Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2024

Kifaru Bwana said:
TBH: I would welcome ZAA zoos in the Australasian region to invest in either pure-bred East or Southern African Struthio camelus ssp. or the threatened Somali ostrich Struthio molybdophanes (IUCN Red Listing: Vulnerable).
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That would indeed be nice

I'd like to see them do something in regards to pursuing some purebred giraffe, even if it was only a few herds held between TWPZ, Monarto, and Werribee. I can't imagine any major changes happening though when we already have large herds and no need for new imports at the moment.
 
That Aussie Guy said:
That would indeed be nice

I'd like to see them do something in regards to pursuing some purebred giraffe, even if it was only a few herds held between TWPZ, Monarto, and Werribee. I can't imagine any major changes happening though when we already have large herds and no need for new imports at the moment.
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Australia doesn’t have a Giraffe/Okapi IRA at this point in time, so the only realistic avenue is importing via New Zealand (which does have the IRA).

Given giraffes imported via New Zealand must quarantine in New Zealand for 12 months prior to being imported into Australia, the best course of action appears to be to import young giraffes into New Zealand and then send their first generation offspring on to Australian zoos.

Unfortunately none of New Zealand’s four main zoos have any plans to import giraffes to my knowledge. Three have young bulls on site; and the fourth holds a bachelor herd. It’s my opinion that any imports that do eventuate will be of generic giraffes.
 
Osedax said:
In an ideal scenario, yes. Unfortunately, I don't think that's possible. We are not able to import birds into Australia, and I believe all our ostriches are hybrids.
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The notion that comes to mind is "fake wildlands nature" being promoted in (an) accredited zoological facility / facilties . Why on Earth exhibit a hybrid crossbreed "farmed" ostrich that does not all all its wild counterparts by a long mile and instead try and acquire the real thing and have some conservation education / exhibit added value?!

Further and perhaps less pleasing - and to me even more disconcerting - it remanis pandering to the livestock industry and its interests (which prevent with all due respect effectively and efficiently dealing with any regulated imports/exports of wildlife and veterinary health compliant exotic wildlife Artiodactyla/Perissodactyla and Carnivora from entering the country in the first place.

To add insult to injury that is something the livestock industry import/export-wise for animal welfare, for well being or for (enabling and being the qualitative factors in) introduction of zoonosis et cetera has never done! Nay part and parcel the livestock industry is itself partially responsible for any "issues" with invasive species (wild horse, dromedary, various deer like axis and red deer, some Indian hoofstock, black/brown rats, feral pigs, giant toads ....et cetera) have become a pest animal in the first place and more-or-less out of control area) while not doing anything constructive in matters combatting invasive species impacts in Australia.
 
I visited Monarto today. I walked about ten kilometres of the 13 kilometres of walking track at Monarto Safari Park which is a wildlife watching hotspot in its own right. I am still trying to comprehend the scale of this place. I saw an incredible range of wildlife on zoo grounds including Western Grey and Red Kangaroos, a Shingleback crossing a path, Red-capped Robin, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Mallee Ringneck among others and an overwhelming number of Emus and White-winged Choughs. Incredible. Zoo-related updates:
  • Galatea the female chimp is still pregnant as of this afternoon. She was actively nest building in the indoor area while the young chimps were playing around above.
  • Two female giraffe are currently pregnant. There were also two very young Eland calves and 26 Ostrich chicks currently along with the two recent giraffe calves in the expansive waterhole exhibit.
  • Gating has arrived for the new elephant exhibit (photos to come). This is Monarto's current priority over the hotel for Wild Africa.
  • According to the bus volunteer, the oryx in Wild Africa have bred so well they have had to separate sexes to manage the population. They have reached 50+ individuals.
 
Luke899 said:
So allegedly in a months time Burma is supposed to be arriving at Monarto. Haven’t heard anything about the move since 2nd July on socials. Hoping its still on schedule
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As far as I’m aware all is on track for November. They’ll be keen to avoid the heat of the summer months and the Monarto complex appears to be progressing nicely.

It’s currently school holidays in New Zealand and shortly before Burma leaves will be Labour Weekend, which is usually an equally busy time for the zoo. I hope to pay one last visit to Burma before she goes! Auckland Zoo certainly won’t be the same without her, but what a great life she’ll have at Monarto. :)
 
Luke899 said:
So allegedly in a months time Burma is supposed to be arriving at Monarto. Haven’t heard anything about the move since 2nd July on socials. Hoping its still on schedule
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Zoofan15 said:
As far as I’m aware all is on track for November. They’ll be keen to avoid the heat of the summer months and the Monarto complex appears to be progressing nicely.

It’s currently school holidays in New Zealand and shortly before Burma leaves will be Labour Weekend, which is usually an equally busy time for the zoo. I hope to pay one last visit to Burma before she goes! Auckland Zoo certainly won’t be the same without her, but what a great life she’ll have at Monarto. :)
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Burma is an Asian Elephant for those who don't know.
 
Zoofan15 said:
As far as I’m aware all is on track for November. They’ll be keen to avoid the heat of the summer months and the Monarto complex appears to be progressing nicely.

It’s currently school holidays in New Zealand and shortly before Burma leaves will be Labour Weekend, which is usually an equally busy time for the zoo. I hope to pay one last visit to Burma before she goes! Auckland Zoo certainly won’t be the same without her, but what a great life she’ll have at Monarto. :)
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Yeah I was told by a friend who works at the airport they have booked an Atlas Air 747 to transfer her. The date is not yet 100% certain though
 
Luke899 said:
Yeah I was told by a friend who works at the airport they have booked an Atlas Air 747 to transfer her. The date is not yet 100% certain though
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That means Burma will be in Auckland for her birthday, which is now celebrated in October. Apparently Burma was born October of 1982; and Kashin in December 1968, which is why their birthdays were previously celebrated together in November each year.

Burma turns 42 in October; and then Auckland Zoo turns 102 in December. Their first elephant arrived June 1923, so that’ll be just over 101 years of elephants.
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
I visited Monarto today. I walked about ten kilometres of the 13 kilometres of walking track at Monarto Safari Park which is a wildlife watching hotspot in its own right. I am still trying to comprehend the scale of this place. I saw an incredible range of wildlife on zoo grounds including Western Grey and Red Kangaroos, a Shingleback crossing a path, Red-capped Robin, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Mallee Ringneck among others and an overwhelming number of Emus and White-winged Choughs. Incredible. Zoo-related updates:
  • Galatea the female chimp is still pregnant as of this afternoon. She was actively nest building in the indoor area while the young chimps were playing around above.
  • Two female giraffe are currently pregnant. There were also two very young Eland calves and 26 Ostrich chicks currently along with the two recent giraffe calves in the expansive waterhole exhibit.
  • Gating has arrived for the new elephant exhibit (photos to come). This is Monarto's current priority over the hotel for Wild Africa.
  • According to the bus volunteer, the oryx in Wild Africa have bred so well they have had to separate sexes to manage the population. They have reached 50+ individuals.
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Looking forward to see the pics
 
Burma arriving mid-November:

An update from Auckland Zoo that Burma is now arriving mid-November:

Elephant-sized birthday treat mouth-wateringly good | Auckland Zoo News

The team is busy continuing to prepare Burma for her November move, with ongoing crate training sessions at a range of different times and durations to get her feeling comfortable moving in and out of her crate and feeling safe and at ease inside it.

Our Zoo team are also continuing to work closely with our Monarto Safari Park colleagues to prepare for Burma’s arrival. Great progress is being made on their expansive 12ha elephant habitat that over the coming year will welcome four other Asian elephants (from two other Australian zoos) who will become Burma’s elephant family.
 
Elephant enclosure - Progress Update

Some key points 7News Adelaide has made:

- Burma is 3 - 4 weeks away from transfer, that means currently aiming between the 18th and 24th of november auckland zoo is hoping for her arrive at her new home, in conjunction with Atlas Air freighter timetable (subject to change).

- Construction of the precinct appears slighty behind schedule. Barn is incomplete and but is "said" to be on track to finish roof and essential upgrades by mid-late november.

- Barn heating has been installed (under the floor presumably). Will be equipt with water misters due to Monartos hot climate. Will apparently be almost entirely solar powered due to remote location of the safari park.

- First of the large water holes has begun being filled, with help from SAWater.

- Unfortunately, Burma is rumored to be off limits to the public until Christmas time. Apparently, not even viewers from a distance are allowed. This would be due to the necessary 4-5 weeks quarantine.

Images are below!! :):)

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Luke899 said:
Elephant enclosure - Progress Update

Some key points 7News Adelaide has made:

- Burma is 3 - 4 weeks away from transfer, that means currently aiming between the 18th and 24th of november auckland zoo is hoping for her arrive at her new home, in conjunction with Atlas Air freighter timetable (subject to change).

- Construction of the precinct appears slighty behind schedule. Barn is incomplete and but is "said" to be on track to finish roof and essential upgrades by mid-late november.

- Barn heating has been installed (under the floor presumably). Will be equipt with water misters due to Monartos hot climate. Will apparently be almost entirely solar powered due to remote location of the safari park.

- First of the large water holes has begun being filled, with help from SAWater.

- Unfortunately, Burma is rumored to be off limits to the public until Christmas time. Apparently, not even viewers from a distance are allowed. This would be due to the necessary 4-5 weeks quarantine.

Images are below!! :):)

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Thanks for sharing. The barn is clearly a way off, but we can at least expect is to be finished by the time Burma arrives. Auckland Zoo have confirmed her departure for mid-November, suggesting confidence this will be complete by then.

The paddocks are clearly a long way off. Since the other elephants won’t be arriving until May, it makes me wonder why they don’t just delay Burma’s import until April. It would ensure adequate quarantine team before the other elephants arrive and allow Burma to arrive to a fully completed facility. The Perth elephants were originally scheduled to arrive a month after her; but since they’re delayed and Burma is on her own anyway, there would be no negative impact on her welfare by delaying the move until April.
 
It think they might have considered perhaps a delay if they hadn’t already paid the freighter. I know because my airport friend has confirmed the booking. Atlas air are a bit of a tight arse with their 747 bookings, rebooking with them would be an unneeded hassle, especially having to book the aircraft and pay to have it sit on the tarmac for several hours if Burma has delays leaving the zoo, etc.
 
Black rhinoceros transfers to Dubbo:

Sentwali has returned to Dubbo, leaving Monarto Safari Park with 1.0 Induna (2003).

From Dubbo’s socials:

Born at TWPZ in 2004, Sentwali and another Dubbo-born male, Induna made the move to Monarto Safari Park in 2007 to help expand the Australasian program.

Sentwali has now returned home to fulfil his breeding potential. His mother was one of the original Southern Black Rhino cows translocated from Zimbabwe in the 1990s to establish the Australasian breeding program, and her genetics are otherwise unrepresented in the region.
 
Monarto posted an update about the elephants on their Facebook page. Nothing said that we don’t already know, although they said they’ve installed cameras now? Not sure if it’s for security or for the public to use

REALLY good drone footage though, great shots of how expansive the exhibit it. 9.3K views · 467 reactions | Eleupdate from Monarto Safari Park | Time for an Eleupdate! We’re counting down the weeks until Burma, the first of five Asian Elephants, arrives at Monarto Safari Park from Auckland Zoo.... | By Monarto Safari Park | Facebook
 
Luke899 said:
Monarto posted an update about the elephants on their Facebook page. Nothing said that we don’t already know, although they said they’ve installed cameras now? Not sure if it’s for security or for the public to use

REALLY good drone footage though, great shots of how expansive the exhibit it. 9.3K views · 467 reactions | Eleupdate from Monarto Safari Park | Time for an Eleupdate! We’re counting down the weeks until Burma, the first of five Asian Elephants, arrives at Monarto Safari Park from Auckland Zoo.... | By Monarto Safari Park | Facebook
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Every zoo in the region has cameras monitoring their elephants 24/7. They’re a (potentially) dangerous animal and it’s essential for security given the potential for intrusion from the public etc. and to mitigate the risks of any breach of containment. Though the complex will be designed to the required standards, no exhibit is fool proof.

It’s possible the public will have also access to a camera for viewing purposes (possibly even a web cam). Hamilton Zoo had one for their tigers when the larger exhibit opened and the public enjoyed using it; and I note zoos like San Diego Safari Park have this feature for their elephant exhibits.
 
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