Luke899
Well-Known Member
From what I've heard down here at Monarto, is that Phase 2 also includes further expansion of the elephant enclosure southwards.
Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2023
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From what I've heard down here at Monarto, is that Phase 2 also includes further expansion of the elephant enclosure southwards.
That makes sense. The complex will be 14ha and even a fraction of that is an exhibit the likes of these three (and the Taronga cows) would have never seen before.
Exhibit fencing is expensive and I note Werribee has cut back on costs to allow the project to continue by reducing the number of paddocks to five (dividing fences can always be added later), so it makes sense to take a similar approach at Monarto - in their case expanding the exhibit southwards.
It’s an opportunity to develop new features that might not be included in the initial exhibit.
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Also Water, forgot to mention that. Quite a semi-agrid region out here so the money will fund the elephant's water holes aswell.
Four new healthy Lion cubs from Husani at Monarto this morning!!
Getting close to a MEGA Pride at Monarto, now 17 Lions call the Zoo home
It’s great to have a successful litter born to Husani!
Like her previous litters, this is a large litter compared to Makena’s single cub; but combined, the five cubs will have a lot of fun growing up together. This is the first time Monarto has had two surviving litters born in one year since 2013!
African Lion Update
From socials:
Husani’s litter:
We are roaring with excitement to welcome four lion cubs to the world!
African Lion Husani gave birth to the healthy litter on Wednesday 30 August. This is Husani's third litter of cubs. She's a great mum and is again showing very positive behaviour with these four cubs. The little lion fam is snuggled in a private den, spending time grooming, suckling and bonding.
Makena’s cub has died:
Very sad news - especially given the genetic value of this cub:
While we are thrilled by Husani’s news, we are saddened to share that African Lion Makena lost her cub which was born mid-August.
As a first time mum, keepers and the vet team were monitoring Makena closely. She was quick to display positive maternal behaviour and both mum and cub were tracking along well.
Unfortunately, monitoring indicated that Makena accidentally laid on the cub and it didn’t survive.
From socials:
Husani’s litter:
We are roaring with excitement to welcome four lion cubs to the world!
African Lion Husani gave birth to the healthy litter on Wednesday 30 August. This is Husani's third litter of cubs. She's a great mum and is again showing very positive behaviour with these four cubs. The little lion fam is snuggled in a private den, spending time grooming, suckling and bonding.
Makena’s cub has died:
Very sad news - especially given the genetic value of this cub:
While we are thrilled by Husani’s news, we are saddened to share that African Lion Makena lost her cub which was born mid-August.
As a first time mum, keepers and the vet team were monitoring Makena closely. She was quick to display positive maternal behaviour and both mum and cub were tracking along well.
Unfortunately, monitoring indicated that Makena accidentally laid on the cub and it didn’t survive.
I wonder if its possible to fast track the new construction at Dubbo, I believe the big gaps between calfs with the Taronga/Dubbo herd/s could be a bit of a set back for them in the long term.
When I contacted them earlier this year, I was advised the transfer of Pak Boon and Tang Mo to Dubbo would be around five years away. If our assumption is correct that they’re the cows transferring to Monarto, then Pak Boon could be on site as early as late 2024 and conceive to Putra Mas around eight years after she last gave birth. It’s not ideal, but it’s achievable.
I even if Dubbo’s new barn is still five years away, there’s no reason they can’t breed sooner (especially if Sabai transfers to Werribee). They’ve stated on socials that Anjalee will be breeding so; and I think it’s likely one or both of the other cows will breed too. Thong Dee is approaching the timeframe where not breeding will cause issues; and there’s little justification for delaying Porntip the corresponding time.
It is extremely pleasing with the Monarto elephant news, not only will the valuable Perth bull be retained within the country but having a 3rd herd in an open range setting opens up the possibility for a 3rd breeding centre. It is hearting to see so much support by the locals in their own zoo/s.
Of a little concern is the lack of news to hand regarding the Hippos transfer situation, I have not heard any resent news with any construction for the Werribee cows and the Dubbo bull, I feel they are fighting against time with the remaining animals also having just one bull in the whole region is a little concerning.
Of a little concern is the lack of news to hand regarding the Hippos transfer situation, I have not heard any resent news with any construction for the Werribee cows and the Dubbo bull, I feel they are fighting against time with the remaining animals also having just one bull in the whole region is a little concerning.
Retaining Putra Mas was an excellent decision and one we’re all glad was made. He’s extremely valuable within the global captive population and it’s blindingly obvious neither Europe or North America will supply us with a bull of equivalent value in the future. For now, a 1.1 pairing between him and Pak Boon seems likely; but AI remains an option re. other cows.
Considering there was a huge fundraising drive for the hippopotamus a few years ago; the fundraising drive for elephants had me wondering where the hippos are at. I’m struggling to envisage what the hold up would be; but in any case, an update would be appreciated. I’m losing faith the Hippo IRA will happen anytime soon, so all hope rests on Kani at Dubbo.
Agreed since there is only the one bull and aging cows with no sign at this stage of any imports its concerning especially since the pictures of the construction of Wild Africa showed a waterhole with serval hippos as the first attraction at the front of the park.
While I do applaud the extra fast rate that funds were donated for the elephant exhibit what I find interesting is the massive amount of time that MZ have been raising funds for the rhino importation it seems to have run into years. I recall the proposal started in 2013 so fast forward to 2023. I hope the importation for hippos is delayed much longer since its going to waste what reproductive years of what's left of our hippo population.
Agreed. Brindabella (1990) isn’t getting an younger and while she could potentially live another two decades, I’d be surprised to see them breed from her past the age of 40. Priority should be getting her and her daughter Pansy (2013) on site and breeding from each female twice or three times to build up numbers in the female herd.
Theoretically, males should shift as Dubbo and Werribee will want them, so having a surplus of bull calves shouldn’t be an issue at Monarto; and in any case, they can always castrate.
Another option would be to see if any other zoos within the region would be interested in becoming a holder I believe that Altina was/is wanting Hippos among other possibilities as well.
Going back to 2006, Crocodylus also had aspirations to hold hippopotamus, so even they might still be open to acquiring them.
With the death of their bull in 2014 and the upcoming departure of one of their female pods, Werribee will have space to receive a bull and recommence breeding; and similarly for Dubbo, who have lost two adult bulls in recent years.
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Obviously getting the elephants here is the main priority for Monarto at the moment . They're the most important right now, considering the limited time for breeding the animals in question. The Rhinos/Hippo's have been put to the side temporarily. Trust me, they are really really rushing to get this elephant project done. Designers are drawing up the plans for the enclosure literally as we speak, and Monarto are pretty much in constant communication with Perth/Dubbo/Taronga/Auckland on the welfare of Putra mas, Permai, Burma, Pak Boon, etc. Surveyors are coming soon and are getting ready to break ground on the enclourse once the final design is done. I imagine the plan is to get the elephants here asap, and use the revenue from the visitors seeing the elephants to fund the Rhino and Hippo imports. We haven't had elephants in 30 years so the public is dying to see them.
So it’s been confirmed Pak Boon is coming to Monarto? It’s what we’ve all been speculating (with Tang Mo accompanying her from Taronga). It’ll be great to see elephants at Monarto and there’s no rush on the rhinoceros facility when Orana haven’t even imported them from South Africa yet.
Hopefully the hippopotamus facility isn’t too far behind. Though females of this species don’t appear to be subject to the issues associated with periods of non-breeding that afflict elephants, it’d be nice to see Kani breed sooner rather than later. He’s young and robust; but many hippos in the region have died prematurely and his status as the only bull places the regional population in a precarious state.
At the end of the day the facility for Hippos would not be overly complex or that expensive compared to other animals, a few basic structures for shelter and mostly fencing for yards and for the exhibit. The pens at Dubbo used to be nothing more than an open sided shed with a steel barred yard it really don't have to be that elaborate. As far as I was aware the rhino facilities are complete!
When @Swanson02 visited in July 2022, he was advised the hippo dam was complete and had been test filled with water.
I hope Monarto aspire to hold a large population of hippos long term. As you point out, Dubbo have a simple set up that has accomodated multiple groupings in the past. Monarto seem numbers focussed, so a large cohesive herd would likely be their preference. Retaining daughters within their natal pod would be the simplest way to achieve this - with Cuddles at Dubbo an example of where this has worked well. Siblings as young as two years old (half grown) have killed their neonatal siblings, but with reasonable isolation periods of the mother and neonate; combined with the space an open range zoo can provide, and I’m optimistic for a successful outcome.
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Ahh well theres a snag there.
We aren't (Monarto SP) aren't connected to a mainstream water supply so supplying the water holes may be an issue with the agrid and intense heat. Hippos need water, and alot of it. The water will just evaporate quickly since its not a natural water-way and drive up costs. So that might pose a threat to a permanent population. But other than that, I see no issue with holding a permanent herd.
There was a video here on another thread referring to the 8 dams held at Monarto zoo it seem to indicate they were all dug and filled for purpose. I recall one video showing the filling of one of them.