Future of Eastern Bongo in Australasia

Zorro said:
From what I can recall all Sitatunga in the country descended from just 3 animals its a wonder they lasted as long in collections as they did.
Its just surprising to me about the lack of planning between the zoos it comes across as poor management.
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Apparently Sitatunga weren’t much better off than the peccaries. The entire regional population descended from a single pair imported from the US in the 1950’s. There was a subsequent import of 2.3 in 1988 by Pearl Coast Zoo; but these went to Tipperary and died out, without any descendants ever being transferred to other zoos.

It’s interesting how often Tipperary comes up with regards to ungulates. We essentially have them to thank for maintaining the Dizzy/Fatima line by breeding their great granddaughter, Solucky (1987). Auckland Zoo ceased breeding, castrating their only bull and thus their line ended in New Zealand with Snorkel (1959-2010).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Apparently Sitatunga weren’t much better off than the peccaries. The entire regional population descended from a single pair imported from the US in the 1950’s. There was a subsequent import of 2.3 in 1988 by Pearl Coast Zoo; but these went to Tipperary and died out, without any descendants ever being transferred to other zoos.

It’s interesting how often Tipperary comes up with regards to ungulates. We essentially have them to thank for maintaining the Dizzy/Fatima line by breeding their great granddaughter, Solucky (1987). Auckland Zoo ceased breeding, castrating their only bull and thus their line ended in New Zealand with Snorkel (1959-2010).
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The approach with these species over the years smells very amateurish, Did they just import them as a display for the public to look at? or did any thought go into wether they should continue on to further generations?. Pearl Coast zoo imported just 1 pair of Addra gazelle from NZ which imported the 3 pairs themselves, Hardly worth the effort and cost?.
 
I’m now more hopeful than ever about bongo returning to Melbourne Zoo. With the IRA, a couple months ago a keeper told me that bingo wer in the plans for MZ. Go to yesterday, and a keeper told me an antelope would be held near the peccaries, or in that vicinity(potentially the empty exhibit near the baboons or the tapir exhibit). Nyala are of course an option, but had already been scrapped, so I’m hopeful of Bongo
 
Zorro said:
When one looks back to the antelope species that were once part of some of our collections it would make one think of how so many have disappeared, Werribee once had Sable and Greater Kudus now long gone, Adelaide had Nagali and also at the Mary river station. The former Pearl coast zoo (cable beach) had a large collection of African antelopes including the rare Addra gazelle and Gemsbok. among many others and I would be just skimming the surface here, All are now gone.

I believe two reasons are at play here, the first just bad management (such as castrating the only bull Greater Kudu while having 7 females at Werribee). Also importing far too few of said species in the first place leading to lack of breeding parters and inbreeding. With our limited numbers perhaps a more coordinated approach among the zoos holders could have been achieved.

I hope now that the IRA for importation is completed our zoos could take a leaf of of the NZ (Nyala) handbook of bring a larger number of a said species to make sure lessons of the past are nor repeated again.
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Not to mention the forest buffalo( which might be still alive if I’m correct), and would be a great addition to the zoo right now
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I’m now more hopeful than ever about bongo returning to Melbourne Zoo. With the IRA, a couple months ago a keeper told me that bingo wer in the plans for MZ. Go to yesterday, and a keeper told me an antelope would be held near the peccaries, or in that vicinity(potentially the empty exhibit near the baboons or the tapir exhibit). Nyala are of course an option, but had already been scrapped, so I’m hopeful of Bongo
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I would not hold my breath waiting on the MZ obtaining them, I hope they do but gave them up in record time before. I have seen Bongos mentioned in others zoos master plans but seen nothing regarding MZ?
 
Zorro said:
I would not hold my breath waiting on the MZ obtaining them, I hope they do but gave them up in record time before. I have seen Bongos mentioned in others zoos master plans but seen nothing regarding MZ?
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Afaik MZ haven’t actually released a master plan, and I’m hopeful of it eventuating in due time. Infact, they haven’t publicly released info on a single species of interest, correct?
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Afaik MZ haven’t actually released a master plan, and I’m hopeful of it eventuating in due time. Infact, they haven’t publicly released info on a single species of interest, correct?
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Its hard to say which way the wind blows with MZ these days properly because the new zoo board is not really consisting of animal minded people, I believe there is only one person on there that has a back ground with animals.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Afaik MZ haven’t actually released a master plan, and I’m hopeful of it eventuating in due time. Infact, they haven’t publicly released info on a single species of interest, correct?
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That’s correct. We’ve had leads of substance via conversations with keepers (e.g. several people now have been advised an expansion to the orangutan exhibit will be happening); but we’re still getting the occasional bolt out the blue - the recent import of Binturong being a case in point.
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
I’m now more hopeful than ever about bongo returning to Melbourne Zoo. With the IRA, a couple months ago a keeper told me that bingo wer in the plans for MZ. Go to yesterday, and a keeper told me an antelope would be held near the peccaries, or in that vicinity(potentially the empty exhibit near the baboons or the tapir exhibit). Nyala are of course an option, but had already been scrapped, so I’m hopeful of Bongo
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Our best sources indicate nyala will be housed with giraffe (and ostrich). Whether this adds to the argument bongo are the likely replacement for peccaries is difficult to say. Many zoos house female nyala with giraffe etc. and keep the males seperate (if nothing else, to control breeding). Perhaps the peccary/tapir exhibit will house a male nyala. I hope I’m wrong and bongo are the outcome.

There is the empty exhibit space behind the giraffe exhibit. Hopefully that’s been earmarked for male nyala, if they are indeed on the cards. It makes sense, being an adjacent exhibit (ease of breeding intros etc).
 
Zoofan15 said:
Our best sources indicate nyala will be housed with giraffe (and ostrich). Whether this adds to the argument bongo are the likely replacement for peccaries is difficult to say. Many zoos house female nyala with giraffe etc. and keep the males seperate (if nothing else, to control breeding). Perhaps the peccary/tapir exhibit will house a male nyala. I hope I’m wrong and bongo are the outcome.

There is the empty exhibit space behind the giraffe exhibit. Hopefully that’s been earmarked for male nyala, if they are indeed on the cards. It makes sense, being an adjacent exhibit (ease of breeding intros etc).
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Are ostrich expected to arrive to the zoo? And I also really hope it’s bongo? No reason to hold male Nyala if they have Werribee, although they are appealing
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Are ostrich expected to arrive to the zoo? And I also really hope it’s bongo? No reason to hold male Nyala if they have Werribee, although they are appealing
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Yes, it’s been mentioned a few times on here. Not sure if it’s speculation, but it’s not difficult to imagine considering they add diversity to the savannah and (females) would cause no issues.

They could indeed source an all female herd of nyala from Werribee. I’ve always thought it made sense to import a pair of bongo to exhibit at Melbourne, with the potential to shift the herd to Werribee long term to accomodate a larger herd. It’s unknown how many we can import and it’ll take a while to breed sufficient numbers to be sustainable. Melbourne could still retain a surplus male, following the transfer.
 
Would like to clear a few things up here regarding Melbourne;

Bongo would not be the species replacing the tapir. Nyala would be far more likely.

And I don't believe anythings been confirmed about Ostritch at Melbourne too; simply more of speculation
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
He wasn’t actually referring to the tapir enclosure, just near it, but combined with other info I’m hopeful of bongo
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The only exhibit near is the current Peccary enclosure and that's far too small for them imo, unless the two enclosures are combined.

I wonder what indeed he was referring to if it was Bongo..

I've been told Melbourne were out with Bongo but things could have changed I guess
 
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