Hippopotamus IRA completed

[Zoofan15]

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.

Australia Zoo is a strong likelihood in my opinion. They have the space and the money should they choose to invest in building an exhibit for this species.

I’m assuming zoos won’t be castrating surplus first generation bull calves, but it was used to effectively manage a mother-son pair at Auckland Zoo long term and so could be a consideration were there to be a wave of male births.

 

[Zorro]

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.

Your quite right both would be good candidates for hippos, Since Australia zoo never moved passed stage one of its original African exhibit idea adding a second stage with Hippos included would be an excellent idea, They have a ton of room and even some existing large dams if they wanted to include them. I am sure there would be other zoos around our region that may show an interest if the opportunely presented itself.

 

[Tiger91]

Your quite right both would be good candidates for hippos, Since Australia zoo never moved passed stage one of its original African exhibit idea adding a second stage with Hippos included would be an excellent idea, They have a ton of room and even some existing large dams if they wanted to include them. I am sure there would be other zoos around our region that may show an interest if the opportunely presented itself.

They are also that large showy African species that Australia Zoo like to have. They are a species that guests know of on sight.
I feel like back in the day there was talk of them wanting hippo, but can't quite remember if it was actually them. I know SeaWorld was after hippo for a while.

 

[Tiger91]

Australia Zoo is a strong likelihood in my opinion. They have the space and the money should they choose to invest in building an exhibit for this species.

I’m assuming zoos won’t be castrating surplus first generation bull calves, but it was used to effectively manage a mother-son pair at Auckland Zoo long term and so could be a consideration were there to be a wave of male births.

Hopefully we'll see zoos have better management of hippo's. Like with our elephants, it would be good to see with larger enclosures the our open range zoos have, what impact that could have on hippo pod dynamics and keeping them longer term. Since a lot of what we know of hippos come from captive animals in rather small enclosures.

 

[Zoofan15]

I feel like back in the day there was talk of them wanting hippo, but can't quite remember if it was actually them. I know SeaWorld was after hippo for a while.

Yes, Sea World are the reason Cuddles (2002) was retained; while her mother and brother were exported. It’s fortunate she was as at the time this trio were the sole surviving descendants of the founders Dizzie and Fatima. Since then, Faith and Fudge at Auckland Zoo have since passed meaning Cuddles and her two daughters she’s since produced are also the sole surviving offspring of the founder Kabete.

Hopefully we'll see zoos have better management of hippo's. Like with our elephants, it would be good to see with larger enclosures the our open range zoos have, what impact that could have on hippo pod dynamics and keeping them longer term. Since a lot of what we know of hippos come from captive animals in rather small enclosures.

Bear in mind the open range zoos (Dubbo and Werribee) have been breeding this species for decades. While holding hippopotami in small exhibits in city zoos has compounded problems within social groupings, the same social issues still exist - any hippopotamus over the age of two that is not the mother still presents a significant threat to a neonate and it’s imperative mothers are allowed to rear their calves in isolation during this time.

In the event female calves have been reduced, both Dubbo and Werribee have succeeded in building up small family pods. It’ll be interesting to see what success Monarto has doing this.

 

[Jambo]

In the event female calves have been reduced, both Dubbo and Werribee have succeeded in building up small family pods. It’ll be interesting to see what success Monarto has doing this.

From what I've seen, the mother and calf are usually separated for a period; around six months to a year where the calf is given time to mature and get the attention it needs from mum. Only then is the older calf re-introduced but it will remain to be seen whether this can be done as time goes on ie. with multiple older calves.

It would be nice to see a cow breeding with regularity once a bull arrives at Werribee, which should be the case as Werribee do have the space.

 

[Zorro]

From what I've seen, the mother and calf are usually separated for a period; around six months to a year where the calf is given time to mature and get the attention it needs from mum. Only then is the older calf re-introduced but it will remain to be seen whether this can be done as time goes on ie. with multiple older calves.

It would be nice to see a cow breeding with regularity once a bull arrives at Werribee, which should be the case as Werribee do have the space.

@Jambo, Would you know the current number of off exhibit yards and pens that are behind the scenes at the Werribee Hippo exhibit?

 

[Jambo]

@Jambo, Would you know the current number of off exhibit yards and pens that are behind the scenes at the Werribee Hippo exhibit?

Eight or so from memory, although none have access to any submergible water sources so they can't be kept back there for extended periods.

The transfer of Brindabella and Pansy to Monarto has opened up space for breeding. With the acquisition of a bull, they can now afford to separate one of three remaining cows for breeding and that cow could consequently breed up to three or four times as space permits.

It would all rely on social groupings and whether the breeding cow is able to be kept with her calves; similar to Cuddles and her three calves recently at Dubbo. It's also possible they could integrate calves with the other pods as time goes on, but that remains to be foreseen.

 

[Zorro]

Eight or so from memory, although none have access to any submergible water sources so they can't be kept back there for extended periods.

The transfer of Brindabella and Pansy to Monarto has opened up space for breeding. With the acquisition of a bull, they can now afford to separate one of three remaining cows for breeding and that cow could consequently breed up to three or four times as space permits.

It would all rely on social groupings and whether the breeding cow is able to be kept with her calves; similar to Cuddles and her three calves recently at Dubbo. It's also possible they could integrate calves with the other pods as time goes on, but that remains to be foreseen.

With Monarto now becoming a holder of Hippos and Asian Elephants it has certainly added another dimension for both species within the country now, I am actually excited about it!

 

[Zoofan15]

From what I've seen, the mother and calf are usually separated for a period; around six months to a year where the calf is given time to mature and get the attention it needs from mum. Only then is the older calf re-introduced but it will remain to be seen whether this can be done as time goes on ie. with multiple older calves.

It would be nice to see a cow breeding with regularity once a bull arrives at Werribee, which should be the case as Werribee do have the space.

Yes, this is undertaken in zoos to mirror the natural social order where cows remove themselves from the pod to rear their newborn calf in isolation and then return to pod once it is robust enough to withstand knocks and bumps from adult hippopotami (and older siblings who may remain on the periphery).

This has been successful in the region in building up family pods.

 

[Zoofan15]

Eight or so from memory, although none have access to any submergible water sources so they can't be kept back there for extended periods.

The transfer of Brindabella and Pansy to Monarto has opened up space for breeding. With the acquisition of a bull, they can now afford to separate one of three remaining cows for breeding and that cow could consequently breed up to three or four times as space permits.

It would all rely on social groupings and whether the breeding cow is able to be kept with her calves; similar to Cuddles and her three calves recently at Dubbo. It's also possible they could integrate calves with the other pods as time goes on, but that remains to be foreseen.

I’m really excited about what the future holds for Werribee, now they have the space to undertake breeding. Primrose and her two daughters; and then Cuddles and her two daughters are both examples of family pods that have been able to be built up; but it’s worth noting neither of those two were interrupted by the birth of a male calf (Kani came on the end of Cuddles’ calves).

A bull calf can impregnate its mother as young as three, so bull calves would need to be castrated or separated; which would delay building up the pod. Introducing a cow and her neonate to a two year old female sibling would be easier than if that sibling was a young adult, so a succession of female calves would be ideal.

 

[Tiger91]

Yes, Sea World are the reason Cuddles (2002) was retained; while her mother and brother were exported. It’s fortunate she was as at the time this trio were the sole surviving descendants of the founders Dizzie and Fatima. Since then, Faith and Fudge at Auckland Zoo have since passed meaning Cuddles and her two daughters she’s since produced are also the sole surviving offspring of the founder Kabete.


Bear in mind the open range zoos (Dubbo and Werribee) have been breeding this species for decades. While holding hippopotami in small exhibits in city zoos has compounded problems within social groupings, the same social issues still exist - any hippopotamus over the age of two that is not the mother still presents a significant threat to a neonate and it’s imperative mothers are allowed to rear their calves in isolation during this time.

In the event female calves have been reduced, both Dubbo and Werribee have succeeded in building up small family pods. It’ll be interesting to see what success Monarto has doing this.

Yes they have, however a lot of the knowledge is from keeping hippos based on standards derived from zoos with small exhibit space for hippos. Monarto is literally the size of a game reserve they could very well put them out there and let nature take its course. While older cows are a danger, hippos arnt exactly at risk of dying out in the wild due to infanticide from fellow pod members and congregate in large pods where young are present.

We also seem to keep females very seperate as well. Look at Werribee and western plains zoos. You have two exhibits taken up by cows with no bulls at either site. Have they tried integrating them together. It would be good to see zoos once breeding takes place start to see how they can better manage there hippo pods. For instance if the hippo calves are kept seperate for 6+ months then reintegrated do they have a better chance of survival. Or once they are adults can we successfully integrate female hippos into larger pods, if we take the time and effort to carry out introductions. Like if nile was younger and hadn't been kept by herself for so long. Would she be able to be integrated with cuddles and her calves. As a social animal that's going to be more beneficial then solitude.


It would also be good to see if western plains could incorporate hippo into there new/planned African savannah.

 

[Jambo]

We also seem to keep females very seperate as well. Look at Werribee and western plains zoos. You have two exhibits taken up by cows with no bulls at either site. Have they tried integrating them together. It would be good to see zoos once breeding takes place start to see how they can better manage there hippo pods. For instance if the hippo calves are kept seperate for 6+ months then reintegrated do they have a better chance of survival. Or once they are adults can we successfully integrate female hippos into larger pods, if we take the time and effort to carry out introductions. Like if nile was younger and hadn't been kept by herself for so long. Would she be able to be integrated with cuddles and her calves. As a social animal that's going to be more beneficial then solitude.

Werribee's cows are currently all integrated, although in the past Primrose and Brindabella never got along well together despite being half sistsers. They seemed to hate each other for unknown reasons and so them (and their subsequent calves) were always kept in two pods.

Integrating unrelated adult hippo cows in general in captivity has never really had any luck. The females are very territorial, especially when they have calves.

In the case of Nile, I don't believe they have tried to integrate her with Cuddles. There's really been no need too with the space Dubbo have, and considering it's well documented how introductions can go there was never really any worth taking the risk especially as Cuddles often had calves. It's possible they could try integrating one or two of the cows with Nile going forward; with the other being selected for breeding but probably unlikely considering Nile's been living solitary for quite some time now.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yes they have, however a lot of the knowledge is from keeping hippos based on standards derived from zoos with small exhibit space for hippos. Monarto is literally the size of a game reserve they could very well put them out there and let nature take its course. While older cows are a danger, hippos arnt exactly at risk of dying out in the wild due to infanticide from fellow pod members and congregate in large pods where young are present.

We also seem to keep females very seperate as well. Look at Werribee and western plains zoos. You have two exhibits taken up by cows with no bulls at either site. Have they tried integrating them together. It would be good to see zoos once breeding takes place start to see how they can better manage there hippo pods. For instance if the hippo calves are kept seperate for 6+ months then reintegrated do they have a better chance of survival. Or once they are adults can we successfully integrate female hippos into larger pods, if we take the time and effort to carry out introductions. Like if nile was younger and hadn't been kept by herself for so long. Would she be able to be integrated with cuddles and her calves. As a social animal that's going to be more beneficial then solitude.


It would also be good to see if western plains could incorporate hippo into there new/planned African savannah.

Werribee's cows are currently all integrated, although in the past Primrose and Brindabella never got along well together despite being half sistsers. They seemed to hate each other for unknown reasons and so them (and their subsequent calves) were always kept in two pods.

Integrating unrelated adult hippo cows in general in captivity has never really had any luck. The females are very territorial, especially when they have calves.

In the case of Nile, I don't believe they have tried to integrate her with Cuddles. There's really been no need too with the space Dubbo have, and considering it's well documented how introductions can go there was never really any worth taking the risk especially as Cuddles often had calves. It's possible they could try integrating one or two of the cows with Nile going forward; with the other being selected for breeding but probably unlikely considering Nile's been living solitary for quite some time now.

Anecdotally, the divide between matrilineal lines seems to be quite strong. Auckland Zoo had a similar scenario - two mother daughter pairs (Bonnie/Faith and Snorkel/Hope); with the two merged when the new exhibit opened in 1982. Ultimately the lines were seperated again due to the conflicts between Faith and Snorkel.

Yes, the Monarto exhibit will be bigger, but the same principles will apply. No exhibit will replicate the natural social setting and competition will still exist. Beginning with a mother/daughter dyad will stand them in the best stead for forming an integrated pod - but there’s no guarantees.

Nile has never cohabited with Cuddles. Nile has vision issues, which may well preclude her from ever being introduced to other hippopotami again. Imo she’d be the best candidate for transferring alone to a new facility that had a limited capacity compared to the open range zoos, which will be the breeding hubs. This would allow Dubbo to focus on breeding from their three remaining females once a bull is received.

 

[JessKimber]

How long does an IRA last? Like how long until the bovid one runs out? Or is it forever?

Good question - I can't answer it, but I'm super curious about the answer.

Can I also ask how long an IRA typically takes to be approved after it's submitted for review?

 

[Zoofan15]

Can I also ask how long an IRA typically takes to be approved after it's submitted for review?

From what I’ve seen it varies from IRA to IRA:

The draft for the Bovid IRA was posted in March 2019, with the IRA published in September 2021.

The draft for the Hippopotamus IRA was posted in April 2024, with the IRA published in December 2024.