Why not Gaur?. I believe there would be little interest from most of our major zoos because as it has been mentioned before it appears they want to reduce over all species numbers also the fact they would have to import them!
Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2021
- Thread starter WhistlingKite24
- Start date
An update on these African Wild Dog pups. Two of the pups have unfortunately died - one soon after birth and the other one had hydrocephaly so it was humanely euthanised. The remaining six pups are thriving and have emerged from the den area: Tiny puppies make their big debut - Monarto Safari Park
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Noodle, a male giraffe has arrived from Australia Zoo. He will join the bachelor group: Welcome Noodle! - Monarto Safari Park
The African Wild Dog pups have been confirmed as four females and two males: Six adorable pups have first visit with the vet - Monarto Safari Park
Wild Africa Update:
The zoo's six-month impact report provided several nuggets of information relating to this project. Construction of the private hotel for the new area commenced in April 2021. The accommodation will overlook the waterholes. Eland have since bred in the Etosha exhibit in Wild Africa along with the recent zebra foal. Also, additional Waterbuck have arrived from Werribee Open Range Zoo (the image shows a young male).
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The zoo's six-month impact report provided several nuggets of information relating to this project. Construction of the private hotel for the new area commenced in April 2021. The accommodation will overlook the waterholes. Eland have since bred in the Etosha exhibit in Wild Africa along with the recent zebra foal. Also, additional Waterbuck have arrived from Werribee Open Range Zoo (the image shows a young male).
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African wild dog pups named:
The six surviving African wild dog pups born in April have been named:
Masikio (Swahili for ears)
Jasiri (Swahili for brave)
Sanaa (Swahili for artwork)
Amani (Swahili for trustworthy)
Liyana (Zulu for ‘it’s raining’)
Ajani (Yoruba for ‘one who wins’)
After the names X-box and Yabba-Dabba-Doo were inflicted on Tasmanian devils last year, any name that reflect an animal’s heritage is a winner in my opinion; but I have to say these names are especially decent - Sanaa, meaning artwork being a standout for a species that is also known as the Painted hunting dog.
The six surviving African wild dog pups born in April have been named:
Masikio (Swahili for ears)
Jasiri (Swahili for brave)
Sanaa (Swahili for artwork)
Amani (Swahili for trustworthy)
Liyana (Zulu for ‘it’s raining’)
Ajani (Yoruba for ‘one who wins’)
After the names X-box and Yabba-Dabba-Doo were inflicted on Tasmanian devils last year, any name that reflect an animal’s heritage is a winner in my opinion; but I have to say these names are especially decent - Sanaa, meaning artwork being a standout for a species that is also known as the Painted hunting dog.
A Plains Zebra was born on 10 July to experienced mother Gina:
"Need something to lift your spirits on the first day of lockdown? How about a teeny zebra foal with the zoomies? Watch as our super cute 11-day-old Plains Zebra foal races around and learns how to control those gangly legs. Born to experienced mum Gina on 10 July, the little one is growing fast and can be seen following mum around their 180-acre habitat in Monarto Safari Park’s newest precinct, Wild Africa."
"Need something to lift your spirits on the first day of lockdown? How about a teeny zebra foal with the zoomies? Watch as our super cute 11-day-old Plains Zebra foal races around and learns how to control those gangly legs. Born to experienced mum Gina on 10 July, the little one is growing fast and can be seen following mum around their 180-acre habitat in Monarto Safari Park’s newest precinct, Wild Africa."
Its going to be interesting to see how far along Monatros planned Hippo lake gets now the regions only adult breeding bull has passed away?.
I had friends visit Monatro zoo yesterday since they live in Adelaide they go every few months. They did the Lion encounter which they really enjoyed. They sent me quite a few pics taken of the animal species and their enclosures. While there they did ask someone when the new African Safari will be open of which they were told at the end of the year and into next year. 
They also asked when they might expect to see Hippos there and was told in two years. I dont know if this was a keepers wishful thinking but at the current rate at which the IRA is proceeding I believe I will be in by first mobility shooter by then.
They also asked when they might expect to see Hippos there and was told in two years. I dont know if this was a keepers wishful thinking but at the current rate at which the IRA is proceeding I believe I will be in by first mobility shooter by then.
Wild Africa Update:
The director of Monarto recently provided a brief update. The new visitor centre is starting to take shape. The front of the two-level facility will look out towards the rhino/cheetah facilities. Some incredibly spectacular drone footage below of the visitor centre and Wild Africa!!
Source: Monarto Safari Park's Facebook page
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The director of Monarto recently provided a brief update. The new visitor centre is starting to take shape. The front of the two-level facility will look out towards the rhino/cheetah facilities. Some incredibly spectacular drone footage below of the visitor centre and Wild Africa!!
Source: Monarto Safari Park's Facebook page
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The zoos of the future is here today. Both Adelaide and Monarto zoos are leading the way for others to follow. Its a shame the Western plains zoo never went ahead with their planned 500 acre African Safari, That would have been one outstanding exhibit for them.
They also asked when they might expect to see Hippos there and was told in two years. I dont know if this was a keepers wishful thinking but at the current rate at which the IRA is proceeding I believe I will be in by first mobility shooter by then.
The Year 2023 ties in with the young bull at Taronga Western Plains Zoo (born 2020) attaining reproductive age. From a genetics point of view, it seems reasonable to assume the best way forward in the region is to create a breeding herd at Monarto with him and whatever cows Werribee will relinquish. We all know this IRA will never happen.
This would involve sending the region’s ONLY hippopotamus bull on a trip (which has some degree of risk to it), so perhaps it would be sensible to allow him to sire a male calf at Dubbo before they load him on the truck - either with his female relatives; or aunt (Nile).
I have forgotten how many years that the IRA was going to be completed by now, Every year it was going to be by the end of the year, then the end of next year, and so on, lol.
I just wonder if its all to hard for our guys here to handle
A scimitar horned oryx has been born
The post announces that six Scimitar-horned Oryx have been born at Monarto this month with a total of 11 oryx calves for 2021. The zoo now have an impressive herd of 49 oryx in the new Wild Africa area. Information from their social media.
Monarto Safari Park Annual Report 2020-2021 - Lemurs have arrived:
Zoos SA recently released their annual report and below I have collated the key information Annual report [https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Annual-Report-2020-2021.pdf]:
It’s time for a Wild Africa Update as well notably announcing that the lemurs have now arrived for the new walkthrough exhibit:
Zoos SA recently released their annual report and below I have collated the key information Annual report [https://www.zoossa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Annual-Report-2020-2021.pdf]:
- 14 Scimitar-horned Oryx were born between the 2020-2021 period. 14 babies were also produced among the Nyala, Plains Zebra and Bison. The Blackbuck also had two dozen offspring.
- Giraffes had a very tough year with four births; two died and two had to be hand raised. The Southern White Rhinos had the female calf and the African Wild Dogs produced six pups. The lions lost the male cub due to metabolic bone disease but the Spotted Hyenas are raising two females.
- Natives had some excellent breeding success – two Bilbies, scores of Greater Stick-nest Rats, nine Tasmanian Devil joeys, Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies and Tammar Wallabies. The zoo also took in a Black-footed Rock Wallaby to contribute new genetics to the semi-wild population in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Six Western Swamp Turtle eggs were laid but were incubated and hatched at Adelaide.
- A great new species at Monarto! The zoo has added Mitchell’s Hoping-Mice and have already produced 10 mice: “This past year, we also started a new breed and release program. Seven Mitchell’s Hopping Mice were collected from the wild resulting in ten pups being bred at Monarto Safari Park. In the future, we will be releasing them into Mallee Cliffs National Park in New South Wales to help expand their population even further.”
- the zoo built new off-display housing for their Leopard Tortoise; nice to know they are still around at the zoo.
It’s time for a Wild Africa Update as well notably announcing that the lemurs have now arrived for the new walkthrough exhibit:
- Ring-tailed Lemurs are settling in well: “The 'Valley of the Lemurs' habitat and the first quarantine night quarters is now complete with Lemurs using both spaces. We are now focusing on visitor entrance facilities, outdoor heated ‘Pods’ and construction of a second night quarters.”
- Detailed update from the report: “With plans to become the world’s largest safari experience outside of Africa and the hotel accommodation construction now well underway, our Wild Africa team is working harder than ever to extend and transform the property adjacent to the existing Monarto Safari Park site. There was significant progress in many project activities within the Wild Africa site, including a concrete wall and floor build for the Rhino Management and Quarantine Centre. We have had the quarantine waste water system installed and the entire area surrounding the building has had the final surfaces laid ready for the external yards to be built. The 2.2-kilometre rhino ‘raceway’ which feeds from the Rhino Management and Quarantine Centre to each of the paddock sections has now had all of the posts concreted into the ground and the cable holders have begun to be installed. Animals now roam Wild Africa! The southern section paddock, named Etosha, is now complete with all fencing, safari tracks, water points, irrigation and its waterhole installed and has a variety of animal species now calling the area home. Animal handling facilities at various strategic locations in each of the paddock sections have been planned and construction has begun on a number of these. The facilities will aid in the management and welfare of each of the species we plan to hold throughout Wild Africa. The northern section paddock has eight and a half kilometres of fencing well underway, ready for safari tracks to be finalised.”
Chimp pregnancy at Monarto:
Female Galatea is pregnant and the infant is due to arrive by March 2022. From their social media: "There's a baby on the way at Monarto Safari Park! We are so excited to announce that Galatea, our 22-year-old chimpanzee, is pregnant. The first-time mum is in her second trimester and is expecting her bundle of joy in late March. You can read more about the emotional moment our keepers found out in the link below."
Additional link: Baby joy for Galatea - Monarto Safari Park
Female Galatea is pregnant and the infant is due to arrive by March 2022. From their social media: "There's a baby on the way at Monarto Safari Park! We are so excited to announce that Galatea, our 22-year-old chimpanzee, is pregnant. The first-time mum is in her second trimester and is expecting her bundle of joy in late March. You can read more about the emotional moment our keepers found out in the link below."
Additional link: Baby joy for Galatea - Monarto Safari Park
A new male Cheetah has arrived from the National Zoo and Aquarium. He has already been introduced to one of the park's female for breeding. From their social media:
"We've got male! A male Cheetah that is! Eight-year-old Innis has returned to Monarto Safari Park after five years at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra. He has been very laid back and content since his arrival and will soon be introduced to Kesho, Monarto’s nine-year-old female. We hope that there might be a ‘speedy’ pregnancy and cubs on the horizon!"
"We've got male! A male Cheetah that is! Eight-year-old Innis has returned to Monarto Safari Park after five years at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra. He has been very laid back and content since his arrival and will soon be introduced to Kesho, Monarto’s nine-year-old female. We hope that there might be a ‘speedy’ pregnancy and cubs on the horizon!"
Two very sad deaths have been announced. Monarto's 15-month old white rhino has tragically died from internal bleeding, continuing their unfortunate luck with rhino calves like Imani and Tundu. All three calves have died of very similar causes. Jasiri, one of the female African Wild Dogs has also died due to advanced liver disease:
"We are heartbroken to announce the loss of Eshe, the 15-month-old Southern White rhino at Monarto Safari Park. Veterinary staff were monitoring Eshe from Thursday after keepers noticed that she was not displaying her normal energy level and lying quietly. Keepers separated Eshe and her mum Umqali from the rest of the crash to care for them. While Eshe seemed a little better on Friday she deteriorated over the course of the evening and sadly passed away beside her mum overnight. Our veterinary team did all they could to help Eshe. An autopsy has been carried out and she was found to have suffered from a trauma, the cause of which we are unsure. This trauma led to a broken rib and considerable internal bleeding. Many of you will know that we have previously lost two other rhinos (Imani and Tundu), both females, both at relatively similar ages and both to similar causes of death. The mother of all these calves Umqali, has shown all the best maternal attributes being both protective and caring in their upbringing. Staff observations and previous camera footage have shown nothing negative in regard to interaction between mother and daughter or our other female rhinos. After the loss of the previous calf, we made several changes regarding the management of the crash but the coincidental nature of these deaths is difficult to ignore. We will be carrying out more testing in regards to both Eshe’s death (from the post mortem) and with both parents as well.
Umqali has returned to the female crash and our keepers are regularly checking on her. So far, she is displaying typical grieving behaviour, calling for her calf and looking towards the area where Eshe passed away. Keepers say that she may continue to do this for a few days as she comes to terms with her loss. Fortunately, Umqali continues to eat well and seeks out the companionship of the other females in the group.Needless to say, her keepers and the entire team at Zoos SA are heartbroken for the spirited little rhino that brought so much joy and hope for her species. The loss of Eshe is significant and extremely sad, and whilst we feel deflated, we know we can’t stop our work. The future of rhinos is uncertain and something we must continue to all rally behind. We must carry on. Additionally on what was already a very sad day, Jasiri one of six African Painted Dogs pups (a female) also died due to advanced liver disease."
"We are heartbroken to announce the loss of Eshe, the 15-month-old Southern White rhino at Monarto Safari Park. Veterinary staff were monitoring Eshe from Thursday after keepers noticed that she was not displaying her normal energy level and lying quietly. Keepers separated Eshe and her mum Umqali from the rest of the crash to care for them. While Eshe seemed a little better on Friday she deteriorated over the course of the evening and sadly passed away beside her mum overnight. Our veterinary team did all they could to help Eshe. An autopsy has been carried out and she was found to have suffered from a trauma, the cause of which we are unsure. This trauma led to a broken rib and considerable internal bleeding. Many of you will know that we have previously lost two other rhinos (Imani and Tundu), both females, both at relatively similar ages and both to similar causes of death. The mother of all these calves Umqali, has shown all the best maternal attributes being both protective and caring in their upbringing. Staff observations and previous camera footage have shown nothing negative in regard to interaction between mother and daughter or our other female rhinos. After the loss of the previous calf, we made several changes regarding the management of the crash but the coincidental nature of these deaths is difficult to ignore. We will be carrying out more testing in regards to both Eshe’s death (from the post mortem) and with both parents as well.
Umqali has returned to the female crash and our keepers are regularly checking on her. So far, she is displaying typical grieving behaviour, calling for her calf and looking towards the area where Eshe passed away. Keepers say that she may continue to do this for a few days as she comes to terms with her loss. Fortunately, Umqali continues to eat well and seeks out the companionship of the other females in the group.Needless to say, her keepers and the entire team at Zoos SA are heartbroken for the spirited little rhino that brought so much joy and hope for her species. The loss of Eshe is significant and extremely sad, and whilst we feel deflated, we know we can’t stop our work. The future of rhinos is uncertain and something we must continue to all rally behind. We must carry on. Additionally on what was already a very sad day, Jasiri one of six African Painted Dogs pups (a female) also died due to advanced liver disease."
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