National Zoo and Aquarium National Zoo and Aquarium News 2024

Zoofan15 said:
If they intend to import within the next 1-3 years, we can assume it’s from within the region. Australia lack a Giraffe IRA and can only import from New Zealand. None of the New Zealand zoos intend to import from outside the region to my knowledge.

The Hippopotamus IRA is currently being processed; and I’m hopeful the Giraffe IRA will be next, but who knows. Even if it is, it will be many years away. The good thing about giraffes is that long birth intervals aren’t detrimental to the cow’s reproductive health. The cows at Auckland Zoo had 8-10 years between calves while a new bull was brought in (five years after the death of the previous bull); and then took a further three years to mature. Other zoos have had similar gaps or not bred from females until they were 10 years plus.
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Feasible they could import into NZ then from there to here, even with the 12month stay it would be quicker.
I feel like that is wishful thinking though, realistically they are probably waiting for a young bull that has been identified as a good match to mature. Then they will move him across. While it would be nice to see some fresh blood enter the regions population. I don't force us ever actually doing it to any great deal.
 
National Zoo and Aquarium Update

An update from my friend’s visit (November 2024):

Species in the saltwater pond include three Port Jackson sharks, three Eastern fiddler ray, one Eastern shovelnose ray and one Commom stingaree.

The Sri Lankan leopards were split into the groups they’re in (Yakalla and Kelani; with Ankesh on his own) because Kelani didn’t like the new den area and showed a preference for remaining with her mother. Ankesh by contrast loves the new on display den and is unphased by the crowds.

Ndefu the Plains zebra has been transferred to Sydney Zoo.

A smaller Black tip reef shark is on the Jamala side of the shark tank, with the tank currently divided until he grows larger.

Juvenile Lionfish are being raised in one of the live coral tanks.

Black and white colobus, Colin and Halle, have been observed mating.
 
Zoofan15 said:
National Zoo and Aquarium Update

An update from my friend’s visit (November 2024):

Species in the saltwater pond include three Port Jackson sharks, three Eastern fiddler ray, one Eastern shovelnose ray and one Commom stingaree.

The Sri Lankan leopards were split into the groups they’re in (Yakalla and Kelani; with Ankesh on his own) because Kelani didn’t like the new den area and showed a preference for remaining with her mother. Ankesh by contrast loves the new on display den and is unphased by the crowds.

Ndefu the Plains zebra has been transferred to Sydney Zoo.

A smaller Black tip reef shark is on the Jamala side of the shark tank, with the tank currently divided until he grows larger.

Juvenile Lionfish are being raised in one of the live coral tanks.

Black and white colobus, Colin and Halle, have been observed mating.
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Not surprising that Ankesh enjoys the crowds and preferred the new den area - the two occasions I’ve visited NZA he’s been right up on the glass, and seemingly quite happy to follow me around on a very quiet day. I also like to tell myself that he gave a little chuff when I said hello to him last, but that might be a bit of a stretch
 
National Zoo and Aquarium Update

I visited the zoo earlier this week and I was informed that they are currently building an exhibit for porcupines. The exhibit is being built near the emu/wallaby walk-thru exhibit. One keeper informed me that they were getting crested porcupine, when I said that only Orana Wildlife Park had crested porcupine, while the rest of the region had cape porcupine, she wasn't too sure which species will end up being in the exhibit.
 
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Michael Stace said:
National Zoo and Aquarium Update

I visited the zoo earlier this week and I was informed that they are currently building an exhibit for porcupines. The exhibit is being built near the emu/wallaby walk-thru exhibit. One keeper informed me that they were getting crested porcupine, when I said that only Orana Wildlife Park had crested porcupine, while the rest of the region had cape porcupine, she wasn't too sure which species will end up being in the exhibit.
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Unless they're importing from overseas, it's likely they would indeed be Cape Porcupines. Hamilton has recently had success breeding, and has some surplus individuals, so would perhaps be the facility the Porcupine are to arrive from.

However considering Orana's recent breeding success, it's also possible they're sending their older sister pair of Crested Porcupines away to allow more space for their breeding program.
 
@Michael Stace @Jambo

Could be wrong but heard its somewhat common to refer to Cape Porcupines sometimes as South African Crested Porcupines or Southern African Crested Porcupine with H. cristata in turn called North African Crested Porcupine or Northern African Crested Porcupine (though of course your Cape Porcupine and Crested Porcupine taxonomy is the major identification used to separate the two different species for their own classification within the Hystrix subfamily, its just had heard Cape porcy's do get referred to with a Crested title instead sometimes so could explain confusion with Nat' Zoo staff).
 
Michael Stace said:
National Zoo and Aquarium Update

I visited the zoo earlier this week and I was informed that they are currently building an exhibit for porcupines. The exhibit is being built near the emu/wallaby walk-thru exhibit. One keeper informed me that they were getting crested porcupine, when I said that only Orana Wildlife Park had crested porcupine, while the rest of the region had cape porcupine, she wasn't too sure which species will end up being in the exhibit.
Click to expand...
Jambo said:
Unless they're importing from overseas, it's likely they would indeed be Cape Porcupines. Hamilton has recently had success breeding, and has some surplus individuals, so would perhaps be the facility the Porcupine are to arrive from.

However considering Orana's recent breeding success, it's also possible they're sending their older sister pair of Crested Porcupines away to allow more space for their breeding program.
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steveroberts said:
@Michael Stace @Jambo

Could be wrong but heard its somewhat common to refer to Cape Porcupines sometimes as South African Crested Porcupines or Southern African Crested Porcupine with H. cristata in turn called North African Crested Porcupine or Northern African Crested Porcupine (though of course your Cape Porcupine and Crested Porcupine taxonomy is the major identification used to separate the two different species for their own classification within the Hystrix subfamily, its just had heard Cape porcy's do get referred to with a Crested title instead sometimes so could explain confusion with Nat' Zoo staff).
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We can rule out the National Zoo and Aquarium importing Orana’s Crested porcupine. It’s not a supported species in the region and there would be little justification in moving two ageing animals (which are settled at Orana) when they could easily receive young Cape porcupine from within the region.

Orana and Hamilton’s Cape porcupine have both recently bred. Both their females were imported from outside the region; though their males descend from the well represented Monarto line, which is the most prevalent regional line. With that in mind, I also wouldn’t rule out a separation of Adelaide’s brothers as they approach maturity.
 
 
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