Perth Zoo Perth Zoo - General Discussion and Speculation

[Jambo]

The Spotted Hyena 2-3 females supposedly coming from Monarto may breed depending on the re- development of their enclosure I understand that Sabi may still be alive when the females come but Kigana certainty not as when he dies is when they will most likely come. I think it might be because of the nature of Kigana etc..... But I am pretty sure Sabi will not breed with the females and that he will just be hanging with them until they bring in an adequate breeding male.

If two female Spotted hyena are transferred from Monarto, these appear to be the obvious candidates:

0.1 Utundu (23/01/2024) Endesha x Kanzi
0.1 Tufani (05/03/2024) Endesha x Fahari

Their transfer would leave their respective mothers with a son each in their pack, which to my knowledge they’re settled in hierarchy wise now.

Transferring three females in would surely overwhelm Sabi, so integrating him with one or two seems preferable - especially if future breeding is the long term goal.

It's also worth noting that Sabi is related to all females from Monarto - he is the uncle of both young females (Utundu and Tufani) specifically, so I doubt any breeding would occur with him.

Down the line however, once he passes, I absolutely wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Zoofan15]

It's also worth noting that Sabi is related to all females from Monarto - he is the uncle of both young females (Utundu and Tufani) specifically, so I doubt any breeding would occur with him.

Down the line however, once he passes, I absolutely wouldn't rule it out.

Fully agree. I’d be surprised if Perth bred full stop considering the number of breeding packs there currently are in the region. A transfer of females could as much be around building up numbers in Perth’s pack given Kigana’s age and females being in greater surplus (Monarto presumably want to retain their males).

Hyenas are a male dispersal species, so they could potentially introduce a new male while Sabi is still alive. They’d have to have a degree of confidence in the females choosing the unrelated male to mate with however (again, if breeding was the aim).

 

[Jaiden]

Does anyone know have a speculation about when the female Rhinos will come to Perth?

 

[Zoofan15]

Does anyone know have a speculation about when the female Rhinos will come to Perth?

At a minimum, they’ll need to wait for Bakari to transfer to Australia Zoo, which I’d expect to be within the next few months.

If the intention is to expand the rhino exhibit into the female elephant exhibit, then they may wait until the dinosaurs are done and dusted since they’ll be operating within a reduced space. It’s unknown how the rhinoceros will react to each other and they may need to keep them separated for a while, which will be easier to manage once the expanded rhino paddock is completed. The two cows are settled at Werribee, so there’s no rush on their side for them to be transferred out.

Depending on how quickly construction can get underway, I’d hazard a guess at November 2025 to avoid a transfer during the summer months (December to February).

 

[Jaiden]

At a minimum, they’ll need to wait for Bakari to transfer to Australia Zoo, which I’d expect to be within the next few months.

If the intention is to expand the rhino exhibit into the female elephant exhibit, then they may wait until the dinosaurs are done and dusted since they’ll be operating within a reduced space. It’s unknown how the rhinoceros will react to each other and they may need to keep them separated for a while, which will be easier to manage once the expanded rhino paddock is completed. The two cows are settled at Werribee, so there’s no rush on their side for them to be transferred out.

Depending on how quickly construction can get underway, I’d hazard a guess at November 2025 to avoid a transfer during the summer months (December to February).

I have asked a docent and they said Bakari will leave in June or July

 

[KaelElson05]

Since there has been a lot of talk about the Savannah lately, I thought I would share this 1994 postcard of Perth Zoo’s African Savannah I bought online

 

[Jaiden]

Since there has been a lot of talk about the Savannah lately, I thought I would share this 1994 postcard of Perth Zoo’s African Savannah I bought online

Wow that is so cool I love that post card

 

[Zoofan15]

Since there has been a lot of talk about the Savannah lately, I thought I would share this 1994 postcard of Perth Zoo’s African Savannah I bought online

Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting to see the inclusion of the chimpanzees considering Perth didn’t have the species at the time (Jamie and Lollipop were exported to Hyderabad Zoo in 1992).

The postcard was presumably designed at an earlier date and was continued to be sold into the mid-1990’s. This could be further supported by the inclusion of a single male lion (Alistair) and no lionesses in the artwork. His female companions arrived in 1994 (i.e. they weren’t there when the two chimpanzees were still at Perth).

 

[Jaiden]

Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting to see the inclusion of the chimpanzees considering Perth didn’t have the species at the time (Jamie and Lollipop were exported to Hyderabad Zoo in 1992).

The postcard was presumably designed at an earlier date and was continued to be sold into the mid-1990’s. This could be further supported by the inclusion of a single male lion (Alistair) and no lionesses in the artwork. His female companions arrived in 1994 (i.e. they weren’t there when the two chimpanzees were still at Perth).

I thought the same thing with the Chimpanzees

 

[Jambo]

At a minimum, they’ll need to wait for Bakari to transfer to Australia Zoo, which I’d expect to be within the next few months.

It'll be quite a journey on the road from Perth to the Sunshine Coast! Three to four day trip potentially.

 

[Jaiden]

It'll be quite a journey on the road from Perth to the Sunshine Coast! Three to four day trip potentially.

Yeah it is quite a long journey for Bakari maybe he might go in a plane

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah it is quite a long journey for Bakari maybe he might go in a plane

That’s possible. All of our regional founders arrived by plane and they’re frequently transported between NZ/Aus and inter-state by plane.

Travelling by plane is considerably less risky than transporting a fully grown elephant.

 

[Jaiden]

That’s possible. All of our regional founders arrived by plane and they’re frequently transported between NZ/Aus and inter-state by plane.

Travelling by plane is considerably less risky than transporting a fully grown elephant.

Yeah it will be so much quicker and safer but I think the Females will come by road. I think the Future Perth Zoo African Savannah needs it’s own thread

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah it will be so much quicker and safer but I think the Females will come by road. I think the Future Perth Zoo African Savannah needs it’s own thread

This thread functions a speculation thread (which applies to the Savannah and any future developments).

If additional Perth speculation threads were started, it could cause confusion over which to post in (and questions over whether each precinct needs its own thread); as well as irritating other forum users who see the new post feed spammed with Perth threads.

The mods do sometimes split threads if there’s a genuine reason to do so - but as a general rule each zoo has a news thread (and some in addition have a single speculation/future developments thread).

 

[Jaiden]

This thread functions a speculation thread (which applies to the Savannah and any future developments).

If additional Perth speculation threads were started, it could cause confusion over which to post in (and questions over whether each precinct needs its own thread); as well as irritating other forum users who see the new post feed spammed with Perth threads.

The mods do sometimes split threads if there’s a genuine reason to do so - but as a general rule each zoo has a news thread (and some in addition have a single speculation/future developments thread).

Yeah I guess it would cause confusion Does anyone have guess of when the African Savannah starts construction? I was told it would be after Puta Mas leaves and the Primate Crossing opens.

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah I guess it would cause confusion Does anyone have guess of when the African Savannah starts construction? I was told it would be after Puta Mas leaves and the Primate Crossing opens.

It makes sense to begin once Putra Mas has left. His transfer will approximately tie in with the transfer of Bakari, which will enable redevelopment of both elephant exhibits.

Memphis can be kept in one half of the rhino paddock (as he is now); while work takes place on the other (currently holding Bakari).

 

[Jaiden]

Yeah was thinking if the Zoo does it in phases the Zoo could keep the Rhinos in Putra Mas current exhibit and and the Giraffes And Zebras in Permai and Tricia’s old exhibit but this would only work if Bakari has left for Australia Zoo by then but then the Zoo could also keep the Hyenas in the left side of Jaya’s enclosures with a little popup exhibit for the Meerkats near the Buskit Station. Plaese tell me your opinion of where the Animals should be moved to

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah was thinking if the Zoo does it in phases the Zoo could keep the Rhinos in Putra Mas current exhibit and and the Giraffes And Zebras in Permai and Tricia’s old exhibit but this would only work if Bakari has left for Australia Zoo by then but then the Zoo could also keep the Hyenas in the left side of Jaya’s enclosures with a little popup exhibit for the Meerkats near the Buskit Station.

I’d say the most likely outcome is that they’ll delay the acquisition of the female rhinoceros from Werribee until the rhino extension has been completed. I don’t foresee Werribee needing to transfer them out any sooner given they’re settled in their herd.

That way the giraffe expansion could be done in conjunction. They’d presumably gut the bull elephant barn to allow giraffes to be held there (while retaining the exisiting giraffe barn). Auckland Zoo have two giraffe barns, which is useful for housing a medium sized breeding herd.

 

[Jaiden]

Yeah that would make a lot of sense since the female Rhinos will come and then have to get use to the current exhibit and then the new exhibit and that would be to much for the Rhinos and I would love to see Putra Mas exhibit become a Giraffe barn but mainly a Rhino habitat or a Giraffe exhibit. What do you think is the best option for Putra Mas exhibit?

 

[Zoofan15]

Yeah that would make a lot of sense since the female Rhinos will come and then have to get use to the current exhibit and then the new exhibit and that would be to much for the Rhinos and I would love to see Putra Mas exhibit become a Giraffe barn but mainly a Rhino habitat or a Giraffe exhibit. What do you think is the best option for Putra Mas exhibit?

The bull elephant exhibit is adjacent to the giraffe exhibit; and the cow elephant exhibit is adjacent to the rhinoceros exhibit, so those are the obvious pairings regarding an expansion of those paddocks. The bull elephant barn would also be higher (making it more suitable for giraffes than the cow elephant barn).

There’s a slight possibility of a rotational exhibit concept being used for Perth’s African ungulates, but ultimately it’d be of minimal benefit to the animals versus big cats (most of which would find the experience highly enriching).