Central Coast Zoo Central Coast Zoo

An update on opening which is now planned for December - from the zoo's social media page:

"We had originally planned to open for the December School holidays 2021, however we have had significant delays due to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, not one – but two flooding events and some really crazy weather as well as the unexpected African Lion exhibit build put a delay on our opening plans! We are hoping to open the first section of the Central Coast Zoo for the December School Holidays 2022. We are still yet to figure out the exact opening plan – but we will start letting everyone know how this will unfold… If there is some change to this plan for unforeseen circumstances and it causes further delays we will let you all know."
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
An update on opening which is now planned for December - from the zoo's social media page:

"We had originally planned to open for the December School holidays 2021, however we have had significant delays due to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, not one – but two flooding events and some really crazy weather as well as the unexpected African Lion exhibit build put a delay on our opening plans! We are hoping to open the first section of the Central Coast Zoo for the December School Holidays 2022. We are still yet to figure out the exact opening plan – but we will start letting everyone know how this will unfold… If there is some change to this plan for unforeseen circumstances and it causes further delays we will let you all know."
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Great news
 
Abbey said:
Does the name of the macaque (Ruby) help to identify where the macaque will be transferred from?
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Stardust Circus have recently phased out using this species in their shows (along with the lions that were transferred to Central Coast Zoo), so that’s one possible source. They had four Rhesus macaques as of 2019 - including two females named Millie and Cleo.

The other alternative is Darling Downs Zoo, who have a family group. They had a male infant named Ronnie, so Ruby fits with the naming convention of naming siblings with the same initial.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Stardust Circus have recently phased out using this species in their shows (along with the lions that were transferred to Central Coast Zoo), so that’s one possible source. They had four Rhesus macaques as of 2019 - including two females named Millie and Cleo.

The other alternative is Darling Downs Zoo, who have a family group. They had a male infant named Ronnie, so Ruby fits with the naming convention of naming siblings with the same initial.
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Darling Down's group is quite small though, so i'm not sure they'd be able to supply a decent group of Macaques. Stardust makes the most sense to me, especially as they're phasing out species from their shows.
 
Jambo said:
Darling Down's group is quite small though, so i'm not sure they'd be able to supply a decent group of Macaques. Stardust makes the most sense to me, especially as they're phasing out species from their shows.
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Darling Downs Zoo’s population is larger. Stardust had four macaques in 2019, some of which are elderly and have likely died since. Darling Downs Zoo have five - including a young breeding pair; and a seven year old male. Even if Central Coast Zoo imported just the young breeding pair, I’d assess that as a more viable option long term.

@Riley has also previously identified Get Wild Animal Experiences in Sydney as a source for the Rhesus macaques. They hold them and have links to Central Coast Zoo.
 
I thought someone said Darling Downs no longer have their macaques on display. They would only have 2 anyway, as their older breeding pair and their last offspring Ronnie, were transferred to Mansfield Zoo. This particular pair have had 13 offspring together!
My money is on Stardust Circus as the source - they need to rehome their macaques somewhere.
 
Astrobird said:
I thought someone said Darling Downs no longer have their macaques on display. They would only have 2 anyway, as their older breeding pair and their last offspring Ronnie, were transferred to Mansfield Zoo. This particular pair have had 13 offspring together!
My money is on Stardust Circus as the source - they need to rehome their macaques somewhere.
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Yes, you’re correct. I thought it was their sons that had gone to Mansfield, not the retired breeding pair - but looking back I see it was both, reducing Darling Downs Zoo’s population to their breeding pair. The Facebook details a family will be coming to CCZ, so unless the pair at DDZ have bred, this rules them out.

I’ve done some further research and Stardust’s remaining four Rhesus macaque are named Millie, Chloe, Goldie and Buttons; so I’d assume not them either. It’s unlikely they’d rename them.

This leads me back to Get Wild Animal Experiences in Sydney.
 
Not thinking too deeply; what’s the chances they’re coming from India as the post states? I myself thought this was reference to their homeland, but it’s a chance if we’ve ruled out most of the facilities here.
 
Jambo said:
Not thinking too deeply; what’s the chances they’re coming from India as the post states? I myself thought this was reference to their homeland, but it’s a chance if we’ve ruled out most of the facilities here.
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I’d be surprised. Although an import from India would revitalise the remnants of what was formerly a thriving regional population, I can’t see a small town zoo undertaking an international import when there are so many easier options available within Australia. It just wouldn’t be cost effective.

Both Southern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) and Crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) are held in the hundreds in research facilities within Australia. Sourcing macaques from there would surely have been preferable to importing. The fact they’ve gone with Rhesus macaque suggests something came up within Australia - and presented as the easiest option.
 
Astrobird said:
I thought someone said Darling Downs no longer have their macaques on display. They would only have 2 anyway, as their older breeding pair and their last offspring Ronnie, were transferred to Mansfield Zoo. This particular pair have had 13 offspring together!
My money is on Stardust Circus as the source - they need to rehome their macaques somewhere.
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I can confirm that darling Downs zoo does not have rhesus Macaques on display at least as their enclosure is now home to binturongs
 
Chlidonias said:
Get Wild and Central Coast Zoo have the same owners.
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Rhesus macaques appear to be coming from Get Wild:

Thank you for that note. Upon viewing their Facebook photos, I found a photo of multiple Rhesus macaques including one named Ruby - all but confirming this facility as the source. Their photos have the same background as the one shared by CCZ of Ruby.
 
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@Zoofan15

As you and everyone has already covered the points about Rhesus Macaques I truly cannot offer anything to the conversation at present thats original concept or speculation, but agree with your points.

On the topic of Crab-Eating Macaques and Sth Pigtailed Macaques in research facilities in Australia; I feel strongly that smaller zoos in the country should truly consider looking into acquiring individuals from these species (CE Macaques now being classified as VUL, something I never quite expected to be honest), have often though that Sth Pigtailed Macaques would make an excellent addition to many zoos in our region (think CE Macaques are a charismatic species too, but just on a personal level have been long 'swayed' by Sth Pgtld Macs'). Wonder if perhaps their origins from research labs' might be potentially seen in a worthwhile rescuing capacity from a PR point of view for any hypothetical zoo that pursued such an idea (this is a CCZ thread I know so before I veer off topic anymore will say that CCZ owners should look into holding more than 1 Macaque species after a few years of being open, though obviously all Macaques have fallen out of favor collectively with our region, think the Macaque Herpes B virus scare solidified the regional abandonment of keeping over the last 25 years).

In terms of any Indian import for Macaques, I think Taronga should pursue that avenue however with Bonnet Macaques instead with your awesome Macaque Temple exhibit idea. Rhesus Macs would not actually be the second species imported from India that would personally look at next but actually would be the return of some Liontailed Macaques to our region..though suspect that would be extremely difficult as have heard its really hard to get India to agree to sending members of that species, though perhaps am mistaken.
 
Crab-eating/Long-tailed macaques have one of the largest natural ranges of any macaque plus have been introduced into numerous other countries (one of the 100 worse invasive species) plus thousands are kept in research labs. The endangered status only reflects poor protection in their natural range. Some sub-populations are highly threatened.
Australian zoos aren't going to import macaques from India. The Herpes B virus has scared all collections from keeping them (OH&S). Even in the remote reality that they changed their minds, zoos certainly wouldn't go for Rhesus or Long-tails. The region even had two highly threatened and charismatic species in Sulawesi cresteds and Lion-tails in recent years. Both are commonly kept in zoos globally making their return easy enough. But first zoos would need to convince the TAG and their own management that it would be worthwhile.
Personally I do like the idea of having Southern pig-tails back in zoos, given they are in the country. Underrated and impressive-looking species.
Interestingly AFAIK the only macaque-human transfer of Herpes B was through stressed lab individuals. And also the virus isn't endemic in Barbary macaques (endangered, but also the most commonly kept species in Europe).
 
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