Adelaide Zoo Giant Pandas at Adelaide Zoo, and future use of their enclosure

[Zoofan15]

Surely snow leopards are the logical replacement for the pandas - based on the look of the enclosure.

The fact that the red pandas are next door means that you have a ready-made Himalayan zone in the zoo!

You would hardly have to do anything to change that enclosure from a giant panda exhibit to a snow leopard exhibit.

That would also make sense and see Adelaide Zoo acquire a crowd pulling species. They’d be the only holder in the state and since seeing a Snow leopard wouldn’t be a driving factor for inter-state travel, it’s irrelevant that people can otherwise see them in other states. The exhibit isn’t huge, but isn’t far off Wellington’s exhibit - which aspires to hold a non breeding pair.

Wellington, Adelaide and Tasmania could support the region by acting as non breeding holders; while Melbourne remains the breeding hub, given they have the facilities to do so. It’d be nice to see another holder in the region for Snow leopard given we’ll likely lose Mogo in the near future.

 

[Jambo]

That would also make sense and see Adelaide Zoo acquire a crowd pulling species. They’d be the only holder in the state and since seeing a Snow leopard wouldn’t be a driving factor for inter-state travel, it’s irrelevant that people can otherwise see them in other states. The exhibit isn’t huge, but isn’t far off Wellington’s exhibit - which aspires to hold a non breeding pair.

Wellington, Adelaide and Tasmania could support the region by acting as non breeding holders; while Melbourne remains the breeding hub, given they have the facilities to do so. It’d be nice to see another holder in the region for Snow leopard given we’ll likely lose Mogo in the near future.

I think Snow Leopards or Gorillas would be nice for Adelaide. Both could fit the current Giant Panda enclosure.

I'd prefer Gorillas though, mainly as the region needs another holder so it can operate as its own region (without needing imports from overseas every now and then). A small breeding troop can be held at Adelaide; one silverback and two females. If they're given run of both enclosures, they should be fine space wise. As the troop grows, they could always send it to Monarto if required, and keep a bachelor group at Adelaide.

Snow Leopards on the other hand fit the area nicely. The enclosures would require less renovations compared to if gorillas replaced them, and the climate is suitable. Space also won't be an issue.

Either way, both species could be used, but gorillas would be preferable as the region is much more in need of another gorilla holder rather than a snow leopard.

 

[Zoofan15]

I think Snow Leopards or Gorillas would be nice for Adelaide. Both could fit the current Giant Panda enclosure.

I'd prefer Gorillas though, mainly as the region needs another holder so it can operate as its own region (without needing imports from overseas every now and then). A small breeding troop can be held at Adelaide; one silverback and two females. If they're given run of both enclosures, they should be fine space wise. As the troop grows, they could always send it to Monarto if required, and keep a bachelor group at Adelaide.

Snow Leopards on the other hand fit the area nicely. The enclosures would require less renovations compared to if gorillas replaced them, and the climate is suitable. Space also won't be an issue.

Either way, both species could be used, but gorillas would be preferable as the region is much more in need of another gorilla holder rather than a snow leopard.

I suppose it’s also important to bear in mind Adelaide Zoo are planning to acquire Sri Lankan leopards around the mid 2020’s when the pandas would be leaving.

While everyone on ZooChat would be excited for them to take on this species, the general public might find them underwhelming if Snow leopards were arriving around the same time - most members of the public would regard Snow leopard as a “Super leopard” in the same way a white tiger is more exciting to them than a regulation tiger.

Acquiring gorillas first (in conjunction with the Sri Lankan leopard) would ensure both species got the recognition they deserved - assisted by the novelty factor. With everything happening at Monarto, Adelaide will be keen to have a few surprises up their sleeve.

 

[Swanson02]

There will be a large percentage of zoos who won’t pay them any attention until they’re widespread within the region and they can see their success at other zoos - unfortunately part of this success/popularity will be derived from their scarcity, which in turn will decrease their appeal to visitors.

For now, I have no doubt the leopards at Canberra and Darling Downs are drawing in visitors from inter-state, who wouldn’t otherwise consider visiting a zoo that had just the species they can see at their home zoo.

I agree I find the whole concept of "points of difference" annoying and in a way old-fashioned. It also gives the AR crowd ammunition by letting them 'expose' the fact that zoos don't always work together on breeding programs and some even attempt to get rare animals that no one else can have, ahem Giant Pandas. I understand the concept as zoos at the end of the day are a business and want to draw as many visitors as possible to increase their revenue. But money would be saved if they cooperated with other zoos within the region and didn't have to internationally import a new animal/s every few years to prop up their dwindling stock. I'd rather zoos "points of difference" be their exhibit designs and ability to immerse/educate visitors as we have seen with the new best exhibit thread by @Jambo and @Zoofan15.
Otherwise, as we have discussed before, zoos could specialize in certain species (i.e. Perth's Orangutans and make that their point of difference. With one or two zoos being the breeding hubs for a species in the region and others holding smaller breeding or bachelor/retiree groups.

On that, I do also believe a small breeding Gorilla troop and a pair of Sri Lankan leopards are what Adelaide should go with. Adelaide could also always expand one of the two outdoor exhibits, increasing their troop capacity.

While everyone on ZooChat would be excited for them to take on this species, the general public might find them underwhelming if Snow leopards were arriving around the same time - most members of the public would regard Snow leopard as a “Super leopard” in the same way a white tiger is more exciting to them than a regulation tiger.

Although I guess Sri Lankan Leopards have one trump card over Snow Leopards and that's the possibility, of a pair producing a rare black cub. A black panther would have a monumental draw regionwide. I guarantee you both DDZ and the National Zoo have/will keep praying for a black cub in their litters. If a Snow leopard for the public is a “Super leopard” a black panther is an "Ultra-mega-badass leopard" .

 

[Zoofan15]

I agree I find the whole concept of "points of difference" annoying and in a way old-fashioned. It also gives the AR crowd ammunition by letting them 'expose' the fact that zoos don't always work together on breeding programs and some even attempt to get rare animals that no one else can have, ahem Giant Pandas. I understand the concept as zoos at the end of the day are a business and want to draw as many visitors as possible to increase their revenue. But money would be saved if they cooperated with other zoos within the region and didn't have to internationally import a new animal/s every few years to prop up their dwindling stock. I'd rather zoos "points of difference" be their exhibit designs and ability to immerse/educate visitors as we have seen with the new best exhibit thread by @Jambo and @Zoofan15.
Otherwise, as we have discussed before, zoos could specialize in certain species (i.e. Perth's Orangutans and make that their point of difference. With one or two zoos being the breeding hubs for a species in the region and others holding smaller breeding or bachelor/retiree groups.

On that, I do also believe a small breeding Gorilla troop and a pair of Sri Lankan leopards are what Adelaide should go with. Adelaide could also always expand one of the two outdoor exhibits, increasing their troop capacity.

It’s great when the zoos cooperate on a breeding programme that becomes as widespread as the Sumatran tiger breeding programme. We’ve seen so many regional breeding programmes struggle (or even fail) because of a lack of cooperation from the other zoos.

I had high hopes for the Sri Lankan leopard breeding programme, but have been underwhelmed by the lack of interest from additional holders. The National Zoo and Darling Downs Zoo made a groundbreaking achievement in the importation and breeding of this critically endangered felid and it would be a great shame for the breeding programme to stagnate because other zoos have their own agenda.

I think there could be a future in breeding hubs. We’ve seen it recently in your example of the Sumatran tiger; and to an extent with the African lion, with several city zoos holding non breeding prides - while the open range zoos hold large breeding prides.

 

[Zoofan15]

Although I guess Sri Lankan Leopards have one trump card over Snow Leopards and that's the possibility, of a pair producing a rare black cub. A black panther would have a monumental draw regionwide. I guarantee you both DDZ and the National Zoo have/will keep praying for a black cub in their litters. If a Snow leopard for the public is a “Super leopard” a black panther is an "Ultra-mega-badass leopard" .

It would be incredible if a melanistic Sri Lankan leopard cub could be bred. I’m not aware of any within the European population and given we’re a few generations in from wild founders, it would be statistically unlikely; however it’s a recessive gene - so the founders we have could theoretically be heterozygous dominant (as opposed to homozygous dominant) and therefore be capable of producing a melanistic cub.

Melanistic Sri Lankan leopards have been sighted in their natural range, where their dark colouration gives them an advantage.

 

[Swanson02]

It would be incredible if a melanistic Sri Lankan leopard cub could be bred. I’m not aware of any within the European population and given we’re a few generations in from wild founders, it would be statistically unlikely; however it’s a recessive gene - so the founders we have could theoretically be heterozygous dominant (as opposed to homozygous dominant) and therefore be capable of producing a melanistic cub.

Melanistic Sri Lankan leopards have been sighted in their natural range, where their dark colouration gives them an advantage.

I read that only around 5% of leopards are black, so 1/20 births would be black panthers, maybe the European population has had bad luck?
The numbers in Sri Lanka suggest even less with merely 4 (maybe more) out of around 800 wild leopards being recorded as black. Suggesting even the animals with the genes to produce melanistic leopards are rare within Sri Lanka.

I do believe Gorge Wildlife park had a black leopard back in the 2000s from Melbourne? I'm unsure whether it was Sri Lankan or African though?

Also, an unrelated odd question, is there any Rhea left in the region, and would they be good for a mixed South American exhibit with Brazilian Tapir and Capybara?

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Also, an unrelated odd question, is there any Rhea left in the region, and would they be good for a mixed South American exhibit with Brazilian Tapir and Capybara?

There is one elderly Greater Rhea at Gorge Wildlife Park; the last one remaining in Australasia as mentioned in the exotic birds thread. She is mixed with some ostrich.

 

[Zoofan15]

I read that only around 5% of leopards are black, so 1/20 births would be black panthers, maybe the European population has had bad luck?
The numbers in Sri Lanka suggest even less with merely 4 (maybe more) out of around 800 wild leopards being recorded as black. Suggesting even the animals with the genes to produce melanistic leopards are rare within Sri Lanka.

I do believe Gorge Wildlife park had a black leopard back in the 2000s from Melbourne? I'm unsure whether it was Sri Lankan or African though?

Also, an unrelated odd question, is there any Rhea left in the region, and would they be good for a mixed South American exhibit with Brazilian Tapir and Capybara?

The Gorge leopard 100% wasn’t a Sri Lankan leopard. I imagine it was a hybrid. Several zoos in the region were breeding black leopards throughout the second half of the 20th century, including Auckland Zoo. Their founders came from the Chicago Zoo in 1968 and were likely hybrids derived from the Indian strain.

Re. the European population, it’s all down to genetics. The melanism gene is recessive, so for two golden leopards to produce a melanistic cub, they must both carry the melanistic gene. Two golden carriers would have a 25% chance of producing a black cub, so odds are we would have seen one by now given our current leopards are several generations in from the wild founders.