Swanson02
Well-Known Member
If I'm correct they are sharing a space with a couple of Rhino in Wild Africa! If so I think it's an Australasian first!!!
Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024
- Thread starter Zoofan15
- Start date
-
- Tags
- monarto safari park
If I'm correct they are sharing a space with a couple of Rhino in Wild Africa! If so I think it's an Australasian first!!!
I’d be interested to know which females these are as the only cohesive group of five Monarto has/had was 2.2 cubs (born April 2023) that was being mother-raised by Kuishi. Due to their age, the male cubs have presumably now been separated off and introduced to the single male cub in Quailee‘s litter (born March 2023).
With this in mind, I’d assume the five females are a minimum of two groups:
A trio of either Kuishi and her two daughters (Zawadi and Nyota); or Quailee and her daughter (Mrembo) and adopted daughter (Tish).
The second group could then be a pair - probably Mara and Mapenzi, who are sisters born 2018.
Yes it would be. That’s very exciting!
I believe the grouping is indeed Kuishi and her two daughters (Zawadi and Nyota), plus her two sisters (Mara and Mapenzi).
The young males from her litter born last year have already been separated apart from mum.
Can confirm Monarto also has 5.11 Cheetah at the moment. All five males (Innes, Absame, Moyo, Balozi, Mwindaji) are accounted for. The five aforementioned females are also still there. Their website also doesn't mention Quella's single female cub by name so hopefully anything hasn't happened to her. I've emailed for confirmation.
I would not be surprised if this rhino importation would end up being the longest importation in zoological history?, I get the feeling there is something not quite right going on here!
Looking from afar it seems like there is a lot to be worried about here. There doesn't seem to be a lot of transparency regarding the whole move too...perhaps the situation is speaking for itself in that aspect.
Correct. There feels to be something not right about this whole situation. Since it was born in 2013 one would expect the import would have happened by now?
Last I heard it was still in the works, but the progress seems extremely slow...on our side of things there does appear to be (or was) a few issues that I won't go through on here. Let's hope they have been resolved and the import proceeds...
Bear in mind the shape of this project has changed dramatically since 2013. In 2016, a news report detailed aspirations to import 80 rhinoceros, with sites for their relocation considered in Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland. Compare this to the revised plan of 35 rhinos to be held across three open range zoos.
Imports take considerable time and I thought @Steve Robinson raised several good points when addressing speculation on this particular import earlier this year. He advised one factor at play is the evolving stance of the RSA on exports, one of many examples of external influences outside the control of those facilitating this complex import.
Objectively speaking it is fundamentally something that is out of our zoos control. It isn't their fault specifically, but it is something that has raised significant concerns surrounding the actual feasibility of an import like this in this day and age. Will be interesting to see how it all turns out eh
Since the huge amount of time now passed and still not one rhino to show for it I believe its very likely any rhinos from Africa now is extremely unlikely to happen unfortunately. Monarto may need to look at some other species of African animals to fill its massive exhibits!
The masterplan mentions building holding yards for male rhinos as one of their projects for the next five years (2023-2028). This would be a reference to plans to accomodate multiple white rhino bulls from the import (with the cows ideally cohabiting with each other in a larger exhibit space).
Whether the import still goes ahead as planned is unknown; but rather than aspiring to bring in additional species, it would be more sensible to dedicate resources to the remainder of the masterplan - namely upgrades to the lion dens and hyena dens; as well as future projects like the Hamadryas baboon exhibit, which will enable them to holder a larger social unit than the one at Adelaide. Adelaide similarly has a wealth of projects planned.
The elephant complex (though much welcomed) will be a significant ongoing expense for Zoos SA. They will surely be prioritising what needs to be done over “nice to haves” such as a new species of antelope.
As we both guessed!
Kuishi and her two daughters (Zawadi and Nyota); and then Mara and Mapenzi (sisters).
Traditionally believed only males lived in coalitions; but Auckland’s sister pair live together without issue and Wellington previously held a female with her two brothers for many years.
Indeed! This grouping was the most obvious, as the other potential groupings would've involved introducing unrelated females (a potential recipe for disaster).
Considering Kuishi lived with her sisters prior to birthing her cubs last year, I assume it would've been fairly easy to re-integrate her to her sisters alongside her female cubs. A group of five female Cheetah would certainly be a sight to see considering the solitary nature of this species
In October, Monarto sent 8.0 Ring-tailed Lemurs (US-born Hendrix imported by Australia Zoo and his seven sons) to be mixed with Melbourne Zoo’s current bachelor group. This allows two new breeding males to be introduced into the walkthrough habitat to allow two males from the Toledo Zoo import to breed. The current lemur holdings at Monarto are another bachelor group of eight males, a family unit of 2.3 and a new 2.13 group. They hope to breed again in 2025 with the new males – confirmed via email.
It’ll be interesting to see if Monarto take the opportunity to integrate Qualee’s son (Moyo) with the two males from Kuishi’s litter of four to form a coalition.
It may be that they’re happy for Moyo to remain alone and go into a breeding situation. He’s a genetically valuable male after all. Qualee is a founder and her two brothers at Orana are yet to sire offspring m despite having the opportunity. Another two sibling from that litter are Auckland’s females, which have been designated non-breeding.
Permai now arriving January 2025!
Perth Zoo's female elephant Permai set to depart in late January, months ahead of schedule - ABC News
Successful training with her moving crate, and the arrival of another elephant, Burma, at Monarto from Auckland, has convinced keepers to move Permai earlier.
She's also been exhibiting loneliness behaviour, such as rocking and not participating in activities.
Perth Zoo's female elephant Permai set to depart in late January, months ahead of schedule - ABC News
Successful training with her moving crate, and the arrival of another elephant, Burma, at Monarto from Auckland, has convinced keepers to move Permai earlier.
She's also been exhibiting loneliness behaviour, such as rocking and not participating in activities.
In her keeper’s own words:
"We have tried to support her, but it's a gap that we cannot fill. We know she needs those elephants to bring her joy again."
There’s nobody on Earth who cares more for her than her keepers, but it’s an impossible task to replicate the companionship her own species would provide. Auckland Zoo trialled a horse as a companion for Burma, following Kashin’s death (while they waited for Anjalee to arrive); but there was no bond between the two and the horse was removed.
In Perth’s case, the way forward/solution is more clear; and credit to her keepers, they’ve excelled at crate training Permai in order bring forward the inevitable transfer.