it in person!

 

[Zoofan15]

I think that was the whole purpose behind her acquisition in the first place. She wasn't required in the breeding program; and Auckland desired a tiger in the interim, so a confident tiger like her was perfect. I've seen multiple videos of her going back and forth across the overhead walkways and it really looks breathtaking; can't even begin to imagine experiencing it in person!

It was primarily a favour to Hamilton Zoo. As per the masterplan, they planned to build a third Sumatran tiger exhibit in time for receiving a male to breed with Kirana. This hasn’t materialised and there’s been talk of this plan now being scrapped, so they needed to get things moving given she’s now eight years old.

Auckland Zoo would have gladly accepted her given they knew their tigers were at least six months away and realising her value as an engaging individual.

 

[Jambo]

It was primarily a favour to Hamilton Zoo. As per the masterplan, they planned to build a third Sumatran tiger exhibit in time for receiving a male to breed with Kirana. This hasn’t materialised and there’s been talk of this plan now being scrapped, so they needed to get things moving given she’s now eight years old.

Auckland Zoo would have gladly accepted her given they knew their tigers were at least six months away and realising her value as an engaging individual.

Possibly one of Taronga's male cubs may be imported as a mate for Kirana?

 

[Zoofan15]

Possibly one of Taronga's male cubs may be imported as a mate for Kirana?

No, Scout (2016) or Reggie (2016) at Orana Wildlife Park have been recommended for transfer this year.

I assumed Reggie would be the male coming given he’s more valuable genetically, but was told it’s undecided who will come at this stage and the decision will be made on the personalities involved.

Reggie (six weeks younger) was peer raised with Scout and his twin sister (Delilah), so their social backgrounds are the same.

 

[Abbey]

No, Scout (2016) or Reggie (2016) at Orana Wildlife Park have been recommended for transfer this year.

I assumed Reggie would be the male coming given he’s more valuable genetically, but was told it’s undecided who will come at this stage and the decision will be made on the personalities involved.

Reggie (six weeks younger) was peer raised with Scout and his twin sister (Delilah), so their social backgrounds are the same.

Hopefully the personalities will work out to allow Reggie to be paired with Kirana, given that he is not directly related to her like Scout is (Scout's paternal grandmother, Malu, is Kirana's maternal great-grandmother). However, they'd be no more related than their siblings Kembali and Delilah, paired at Adelaide Zoo, and a similar level of relatedness to Taronga's pair, Clarence and Kartika (although slightly less, as Juma/Ranu and Setia don't share a sire).

At the end of the day, a good personality match which results in cubs is a better match than a better genetic match which never results in successful breeding.

 

[Zoofan15]

Hopefully the personalities will work out to allow Reggie to be paired with Kirana, given that he is not directly related to her like Scout is (Scout's paternal grandmother, Malu, is Kirana's maternal great-grandmother). However, they'd be no more related than their siblings Kembali and Delilah, paired at Adelaide Zoo, and a similar level of relatedness to Taronga's pair, Clarence and Kartika (although slightly less, as Juma/Ranu and Setia don't share a sire).

At the end of the day, a good personality match which results in cubs is a better match than a better genetic match which never results in successful breeding.

Good point, I was favouring Reggie based on the fact he’s his mother’s only cub; while Scout is one of eight surviving offspring and two of his siblings are in breeding situations at Taronga and Adelaide; but that’s an additional (and valid) reason. Unless Reggie has been identified as an aggressive or nervous male, then transferring him to Hamilton is a no brainer.

That said, the real no brainer is to transfer Bashi from Wellington Zoo to Hamilton Zoo (either permanently or on a breeding loan). He’s an unrepresented founder and at 15 years of age, there’s no guarantee how many years we’ll have him around for.

Wellington Zoo have decided they won’t be breeding from Bashi and Senja, so there’s really no justification to keep him there when another facility could be making use of him. Wellington’s tiger exhibits are looking very dated, so they could take the opportunity to refurbish them in his absence.

 

[Abbey]

Good point, I was favouring Reggie based on the fact he’s his mother’s only cub; while Scout is one of eight surviving offspring and two of his siblings are in breeding situations at Taronga and Adelaide; but that’s an additional (and valid) reason. Unless Reggie has been identified as an aggressive or nervous male, then transferring him to Hamilton is a no brainer.

That said, the real no brainer is to transfer Bashi from Wellington Zoo to Hamilton Zoo (either permanently or on a breeding loan). He’s an unrepresented founder and at 15 years of age, there’s no guarantee how many years we’ll have him around for.

Wellington Zoo have decided they won’t be breeding from Bashi and Senja, so there’s really no justification to keep him there when another facility could be making use of him. Wellington’s tiger exhibits are looking very dated, so they could take the opportunity to refurbish them in his absence.

I agree. Kirana is about the same age now as when Kartika bred for the first time, so attempting to breed with Bashi would not at all be a waste - if he dies or the attempted pairing is unsuccessful, then Scout and Reggie, both young tigers, could serve as a Plan B.

 

[Jambo]

That said, the real no brainer is to transfer Bashi from Wellington Zoo to Hamilton Zoo (either permanently or on a breeding loan). He’s an unrepresented founder and at 15 years of age, there’s no guarantee how many years we’ll have him around for.

I'm surprised by Wellington's initiative to keep Bashi, despite the fact he's not a breeding male there.

That said, the studbook coordinator recommends all transfers, so i'm sure they have their reasons for not transferring Bashi into a breeding situation yet. Maybe he has some sort of medical issue that prevents him from breeding?

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree. Kirana is about the same age now as when Kartika bred for the first time, so attempting to breed with Bashi would not at all be a waste - if he dies or the attempted pairing is unsuccessful, then Scout and Reggie, both young tigers, could serve as a Plan B.

Breeding from tigresses around the age of eight seems to be the norm these days - it’s the happy medium between breeding late enough to extend the intergenerational gaps and young enough to ensure conception takes place. Kirana is at the ideal age now, with a contingency able to be arranged by the times she’s no older than ten if things don’t work out.

She comes from a well represented line on her maternal side, so she’s not hugely valuable to the breeding programme and while her father (a founder) has no second generation descendants, Kembali will likely breed at Adelaide Zoo.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'm surprised by Wellington's initiative to keep Bashi, despite the fact he's not a breeding male there.

That said, the studbook coordinator recommends all transfers, so i'm sure they have their reasons for not transferring Bashi into a breeding situation yet. Maybe he has some sort of medical issue that prevents him from breeding?

As far as I’m aware, Bashi is reproductively viable. Reproductive issues in male tigers are usually behavioural (like Dumai at Perth) rather than medical. When I asked Wellington Zoo, I was also advised of Senja’s issues as the reason they wouldn’t be breeding.

Although Bashi has relatives via his sisters, it would be good for him to contribute. The descendants of Ramalon and Juara (full brothers) were considered genetically diverse enough to be bred with each other as an example of how Bashi shouldn’t be written off because he has nieces and nephews.

A match between Bashi and a female cub from Ramah and Zayana would be a genetically valuable match, but sadly we don’t have the luxury of waiting that long and there’s no indication Auckland will be deviating from their plans to breed from Ramah and Zayana (a genetically valuable match).

 

[Zoofan15]

Eligible Tigers for Export

Previous exports:

The Australasian region has to date exported eight Sumatran tigers outside of the region:

1.0 Mandau (1980) Exported 1982 - Asia
0.1 Musara (1980) Exported 1982 - Asia
0.1 Sinta (1983) Exported 1986 - North America
0.1 Usha (1985) Exported 1987 - North America
0.1 Kali (1985) Exported 1987 - North America
1.0 Tenang (2000) Exported 2002 - Europe
0.1 Isha (2006) Exported 2012 - Europe
0.1 Melati (2008) Exported 2012 - Europe

It’s interesting to note we exported two females 10 years ago (2012), which followed on from the previous export 20 years ago (2002). Statistically speaking, we’re due for an export.

Eligible for export:

As detailed above, all eight exports were aged two to six years of age. It’s commonsense when the importing region wants young tigers with their reproductive lives ahead of them.

With this in mind, I’ve drafted a list of our most eligible tigers for export - omitting tigers that are over eight years of age or already paired within the region.

1.0 Scout (08/02/2016) Juma x Kaitlyn
1.0 Pemanah (17/01/2019) Clarence x Kartika
0.1 Mawar (17/01/2019) Clarence x Kartika
0.1 Tengah Malam (17/01/2019) Clarence x Kartika
1.0 Nelson (03/06/2019) Ranu x Kaitlyn
1.0 Malcolm (18/02/2020) Ranu x Kaitlyn
0.1 Sallie (18/02/2020) Ranu x Kaitlyn
0.1 Sage (18/02/2020) Ranu x Kaitlyn

We can discount Scout considering he has two younger half brothers (their respective sires are brothers) and their export would require a first move versus a second move for Scout. Additionally, it’s believed Scout’s companion (Reggie) is being transferred to Hamilton Zoo for breeding soon, which would leave Orana Wildlife Park without tigers.

All eight tigers are genetically valuable due to descending from Kaitlyn (a founder from Indonesia), but her five offspring are the most genetically valuable - making them desirable to other regions.

Taronga’s three cubs (grandchildren of Kaitlyn) would also be desirable and its worth noting Taronga’s experience with international exchanges makes them more likely to export them Orana etc. With their tiger complex almost at capacity (6/8), they’ll be keen to shift one or two of their young tigers on (with one retained for breeding).

 

[Zoofan15]

A New Longevity Record

When Kemiri passed away at Adelaide Zoo on 28/06/2017 she set the current record for longevity for her species in Australasia of 22 years 7 months and 10 days. Today Mencari at Hamilton Zoo matched that age and as of tomorrow will continue to set a new record for each day she’s alive.

Mencari was born at Wellington Zoo 10/01/2000 and arrived at Hamilton Zoo 08/03/2001, along with her littermates Jaka and Molek. After they transferred to Auckland Zoo in 2006 and 2013 respectively, Hamilton Zoo received a new male tiger named Oz, who lived with Mencari until his death in 2020.

Mencari was speyed in 2011 and like Kemiri, she never bred. Curiously, these females are first cousins; while another first cousin at Honolulu Zoo (Djelita) set the world record of longevity for this species at 25 years 1 month and 21 days. They’re all grandchildren of Nico and Meta via their respective parents - Kali (Djelita), Shiva (Kemiri) and Jambi (Mencari).

Congratulations to Mencari and all those who’ve cared for her during her many years. May she enjoy many more and maybe even reach Djelita’s age one day.

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Import Update

Topeka Zoo posted an update on their page this morning that advised Zayana’s export is scheduled to happen before Christmas.

We can hopefully look forward to seeing Ramah arrive on the same flight since they come from neighbouring states.

The arrival of these tigers has been a long time coming given they were originally scheduled to arrive in 2020.

Since it’s believed an immediate breeding recommendation will be given to this pair, it’s interesting to note that had Zayana arrived as a two year old in 2020, she likely would have been the first tigress in the region to give birth in her fourth year (2022) since 2006.

This was once a common practice with the five tigresses that bred from 1994 to 2006 all giving birth in their fourth year (the earliest point of reproduction).

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Import - Ramah and Zayana

From socials:

Exciting news - today we’ve welcomed two young Sumatran tigers to Auckland Zoo! These big cats travelled from zoos in the United States as part of an international breeding and advocacy programme for this critically endangered species.

Five-year-old male Ramah from Oklahoma City Zoo and four-year-old female Zayana from Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center (Kansas) have begun their required 30-day quarantine period and will in time be paired with the goal of breeding.

Ramah and Zayana must undertake a week-long international (MPI) quarantine that requires them to remain in their inside care quarters. However, once completed and they are given the ‘all-clear’, Zoo visitors may see them outside in the new South East Asia Jungle Track lowlands habitat, where they’re able to complete the rest of their month-long quarantine.

 

[Zoofan15]

Auckland Zoo Import - Ramah and Zayana

From socials:

Exciting news - today we’ve welcomed two young Sumatran tigers to Auckland Zoo! These big cats travelled from zoos in the United States as part of an international breeding and advocacy programme for this critically endangered species.

Five-year-old male Ramah from Oklahoma City Zoo and four-year-old female Zayana from Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center (Kansas) have begun their required 30-day quarantine period and will in time be paired with the goal of breeding.

Ramah and Zayana must undertake a week-long international (MPI) quarantine that requires them to remain in their inside care quarters. However, once completed and they are given the ‘all-clear’, Zoo visitors may see them outside in the new South East Asia Jungle Track lowlands habitat, where they’re able to complete the rest of their month-long quarantine.

To put the significance of this import into context:

This is the first time in the history of the region that an Australasian zoo has imported this species from North America.

This is the first time a breeding pair were imported at the same time since the import of Nico and Meta in January 1979.

This is the first time a New Zealand has imported a Sumatran tiger from outside the region since 1994.