austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
This thread is for talk about phase outs and imports of Melbourne Zoo and breeding and potential breeding pares for animals of Melbourne Zoo we will also talk about some of the future of Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo: Phase Outs, Imports and breeding
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Hamadryas Baboon - Part One
I’ve done some research on Hamadryas baboon social structure to understand the social groupings of Melbourne’s troop - which I will post here due to it’s relevance to breeding/succession of the troop.
Current troop:
At around the age of two years old, juveniles disband from their natal harem and become independent. When adult males are in the troop, young males wouldn’t succeed in securing their own harem until at least six years of age (typically around ten years). Therefore we can assume the following baboons are independent: 1.0 Melako (2017), 1.0 Quimby (2018), 1.0 Quill (2019), 0.1 Makali (2019), 0.1 Quilton (2020) and 0.1 Muna (2020).
Adult males lead a harem, which can number 1-11 females. There’s a loose hierarchy between harem leaders, which is influenced by how many males they have in their troop. Since 1.0 Jabari (2010) has the most females, we can assume he’s the highest ranking male.
These females in a harem are all of reproductive age and consist of a central female and peripheral females. As the name suggests, the central female is the highest ranking and benefits from the protection (as do her infants) of being in close proximity to the harem leader. From her short inter-birth intervals and high survival rate of her offspring, it appears 0.1 Macey (2004) is the central female of Jabari’s harem. The peripheral females in Jabari’s harem would likely be 0.1 Qetesh (2010), 0.1 Juju (2015) and 0.1 Gana (2017).
Infants remain with their mother in their natal harem until they reach independence. 0.1 Mei (2021) will soon reach this stage and disband from her father’s harm.
Observations from @Jambo and other visitors have described a mature male sitting alone. This would be 1.0 Azizi (2010), who doesn’t have any adult females in his harem.
At four to five years of age, female baboons begin to show interest in one the harem leaders. She will initially live on the outskirts of the harem, as the focus of the harem leader is on the prime aged reproductive females. I’d expect 0.1 Hudson (2018) to be in this transition stage and approaching one of the two adult males.
Post reproductive females are no longer part of a harem, but maintain loose social ties to their forum harem. I would therefore expect 0.1 Huddo (1999), who is 23 years old to be living independently, but associating with Jabari on occasion.
I’ve done some research on Hamadryas baboon social structure to understand the social groupings of Melbourne’s troop - which I will post here due to it’s relevance to breeding/succession of the troop.
Current troop:
At around the age of two years old, juveniles disband from their natal harem and become independent. When adult males are in the troop, young males wouldn’t succeed in securing their own harem until at least six years of age (typically around ten years). Therefore we can assume the following baboons are independent: 1.0 Melako (2017), 1.0 Quimby (2018), 1.0 Quill (2019), 0.1 Makali (2019), 0.1 Quilton (2020) and 0.1 Muna (2020).
Adult males lead a harem, which can number 1-11 females. There’s a loose hierarchy between harem leaders, which is influenced by how many males they have in their troop. Since 1.0 Jabari (2010) has the most females, we can assume he’s the highest ranking male.
These females in a harem are all of reproductive age and consist of a central female and peripheral females. As the name suggests, the central female is the highest ranking and benefits from the protection (as do her infants) of being in close proximity to the harem leader. From her short inter-birth intervals and high survival rate of her offspring, it appears 0.1 Macey (2004) is the central female of Jabari’s harem. The peripheral females in Jabari’s harem would likely be 0.1 Qetesh (2010), 0.1 Juju (2015) and 0.1 Gana (2017).
Infants remain with their mother in their natal harem until they reach independence. 0.1 Mei (2021) will soon reach this stage and disband from her father’s harm.
Observations from @Jambo and other visitors have described a mature male sitting alone. This would be 1.0 Azizi (2010), who doesn’t have any adult females in his harem.
At four to five years of age, female baboons begin to show interest in one the harem leaders. She will initially live on the outskirts of the harem, as the focus of the harem leader is on the prime aged reproductive females. I’d expect 0.1 Hudson (2018) to be in this transition stage and approaching one of the two adult males.
Post reproductive females are no longer part of a harem, but maintain loose social ties to their forum harem. I would therefore expect 0.1 Huddo (1999), who is 23 years old to be living independently, but associating with Jabari on occasion.
Hamadryas Baboon - Part Two
Future Developments:
The troop is currently on contraception, but current unrelated breeding pairs are Jabari with Macey and Qetesh. Due to their representation in the troop, it’s unlikely we’ll see the breeding ban lifted on these pairings.
The US males will likely live another decade. Combined with the fact there’s three juvenile/adolescent males in the troop means it’s not a viable option to wait for these five males to pass on before acquiring unrelated males to breed with the young females.
From here there’s two options:
1. Transfer out the five males and introduce unrelated males. This would be safe to do within the next year or two as the youngest infant becomes independent.
2. Allow the troop to inbreed. By vasectomising Jabari, imbreeding would occur between half siblings and more distant relatives such as Melako with Qetesh; or Azizi and his half nieces.
The first option is preferable, but will be difficult to implement. The best hope is to find a small zoo/wildlife park interested in acquiring a bachelor troop.
The second option isn’t ideal, but given the constraints, is the most likely. My assessment is Melbourne Zoo will give it 3-5 years before resorting to this if no opportunity to transfer out their males presents itself.
Future Developments:
The troop is currently on contraception, but current unrelated breeding pairs are Jabari with Macey and Qetesh. Due to their representation in the troop, it’s unlikely we’ll see the breeding ban lifted on these pairings.
The US males will likely live another decade. Combined with the fact there’s three juvenile/adolescent males in the troop means it’s not a viable option to wait for these five males to pass on before acquiring unrelated males to breed with the young females.
From here there’s two options:
1. Transfer out the five males and introduce unrelated males. This would be safe to do within the next year or two as the youngest infant becomes independent.
2. Allow the troop to inbreed. By vasectomising Jabari, imbreeding would occur between half siblings and more distant relatives such as Melako with Qetesh; or Azizi and his half nieces.
The first option is preferable, but will be difficult to implement. The best hope is to find a small zoo/wildlife park interested in acquiring a bachelor troop.
The second option isn’t ideal, but given the constraints, is the most likely. My assessment is Melbourne Zoo will give it 3-5 years before resorting to this if no opportunity to transfer out their males presents itself.
It’s not occurred to date, but hundreds of Southern pig-tailed macaque and Crab-eating macaque are held in research laboratories within Australia - if ever there was an interest from Melbourne Zoo in acquiring this species.
Hamadryas baboon are also held in similar numbers at a baboon breeding facility (for research purposes), but they’re unlikely to consider this option all the time there’s viable options within the region. Sydney Zoo have several adult males; and long term, males bred from the Singapore male and Polish females at Darling Downs Zoo will be desirable additions to troops like the one at Melbourne.
Confirmed and Likely Phase Outs
There are three species which the zoo has officially confirmed will be phased out within the next few years; while there’s a further two with substantial evidence to support the assumption they’ll be phased out.
Confirmed phase outs:
Asian elephant
Collared peccary
Malayan tapir
Probable phase outs:
South American coati
Black and white colobus
There are three species which the zoo has officially confirmed will be phased out within the next few years; while there’s a further two with substantial evidence to support the assumption they’ll be phased out.
Confirmed phase outs:
Asian elephant
Collared peccary
Malayan tapir
Probable phase outs:
South American coati
Black and white colobus
The Future of Great Apes at Melbourne Zoo
Hybrid orangutan:
Melbourne Zoo have two hybrid orangutan:
0.1 Kiani (1979)
0.1 Gabby (1990)
It appears they’re committed to housing these females for the rest of their lives, especially given the age and declining health of Kiani.
Sumatran orangutan:
Melbourne Zoo has one male Sumatran orangutan:
1.0 Malu (2003)
The current plan is to acquire a female - probably from Europe to pair with Malu. Unless the exhibit space is significantly expanded, it’s likely only one female will be imported - bearing in mind Gabby could live another 20-30 years.
Western lowland gorilla:
Melbourne Zoo have 1.2 Western lowland gorilla:
1.0 Otana (2001)
0.1 Kimya (2005)
0.1 Kanzi (2015)
The current plan is to import females - likely from Europe. It’d be preferable to see two females imported since Kanzi will remain in the troop into adulthood until she receives a breeding recommendation (which is unlikely). A single immigrant female would be a social-outsider to the mother daughter-dyad and potentially suffer socially.
Hybrid orangutan:
Melbourne Zoo have two hybrid orangutan:
0.1 Kiani (1979)
0.1 Gabby (1990)
It appears they’re committed to housing these females for the rest of their lives, especially given the age and declining health of Kiani.
Sumatran orangutan:
Melbourne Zoo has one male Sumatran orangutan:
1.0 Malu (2003)
The current plan is to acquire a female - probably from Europe to pair with Malu. Unless the exhibit space is significantly expanded, it’s likely only one female will be imported - bearing in mind Gabby could live another 20-30 years.
Western lowland gorilla:
Melbourne Zoo have 1.2 Western lowland gorilla:
1.0 Otana (2001)
0.1 Kimya (2005)
0.1 Kanzi (2015)
The current plan is to import females - likely from Europe. It’d be preferable to see two females imported since Kanzi will remain in the troop into adulthood until she receives a breeding recommendation (which is unlikely). A single immigrant female would be a social-outsider to the mother daughter-dyad and potentially suffer socially.
It's hard to believe that Melbournes troop has shrunk down to just 3. Considering both the North American and European zoos are at capacity. I believe sending two females from Melbourne to Europe was a mistake and now our numbers are shrinking year by year and it's beginning to
show.
It’s unfortunate that the captive population of gorillas is comparatively low in genetic diversity compared to chimpanzees and orangutans.
Gorillas were more expensive to obtain, so were held in a fewer numbers - and are more complex to breed than the other great apes. By the time these secrets were unlocked and they were browsing readily in zoos, sourcing new founders from the wild was no longer possible and we were left with an increasingly inbred population descended from a few founders.
While there’s an abundance of female gorillas listed as surplus in Europe. So any are descended from the Apenheul and Howletts line, that find genetically valuable females will be difficult enough - combined with the reluctance of the European breeding programme to allocate these to Melbourne (one of their most remote facilities).
I way I see it is if they can fly 2 elephants from the UK to Sydney zoo then flying animals world wide in this day and age is around a 24 hours flight nothing impossible here, years ago animals were moved by ships but its all possible now, moving gorillas from Europe or the US is no big deal.
Fortunately primate imports are relatively straightforward. The greatest challenge will be sourcing females that are as genetically diverse to our regional population as possible.
As you’ve mentioned before, it’s important to think about the future i.e. placement of their offspring and the needs of the region. Taronga and Mogo have each been reduced to a 1.1 pair for all intents and purposes when you consider their other females aren’t reproductively viable.
This may well represent the changing face of gorilla troops in the region - with a similar number of females in the troop as before, but only one breeding. Implementing this at Melbourne, with a single imported female breeding and Kimya/Kanzi not breeding could even compensate for the social exclusion of the immigrant female with regards to the mother-daughter dyad.
The Future of Big Cats at Melbourne Zoo
African lion:
1.0 Ndidi (2016)
1.0 Zuberi (2016)
The zoo's exhibit isn't large enough to hold a breeding pride and the zoo have no apparent plans to expand the habitat.
The brothers come from two well represented lines in the region and will surely live out their days as a non reproductive bachelor pair.
Upon their deaths, the zoo will likely source another non breeding pride - probably from Werribee.
Sumatran tiger:
The zoo have two sibling Sumatran tigers:
1.0 Hutan (2010)
0.1 Indrah (2010)
It's thought these tigers have been removed from the breeding programme due to expressing the CVD gene. In any case, they descend from a well represented line and won't be breeding.
When they pass, around a decade from now, the zoo will likely receive a breeding pair given they have the room and facilities to breed this species and haven't done so for some time.
Snow leopard:
The currently holds five Snow leopard:
0.1 Sundar (2008)
1.0 Kang Ju (2015)
0.1 Miska (2016)
0.1 Asha (2020)
0.1 Manju (2020)
The plans for the immediate future are to export Asha and Manju to Wellington Zoo next year.
From here, we can likely see a repeat breeding reccomendation issued to Kang Ju and Miska in the next two years.
Melbourne Zoo have kept two (overlapping) breeding pairs in the past; but considering the growing emphasis on giving animals more space, it's my opinion this space will be allocated to the current breeding pair and their cubs prior to transfer/export.
African lion:
1.0 Ndidi (2016)
1.0 Zuberi (2016)
The zoo's exhibit isn't large enough to hold a breeding pride and the zoo have no apparent plans to expand the habitat.
The brothers come from two well represented lines in the region and will surely live out their days as a non reproductive bachelor pair.
Upon their deaths, the zoo will likely source another non breeding pride - probably from Werribee.
Sumatran tiger:
The zoo have two sibling Sumatran tigers:
1.0 Hutan (2010)
0.1 Indrah (2010)
It's thought these tigers have been removed from the breeding programme due to expressing the CVD gene. In any case, they descend from a well represented line and won't be breeding.
When they pass, around a decade from now, the zoo will likely receive a breeding pair given they have the room and facilities to breed this species and haven't done so for some time.
Snow leopard:
The currently holds five Snow leopard:
0.1 Sundar (2008)
1.0 Kang Ju (2015)
0.1 Miska (2016)
0.1 Asha (2020)
0.1 Manju (2020)
The plans for the immediate future are to export Asha and Manju to Wellington Zoo next year.
From here, we can likely see a repeat breeding reccomendation issued to Kang Ju and Miska in the next two years.
Melbourne Zoo have kept two (overlapping) breeding pairs in the past; but considering the growing emphasis on giving animals more space, it's my opinion this space will be allocated to the current breeding pair and their cubs prior to transfer/export.
Would it be fair to say they removed the old lion park for something lesser?
100%. The Lion Park was built in 1967, but it's a complex I'd still consider impressive by today's standards. The overhead bridge gave a walk through vibe to the complex and the space allowed them to manage a sizeable pride.
The construction of the Carnivores precinct not only wiped out this historically significant exhibit for something much lesser; but also complexes like Small Cat Alley and Big Cat Row, which held a diverse range of felids. I acknowledge their accommodation was far from ideal by today"s standards, but nonetheless compounds the loss of the Lion Park.
Another bad call on the part of management, going backwards in the name of progress perhaps?, The gorilla troup or whats left of it is another sign of decline on Melbournes part, as was the on again off again phillippne crocodile breeding program
Another bad call on the part of management, going backwards in the name of progress perhaps?, The gorilla troup or whats left of it is another sign of decline on Melbournes part, as was the on again off again phillippne crocodile breeding program
I'm a great believer that progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Too often you see zoos trying to be clever and come up with innovative ideas that sound great on paper, but fall flat when implemented.
There's an expectation people come to a zoo wanting to be entertained by edu-taining precincts, when in reality the general public visit a zoo because they want to see zoo animals.
This applies to any zoo - if people wanted to play minigolf, they'd go to a minigolf course; if they want to see farmyard animals, they'd go to a farm.
I agree. But I would be the first to say with the current elephant herd they have definitely got that right and appear to be ahead of Tarongas/TWPZ herd. But currently if I had to take my hat off to a major zoo it would be Zoos South Australia, they have definitely nailed it.
I agree. But I would be the first to say with the current elephant herd they have definitely got that right and appear to be ahead of Tarongas/TWPZ herd. But currently if I had to take my hat off to a major zoo it would be Zoos South Australia, they have definitely nailed it.
I fully agree. Progress can (and should) be progressive, as opposed to re-inventing the wheel. The elephant complex at Werribee is an excellent example - as is the South East Asian precinct at Auckland Zoo.
Zoos SA have excelled at playing to the strengths of their respective facilities, which is hopefully something we'll see at Zoos Victoia long term - as opposed to the open range site merely being a breeding facility for its city counterpart.
austrlain zoo gower
Well-Known Member
Pygmy Hippo
Melbourne Zoo currently has one Pygmy Hippo. 0.1 Felix who arrived at Melbourne in 2011 from his birthplace at Cairns Wildlife Park. I belive Felix is around 14 years old He has had one baby 0.1 obi who was born in 201 and is living at Adelaide zoo. Petra 1.0 who lived at Melbourne zoo for over 20 years died in 2016. Melbourne zoo is looking for a female, the most likely option seems kambiri from darling downs zoo. Taronga could loan there female to melbourne
Melbourne zoo will keep Pygmy hippo for the foreseeable future. Melbourne zoo has two exibits
Melbourne Zoo currently has one Pygmy Hippo. 0.1 Felix who arrived at Melbourne in 2011 from his birthplace at Cairns Wildlife Park. I belive Felix is around 14 years old He has had one baby 0.1 obi who was born in 201 and is living at Adelaide zoo. Petra 1.0 who lived at Melbourne zoo for over 20 years died in 2016. Melbourne zoo is looking for a female, the most likely option seems kambiri from darling downs zoo. Taronga could loan there female to melbourne
Melbourne zoo will keep Pygmy hippo for the foreseeable future. Melbourne zoo has two exibits
Felix was born 2006 and is a full brother of Fergus (2009) at Taronga Zoo.
In the future, it may be worth swapping Felix and Fergus as a calf from Felix and Kambiri would be more distantly related to Kamina at Darling Downs Zoo than breeding another full sibling of this hippopotamus.
For now though, I imagine the focus in on breeding another female calf from Fergus and Kambiri to pair with either Obi or Felix.