Sorry - my mistake. Zula's dam is Zavannah.
Australasian Zebra Population
- Thread starter Jambo
- Start date
Sorry - my mistake. Zula's dam is Zavannah.
At the very least, the stallions in the breeding herds should be replaced with purebred Grant’s colts as when they become available. Grant’s fillies can then be added to those herds as and when they become available (the colt could be in place for 15 years, so there’s no rush). Tasmania Zoo are planning to transfer out their young Grant’s mare in the near future to a mainland Australian zoo, which will be a valuable addition.
As much as I’d like to see this happen, there’s zoos in the region that are continuing to breed generic zebra when there’s the opportunity to establish purebred Grant’s herds. I struggle to imagine an additional species being imported. Plains should be streamlined into generic and Grant’s first and foremost before worrying about anything else.
If one does a search online one can find a pic of a Grevys Zebra at the former Pearl Coast Zoo at Cable beach. Its titles, ABC Local, Remembering the old Broome zoo. 27th March 2012. By Vanessa Mills.
There are a number of other photos showing parts of the zoo from the air plus some animal pics including a Tapir.
Hamilton Zoo update:
A foal was born at Hamilton Zoo on January 15.
I can confirm the list you have for Hamilton Zoo is correct @Jambo i.e. there have been no further departures since the three stallions left last year for Orana Wildlife Park; just the new foal to add on.
The foal born in September to Marbles is believed to be a filly, but this has yet to be 100% confirmed.
0.1 Marbles (06/10/2003) Shane x Maria
0.1 Zalika (30/11/2011) Bwana x Marbles
1.0 Pebbles (10/01/2021) Malawi x Marbles
0.1 Wednesday (31/10/2021) Malawi x Zalika
1.0 Nguvu (20/01/2022) Malawi x Marbles
0.1 Nyika (05/12/2022) Malawi x Zalika
0.0.1 Unnamed (29/09/2023) Malawi x Marbles
0.0.1 Unnamed (15/01/2024) Malawi x Zalika
A foal was born at Hamilton Zoo on January 15.
I can confirm the list you have for Hamilton Zoo is correct @Jambo i.e. there have been no further departures since the three stallions left last year for Orana Wildlife Park; just the new foal to add on.
The foal born in September to Marbles is believed to be a filly, but this has yet to be 100% confirmed.
0.1 Marbles (06/10/2003) Shane x Maria
0.1 Zalika (30/11/2011) Bwana x Marbles
1.0 Pebbles (10/01/2021) Malawi x Marbles
0.1 Wednesday (31/10/2021) Malawi x Zalika
1.0 Nguvu (20/01/2022) Malawi x Marbles
0.1 Nyika (05/12/2022) Malawi x Zalika
0.0.1 Unnamed (29/09/2023) Malawi x Marbles
0.0.1 Unnamed (15/01/2024) Malawi x Zalika
Auckland Zoo Update:
With World Zebra Day being today, Auckland have provided an update on their zebra.
They have recently received a non breeding stallion 1.0 Muroki (2009), although I'm not sure exactly where from.
Monarto and Werribee present as options as to where he came from as all other zebra are covered for. But the most likely option imo is that he was a male born within NZ (at Auckland/Hamilton) and has been at Gibbs Farm, who've kept a few surplus males over the years.
With World Zebra Day being today, Auckland have provided an update on their zebra.
They have recently received a non breeding stallion 1.0 Muroki (2009), although I'm not sure exactly where from.
Monarto and Werribee present as options as to where he came from as all other zebra are covered for. But the most likely option imo is that he was a male born within NZ (at Auckland/Hamilton) and has been at Gibbs Farm, who've kept a few surplus males over the years.
Taronga and Dubbo Updates:
Some more updates from world zebra day:
Kaya is currently sixteen years of age, so she's likely born in 2007.
Dubbo do indeed have twelve zebras (not eleven), so it appears they may have recently received another male from elsewhere to be apart of one of their bachelor groups. Not sure where from but as with Auckland's new stallion, Werribee and Monarto are likely.
Some more updates from world zebra day:
Kaya is currently sixteen years of age, so she's likely born in 2007.
Dubbo do indeed have twelve zebras (not eleven), so it appears they may have recently received another male from elsewhere to be apart of one of their bachelor groups. Not sure where from but as with Auckland's new stallion, Werribee and Monarto are likely.
Information on Auckland’s new male:
Muroki came from Gibbs Farm.
He was born February 6, 2010 at Hamilton Zoo.
His sire is Bwana (also the sire of Layla; and grandfather of Imka, Eve and Nyota), so this will be a non-breeding herd as stated on the zoo’s socials.
Photos of Hamilton’s herd:
I took some photos of Hamilton’s herd yesterday (31/01/2024):
Hamilton Zoo - ZooChat
Their eight zebra share an exhibit, which is interesting as Marbles’ sons are approaching sexual maturity at two and three years respectively. The herd had separated off into two groups of four when I visited (mothers and foals in the middle of the paddock; and adolescents at the top).
There’s no plans for a phase out across any of the New Zealand holders that I’m aware of. Auckland’s switch to holding a non-breeding herd could be due to their focus being on breeding giraffes for the foreseeable. They’ve done exceptionally well to manage a breeding herd of giraffe and zebra in the same exhibit in the past; but intact stallions are notoriously aggressive and holding geldings and mares is simpler all round.
Hamilton are taking a break from breeding. They were useful in functioning as a breeding hub from the 1990’s through to now (basically taking over from Auckland Zoo, who were the breeding hub up until the 1990’s). This allowed them to supply all the non-breeding holders around New Zealand (avoiding the need to import from Australia). My wish would be to see Hamilton resume with purebred Grant’s zebra; but they have at least 4-6 females in their herd (depending on the sex of the two new foals), so it’s likely they’ll continue with this herd imo.
As expected, although females can theoretically live by themselves; socially it's always good to have a stallion, so I'd imagine this is why such a move was made.
Do you know who the dam of Muroki was? Considering he has an 'M' name I'd guess either Mimi or Miribai?
Unfortunately I don’t know the dam as Hamilton Zoo had four breeding mares at the time and they all had M names! They were Mimi, Maria, Miribai and Marbles. Only Mimi can be discounted as she gave birth to a foal on June 16 of the previous year.
After looking back Marbles also had a female foal (Asali) in 2009, so we can potentially rule out her as well. Miribai would be my guess as I don't believe Maria breed past the mid 2000's.
Marbles gave birth to Asali in December 2009, so factoring in the 12 month gestation, yes she can be ruled out also.
The next foal born at Hamilton Zoo was in April 2010. I don’t know any further details on this foal; but since Mimi and Marbles can be ruled out as dams based on their prior births in June and December 2009 respectively, Mirabai and Maria would be the dams (i.e. all four mares were breeding).
Given Maria’s age (1986), my guess would be she produced the April foal (which possibly died as a neonate); and Mirabai was the mother of Muroki (who we know survived).
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Thanks for this! Are the current herd at Hamilton hybrids, or another species of zebra?
They’re all Plains zebra. Marbles (2003) is of the purebred Grant’s subspecies and was the last Grant’s zebra bred at Hamilton Zoo. Shane was their last Grant’s stallion and sired several foals until his transfer/retirement to a farm.
The zoo subsequently imported a hybrid colt (Bwana) in 2005 and have hybridised ever since.
Taupo Zoofan
Member
Shane is still alive and well on his farm in Taupo, living on his own, would love to get a friend for him, so he can live out his days with another Zebra, his mare died a few years back
Shane is still alive and well on his farm in Taupo, living on his own, would love to get a friend for him, so he can live out his days with another Zebra, his mare died a few years back
That’s incredible given his age (1986)!
I had the privilege of seeing him in his prime as breeding stallion at Hamilton Zoo when I was a child, but he left the zoo shortly after. Is he intact? Has he sired any more foals?
That's really awesome to hear. He would be 38 this year so the second oldest zebra in the region behind Zelda at Orana who is a year older. A very very good age to reach, especially for a stallion.Shane is still alive and well on his farm in Taupo, living on his own, would love to get a friend for him, so he can live out his days with another Zebra, his mare died a few years back
Do you know the name of the mare he was kept with?
Taupo Zoofan
Member
He is still magnificent, but was gelded before retirement
Taupo Zoofan
Member
No so
No Sorry I dont know her name, there was a young colt that came with them, he went to Orana Park