Melbourne Zoo bongo
- Thread starter jay
- Start date
the bongo in australia are descended from 3 animals; taronga zoo sydney and western plains zoo dubbo imported 4 animals as two seperate pairs in the mid-1990s. since then quarantine has closed further importation of artiodactyls so what started off as an ambitious breeding program has somewhat stalled.
the second female died at WPZ during the birth of her first calf, which means that the population here has an effective founder base of just 3 animals.
the first female offpsring from the taronga program was transferred to WPZ, which has gone on to become the main breeding pair. from NSW bongo have been sent to South Australia and subsequently Victoria.
Zawadi, a male born at Taronga was recently transferred to Singapore Zoo. For now there is no offspring born to parent/offspring or full sibling pairs but you could expect to see this happening in the near future if our zoos decide against phasing them out through attrition and continue breeding. personally, i would favour the zoos keeping bongo, albeit inbred in the hope that in the future AQIS may allow the importation of semen or even live animals again and the population wont have to be built from the ground up.
the second female died at WPZ during the birth of her first calf, which means that the population here has an effective founder base of just 3 animals.
the first female offpsring from the taronga program was transferred to WPZ, which has gone on to become the main breeding pair. from NSW bongo have been sent to South Australia and subsequently Victoria.
Zawadi, a male born at Taronga was recently transferred to Singapore Zoo. For now there is no offspring born to parent/offspring or full sibling pairs but you could expect to see this happening in the near future if our zoos decide against phasing them out through attrition and continue breeding. personally, i would favour the zoos keeping bongo, albeit inbred in the hope that in the future AQIS may allow the importation of semen or even live animals again and the population wont have to be built from the ground up.
it says 886 posts on your headingPat said:And this is my 900th post.
Like glyn, I strongly believe that the region's zoos should persevere with the breeding of bongos, pygmy hippos and other ungulates which are available to us, despite the fear of inbreeding.
Almost all of such species in Australia have a frighteningly small founder base but have continued for generation after generation and, as I understand it, a lot of inbreeding problems are not irreversible and could be corrected with new genetic material should a "window open" in the future.
My very real fear is that if we let existing ungulates drift away (as we have done with sitatungas) on the vague basis that we "might get them back in the future" then we will lose them for all time.
Almost all of such species in Australia have a frighteningly small founder base but have continued for generation after generation and, as I understand it, a lot of inbreeding problems are not irreversible and could be corrected with new genetic material should a "window open" in the future.
My very real fear is that if we let existing ungulates drift away (as we have done with sitatungas) on the vague basis that we "might get them back in the future" then we will lose them for all time.
According to ISIS there are 0.2 at Western Plains, 2.0 at Monarto and 1.1. at Melbourne, making a total of 3.3.
Can't they make up two other pairs for breeding?
There was a male at Western Plains until quite recently, and a replacement male is due to be moved there for breeding with the females. The animals at Melbourne are youngsters from recent breedings and not yet breeding age.
The zoos are very keen to continue to maintain this species, so all efforts will be made to continue with them.
The zoos are very keen to continue to maintain this species, so all efforts will be made to continue with them.
whats in the old bongo exhibit?