Hamadryas baboon in Australia

kiang

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Looking at ISIS, i noted that Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Alma park all keep fair sized groups of hamadryas baboons, yet no births registered.

What is the current status of these groups is there any reproduction in any of the groups, as an exotic species in fairly substantial numbers is there an impetus to breed them and keep them in Australia, do they have a future?

I have seen the enclosure for them at Perth, i was there when it held chimpanzee, and was satisfied with the enclosure.
The enclosure at Melbourne looks awful from the human point of view, but i am sure is acceptable for the baboons (or is it?).
Are the enclosure at Alma park and Adelaide up to scratch.
I believe that one of the open range zoos wants to take a group on too, i think it was Werribee (or was it?)

A large active group of Hamadryas baboons make one of the best zoo exhibits you could imagine take the large groups at Emmen, Cologne, Paignton and Singapore, truly wonderful exhibits.
It would be a shame for Australia to lose one of the most enigmatic primates, with a most amazing social structure, simply because it is not rare enough.
 
have a look in the Alma Park gallery and you'll see photos of the monkey cages there. Really really REALLY awful! I think maybe the baboons there may be old ones (??)
 
Werribee is planning to keep them and I agree that they make an excellent display species. The large group at Melbourne is a good mix of males and females, young and old and it is great to watch, the exhibit is what lets them down.
 
Is werribee thinking of getting melbourne's baboons? If so, i think they'd be better there. They could become a major exhibit
 
Looking at ISIS, i noted that Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Alma park all keep fair sized groups of hamadryas baboons, yet no births registered.

What is the current status of these groups is there any reproduction in any of the groups, as an exotic species in fairly substantial numbers is there an impetus to breed them and keep them in Australia, do they have a future?

I have seen the enclosure for them at Perth, i was there when it held chimpanzee, and was satisfied with the enclosure.
The enclosure at Melbourne looks awful from the human point of view, but i am sure is acceptable for the baboons (or is it?).
Are the enclosure at Alma park and Adelaide up to scratch.
I believe that one of the open range zoos wants to take a group on too, i think it was Werribee (or was it?)

I am pretty sure that Hamadryas are breeding at several collections. Definitely Perth. The Melbourne group are descended from an import from Holland and were breeding at least several years ago. I understand the Adelaide troop were possibly a mixture of Hamadryas and Olives/Chacmas, but probably don't admit it on ISIS. Of course they may have changed stock since I heard that rumour. There are a number of animals in labs within the country, so overall the species will be readily available, given the interest from open range zoos.
 
I thought Adelaide had three births, two male, one female?

As I said they may have changed the animals that are (maybe) not pure, or just ignored it kept breeding.

I would suspect that the Adelaide animals are destined for Monarto, if they ever acquire Komodos for that exhibit.
 
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