Bovine Import Review

steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15 During one of the Crocodile Hunter episodes from the late '90s Steve Irwin was shown talking next to at least one Puma (also a Bobcat in a nearby exhibit). I think Terri must have brought them over from Oregon. Am fairy sure they must have passed away by 2001 or gone elsewhere because when I first checked the zoo's website Small-Clawed Otters, Galapagos Tortoise, American Alligators and a few others were the only exotic animals listed at that time.
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The Beenleigh Safari park that use to be in SE Queensland use to have a pair of Bobcats in a tiny cage back in the 70s!
 
PossumRoach said:
I guess that would make a lot of sense. But considering that almost every exotic mammal, including pumas, has an import condition of “Eligible non-commercial purpose only, excluding household pets” I am sure that the government was prepared about exotic owners beforehand. So it’s probably the latter explanation you gave which might be the reason why pumas need to be desexed. Albeit I still find the decision odd.
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Keep in mind I am only guessing, I really have no firm idea. However back 30 or 40 years there was on legislation as to what you could keep in the way of exotic animals (natives were well protected). There were regulations about importing animals, however once in the country it was free go. Then someone got some hamsters into the country and breeding well enough to get them into pet stores. Authorities managed to get out and round them all up, but by bluff and persuasion, not through any legal authority. This led to new legislation on holding exotic animals in all states. Exemptions were given to current holders provided they ceased to breed. For instance I remember visiting a frog enthusiast about 20 years ago who was allowed to keep their Japanese fire-bellied newts so long as they did not breed them. I'm thinking the regulation could have been introduced at this time in support of these other law changes.
 
Here are some of the species once kept at the The Pearl Coast Zoo which is now closed.
Just a taste of what "could of been" in our collections.
Addax
Nilgai
Addra Gazelle
Angolan Springbok
Congo Buffalo
Grevys Zebra
Pygmy Hippo
Scimitar Oryx
Greater Kudu
Gemsbok
Statunga
Red Lechwe
Sable Antelope
Nyala
Water Buck
And these are just a few of the species. What a big loss, can one image even some of these species of display in the new Monarto zoos African Savannah today?.
 
Zorro said:
Here are some of the species once kept at the The Pearl Coast Zoo which is now closed.
Just a taste of what "could of been" in our collections.
Addax
Nilgai
Addra Gazelle
Angolan Springbok
Congo Buffalo
Grevys Zebra
Pygmy Hippo
Scimitar Oryx
Greater Kudu
Gemsbok
Statunga
Red Lechwe
Sable Antelope
Nyala
Water Buck
And these are just a few of the species. What a big loss, can one image even some of these species of display in the new Monarto zoos African Savannah today?.
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Not to mentions Werribees expanded Savannah and new waterhole
 
Jambo said:
Not really sure about that far back but majority of their species would've just been the large ungulates previously held at Melbourne. They never really went out of their way to acquire new species from overseas or the like.
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The early days of the Werribee savannah was even more lacking where they had asian water buffalo as stand-ins for African buffalo. :D
 
Jambo said:
He was gelded, but to be fair they were very inbred and the remaining individuals at the time were all brothers and sisters.

In saying that, zoos have elected to heavily inbred other antelope species in the past (like blackbuck) without imports.
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Indian antelope and Barbary sheep are both unable to be imported, so we’ve had no choice but to inbreed them in order to retain the species in the region. Same with the peccary.
 
Zorro said:
The early days of the Werribee savannah was even more lacking where they had asian water buffalo as stand-ins for African buffalo. :D
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Not until Melbourne sent their remaining Congo Buffalo over, but that wasn't until the early 2000's and even then, they had to be moved off display soon after due to incompatibility on the lower savannah.
 
Zorro said:
The early days of the Werribee savannah was even more lacking where they had asian water buffalo as stand-ins for African buffalo. :D
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The best thing Werribee ever did was their imports of Chapman’s zebras. It’s been regrettable after their two imports (the last of a stallion in 1997) that they’ve allowed their herd to regress to a hybrid herd.
 
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