Australasian Zebra Population

Werribee Update:

There's no breeding stallion at the moment in with the main herd -so no new foals. Not sure what happened with Atreyo (the previous stallion); whether he's passed or been transferred out. The current group consists of about 17 individuals, including a few young males that were born last year.

I was also pleased to see a bachelor group of males on display in a new enclosure along the new Waterhole trail - these are presumably the four former Melbourne males.
 
I wonder if they are pausing breeding for the time being with 17. That's a decent number. It would be good to see 17 out on the safari exhibit!.
It's not exactly a species in short supply, so letting the herd thin out while they take a pause wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for there herd.
 
Tiger91 said:
I wonder if they are pausing breeding for the time being with 17. That's a decent number. It would be good to see 17 out on the safari exhibit!.
It's not exactly a species in short supply, so letting the herd thin out while they take a pause wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for there herd.
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I would be in favour of phasing out generic zebra in favour of breeding purebred Grant’s. We don’t have the numbers to run purebred Grant’s herds across all breeding holders, but that doesn’t mean zoos can’t work towards it over the next couple of decades.

An incremental approach would be a generic herd acquiring a Grant’s filly and only breeding from her (while contracepting generics) in order to maintain her reproductive health. A purebred Grant’s stallion could be added at any point during her approximately 18-20 years of breeding.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Zebra birth:

The birth of a foal named Thuli had been announced on socials. Presumably it’s a filly since Thuli is typically given as a female name.

The second foal due this year doesn’t appear to have been born yet as the post invites people to come and see Thuli and the three adults (Tambo, Kiva and Johari).
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National Zoo Foal Birth:

As mentioned in the news thread, a foal has been born. The foal has been given the name 'Thuli'.

The mother is presumably Johari (2016) who last birthed 20 months ago.

The announcement also mentioned the main breeding group now currently consists of just four zebra - stallion, Tambo, mares Kiva and Johari, alongside the youngest foal. Therefore, it seems 1.0 Kamandi (2023) and 1.0 Ndefu (2023) have moved into the bachelor group with their older brothers.
 
Jambo said:
Therefore, it seems 1.0 Kamandi (2023) and 1.0 Ndefu (2023) have moved into the bachelor group with their older brothers.
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Ndefu transferred to Sydney Zoo in 2024.
Jambo said:
The mother is presumably Johari (2016) who last birthed 20 months ago.
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That seems the most likely (with Kiva expecting the second foal this year); though both have been eligible to give birth again since April/May 2025, factoring in the 12-13 month gestation and Kiva’s last birth in April 2024. Many of Hamilton’s mares were producing foals at 12-13 month intervals at the height of their breeding days.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I would be in favour of phasing out generic zebra in favour of breeding purebred Grant’s. We don’t have the numbers to run purebred Grant’s herds across all breeding holders, but that doesn’t mean zoos can’t work towards it over the next couple of decades.

An incremental approach would be a generic herd acquiring a Grant’s filly and only breeding from her (while contracepting generics) in order to maintain her reproductive health. A purebred Grant’s stallion could be added at any point during her approximately 18-20 years of breeding.
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In reality a couple of our major zoos could easily do this if they so wished with the amount of money that is going to be spent on the new upcoming skyfari ride at Taronga Zoo that could more than pay for a very sizeable Zebra import but as we have seen before hotels, plastic dinosaurs and rides!
 
Zorro said:
In reality a couple of our major zoos could easily do this if they so wished with the amount of money that is going to be spent on the new upcoming skyfari ride at Taronga Zoo that could more than pay for a very sizeable Zebra import but as we have seen before hotels, plastic dinosaurs and rides!
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Agreed. Factoring in that mares can produce foals annually from around three years into their 20’s and even a founder base of 1.2 could generate a large number of Grant’s zebra foals for dispersal to other zoos.

All four open range zoos in the region hold multiple herds of Plains zebra, with at least one breeding herd and all breeding generic zebra. They should cease breeding generics and establish Grant’s breeding herds (even if it’s a pair of a trio).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Agreed. Factoring in that mares can produce foals annually from around three years into their 20’s and even a founder base of 1.2 could generate a large number of Grant’s zebra foals for dispersal to other zoos.

All four open range zoos in the region hold multiple herds of Plains zebra, with at least one breeding herd and all breeding generic zebra. They should cease breeding generics and establish Grant’s breeding herds (even if it’s a pair of a trio).
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Without going off track the Thai elephant import should of been the number one priority with the amount of time effort and money that was invested into getting them here where now breed-able females are wasting away because of lack of suitable housing for them!
 
Jambo said:
Mogo Zoo Update:

As mentioned in the news thread, Poppy (2020) gave birth to a filly in February.

This is Poppy's offspring following the birth of 1.0 Waridi last January.

This birth should bring Mogo up to fourteen zebras (including three young foals).
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The filly has been given the name 'Mopani'.

Information via a recent post on Mogo's socials.
 
Jambo said:
Darling Downs Birth:

A foal has recently been welcomed to mum 'Zara'. This appears her third surviving foal; she previously welcomed two fillies, 0.1 Zikomi (Dec 2022) and 0.1 Zendaya (Jan 2024).

Reported in the news thread.
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1.0 born to Zara on 12/08/2025.

0.1 Zendaya died 13/07/2024 following unintended kick to head from her father.

Zikomi is a colt. Transferred to Altina.

Zara also had a colt in 2017 (Darius). Transferred to Dubbo where it died within a month or so after running into an unscreened fence.
 
Steve Robinson said:
1.0 born to Zara on 12/08/2025.

0.1 Zendaya died 13/07/2024 following unintended kick to head from her father.

Zikomi is a colt. Transferred to Altina.

Zara also had a colt in 2017 (Darius). Transferred to Dubbo where it died within a month or so after running into an unscreened fence.
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Thanks for the updates Steve. A shame to hear about both Darius and Zendaya.

How's the first generation group of mares going? Has Jafari been introduced to them yet?
 
Jambo said:
Thanks for the updates Steve. A shame to hear about both Darius and Zendaya.

How's the first generation group of mares going? Has Jafari been introduced to them yet?
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Jafari took a while to settle in. He didn't come from a big family and he was only a young bloke so meeting six girls, some older and bigger [and bossier] than himself was a bit of a culture shock.

We just took it slowly, introducing him to one at a time until we integrated him with all six. They are now a pretty cohesive little herd although some days we see a 4 - 3 split. Supplementary feed times bring them back together quickly!

A bit early yet to talk about foals.
 
Steve Robinson said:
In my quest for Z names that one had never occurred to me!
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Have you ever had a Zephyr? Zephyrus is known in Greek mythology as the ‘bringer of spring’ and could be fitting for Zara’s colt born the month before spring starts.

Greek mythology in general has an abundance of great names, though in my opinion something like Zeus is probably more fitting for a breeding stallion.

As a side note, a number of us appreciate the naming of foals with their mother’s initial convention that Darling Downs Zoo uses (A names for Angel’s foals; Z names for Zara and Zavannah’s foals).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Have you ever had a Zephyr? Zephyrus is known in Greek mythology as the ‘bringer of spring’ and could be fitting for Zara’s colt born the month before spring starts.

Greek mythology in general has an abundance of great names, though in my opinion something like Zeus is probably more fitting for a breeding stallion.

As a side note, a number of us appreciate the naming of foals with their mother’s initial convention that Darling Downs Zoo uses (A names for Angel’s foals; Z names for Zara and Zavannah’s foals).
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No Zephyr yet - although it is on the list.
 
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