Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024

Here you go:

View attachment 685747
Credit: Jerome Kalvas (via Zoos SA socials)
Amazing photo! Perhaps the most naturalistic hippo habitat I've ever seen; it certainly looks like it could've been taken in Africa.

Monarto have done a spectacular job with this complex from what I've seen thus far. Kdos to them, taking it a step further than Werribee's - who had a world class complex when it opened almost two decades ago now.

The hippo in particular is also Brindabella.:)
 
Monarto has announced on FB that sadly, chimpanzee Lani’s baby didn’t survive. She appears to have been doing all the right things with the infant male, just so terribly sad. It has been beautiful to watch how tenderly Lani has doted on young Hope over the past year, so especially upsetting that she lost her own infant.
 
This is probably the wrong thread, so I do apologise for that, however I wasn't able to locate an any more appropriate thread.

Just wondering, does anyone know how big any of the enclosures at Monarto are? I know the Lion enclosure is in the ballpark of 10 hectares, but the others (everything from chimps, addax, The Waterhole, AWD and anything else) I'm not too sure on, and I'd really appreciate it if anyone had the answers :D

Cheers
 
This is probably the wrong thread, so I do apologise for that, however I wasn't able to locate an any more appropriate thread.

Just wondering, does anyone know how big any of the enclosures at Monarto are? I know the Lion enclosure is in the ballpark of 10 hectares, but the others (everything from chimps, addax, The Waterhole, AWD and anything else) I'm not too sure on, and I'd really appreciate it if anyone had the answers :D

Cheers

Monarto’s chimpanzee exhibit is 3000m2 and the largest chimpanzee exhibit in the region. :) For comparison, Taronga’s exhibit is 1910m2 and they hold the largest chimpanzee troop in the region (21 chimpanzees). With this in mind, Monarto can easily afford to continue expanding their troop size (currently 12 chimpanzees).
 
This is probably the wrong thread, so I do apologise for that, however I wasn't able to locate an any more appropriate thread.

Just wondering, does anyone know how big any of the enclosures at Monarto are? I know the Lion enclosure is in the ballpark of 10 hectares, but the others (everything from chimps, addax, The Waterhole, AWD and anything else) I'm not too sure on, and I'd really appreciate it if anyone had the answers :D

Cheers

The black rhinoceros exhibit is five acres and the elephant complex will total 14ha.

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Female black rhinoceros plans:

On the subject of black rhinoceros, this site gives an overview of plans for a new habitat (seen on the schematic below) that will allow the zoo to bring in females. It’s great to know this is very much still in the plans.

https://www.theanimalfacts.com/blac...w-exhibit-at-monarto-safari/?expand_article=1

The opening of the new habitat is only the first stage of the black rhinoceros expansion at Monarto Safari Park. Further habitats are planned which will allow females to move in and a breeding program to commence.

There is a large space adjoining the new exhibit, which we plan to create further areas to house more black rhinos in the future, including females.

His new habitat was built with this in mind and includes a strengthened 'meet and greet' fence where males and females will have their first meetings


upload_2024-2-28_7-45-26.jpegSource: Zoos SA
 

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The black rhinoceros exhibit is five acres and the elephant complex will total 14ha.

————————————————————

Female black rhinoceros plans:

On the subject of black rhinoceros, this site gives an overview of plans for a new habitat (seen on the schematic below) that will allow the zoo to bring in females. It’s great to know this is very much still in the plans.

https://www.theanimalfacts.com/blac...w-exhibit-at-monarto-safari/?expand_article=1

The opening of the new habitat is only the first stage of the black rhinoceros expansion at Monarto Safari Park. Further habitats are planned which will allow females to move in and a breeding program to commence.

There is a large space adjoining the new exhibit, which we plan to create further areas to house more black rhinos in the future, including females.

His new habitat was built with this in mind and includes a strengthened 'meet and greet' fence where males and females will have their first meetings


View attachment 688459Source: Zoos SA

Bringing over females has been on the plans for years now. Hopefully they will achieve this via import. However I think with continued breeding at western plains we will eventually see a female or two transfer across.

It would be good to see Aus import some from the United States as of memory they are going for the other subspecies as there main focus. For zoos wanting to swap over acquiring there rhinos would be ideal for us.
 
Bringing over females has been on the plans for years now. Hopefully they will achieve this via import. However I think with continued breeding at western plains we will eventually see a female or two transfer across.

It would be good to see Aus import some from the United States as of memory they are going for the other subspecies as there main focus. For zoos wanting to swap over acquiring there rhinos would be ideal for us.

Yes, the US are focussed on the Eastern subspecies. It would be preferable to see imports undertaken at this point as we’ve now begun inbreeding. I doubt anything will happen on this front for some time with the elephant complex and the white rhino imports higher priorities. The second habitat outlined in plans will allow both bulls to be on display in the meantime, with the intention to hopefully import females in a few years.
 
Yes, the US are focussed on the Eastern subspecies. It would be preferable to see imports undertaken at this point as we’ve now begun inbreeding. I doubt anything will happen on this front for some time with the elephant complex and the white rhino imports higher priorities. The second habitat outlined in plans will allow both bulls to be on display in the meantime, with the intention to hopefully import females in a few years.

I wonder if they will hinge getting female black rhino on the fact that they have a bull that is unrelated to some of dubbos females. If they don't want to send him back they may be using that to see if western plains sends over a female.
If they end up with another female birth. That will be more likely.
Incorporating black rhino into the new African exhibits would be quite a nice touch.
 
I wonder if they will hinge getting female black rhino on the fact that they have a bull that is unrelated to some of dubbos females. If they don't want to send him back they may be using that to see if western plains sends over a female.
If they end up with another female birth. That will be more likely.
Incorporating black rhino into the new African exhibits would be quite a nice touch.

Transferring Bakhita to Monarto to breed with Induna makes the most sense imo. She’s an experienced breeding female, which puts Monarto (a facility who have never bred the species) in good stead, especially since they’d be pairing her with an unproven bull.
 
Tasmanian devil update:

Breeding season has begun at the park, with eight pairs of devils recently paired in the hope of producing offspring this year.

The three devils (non-breeding) on display near the African Waterhole are Belinda, Nancy and Odessey.

Reported on socials.


It's interesting to see that they still have 8 pairs. The devil program has been shrunk considerably with the recommendation to have just a captive population in zoos and not a huge back up population like we had. Due to wild populations recovering somewhat.
 
It's interesting to see that they still have 8 pairs. The devil program has been shrunk considerably with the recommendation to have just a captive population in zoos and not a huge back up population like we had. Due to wild populations recovering somewhat.

They’re a popular species internationally and there’s no shortage of zoos willing to import Australia’s surplus (non-reproductive animals), which act as ambassadors for Australia’s conservation programmes.

Auckland Zoo has two decent sized exhibits (one of which can be divided into two) and are now down to two devils, so I imagine they’ll be importing some three or four year olds from Australia in the near future.
 
Naming competitions underway:

Hyena cubs:

Four Hyena cubs (twins each to Fahari and Kanzi) have been born this year. Your invited to select your four favourite names.

Names are listed below:
  • Kusudi (meaning with purpose in Swahili)
  • Kula – (meaning eat in Swahili)
  • Tufani – (meaning hurricane in Swahili)
  • Kicheko – (meaning laugh in Swahili)
  • Utundu –(meaning mischief in Swahili)
  • Macheo – (meaning sunrise in Swahili)
  • Akida – (meaning firm in Swahili)
  • Kushamiri – (meaning flourish in Swahili)
  • Fisi - (meaning Hyena in Swahili)
  • Amua – (meaning determine in Swahili)
  • Thembayo – (meaning hopeful in Zulu)
Giraffe Calf:

A giraffe calf was also born last November to mum, Scarlett and is in need of a name too.

The naming options are as follows:
  • Mudiki – (means little one in Shona)
  • Makumbo – (means legs in Shona)
  • Mwana – (means child in Shona)
  • Mahwanda – (means hooves in Shona)
  • Omncane – (means little one in Zulu)
Voting can be done via their website, which I've linked below:
Animal naming competition - Monarto Safari Park
 
Naming competitions underway:

Hyena cubs:

Four Hyena cubs (twins each to Fahari and Kanzi) have been born this year. Your invited to select your four favourite names.

Names are listed below:
  • Kusudi (meaning with purpose in Swahili)
  • Kula – (meaning eat in Swahili)
  • Tufani – (meaning hurricane in Swahili)
  • Kicheko – (meaning laugh in Swahili)
  • Utundu –(meaning mischief in Swahili)
  • Macheo – (meaning sunrise in Swahili)
  • Akida – (meaning firm in Swahili)
  • Kushamiri – (meaning flourish in Swahili)
  • Fisi - (meaning Hyena in Swahili)
  • Amua – (meaning determine in Swahili)
  • Thembayo – (meaning hopeful in Zulu)
Giraffe Calf:

A giraffe calf was also born last November to mum, Scarlett and is in need of a name too.

The naming options are as follows:
  • Mudiki – (means little one in Shona)
  • Makumbo – (means legs in Shona)
  • Mwana – (means child in Shona)
  • Mahwanda – (means hooves in Shona)
  • Omncane – (means little one in Zulu)
Voting can be done via their website, which I've linked below:
Animal naming competition - Monarto Safari Park

There’s some really great options here. Around a third I’ve never even heard of and the two thirds I’ve have are by no means commonly used names. Expanding into the Shona language from the more frequently used Swahili and Zulu is good to see.

Since Kanzi is the dominant female, I thought at least one of the names would reference her status though, given hierarchy is hereditary in hyena.
 
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