Perhaps if Auckland had had another zoo in NZ with Hippos they could have worked with and made for a better situation.
Common Hippopotami in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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Agreed, or even more Australian Zoos willing to import them.
It’s surprising that Orana Willdlife Park (opened 1976) has never thought about exhibiting them.
Auckland Zoo thought about establishing an open range sister zoo as early as the 1970’s. If this had come about, that would have been ideal for it’s hippo population - as well as establishing breeding herds of many other ungulates.
Yes I would of thought Orana would have been the other zoo that would have had an interest since they seem to have had a strong interest in African animals
Or even Hamilton Zoo (opened 1969) could’ve at least thought about Hippos. I’m surprised they didn’t. With Auckland being located only one hour from Hamilton, it would’ve been ideal if Auckland and Hamilton could ‘partner-up’ to help establish successful breeding herds for their Ungulate species.
The male Hippo calf at Taronga Western Plains Zoo has been named Kani. From the zoo's Facebook page:
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Awesome! Though Kgosi was my favourite; followed by Kubu (Kubu just sounds like a typical hippo name), I’m glad he got a K name like his siblings.
This is the first great great grandson of Kabete and Nada:
Kabete (1953-1993)/Nada (1937-1965) > Snorkel (1959-2010) > Solucky (1987) > Cuddles (2002) > Kibibi (2014), Kendi (2017) and Kani (2020).
Until the 1990’s, Hamilton Zoo were little more than a game park. With the exception of two African lions and a Puma, they had few species of note until 1990 onwards:
Giraffe 1991-1991, 1999
Grant’s zebra 1992
Temminck’s golden cat 1994
Leopard cat 1996
Southern white rhinoceros 1999
Nepalese red panda 1999
Sumatran tiger 2001
African cheetah 2001
African wild dog 2003
Common chimpanzee 2004
Siamang 2009
Fishing cat 2009
*Asian small-clawed otter and Geoffroy's’ black-handed spider monkeys also arrived sometime during the 1990’s.
While they indeed cooperated loosely with Auckland Zoo with a few ungulates like Grant’s zebra (the founders of Hamilton’s herd were Auckland born) and taking a pair of Auckland born Oryx/Gemsbok hybrids; Auckland Zoo had decided to phase out Common hippopotami around the time Hamilton Zoo would have been ready to acquire them.
Updated Population List 2020
Werribee Open Range Zoo:
0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella
Taronga Western Plains Zoo:
1.0 Mana (31/03/1996) Ollie x Suzie
0.1 Nile (15/05/1999) Ollie x Suzie
0.1 Cuddles (00/09/2002) Fonzie x Solucky
0.1 Kibibi (11/09/2014) Mana x Cuddles
0.1 Kendi (25/05/2017) Mana x Cuddles
1.0 Kani (15/04/2020) Mana x Cuddles
Total population: 2.9 Common hippopotami
Taronga Zoo posted a video to their Facebook page today of Kani, who is now six months old:
https://www.facebook.com/tarongazoo/videos/vb.110584599004440/672078070364999/?type=2&theater
It appears he's still being kept separate from his two older sisters - Kibibi (aged six) and Kendi (aged three); despite Kendi being introduced to Kibibi at a younger age.
Looking at the current population list, it's easy to see why Taronga are being so cautious with this male calf. Assuming no imports are forthcoming in the next few years, Kani could be sent to Werribee for breeding.
If Monarto Zoo are unable to import from outside the region, they could take the three females from Primrose's pod; with Brindabella and Pansy remaining at Werribee to breed with Kani.
Werribee Open Range Zoo:
0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella
Taronga Western Plains Zoo:
1.0 Mana (31/03/1996) Ollie x Suzie
0.1 Nile (15/05/1999) Ollie x Suzie
0.1 Cuddles (00/09/2002) Fonzie x Solucky
0.1 Kibibi (11/09/2014) Mana x Cuddles
0.1 Kendi (25/05/2017) Mana x Cuddles
1.0 Kani (15/04/2020) Mana x Cuddles
Total population: 2.9 Common hippopotami
Taronga Zoo posted a video to their Facebook page today of Kani, who is now six months old:
https://www.facebook.com/tarongazoo/videos/vb.110584599004440/672078070364999/?type=2&theater
It appears he's still being kept separate from his two older sisters - Kibibi (aged six) and Kendi (aged three); despite Kendi being introduced to Kibibi at a younger age.
Looking at the current population list, it's easy to see why Taronga are being so cautious with this male calf. Assuming no imports are forthcoming in the next few years, Kani could be sent to Werribee for breeding.
If Monarto Zoo are unable to import from outside the region, they could take the three females from Primrose's pod; with Brindabella and Pansy remaining at Werribee to breed with Kani.
It could be quite some time until that male calf reaches an age able to breed to the now adult cows left in the region and I wonder how many of those cows might be a bit past the breeding idea when hes mature enough, I often have thought how much difference it could of been if the Cairns Hippos had of been obtained and retained within the country instead of letting them slip through their fingers exporting them to Indonesia!
A three year old bull at Tipperary bred with his dam at the age of three, so it might not be too long before Kani is capable. Snorkle at Auckland Zoo was still producing viable calves into her early 30’s so right here and now, I’d be confident in Primrose and Brindabella being able to breed; at a stretch, maybe still in five years.
Werribee doesn’t have the facilities to accomodate five breeding cows, so I’m still of the belief they’re better off just breeding from the smaller pod (Brindabella and Pansy). If Brindabella can still breed by them, all well and good; if not, her daughter can be bred as many times in succession as desired.
I share your frustration in the export of the 1.1 to Bali. On hindsight, the bull was the greatest loss as currently we’re not utilising several viable cows; whereas a bull is needed at both facilities (Dubbo need an unrelated bull to breed with Mana’s daughters).
But really how much foresight did it need in regards to sending out much needed Hippos to Bali, How many people are on these TAG teams calling the shots here!
toothlessjaws
Well-Known Member
Sadly, by that stage the hippos where privately owned assets of a business that was being liquidated. The TAG can make all the recommendations they like, but I'm not sure any of their priorities lined up with that of the (then) owner.
I could be wrong, but I seem to recall reading on here that the animals were related to some of the other animals in the region also. Not that it's still not a shame.
The older female was Solucky - born 1987 at Auckland Zoo to Kabete and Snorkle. The younger two were her offspring, Cuddles and Tippi - born 2002 and 2004 at Tipperary Station. They were sired by Fonzee - born 1986 at Auckland Zoo to Kabete and Faith.
Since Faith’s dam was Taronga born, Cuddles and Tippi are related to the current hippos within the region. Solucky however, had no other relatives at the time besides her offspring; and Faith/Fudge at Auckland Zoo.
From the perspective of the breeding programme, it would have made more sense to retain Solucky; rather than her daughter, Cuddles.
I believe given the small population and the opportunities that exist in the open range zoos to hold and breed hippos, it seems some urgent species management is called for where the TAG should act (or have acted upon already) to get an import of unrelated hippo from abroad.
There are good numbers in zoos in Asia and even the European program is sometimes keen to offload some stock elsewhere to be able to have 3 locations within Australia to create unrelated breeding groups. They look also good as an display on a grass savannah and part of the African Safari theme say at Monarto.
There are good numbers in zoos in Asia and even the European program is sometimes keen to offload some stock elsewhere to be able to have 3 locations within Australia to create unrelated breeding groups. They look also good as an display on a grass savannah and part of the African Safari theme say at Monarto.
While a number of Aussie zoos have stated their interest in obtaining Hippos for their collection such as the Monarto zoo among others it is still a waiting game for the green light to happen!
Trying to look on the positive side, If Monarto zoo did import 3 or even 4 Hippos it could be a game changer for the river Hippos within the region with 3 open range zoos holding them. Also there might be some interest among the more progressive regional zoos,If there were a handful of holders the future long term would look much brighter!