Both Monarto and western plains have tried to incorporate smaller enclosure species around there human centred areas. These sorts of species would of been perfect instead of seeing an extra meerkat exhibit like in the case of western plains zoo. The use of mesh like we have seen used at tarongas lion enclosure would be a great alternative to creating a cage style enclosure for smaller areas allowing easier viewing.
Felids in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion
Both Monarto and western plains have tried to incorporate smaller enclosure species around there human centred areas. These sorts of species would of been perfect instead of seeing an extra meerkat exhibit like in the case of western plains zoo. The use of mesh like we have seen used at tarongas lion enclosure would be a great alternative to creating a cage style enclosure for smaller areas allowing easier viewing.
Update on Caracal Holders
An update that Hamilton Zoo has joined as the sixth holder of Caracal in the region, with the import of a two year old male named Kharfe from Darling Downs Zoo.
Caracal: The newest exotic cat at Hamilton Zoo
Kharfe was born at Darling Downs Zoo December 2021.
Hamilton Zoo plan to import a female in the future.
The six holders are as follows:
Darling Downs Zoo
Hunter Valley Zoo
Mogo Wildlife Park
Tasmania Zoo
Wild Cat Conservation Centre
Hamilton Zoo
An update that Hamilton Zoo has joined as the sixth holder of Caracal in the region, with the import of a two year old male named Kharfe from Darling Downs Zoo.
Caracal: The newest exotic cat at Hamilton Zoo
Kharfe was born at Darling Downs Zoo December 2021.
Hamilton Zoo plan to import a female in the future.
The six holders are as follows:
Darling Downs Zoo
Hunter Valley Zoo
Mogo Wildlife Park
Tasmania Zoo
Wild Cat Conservation Centre
Hamilton Zoo
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
This is amazing news! I often wonder if Auckland Zoo was ever considering holding caracal or a similar species?
Have you thought about asking them?
Not to my knowledge unfortunately.
Since they’re phasing out Serval, I’d consider Caracal an ideal replacement, though the masterplan implies the site will be part of the kid’s playground.
Another alternative would be to house Caracal in the old tiger exhibit. If they let in some light, they’d make a much better display than the lemurs that currently inhabit it. The tiger dens are still intact and could accomodate breeding.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Not to my knowledge unfortunately.
Since they’re phasing out Serval, I’d consider Caracal an ideal replacement, though the masterplan implies the site will be part of the kid’s playground.
Another alternative would be to house Caracal in the old tiger exhibit. If they let in some light, they’d make a much better display than the lemurs that currently inhabit it. The tiger dens are still intact and could accomodate breeding.
The kids' playground, in my opinion, is a waste of space that could be dedicated to some interesting animal exhibit. I do think that yes, the tiger exhibit would be better housing another feline species.
Auckland Zoo is phasing out Cheetah, Serval and Hamadryas baboon to build this playground; which combined with the loss of their pinnipeds and elephant represents a significant loss to their collection.
At this rate, they’ll be down to two felids - lions and tigers:
Auckland Zoo’s Felids Through The Years
1983:
African lion
Tiger
Leopard
Jaguar
Puma
Serval
1992:
African lion
Jaguar
Puma
Serval
2005:
African lion
Sumatran tiger
Cheetah
Serval
Temminck’s golden cat
2024:
African lion
Sumatran tiger
Cheetah (phase out)
Serval (phase out)
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
This is very disappointing to hear; they will not only be down to two kinds of felids, but the baboons are popular and will definitely be missed. I've voiced my disapproval of the playground idea before, it will do little to enhance the zoo experience.
I resent Auckland’s playground is going to apparently cost us three exhibits (including two of the zoos four felids). Caracal and Clouded leopard are really starting to take off in the region, so I hope consideration is given to bringing one (or both) to Auckland as a replacement for what’s been lost.
The more active Caracal would be the best fit for Auckland’s old tiger exhibit versus the elusive Clouded leopard, which would just hide out of sight. It’s a decent size and could easily hold a single Sri Lankan leopard.
Hamilton Zoo’s Caracal
I had an enjoyable time visiting Khafre at Hamilton Zoo yesterday. It was his first full day on exhibit and he’s clearly settled in well. I’d forgotten how talkative Caracal are; but remember Wellington’s sisters as being equally as vocal. He was similarly very active, making him a perfect display animal.
Hamilton Zoo’s Caracal exhibit was built in 1994 and originally housed a male Temminck’s golden cat named Charles (born 1985 at Melbourne Zoo); an adjacent exhibit housed a pair of Leopard cat (also from Melbourne Zoo). Since then, these cages have held Serval, Bobcat, red panda, lemurs and Himalayan monal over the years.
The second cage currently houses Black and white ruffed lemur, but the long term plan is to acquire a female Caracal for breeding. There’s a slide door allowing access between the exhibits.
Photos from my visit (and of the exhibit) here: Hamilton Zoo - ZooChat
I had an enjoyable time visiting Khafre at Hamilton Zoo yesterday. It was his first full day on exhibit and he’s clearly settled in well. I’d forgotten how talkative Caracal are; but remember Wellington’s sisters as being equally as vocal. He was similarly very active, making him a perfect display animal.
Hamilton Zoo’s Caracal exhibit was built in 1994 and originally housed a male Temminck’s golden cat named Charles (born 1985 at Melbourne Zoo); an adjacent exhibit housed a pair of Leopard cat (also from Melbourne Zoo). Since then, these cages have held Serval, Bobcat, red panda, lemurs and Himalayan monal over the years.
The second cage currently houses Black and white ruffed lemur, but the long term plan is to acquire a female Caracal for breeding. There’s a slide door allowing access between the exhibits.
Photos from my visit (and of the exhibit) here: Hamilton Zoo - ZooChat
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ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update! Khafre looks to be a handsome, healthy cat and I wish Hamilton all the best of success for future breeding. Next time I am in the area, I will be sure to pay him a visit on my way to see the chimps!
It’s great to see Hamilton Zoo acquire their fourth felid species. Their collection previously peaked at five species in the 2000’s and could reach that number again if Clouded leopard join the collection while Fishing cat are still there.
While Wellington Zoo have acquired Snow leopard, they’ve lost Caracal and Serval; and Auckland Zoo are phasing out Cheetah and Serval.
Hamilton Zoo: Sumatran tiger, Cheetah, Fishing cat, Caracal
Auckland Zoo: African lion, Sumatran tiger, Cheetah (phase out), Serval (phase out)
Orana Wildlife Park: African lion, Sumatran tiger, Cheetah
Wellington Zoo: African lion, Sumatran tiger, Snow leopard
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
I hope that Auckland Zoo can eventually see their way to acquiring another felid species, since cats in general always seem popular with visitors!
As well as Hamilton’s developments, I’m looking forward to seeing the progress made across the other New Zealand zoos:
Wellington Zoo:
Historically, Wellington Zoo has had a strong focus on felids, birds and primates due to the hilly terrain and small size of their facility. Cheetah are a permanent phase out and there’s no reason to believe Caracal or Serval will return; but I’m looking forward to them expanding their lion facilities. They haven’t bred lions for decades and their current set up can only manage more than one grouping if the other is held in the cages.
Clouded leopard could be given consideration down the line. The old Capybara exhibit near the entrance would be ideal location wise (away from the big cats).
Orana Wildlife Park:
They’ve stated plans to acquire a female Sumatran tiger for breeding. Within the region, 10 week old Cahaya at Auckland Zoo is ideally genetically; so maybe in 18 months, we’ll see a transfer.
As Orana’s six remaining ageing lions pass on (the two eldest have recently turned 20), they’ll have the opportunity to start a new pride (or prides), probably from Australian imports.
Auckland Zoo:
As discussed above, there’s the possibility of Caracal or Clouded leopard, which are two of the regional focus species.
Captive born cheetah released into the wild
The Wild Cat Conservation Centre has announced on Instagram that they have successfully released a captive born Cheetah, Edie, back to the wild. The post notes they’re the first organisation to do so and that a two stage plan across Australia and Africa was used to do so. Absolutely exciting stuff from WCCC!
The Wild Cat Conservation Centre has announced on Instagram that they have successfully released a captive born Cheetah, Edie, back to the wild. The post notes they’re the first organisation to do so and that a two stage plan across Australia and Africa was used to do so. Absolutely exciting stuff from WCCC!
Wow, that’s exciting. Female Cheetah are solitary, so from a social perspective, this would be easier to achieve than say with lions, who would be impeded by the lack of support structure. It’ll be interested to see if other facilities follow suit, either with single females or coalitions in the years to come.
Sorry for the little jump back everyone, but is there a population list for Caracals in Australasia? I did have a search of the forums but wasn’t able to find one, but that just might be me
@WhistlingKite24 compiled this one in April 2020:
Caracal (Caracal caracal)
Tasmania Zoo, Australia
0.1 Magic 00-03-2019 at South African facility
0.1 Mystique 00-03-2019 at South African facility
Wellington Zoo, New Zealand
0.1 Tinka 01-11-2013 at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark
0.1 Jasiri 01-11-2013 at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark
Wild Cat Conservation Centre, Australia
1.0 Kato 15-05-2017 at South African facility
0.1 Kaia 22-05-2017 at South African facility
1.0 Kian (Kato x Kaia) 00-03-2020 at Wild Cat Conservation Centre
0.1 Kora (Kato x Kaia) 00-03-2020 at Wild Cat Conservation Centre
Total Caracal Population: 2.6
Tasmania Zoo, Australia
0.1 Magic 00-03-2019 at South African facility
0.1 Mystique 00-03-2019 at South African facility
Wellington Zoo, New Zealand
0.1 Tinka 01-11-2013 at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark
0.1 Jasiri 01-11-2013 at Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark
Wild Cat Conservation Centre, Australia
1.0 Kato 15-05-2017 at South African facility
0.1 Kaia 22-05-2017 at South African facility
1.0 Kian (Kato x Kaia) 00-03-2020 at Wild Cat Conservation Centre
0.1 Kora (Kato x Kaia) 00-03-2020 at Wild Cat Conservation Centre
Total Caracal Population: 2.6
Key changes since then:
Wellington Zoo no longer has Caracal, following the deaths of their two females.
Darling Downs Zoo imported 3.2 Caracal in June 2021, with 1.0 sent to Hunter Valley Wildlife Park.
Darling Downs Zoo bred 3.0 kittens in December 2021. One of these young males (Khafre) was sent to Hamilton Zoo in February 2024.
Kian (WCCC) died in 2020; while Kora was sent to Hunter Valley Zoo to be paired with the aforementioned male.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
So that's 7.6? Or is my maths wrong?
Thanks as always Zoofan! Just needed to go back some more pages in my search - similar to me being unable to find the WCCC news chat last week.