Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2020

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

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African Wild Dog Introductions

Monarto’s carnivore team recently introduced females Penda and Bulu to males Onika, Baraka, Kamali and Zuberi and the six canines have been inseparable ever since.

“After an unsuccessful introduction around 12 months ago, we think simply due to some of the dogs not being mature enough, we’re so pleased to see the individuals interacting well with each other and forming a cohesive pack,” says Monarto Safari Park Carnivore Keeper Jaimee Button.

While keepers are still watching the hierarchy of the group unfold, a dominant pair was established early – male Baraka and female Bulu were quick to run the show.

“We’ve already seen matings between the pair so we’re crossing our fingers for the future!” says Jaimee.

Four-year-old sisters Penda and Bulu were both born at Monarto Safari Park in 2016 while males Onika, Baraka, Kamali and Zuberi, who are also siblings, were born at Perth Zoo in 2017.

Full article: African Painted Dog love is in the air at Monarto Safari Park!
 
Monarto Safari Park has welcomed the birth of four lion cubs to mother Husani. From the zoo’s email:

We are thrilled to share the news that Monarto Safari Park has finally welcomed four lion cubs to the pride!

The team excitedly watched the birth of two of the cubs via live stream on Sunday night, and awoke to two more cubs in the morning of Monday, 17 February.

We are pleased to say all looks well with the babies so far - Husani is doing a great job as a first-time mum and is very attentive.

The new cubs are yet to be sexed and will remain with Husani in an off-limits private den while the family bonds, before making their adorable debut in the near future.

News article from zoo's website:
Lions cubs born at Monarto Safari Park and celebrations for Hope
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Monarto Safari Park has welcomed the birth of four lion cubs to mother Husani. From the zoo’s email:

We are thrilled to share the news that Monarto Safari Park has finally welcomed four lion cubs to the pride!

The team excitedly watched the birth of two of the cubs via live stream on Sunday night, and awoke to two more cubs in the morning of Monday, 17 February.

We are pleased to say all looks well with the babies so far - Husani is doing a great job as a first-time mum and is very attentive.

The new cubs are yet to be sexed and will remain with Husani in an off-limits private den while the family bonds, before making their adorable debut in the near future.
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Awesome news! Hopefully this will be followed by a litter of cubs from at least one of the other two lionesses. Ideally Makena, considering the other (Nia) is a full sister to Husani.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Monarto Safari Park has welcomed the birth of four lion cubs to mother Husani. From the zoo’s email:

We are thrilled to share the news that Monarto Safari Park has finally welcomed four lion cubs to the pride!

The team excitedly watched the birth of two of the cubs via live stream on Sunday night, and awoke to two more cubs in the morning of Monday, 17 February.

We are pleased to say all looks well with the babies so far - Husani is doing a great job as a first-time mum and is very attentive.

The new cubs are yet to be sexed and will remain with Husani in an off-limits private den while the family bonds, before making their adorable debut in the near future.
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Would the father of these cubs be one of the males from Melbourne (Kubwa, Kashka, or Kito)?
 
Jambo said:
Would the father of these cubs be one of the males from Melbourne (Kubwa, Kashka, or Kito)?
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Yes, as the other two males at the zoo are siblings of Husani (one is a full brother; the other is a half brother).

The paternity may remain unknown as Kubwa, Kashka and Kito are all full siblings (i.e. genetically speaking, it's irrelevant which one of them sired the litter). This has been done at facilities at Orana Wildlife Park where a female Cheetah is paired with two males (brothers) and the sire is listed as unknown.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Unfortunately Nia the lioness gave birth to five stillborn cubs.
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Sad news indeed. Kiamba went through the same thing in 2007. I’m wondering if this was the reason behind the small litter sizes of her two subsequent litters - 0.1 in 2011; and 1.1 in 2013. Since Lionesses have two uteruses; I’m wondering if the caesarean rendered one of them unable to sustain a pregnancy, halving her reproductive output. Time will tell if Nia’s fertility is affected.

In the meantime, I wonder if they’re expecting cubs from the third lioness (Makena). I’m guessing not, as you’d think they’d announce it as the silver lining to what is otherwise a sad end to Nia’s pregnancy.

That said, I have great admiration for Monarto Zoo on their openness and willingness to share the bad news with the good (another example being when Soona and her infant died). These things happen and any rational minded person understands this.
 
More coverage of Nia:

South Australian zoo Monarto Safari Park's lioness loses five cubs in stillbirth tragedy - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

South Australia's Monarto Safari Park staff are in "mourning" following the loss of five lion cubs, who were stillborn to lioness Nia.

The open-range zoo, which is the largest safari park outside of Africa, released a statement sharing the news on Thursday afternoon.

"Keepers kept an eye on Nia via a live cam in her den and could see that, after these first two [stillborn] cubs, her labour was not progressing enough," the statement read.

"Nia's welfare during this time was our utmost priority so the decision was made to intervene around midday on Wednesday to ensure she didn't develop an infection or experience complications associated with prolonged labour.

... (read more)​
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Monarto Safari Park's four lion cubs have been sexed as 1.3. It’s great the litter has three females.
Monarto Safari Park's feisty lion cubs ace their first health check

Source: Monarto Safari Park's Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=592845337990776
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It’d be great if some female offspring could remain in the pride to one day form a multigenerational pride. This was the original goal - with Kiamba, Zalika and Tiombe intended to remain in the pride. Sadly this wasn’t possible as due to being post reproductive, they didn’t accept the new males.

One of the advantages of a multigenerational pride is that it prevents the need to euthanise the remaining lioness on welfare grounds, when the pride is reduced to two elderly lionesses. Auckland Zoo sadly had to do this in 2018 (though I didn’t disagree with the decision); and Wellington Zoo will likely do this when either Djane or Zhara need to be euthanised.
 
Does anyone know if there have been any prides in Aus nz. That continued for say 4 generations at least. And through the female line.
 
jay said:
Does anyone know if there have been any prides in Aus nz. That continued for say 4 generations at least. And through the female line.
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Jarrah (born 2000 at Melbourne Zoo) was the daughter of Jespah (born 1990 at Melbourne Zoo). Jespah and her sister, Gopha, were the offspring of a lioness named Juliana. I don’t know any details on Juliana. She may have been a founder, or the link between her daughters and granddaughter to previous generations...

Also, I’m not sure if this counts as they’re highly inbred - but Paradise Valley Springs have had six generations of lionesses: Sheba (details unknown) > Suzy (1986-2009) > Ryo (1995-2017) > Luca (2004) > Hanna (2007) > Bella (2011). The current pride consists of Luca, Hanna and their offspring.
 
Wild Africa Update
Further progress has been made on the future Wild Africa precinct. The zoo has filled the first of eight waterholes that will be located in this new area. The zoo mentions that several species will live in this precinct including Southern White Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Ostrich and several antelope species.
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WhistlingKite24 said:
Wild Africa Update
Further progress has been made on the future Wild Africa precinct. The zoo has filled the first of eight waterholes that will be located in this new area. The zoo mentions that several species will live in this precinct including Southern White Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Ostrich and several antelope species.
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Thats great news so looking forward to seeing it completed even better when one of those water holes has Hippos in them. I would be interested to find out if the water holes used liners since I believe the soil there is quite sandy! ?
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Wild Africa Update
Further progress has been made on the future Wild Africa precinct. The zoo has filled the first of eight waterholes that will be located in this new area. The zoo mentions that several species will live in this precinct including Southern White Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Ostrich and several antelope species.
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That is simply stunning and massive. The zoo will be able to have large herds of these animals and manage them in a hands off way. For rhinos this will be especially great. Do you know the acreage of this addition?
 
nczoofan said:
That is simply stunning and massive. The zoo will be able to have large herds of these animals and manage them in a hands off way. For rhinos this will be especially great. Do you know the acreage of this addition?
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According to Monarto's masterplan Wild Africa will be approximately 500 hectares (1235 acres). Some key points from the masterplan - https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/az_masterplan_web-FINAL.pdf:

- Visitors will be completely immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of the savannah as they travel across the open plains through herds of animals seemingly free to roam in nearly 500 hectares.

-There will be two individual paid encounters in the Wild Africa Precinct leaving from the new Visitor Centre; a walk-through Madagascar exhibit and a safari experience.

-The safari experience will take small groups of visitors off-road through herds of animals that may include giraffe, eland, bongo, nyala, white rhino, oryx, addax, Barbary Sheep, zebra, ostrich and perhaps African Elephants. Whether we house African Elephants in future will be subject to consideration of many factors including global conservation efforts, the availability of suitable animals, cost, personnel safety and import restrictions. At this stage we remain open to the possibility and this is reflected in our Master Plan.
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
According to Monarto's masterplan Wild Africa will be approximately 500 hectares (1235 acres). Some key points from the masterplan - https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/az_masterplan_web-FINAL.pdf:

- Visitors will be completely immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of the savannah as they travel across the open plains through herds of animals seemingly free to roam in nearly 500 hectares.

-There will be two individual paid encounters in the Wild Africa Precinct leaving from the new Visitor Centre; a walk-through Madagascar exhibit and a safari experience.

-The safari experience will take small groups of visitors off-road through herds of animals that may include giraffe, eland, bongo, nyala, white rhino, oryx, addax, Barbary Sheep, zebra, ostrich and perhaps African Elephants. Whether we house African Elephants in future will be subject to consideration of many factors including global conservation efforts, the availability of suitable animals, cost, personnel safety and import restrictions. At this stage we remain open to the possibility and this is reflected in our Master Plan.
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Sounds amazing. The rhinos will be imported as part of the Australian Rhino Project, right?
 
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