Question on repeat: do they have plains or wood bison?
Hunter Valley Zoo Hunter Valley Zoo News
- Thread starter tdierikx
- Start date
Reply on repeat - I doubt anybody has the faintest idea. Whatever was available for export decades ago.
Australasia’s Bison population appears to descend from Canadian imports in the early 1900’s, with few (if any) further imports occurring in the decades that followed. Therefore based on the natural ranges of both subspecies (and the lack of further imports), it’s not unreasonable to assume Wood bison.
Given Canada also has populations of plains bison, and in fact was culling one in particular over this period (Buffalo National Park - Wikipedia) I'd have thought that a rather brave assumption
Hunter Valley Zoo has been renamed Hunter Valley Wildlife Park to fit within the Australian Wildlife Parks brand joining Featherdale and Mogo. Three new visitor encounters have been introduced with the maned wolves, capybara and lions: New encounters added as zoo relaunches as under Wildlife Park banner
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I visited today the Hunter Valley Zoo today and one of the keepers let me know they’re keeping the Caracals off display as they’re currently introducing a new male and are hoping for breeding in the near future. They weren’t able to tell me if it was a different male to the one Patrick mentioned earlier, but she implied it was. Also, no Bison in sight unfortunately!
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I’d go on the assumption it’s a new male as the one announced by @Patrick Keegan came 12 months ago. It also implies they have at least one other male.
The female is Cora, who is two years old and at prime breeding age. It’ll be nice to see them have success with this species. They’re not difficult to breed compared to Temminck’s golden cat, Fishing cat etc.
They only imported a few last year (at least a pair). I doubt they've been moved on quickly, and it would be a shame if they have all died rather suddenly.
Afaik, they did hold Bison encounters for at least some time, so you could see them there. Just checked their website though, and they no longer offer them.
Thanks for the confirmation. That's where the confusion must lie then. I do remember seeing an ad for Hunter Valley Bison encounters a few years ago, but of course it wasn't from Hunter Valley Zoo themselves!
I wasn't aware of any private bison holders here in Aus; I know there's a lot in the US, but have never heard of any over here.
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park have successfully hatched two Regent Bowerbirds: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
I visited the Hunter Valley Zoo today and Kuchani and Asali are no longer on display. I’m guessing they’ve passed away/one passed away and one was euthanised on humane grounds, given their age. There’s currently a male and female on the enclosure, who I’m going to guess are Phoenix and Maji from Mogo Zoo, as when I was there last week they weren’t mentioned in the lion keeper talk. Edit - I tracked down a keeper and she confirmed that the girls had passed away and it is Phoenix and Maji from Mogo
Hunter Valley Wildlife Park have successfully fledged Pheasant Coucal chicks - reported on their FB page.
A Brolga chick hatched on the 31st January. The first-time parents are currently rearing the chick off-show and this is a first for Hunter Valley Wildlife Park. This species remains to be an incredibly uncommon captive breeding and only a handful of chicks have successfully been reared in Australian zoos in recent times - reported on social media.
A new species for Hunter Valley - a pair of Golden Lion Tamarins named Julio and Lara have arrived: 登录 Facebook | Facebook
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Some news from my visit in January.
- A couple of new exotic bird species have arrived: Egyptian Geese and a Red-whiskered Bulbul. No sign of any Canada Geese.
- The Caracals did not seem to be on display.
- Signage indicated that the zoo now has just one Maned Wolf, a female.
- An exhibit for Lace Monitors is under construction.
- A small exhibit that I believe previously housed Shinglebacks and Central Bearded Dragons now has Australian Tree-crevice Skinks. There were also a few of these skinks in with the Koalas.
- A couple of new exotic bird species have arrived: Egyptian Geese and a Red-whiskered Bulbul. No sign of any Canada Geese.
- The Caracals did not seem to be on display.
- Signage indicated that the zoo now has just one Maned Wolf, a female.
- An exhibit for Lace Monitors is under construction.
- A small exhibit that I believe previously housed Shinglebacks and Central Bearded Dragons now has Australian Tree-crevice Skinks. There were also a few of these skinks in with the Koalas.