Whipsnade and Marwell certainly provided us with a lot of our ungulates! No surprise that Rotterdam, San Diego and London also were heavy providers (all three having astounding, expansive collections in the past).
Hippopotamus IRA completed
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
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Rotterdam excelled at breeding big cats, including Sumatran tigers and Jaguar. Melanistic Jaguar brothers Ali and Branco came from Rotterdam; as well as Sumatran tigers Nico, Meta and Poetry. Frank came from Frankfurt; with those same two zoos supplying Auckland Zoo with three Bornean orangutans a few years later.
Whispande and the San Diego Safari Park were of course the powerhouses of Southern white rhinoceros breeding throughout the 70’s and 80’s. If when the Australian Rhino Project goes ahead, this could well be Monarto.
The thread is about the hippopotamus IRA. Please keep it to this topic.
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
If any of the 3 open range zoos were to perform an import of any species currently I'd expect it to be TWPZ they don't have any major projects currently going and are facing the reality of a few empty exhibits in the near future.
Apologies for the late response. As you pointed out, there are no surplus hippos in Japanese zoos. Most facilities do not have the infrastructure to house hippos in herds, and they are typically kept in pairs (1.1) or a single female (0.1). When breeding is planned, the zoo must secure a destination for the potential calf before pairing, ensuring that no surplus individuals will be produced. Therefore, it is not realistic for Australian zoos to import hippos from Japan.
On the other hand, the breeding of pygmy hippos is encouraged in Japan, and currently, three pairs are being paired for breeding. There are already three surplus female individuals, and in the future, Hiroshima Zoo plans to secure a 1.1 pair domestically. However, since there are currently no surplus male individuals in Japan, it is expected that males will be produced from these pairings. Unlike hippos, it seems that more pygmy hippos may become available for export overseas (though Japan has never exported any pygmy hippos), but since the surplus individuals are likely to be females, they may not be useful for Australian zoos. Therefore, importing males from Singapore, Europe, or the United States may be the best solution.
Personally, I believe that Japan's major public zoos, particularly those that house koalas, have an obligation to respond to Australia's requests, considering the history of receiving many animals from Australia. There have been very few instances of Japan sending animals to Australia, mainly due to the difficulty of exporting animals to Australia. However, I strongly believe that Japanese zoos should repay the favor for the koalas they have received by engaging in large-scale projects, such as sending hippos or pygmy hippos. That being said, it is easy for an outsider like me to suggest, and I understand that it is a very difficult and unrealistic task.
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Thanks for your insight. That’s encouraging to hear there’s the potential of surplus Pygmy hippopotamus - even if they are females.
The regional population in Australasia stands at 2.3 Pygmy hippopotamus, so there may well be some interest in importing cows - especially from Melbourne Zoo, who are reportedly intending to source a mate for Felix.
Taronga Zoo:
0.1 Kambiri (26/06/2010) Timmy x Petre
0.1 Lololi (16/01/2024) Fergus z Kambiri
Melbourne Zoo:
1.0 Felix (17/11/2006) Frank x Fluffy
Adelaide Zoo:
1.0 Obi (25/05/2015) Felix x Petre
Darling Downs Zoo:
0.1 Kamina (21/02/2017) Fergus x Kambiri
ABC article about the recent completion of the hippo IRA.
Australia set to become home to new hippopotamuses after 40-year ban
Australia set to become home to new hippopotamuses after 40-year ban
Thanks for sharing.
The most interesting piece of information here is that Werribee Open Range Zoo plan to import a male Common hippopotamus within the next 12 months.
Werribee currently have 0.3 Common hippopotami:
0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Genevieve
0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
There’s multiple options of how to undertake breeding; but I’m of the opinion that either pairing the new bull with Primrose (who would be able to breed into her 40’s) and maintaining her daughters as a non-breeding pod; or retiring Primrose and Tulip as a non-breeding pod and forming a new pod around Lotus and her future offspring.
Personally, I believe that Japan's major public zoos, particularly those that house koalas, have an obligation to respond to Australia's requests, considering the history of receiving many animals from Australia. There have been very few instances of Japan sending animals to Australia, mainly due to the difficulty of exporting animals to Australia. However, I strongly believe that Japanese zoos should repay the favor for the koalas they have received by engaging in large-scale projects, such as sending hippos or pygmy hippos. That being said, it is easy for an outsider like me to suggest, and I understand that it is a very difficult and unrealistic task.[/QUOTE]
I agree many animals have been sent to Japanese zoos over the years, Hopefully the animal managers at the Melbourne Zoo and Adelaide Zoos are on the phone right now knowing that there are 3 surplus female Pygmy hippos to snap them up for the two unrelated males we have here. Also being not that far away for the transportation!
I agree many animals have been sent to Japanese zoos over the years, Hopefully the animal managers at the Melbourne Zoo and Adelaide Zoos are on the phone right now knowing that there are 3 surplus female Pygmy hippos to snap them up for the two unrelated males we have here. Also being not that far away for the transportation!
I agree many animals have been sent to Japanese zoos over the years, Hopefully the animal managers at the Melbourne Zoo and Adelaide Zoos are on the phone right now knowing that there are 3 surplus female Pygmy hippos to snap them up for the two unrelated males we have here. Also being not that far away for the transportation!
It’s not always as simple as that. Throughout the early to mid-20th century, you’ll find countless examples of a zoo sending another a hippopotamus in exchange for leopard cubs; or a zoo exchanging an orangutan for some birds and a pair of deer for example. It was often used as an alternative to buying and selling. Zoos today cooperate in breeding programmes, where animals are sent where they’re designated (usually with the receiving zoo covering the cost). Sending Japan Koala in past decades doesn’t mean they owe us something in return.
It’s good to know there’s a potential source of female Pygmy hippopotamus in Japan. If they’re surplus/available, even better; but bear in mind they’re likely related (as Australia’s three females are) and so it would be preferable to make 2-3 imports of unrelated founders than import all from a single line.
Great news! it's been something on the cards for a while, since Harold's passing but they just haven't been able to with no available options within the region and no IRA for them. More specifically, the transfer of Brindabella and Pansy across to Monarto was to open up space for the acquisition of a bull something they're finally able to achieve.
From the looks of it, it appears a bull has already been selected. So fingers crossed everything goes to plan and the bull is able to be transferred across later next year.
They have an additional enclosure currently sitting empty to utilise for future breeding and I would be surprised if they didn't put this to use. Considering the younger pair are inbred it's possible Primrose may be prioritised. She can theoretically still have another two or so calves which can be sustainable for the future of Werribee's pod in the long term. Tulip and Lotus could be kept as a pair, they're both fairly close in age too.
The transfer of Brindabella to Monarto (Zoos SA) was also poignant with Brindabella’s mother Beatrice being the daughter of Adelaide’s (Zoos SA) much loved pair; though I acknowledge zoos get a say in transfers (in response to recommendations); and Werribee surely would have wanted to retain their pod of three viable breeders, which as an aside, make for a more engaging exhibit.
A couple of other points regarding Primrose breeding. Aside from being more valuable genetically, I would be surprised if the imported bull produced more than 2-3 calves with his intended mate due to the limited capacity of the region. At first my instinct was to say Lotus would be the best bet for breeding, with 2-3 decades of breeding left in her; but it may well suit the breeding programme to utilise a cow with a decade left in her to produce the equivalent number of calves.
It'll be interesting to see where they are importing from. Asia is close and has them, however it'll be interesting to see if they have gone farther afield. Im surprised western plains hasn't jumped on the import of a bull as well. Given that the IRA has been in the works for a while. Hopefully the import has been planned for a while, and we won't have to wait for long.
I’d say the greater surprise would be if Monarto Safari Park didn’t import a bull Common hippopotamus. Though it was Werribee who were scheduled to receive Kani, they too have the space to breed and are aiming for a pod of 5-6 hippopotami long term.
It certainly will be interesting to see where the bull (and any future imports) come from. There’s a wealth of holders in the US; but the majority of the countries on the approved list are from Europe, so it really is anyone’s guess.
Considering Werribee’s capacity (three exhibits), I consider that unlikely. Adult hippopotami are a huge risk to calves; and from what I’ve observed in the region, the most successful formula for building up a pod is to allow a female to breed and then introduce her and her calf (once past the neonate stage) to her previous offspring, which is not yet full grown.
Factor in that were three surviving bull calves produced (a possibility), it would be difficult to place them. One bull calf *might* have an application at either Dubbo or Monarto; but I find it unlikely that the extent of our imports will be a single bull, with all subsequent bulls being his direct descendants.
From a logistical and visitor engagement perspective, it’s not difficult to envisage the following eventuating:
Exhibit 1: Breeding cow (probably Primrose or Lotus) and calf/calves. This is the main exhibit (the largest) and will maximise visitor viewing opportunities of the hippopotamus calf.
Exhibit 2: Breeding bull. Middle exhibit, viewing limited compared to main exhibit, but adjacent to main exhibit.
Exhibit 3: Non-breeding cows (probably Primrose and Tulip; or Tulip and Lotus). Having two full grown adults in this exhibit is suitable space wise and ensures a reasonable likelihood of visitors seeing something at a glance as the Safari Bus zips over the bridge.
With the huge grand scale of which things are being done at Monarto zoo they might choose to import 2 bulls. I believe they plan to display a large number in the future and since now we have 3 major open range zoos that can plan and work together on a number of mega sized species which was not possible in the past.
Also we have a lot of smaller regional zoos more now than in the past some which have shown an interest in River Hippos like Altina and the Sydney zoo and possibly more if given a chance to have them!
@Swanson02 was advised on his visit that Monarto Safari Park are planning to hold 5-6 Common hippopotami long term. Considering they have a mother/daughter dyad on site, it’s reasonable to assume the plan to is to acquire a bull and allow each of the cows to breed once or twice. It’s possible that a cohesive pod could be achieved if it’s deemed possible to reintroduce the cows after a suitable isolation period with their respective calves.
To be clear, any assumptions around Altina Wildlife being interested in Common hippopotamus is speculation. Though we can’t dismiss it (especially given their success with ungulates), acquiring Pygmy hippopotamus would appear more achievable.
I struggle to envisage Sydney Zoo acquiring Common hippopotamus. Due to the size of their site, Pygmy hippopotamus again would be a more realistic goal in my opinion.
I could actually see national zoo and aquarium being a place that be interested in river hippo, as well as Australia Zoo.
It will be interesting to see what out actual capacity for river hippos is, and what the zoos are willing to hold. If breeding is done sporadically, whether the open range zoos with cohesive female groupings currently. Breed then reintroduce females and offspring back together again, to try and create large pods.