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@Kifaru Bwana

Its is baffling. Though if I recall, was it not three tigers that where imported? And if so could it not have been that these three where in fact littermates?

My recollection is a bit hazy on this one but if the tigers are full siblings and the other two made more sizeable contributions to the breeding program (?), then that might explain a bit....
 
toothlessjaws said:
@Kifaru Bwana

Its is baffling. Though if I recall, was it not three tigers that where imported? And if so could it not have been that these three where in fact littermates?

My recollection is a bit hazy on this one but if the tigers are full siblings and the other two made more sizeable contributions to the breeding program (?), then that might explain a bit....
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Yes, 1.2 Sumatran tigers were imported. They were littermates.

The male, Bashi, has never bred. He’s currently at Wellington Zoo where they’re attempting the world record for the longest tiger introduction. Three years and counting...

The other female, Kaitlyn, has had several cubs (all with males from the Nico-Meta line):

1.0 Clarence (22/08/2013) Ramalon x Kaitlyn
1.0 Hunter (22/08/2013) Ramalon x Kaitlyn

1.0 Scout (08/02/2016) Juma x Kaitlyn
0.1 Delilah (08/02/2016) Juma x Kaitlyn

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

Clarence sired 1.2 cubs at Taronga Zoo in 2019 to a female named Kartika. Both are direct descendants of Nico and Meta.
 
Thanks for sharing.

Wait a minute are you actually saying (last line) that both Clarence and Kartika are extremely related. Meaning that the line from Kaitlyn - ex the Indonesia imports - is also a descendant from that bloodline (or am I interpreting your observation wrong there)?

If not, one would (still) have thought they would breed all litter mates from the 1.2 Indonesia import into the ZAA population. As any breeding from an unrelated bloodline is a direct benefit to the long term health of the population. Now, you seem to not have a significant and increased founder representation from this line.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Ballarat Wildlife Park have announced the arrival of a Komodo Dragon. It (the sex of the animal is not explicitly mentioned but presumably a male) is called Toothless and is one of the dragons imported from Prague. Ballarat now have two Komodo Dragons.
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The park have now clarified that Toothless the new Komodo Dragon is a two-year-old male from the Prague import [Ballarat Wildlife Park]. This means the following dragons have been publicly announced out of the seven (5.2) individuals imported:

1.0 Balu at Darling Downs Zoo, QLD

1.0 Gilli at Australia Zoo, QLD

1.0 Naga at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo, QLD

1.0 Toothless at Ballarat Wildlife Park, VIC

0.1 Cecilia at Adelaide Zoo, SA

Therefore, there are now just two (1.1) Komodo Dragons to find out where they went in the region.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Thanks for sharing.

Wait a minute are you actually saying (last line) that both Clarence and Kartika are extremely related. Meaning that the line from Kaitlyn - ex the Indonesia imports - is also a descendant from that bloodline (or am I interpreting your observation wrong there)?

If not, one would (still) have thought they would breed all litter mates from the 1.2 Indonesia import into the ZAA population. As any breeding from an unrelated bloodline is a direct benefit to the long term health of the population. Now, you seem to not have a significant and increased founder representation from this line.
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The 1.2 import from Indonesia were unrelated to all other tigers within the region when they were imported; but since Kaitlyn has only been bred with males from the Nico/Meta line, all her offspring are descendants of this line. Of the 45 tigers in the region, 33 are direct descendants of Nico and Meta.

Clarence and Kartika are related. Clarence’s sire is the littermate of Kartika’s grandfather:

Nico/Meta > Shiva > Juara > Jumilah > Kartika
Nico/Meta > Shiva > Ramalon > Clarence

Bashii really needs to be bred with one of the females in the region while there’s still time. There are many suitable females.
 
@Zoofan15, thanks for elaborating and a more in depth explanation of how the imports related to the Australian Sumatran tiger population. It really makes me wonder why species management over the years since import has not been able to place the offspring at suitable locations and make the very valuable new bloodline breed in as many locations and with as many different bloodlines available within ZAA zoos?

How "involved" and what particular role does Australia Zoo have in the species breeding program given all this?
 
A few updates from social media:
  • the hybrid tiger from Dreamworld will be arriving tomorrow.
  • a second golden-coloured Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat has been born at the park. Their first golden wombat has been separated for the time being but will be reintroduced back soon.
 
Ballarat Wildlife Park has announced the passing of their Sumatran Tiger Satu.

It is with great sadness that Greg Parker and his family made the difficult decision to say goodbye to our majestic Sumatran Tiger "Satu"

Satu, like many aged cats was experiencing kidney issues and over the last few days was showing signs that his condition was worsening.

Satu was our " number one" Sumatran Tiger, our "grumble puss" our " Little Big man" and a beloved member of our family.

To our amazing and supportive team you have given Satu such wonderful care and loving attention Thankyou, we know he will be missed by you.

Our thoughts also go out to those who knew and cared for Satu before he came to live out the rest of his life at Ballarat Wildlife Park.

We will always be grateful and feel very privileged to have known, loved and welcomed Satu into our family.

REST EASY BUDDY.

REUNITED WITH MANEKI
 
So does that leave them without any tigers now? Or did they get a replacement for the other one that died?
 
Astrobird said:
So does that leave them without any tigers now? Or did they get a replacement for the other one that died?
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Jambo said:
No more Sumatrans but they do have a male generic tiger from Dreamworld.
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It’ll be interesting to see if they go back into Sumatrans or whether they take this opportunity to switch to Sri Lankan leopard - which they could potentially do.

If they wish to continue with Sumatran tigers, it’d be easy to obtain a surplus tiger - presumably one of the triplets at Taronga Zoo, who appear to have limited breeding application within the region at this point in time.
 
Zoofan15 said:
It’ll be interesting to see if they go back into Sumatrans or whether they take this opportunity to switch to Sri Lankan leopard - which they could potentially do.

If they wish to continue with Sumatran tigers, it’d be easy to obtain a surplus tiger - presumably one of the triplets at Taronga Zoo, who appear to have limited breeding application within the region at this point in time.
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I’d assume they’d be keen to continue with Sumatrans if they can.

Aside from Taronga (who would probably want to keep their trio together), Australia zoo’s another option with their trio of cubs born in 2020. The male from their litter is a possibility.
 
Jambo said:
I’d assume they’d be keen to continue with Sumatrans if they can.

Aside from Taronga (who would probably want to keep their trio together), Australia zoo’s another option with their trio of cubs born in 2020. The male from their litter is a possibility.
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I too can imagine any of Kaitlyn’s youngest four cubs (there’s also the male from her 2019 litter) going to Ballarat as a non breeding tiger. She has a son who’s bred at Taronga; a daughter who’s pregnant at Adelaide; and another son at Orana, who may be transferred to Hamilton for breeding in the near future.

I imagine her two remaining female cubs at Australia Zoo will be retained for breeding the next generation. Bringing in an unrelated male (possibly once the 2004 tigers have passed) will allow them a back up option if pairing him with one of them doesn’t work out.
 
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