Melbourne Zoo: Phase Outs, Imports and breeding

[Zorro]

Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Monarto Zoo currently hold larger bachelor herds than Werribee Open Range Zoo; and Hamilton Zoo has a capacity to hold up to eight bulls (though they’ve never exceeded six).

Personally, I think the region has enough facilities breeding giraffes. We’ve got to the stage there’s even cows that aren’t being bred from - and new imports from overseas (which we should see within the next five years) will greatly devalue the highly inbred stock we have in the region overnight.

It would be wonderful to see some new bloodlines filter in even if NZ can do it now would help the regions badly inbred stock.
Monarto zoo had/has the largest herd within the region I believe there were around 22 not long ago, When the new huge African savanna exhibit opens perhaps they will expand their numbers even more.

 

[Zoofan15]

It would be wonderful to see some new bloodlines filter in even if NZ can do it now would help the regions badly inbred stock.
Monarto zoo had/has the largest herd within the region I believe there were around 22 not long ago, When the new huge African savanna exhibit opens perhaps they will expand their numbers even more.

Yes, Monarto Safari Park currently hold 22 giraffe. Taronga Western Plains Zoo are at similar numbers - they have 13 in their breeding herd as of this month, and have around seven bulls in their bachelor herd.

At a minimum, I’d expect Orana Wildlife Park to import a bull from overseas given they recently lost their breeding bull; but Wellington Zoo have a young breeding pair. I’m wondering if Auckland Zoo are gearing up to import a new cow since they’ve apparently chosen not to breed with their youngest cow.

Hamilton Zoo are best placed to act as a gateway to Australia. They could hold a few giraffe for the required time period until they can be sent on to Australia.

 

[Zorro]

Yes, Monarto Safari Park currently hold 22 giraffe. Taronga Western Plains Zoo are at similar numbers - they have 13 in their breeding herd as of this month, and have around seven bulls in their bachelor herd.

At a minimum, I’d expect Orana Wildlife Park to import a bull from overseas given they recently lost their breeding bull; but Wellington Zoo have a young breeding pair. I’m wondering if Auckland Zoo are gearing up to import a new cow since they’ve apparently chosen not to breed with their youngest cow.

Hamilton Zoo are best placed to act as a gateway to Australia. They could hold a few giraffe for the required time period until they can be sent on to Australia.

It will be interesting to see if any importation happens via NZ.

 

[tetrapod]

Also it will be interesting as to which subspecies that the region turns to. I'm predicting Southern based on potential imports from South Africa. Captive breeding is not an important component for giraffe conservation, so I can't see them picking one of the rarer subspecies.

 

[Zoofan15]

Also it will be interesting as to which subspecies that the region turns to. I'm predicting Southern based on potential imports from South Africa. Captive breeding is not an important component for giraffe conservation, so I can't see them picking one of the rarer subspecies.

As much as I'd love to see a breeding programme for the purebred Rothschild's giraffe, I agree it makes sense to continue breeding generics given how they comprise 99% of the regional population and giraffes are a long lived species.

 

[Zorro]

As much as I'd love to see a breeding programme for the purebred Rothschild's giraffe, I agree it makes sense to continue breeding generics given how they comprise 99% of the regional population and giraffes are a long lived species.

I am a tad surprised that one or 2 of New Zealand's zoos have not jumped on the importation of a couple of new bulls for their population when there now a way out of more in breeding.

 

[Jambo]

I am a tad surprised that one or 2 of New Zealand's zoos have not jumped on the importation of a couple of new bulls for their population when there now a way out of more in breeding.

They have; namely importing young bulls Billy and Sunny from Australia in recent years.

Importing Giraffes from overseas can be quite a feat; especially as they have to travel via ship. Indonesia may be a close option, but obviously the region is content with maintaining a generic, inbred population.

 

[Zorro]

They have; namely importing young bulls Billy and Sunny from Australia in recent years.

Importing Giraffes from overseas can be quite a feat; especially as they have to travel via ship. Indonesia may be a close option, but obviously the region is content with maintaining a generic, inbred population.

Yes I am aware of the import/export of giraffe between NZ and Australia over the years I am referring to from outside the region as we all know all the giraffe in our region are closely inbred.
No animals obviously from outside the region will be allowed until the new IRA for them is completed.

 

[Jambo]

Yes I am aware of the import/export of giraffe between NZ and Australia over the years I am referring to from outside the region as we all know all the giraffe in our region are closely inbred.
No animals obviously from outside the region will be allowed until the new IRA for them is completed.

Unless we see a specific focus on purebred giraffes, I don't think there's much push for a giraffe IRA at the moment, especially with other IRA's (namely hippos) being more of a focus at the present time.

 

[Zoofan15]

I am a tad surprised that one or 2 of New Zealand's zoos have not jumped on the importation of a couple of new bulls for their population when there now a way out of more in breeding.

It’s a great shame as the giraffe IRA for New Zealand has recently been completed, so zoos like Auckland and Wellington could have imported a new bull from outside the region had they been willing to wait two or three years longer. Instead both imported bulls from Australia that will remain their breeding bull for another 15 years or so.

Orana Wildlife Park are the most likely to import given they’re without a breeding bull; though like I say, I wouldn’t discount Auckland Zoo importing a young cow either.

 

[Zorro]

It’s a great shame as the giraffe IRA for New Zealand has recently been completed, so zoos like Auckland and Wellington could have imported a new bull from outside the region had they been willing to wait two or three years longer. Instead both imported bulls from Australia that will remain their breeding bull for another 15 years or so.

Orana Wildlife Park are the most likely to import given they’re without a breeding bull; though like I say, I wouldn’t discount Auckland Zoo importing a young cow either.

I can't see why they can't still import a handful of new bulls and retire the currents ones.

 

[Zoofan15]

I can't see why they can't still import a handful of new bulls and retire the currents ones.

That could be an option. Hamilton Zoo could easily accomodate another four bulls (2.0 at Auckland, 1.0 at Wellington and 1.0 at Orana), which would free up those three facilities to import new bulls for breeding. Orana have four cows already, but Auckland Zoo only have three (including an elderly female), so could take on an additional cow to create a 1.1 founder pair.

It’ll be interesting to see how far away the giraffe IRA is, but I believe that’ll be the next IRA for Australian zoos.

 

[Zorro]

That could be an option. Hamilton Zoo could easily accomodate another four bulls (2.0 at Auckland, 1.0 at Wellington and 1.0 at Orana), which would free up those three facilities to import new bulls for breeding. Orana have four cows already, but Auckland Zoo only have three (including an elderly female), so could take on an additional cow to create a 1.1 founder pair.

It’ll be interesting to see how far away the giraffe IRA is, but I believe that’ll be the next IRA for Australian zoos.

I believe the Hippo IRA has to be completed first before they start the Giraffe IRA only one step at a time apparently.

 

[Zoofan15]

I believe the Hippo IRA has to be completed first before they start the Giraffe IRA only one step at a time apparently.

Oh, I didn’t realise the Hippopotamus IRA was first - but given what dire straights both the Common and Pygmy hippopotamus population are in, I’m glad to hear it’s been prioritised.

In that case, the giraffe IRA would be years away and they should definitely consider using New Zealand as a third party import country like they did with the Eastern bongo Taronga imported via Wellington (prior to the Australian Bovid IRA being completed).

 

[Zorro]

Oh, I didn’t realise the Hippopotamus IRA was first - but given what dire straights both the Common and Pygmy hippopotamus population are in, I’m glad to hear it’s been prioritised.

In that case, the giraffe IRA would be years away and they should definitely consider using New Zealand as a third party import country like they did with the Eastern bongo Taronga imported via Wellington (prior to the Australian Bovid IRA being completed).

When you consider there about 100 Giraffe? (I believe) in the region and only about a dozen Hippos including only 1 bull, plus only 5 pygmy Hippos with only 2 of them being females they are in more dire need of importation.

 

[Jambo]

When you consider there about 100 Giraffe? (I believe) in the region and only about a dozen Hippos including only 1 bull, plus only 5 pygmy Hippos with only 2 of them being females they are in more dire need of importation.

I agree. A hippo IRA is much more important at the present time.

 

[Zoofan15]

When you consider there about 100 Giraffe? (I believe) in the region and only about a dozen Hippos including only 1 bull, plus only 5 pygmy Hippos with only 2 of them being females they are in more dire need of importation.

Agreed. In the current state, if Kani dies without siring a male calf, it’s game over. What will hopefully go in the favour of the Hippopotamus IRA is that it will only cover two species versus the Bovid IRA, that covered a multitude of species.

That would have contributed to the lengthy time it took and in addition was a pioneering exercise for Australia given nothing on that scale has ever been achieved before.

 

[Zorro]

Agreed. In the current state, if Kani dies without siring a male calf, it’s game over. What will hopefully go in the favour of the Hippopotamus IRA is that it will only cover two species versus the Bovid IRA, that covered a multitude of species.

That would have contributed to the lengthy time it took and in addition was a pioneering exercise for Australia given nothing on that scale has ever been achieved before.

If dubbos bull, and the one and only bull left in the region goes to Monarto to be matched with the 3 cows from Werribee zoo that's going to leave both Dubbo and Werribee without bulls, I do hope they are searching around now for a couple of new import bulls instead of wasting time waiting to the last minute once the Hippo IRA is completed.

 

[Zoofan15]

If dubbos bull, and the one and only bull left in the region goes to Monarto to be matched with the 3 cows from Werribee zoo that's going to leave both Dubbo and Werribee without bulls, I do hope they are searching around now for a couple of new import bulls instead of wasting time waiting to the last minute once the Hippo IRA is completed.

The ironic thing about the lack of a hippopotamus IRA is the inability to import new bulls will create a demand in the region for the first time in history.

Monarto’s plan appears be to build up a cohesive female pod of 5-6 hippopotami, by breeding from the mother and daughter - Brindabella (1990) and Pansy (2013). Inevitably bull calves will be produced, hindering this plan, but at this point in time they’d be snapped up by Dubbo and Werribee, who both need bulls.

 

[Zorro]

The ironic thing about the lack of a hippopotamus IRA is the inability to import new bulls will create a demand in the region for the first time in history.

Monarto’s plan appears be to build up a cohesive female pod of 5-6 hippopotami, by breeding from the mother and daughter - Brindabella (1990) and Pansy (2013). Inevitably bull calves will be produced, hindering this plan, but at this point in time they’d be snapped up by Dubbo and Werribee, who both need bulls.

I believe both Dubbo and Werribee should import their own bulls, sometimes the best laid plans don't work out and enough time has been lost already. I am sure there would be at least some regional zoos interested in having river hippos if given the chance, I believe that Altina had mentioned on their S/M or website an interest in them. Also I would not rule out perhaps one or two NZ zoos like Orana possibly might have an interest at some point in the future!