National Zoo and Aquarium National Zoo and Aquarium News 2023

Zoofan15

Zoofan15

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
Breeding pair of African lions now on display together:

Fingers crossed for cubs, which would be the first born at the zoo since 2002.

Two latest lions bring hope cubs could soon arrive in Canberra

Male lion Mlinzi and lioness Nairibi are now on display to the public after spending some months getting to know each other in private since being transferred to Canberra.

Mlinzi was born at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia in 2013 while Nairbi was born in Denmak in 2012 and arrived in Australia in 2014, when she resided at Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria.

"We're hoping now that she's cycling properly, is mating and hopefully within 106 to 110 days we will have some cubs to join the family."
 
Zoofan15 said:
Breeding pair of African lions now on display together:

Fingers crossed for cubs, which would be the first born at the zoo since 2002.

Two latest lions bring hope cubs could soon arrive in Canberra

Male lion Mlinzi and lioness Nairibi are now on display to the public after spending some months getting to know each other in private since being transferred to Canberra.

Mlinzi was born at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia in 2013 while Nairbi was born in Denmak in 2012 and arrived in Australia in 2014, when she resided at Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria.

"We're hoping now that she's cycling properly, is mating and hopefully within 106 to 110 days we will have some cubs to join the family."
Click to expand...

This is good news. Looking at the photos, I think they're in the exhibit on the left (near the Sri Lankan Leopards), which would mean the white lions only have access to the centre exhibit. If I end up visiting again later this month as planned, I'll look to confirm for sure. It will certainly make for an engaging complex with six lions on display.
 
Abbey said:
This is good news. Looking at the photos, I think they're in the exhibit on the left (near the Sri Lankan Leopards), which would mean the white lions only have access to the centre exhibit. If I end up visiting again later this month as planned, I'll look to confirm for sure. It will certainly make for an engaging complex with six lions on display.
Click to expand...

It will surely make for an impressive display. Hopefully Sabi and Marjan are with us for a little longer, they turn 21 years old in June and are the eldest male lions in the region after Robbie at Mansfield.

Mlinzi and Nairibi are a genetically valuable pairing. Nairibi is a founder with no offspring in a breeding pride; while Mlinzi is one of a handful of living descendants of Melbourne’s pride - and apparently the only reproductively viable one as his mother is post reproductive; and his sister is reportedly a behavioural non breeder.
 
Reported on ABC Canberra's Facebook page:

"The owner of Canberra's National Zoo and Aquarium says he's open to selling the wildlife park if the right buyer comes along. The Tindale family purchased the zoo in 1998. Owner Richard Tindale says a prospective buyer would have to be committed to maintaining the breeding and conservation programs already in place. He says the zoo is not a commercial enterprise first and foremost, and that the Jamala Wildlife Lodge subsidised much of the zoo's conservation activity. "I would think if someone came in with an equity, I'd be looking at a few years that they could do a gradual handover and takeover the running of it," he says. "I'm just mainly here to protect what we've spent 25 years building."
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Reported on ABC Canberra's Facebook page:

"The owner of Canberra's National Zoo and Aquarium says he's open to selling the wildlife park if the right buyer comes along. The Tindale family purchased the zoo in 1998. Owner Richard Tindale says a prospective buyer would have to be committed to maintaining the breeding and conservation programs already in place. He says the zoo is not a commercial enterprise first and foremost, and that the Jamala Wildlife Lodge subsidised much of the zoo's conservation activity. "I would think if someone came in with an equity, I'd be looking at a few years that they could do a gradual handover and takeover the running of it," he says. "I'm just mainly here to protect what we've spent 25 years building."
Click to expand...

ZooChat crowdfunding! Let’s go!
A
 
I visited the zoo at the end of last month, and only just now realised I didn't provide the tidbits I noticed:
  • The new alligator exhibit is behind the wallaby walk-through in the new section of the zoo, beside the (relatively new) wombat exhibit.
  • Mlinzi and Nairibi were on display in the right-hand exhibit, with the white lions having access to the other two. No sign of Sabi and Marjan.
  • The tour guide said that all of the cheetah are ambassador animals currently (as in, there are no current breeding plans). Ailsa's wellbeing suffered when she was separated from her sister for breeding last time (resulting in the birth of Solo) and Zingula had been involved in a breeding attempt in the past, but it had been unsuccessful due to her lack of interest in the male.
 
Do you guys think anyone will make a genuine offer? And what that could mean for the zoo, for better or for worse. Also, is there not a house in the middle of the zoo? If a conservationist was to repurpose that are for another part of the zoo it could be very interesting
 
PaddyRickMFZ said:
Do you guys think anyone will make a genuine offer? And what that could mean for the zoo, for better or for worse. Also, is there not a house in the middle of the zoo? If a conservationist was to repurpose that are for another part of the zoo it could be very interesting
Click to expand...

Definitely. There's a large variety of potential ways the zoo could go ownership wise; hopefully it's not some people that wish to turn the zoo into a theme park or something of the sort!
 
Jambo said:
Definitely. There's a large variety of potential ways the zoo could go ownership wise; hopefully it's not some people that wish to turn the zoo into a theme park or something of the sort!
Click to expand...
It’s such a beautiful zoo and I have no doubt Richard Tindale will choose someone who has positive visions for the zoo.
 
Sri Lankan Leopard Birth

The National Zoo welcomed the birth of a Sri Lankan leopard cub last year. The female has been named Kelani and celebrated her first birthday last week.

Her birth takes the zoo’s Sri Lankan leopard population to 3.2 leopards, which includes her parents and older brothers - born December 2020.

A fantastic achievement for the zoo given this is only the third litter of Sri Lankan leopards born in Australasia.

0.1 Kelani (05/04/2022) Ankesh x Yakalla

Information confirmed via friend’s visit (05/04/2023).
 
Visited the National Zoo today:
  • The Cotton-Top Tamarins and Common Marmosets have swapped exhibits at the top of the zoo, with the Pygmy Marmosets still in their regular exhibit in the middle. I'm not sure about the agoutis and the guinea pigs who used to share with them, I didn't linger long at these exhibits but didn't see either species.
  • Mlinzi and Nairibi were on display together in the lion exhibit on the right, which has been Sabi and Marjan's usual exhibit. Having not seen them in late January either, I fear they may have died or otherwise been taken off-display - although that has not been confirmed. Nairibi was sleeping so I couldn't tell whether or not she looked pregnant.
  • Didn't get to the Sri Lankan Leopards until the end of the day due to the route we ended up taking to ensure we made it to the Siamang keeper talk on time, but saw young Kelani, who continues to be a delight and still looks 'little' compared to the adults, with one of the males - her father, Ankesh, I think.
  • A keeper confirmed that there are no plans to breed the Siamang pair again, as they are well-represented having had three offspring and their eldest daughter in a breeding pair in Queensland, and Tunku having difficult pregnancies. Karno was an unintended birth when Tunku was on contraception, and the current plan is to retain 'Kassie' (Kasarna) at NZA.
 
Abbey said:
Visited the National Zoo today:
  • The Cotton-Top Tamarins and Common Marmosets have swapped exhibits at the top of the zoo, with the Pygmy Marmosets still in their regular exhibit in the middle. I'm not sure about the agoutis and the guinea pigs who used to share with them, I didn't linger long at these exhibits but didn't see either species.
  • Mlinzi and Nairibi were on display together in the lion exhibit on the right, which has been Sabi and Marjan's usual exhibit. Having not seen them in late January either, I fear they may have died or otherwise been taken off-display - although that has not been confirmed. Nairibi was sleeping so I couldn't tell whether or not she looked pregnant.
  • Didn't get to the Sri Lankan Leopards until the end of the day due to the route we ended up taking to ensure we made it to the Siamang keeper talk on time, but saw young Kelani, who continues to be a delight and still looks 'little' compared to the adults, with one of the males - her father, Ankesh, I think.
  • A keeper confirmed that there are no plans to breed the Siamang pair again, as they are well-represented having had three offspring and their eldest daughter in a breeding pair in Queensland, and Tunku having difficult pregnancies. Karno was an unintended birth when Tunku was on contraception, and the current plan is to retain 'Kassie' (Kasarna) at NZA.
Click to expand...

Coincidentally, today would be Sabi and Marjan’s 21st birthday - which would be an incredible age if they were still alive. From what you’ve said, it’s likely they’ve passed.

That sounds reasonable re. not breeding their Siamangs. The male is from the Itam/Iuri line; and the female is from the Armstrong/Fern line. These two lines are extremely well represented in the region and will be continued via other pairs such as the recently formed pairing at Melbourne Zoo.
 
News Update (June 2023)

A friend of mine recently visited the National Zoo and Aquarium and provided me with the following updates:

African lions, Marjan and Sabi, are alive and well. They turned 21 years old this month and are now housed off display to live out their retirement years.

The Sri Lankan leopards are housed in two groups: Chatura and Asanka (brothers), are housed off display; while Ankesh and Yakalla (parents) are housed in the main exhibit with their daughter, Kelani.

African lions, Mlinzi and Nairibi, are a well bonded pair - with Mlinzi acting dominant and protective in her presence. Staff are hopeful for a pregnancy, though this remains unconfirmed at this stage.

Five Tammar wallabies are now in the native walkthrough exhibit.

A new aviary is being built in the walkthrough. It currently houses Mandarin ducks, which are temporary inhabitants.

A female Black-capped capuchin named Mocha recently arrived and is now being housed with a male called Coco, who recently lost his mate. The zoo has two other pairs of capuchins - Peanut and Gomez (males); and Gonzo and Monyet (females).

A Plains zebra colt was born 11/03/2023. The parents are Tambo and Kiva. The colt has been named Kamandi.

A female Leopard shark named Leda was transferred to the Shark and Ray Rescue Centre. Her sister, Luna, remains.
 
Zoofan15 said:
News Update (June 2023)

A friend of mine recently visited the National Zoo and Aquarium and provided me with the following updates:

African lions, Marjan and Sabi, are alive and well. They turned 21 years old this month and are now housed off display to live out their retirement years.

The Sri Lankan leopards are housed in two groups: Chatura and Asanka (brothers), are housed off display; while Ankesh and Yakalla (parents) are housed in the main exhibit with their daughter, Kelani.

African lions, Mlinzi and Nairibi, are a well bonded pair - with Mlinzi acting dominant and protective in her presence. Staff are hopeful for a pregnancy, though this remains unconfirmed at this stage.

Five Tammar wallabies are now in the native walkthrough exhibit.

A new aviary is being built in the walkthrough. It currently houses Mandarin ducks, which are temporary inhabitants.

A female Black-capped capuchin named Mocha recently arrived and is now being housed with a male called Coco, who recently lost his mate. The zoo has two other pairs of capuchins - Peanut and Gomez (males); and Gonzo and Monyet (females).

A Plains zebra colt was born 11/03/2023. The parents are Tambo and Kiva. The colt has been named Kamandi.

A female Leopard shark named Leda was transferred to the Shark and Ray Rescue Centre. Her sister, Luna, remains.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this update. That is good to hear that Marjan and Sabi are alive and well off-display.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top