Bongos live in forests
The Eastern bongo in the masterplan concept drawings is at best implied. There’s been no direct (written) confirmation in recent years of their inclusion; despite them being mentioned along with Indian rhinoceros on the zoo’s FAQ page several years ago re. new species.
With the Australian Bovid IRA opening up doors, it’s entirely possible; and we have an existing (albeit dwindling) population of the species in the region already. Going forward, I anticipate we’ll see them predominantly held at the open range zoos (Dubbo, Monarto and Werribee) as opposed to city zoos like Taronga and Melbourne; but Perth of course doesn’t have that luxury and have already allocated a significant amount of space to megafauna like giraffe.
It will partly depend on regional interest going forward. It would be advantageous to have breeding herds of at least 1.2 at the open range zoos; with zoos like Perth holding the inevitable surplus bulls bred from these herds.
I never got better views of Auckland Zoo’s Cape porcupine than when they were housed in the zoo’s old Kiwi House. I agree they’d be a great addition to Perth’s Nocturnal House; but otherwise can cohabit with the meerkats on the acceptance visitors won’t see a great deal of them. Hamilton Zoo have an annex to their exhibit, where you can see into their porcupine den that serves as a compromise.
Luke899
Well-Known Member
Interesting, they would most likely send barkari to taronga or monarto due to its closer proximity and shorter travel time. However, is barkari of any real genetic value to the three open range rhino crashes if he were to be sent to one of them?
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Bakari is unrelated to the cows at Werribee, Dubbo and Monarto; however, Dubbo and Werribee each have only one reproductive cow and both have recently received bulls they’ve yet to produce (surviving) offspring with.
Monarto are unlikely in my opinion as they already have two bulls on site (even though they have multiple cows).
Bakari could go to Altina if the bull they have on loan fails to mate with the two cows. Given their age, it would be preferable they conceive soon.
I wouldn't rule out Monarto as a potential destination. Not only are they the closest facility to Perth, but the new facilities within Wild Africa will give them the opportunity to hold additional bulls (as is the plan with the African import).
In the meantime, Bakari will be a welcome addition considering they theoretically only have one proven male at the moment and perhaps the addition of another potential breeding bull will bolster their chances within their dwindling program.
Additionally, Monarto has the stock to send a female or two back to Perth, which at the same time would also alleviate a lot of the potential estrus suppression occurring amongst their current cows.
Hairy Marron craylings hatch:
From socials:
These craylings have no idea just how precious they are.
These are critcally endangered Hairy Marron craylings hatched as part of our collaborative breeding program working to bring the species back from the brink.
At just a teeny tiny 1cm, they represent a big pinch of hope for the future of the native Hairy Marron!
From socials:
These craylings have no idea just how precious they are.
These are critcally endangered Hairy Marron craylings hatched as part of our collaborative breeding program working to bring the species back from the brink.
At just a teeny tiny 1cm, they represent a big pinch of hope for the future of the native Hairy Marron!
Western swamp tortoise release:
Western swamp tortoises released to help boost population
Twenty western swamp tortoises, some of which were bred at Perth Zoo, have been released near Moore River in a bid to boost the species’ population in the wild.
Western swamp tortoises released to help boost population
Twenty western swamp tortoises, some of which were bred at Perth Zoo, have been released near Moore River in a bid to boost the species’ population in the wild.
Perth Zoo Annual Report 2023-2024:
Unlike previous years, there are some decent bits and pieces to report from their most recent annual report: https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/PerthZooWebsite/media/PerthZoo/All PDFs/Perth-Zoo-Annual-Report-2024-digital.pdf
Unlike previous years, there are some decent bits and pieces to report from their most recent annual report: https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/PerthZooWebsite/media/PerthZoo/All PDFs/Perth-Zoo-Annual-Report-2024-digital.pdf
- it was Perth Zoo’s best year ever on record for attendance with 804,763 visitors. Pre-covid, Perth was reaching the low 700,000 annually.
- 13 Numbats, the last 66 Dibblers (no longer at the zoo), 118 White-bellied Frogs and 67 Orange-bellied Frogs were released by Perth Zoo. The zoo have been breeding Hairy Marron for two years.
- 321 wild Forest Red-tailed, Baudin’s and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos were treated at the zoo’s hospital. They have assisted 2500+ wild black cockatoos to date as they continually face a very precarious situation in Western Australia especially with recent poor food sources.
- Regular planning meetings with Monarto Safari Park and Auckland Zoo are ongoing for the elephant transfer, with crate design details advancing for engineering review.
- Besides the already reported transfers and births, two new male Little Penguins arrived from Penguin Island.
- The wetlands frog exhibits for Magnificent Tree-Frog, White-lipped Tree-Frog and Green Tree Frog have been upgraded with improved lighting, landscaping works including adding a new drainage layer, substrate layer, as well as palm stems, branches and live plants.
- The off-show Western Ground Parrots have produced eggs. No fertilised embryos however but they are still exploring AI options.
- Masterplan update – they are currently in the design stage of the African Savannah expansion and planning for the Orangutan Asian Rainforest and Conservation Science Precincts.
According to Zootierliste, Perth Zoo was the only one with dibblers, an endangered species
I think the western ground parrots progress' at breeding is advancing slowly. Certainly, the most important new bird conservation project ex situ of the last decade.
Further context around this significant program that is relatively new for Perth Zoo. Pure Hairy Marron were thought to be virtually extinct until a year or so ago as the commoner Smooth Marron was introduced into the Margaret River, causing widespread hybridisation and competition almost wiping out the critically endangered species that is only found in this single river system. Perth have around 40 adults with two batches of offspring from the past two years currently and this species hadn't bred in captivity since 2014.
Here is a description of the Hairy Marron from iNaturalist (alas without a picture). I suggest everyone concerned about biodiversity and in this case arhropod fauna read it carefully. We need to do far more for our biodiversity than we currently do:
Link:
A.i.) Investigation of the replacement of Margaret River hairy marron Cherax tenuimanus (Smith) by smooth marron C. cainii Austin
A.ii.) Introgression Threatens the Survival of the Critically Endangered Freshwater Crayfish Cherax tenuimanus (Decapoda: Parastacidae) in the Wild - PMC
A.iii.) Rapid replacement of the critically endangered hairy marron by the introduced smooth marron (Decapoda, Parastacidae) in the Margaret River (Western Australia) in: Crustaceana Volume 82 Issue 11 (2009)
B) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Where do we go from here with just 40 adults and X.X.X offspring? The Margaret River needs to be tracked fully for more pure-bred representatives of the species Hairy Marron and ... the far more difficult talk of cleaning up the river of the -in-river invasive smooth marron and hybrids of Hairy x Smooth marrons .... in order to allow for eventual recovery of the Hairy Marron on the Margaret River system.
It will now cost millions of AS$ to remove the smooth/hybrid marrons from the Margaret River (reintroduction is not as cost-effective as mere protection of a species before it moves beyond the critical danger zone. Hence, I keep saying we need to be far more concerned about biodiversity conservation as a Huge Crisis than it is currently portrayed or up in public discourse (viz thankfully the social media, media coverage and public concern over Climate Change currently ...)!!!
If you read the 2010 essay by IUCN Red List one of the threats that is mindboggling that (artisanal / lesuren and ethnic culture??) fishermen continue to fish out the critically endangered Hairy Marron on the river (????)? If this is still happening now, it really needs to stop ASAP and trapping and capture should concentrate on determining the current size of the Hairy Marron population in the Margaret River system only and which portions are hybrids or Smooth Marron!!! Step 2 to remove the latter 2 from the Margaret River system.
I wonder what the projection for long term is. If hybridisation is an issue theyll need to start a population in another river otherwise all they will do is add to the hybrid population.
I was talking right above your posting ... of full removal of the hybrids and smooth marrons from the Margaret River system. There is no Plan B other river system for Hairy Marrons!
1.1 Koala have arrived:
Say g'day to our new koalas | Perth Zoo
Four-year-old male koala Laurie and two-year-old female koala Mindjil have journeyed from over east to join the Perth Zoo family.
Laurie and Mindjil arrived as part of Perth Zoo’s role in the regionally coordinated breeding program. It’s hoped these two fluffy marsupials will bring new koala joeys into the world.
Say g'day to our new koalas | Perth Zoo
Four-year-old male koala Laurie and two-year-old female koala Mindjil have journeyed from over east to join the Perth Zoo family.
Laurie and Mindjil arrived as part of Perth Zoo’s role in the regionally coordinated breeding program. It’s hoped these two fluffy marsupials will bring new koala joeys into the world.