Because it’s not an approved country under the relevant IRA (perissodatyls). The list of approved countries Australia can import rhinoceros from is as follows:
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Approved countries are assessed from a biosecurity perspective.
Enough said: stupidity reigns supreme ...here with any range states severely lacking in evidence. I just bow my head in total disbelief (it almost seems that the devil incarnate in the Ministry or resident zoo organisation came up with that one ..., just ... Pffft ... I give up!).
It's good though we can still import them from these countries at least, Australian import laws can become even stricter. So there is hope still for the future of Sth White Rhinos in Australia. This has gotten really off topic from Perth Zoo specifically though: Australasian Rhino Population
Dingo Update
Daku the Dingo has died aged 13 years. The zoo plan on transferring in some new Dingo pups in the near future.
From socials:
We are very sad to let you know that today we said goodbye to loveable dingo, Daku.
At 13-years-old, Daku was being closely monitored for age-related issues. During his most recent health check, it was clear his age had caught up to him and the time had come to give this old gentleman a dignified and peaceful end.
Daku arrived at Perth Zoo as a young pup in 2011 with his late sister, Mirri. With his goofy, loveable, and sometimes clumsy demeanour, he quickly became a firm favourite for many in the Zoo community.
In the coming months, we plan to bring new dingo puppies into the Australian Bushwalk to continue the legacy that Daku and Mirri left. They will have big paws to fill.
Daku the Dingo has died aged 13 years. The zoo plan on transferring in some new Dingo pups in the near future.
From socials:
We are very sad to let you know that today we said goodbye to loveable dingo, Daku.
At 13-years-old, Daku was being closely monitored for age-related issues. During his most recent health check, it was clear his age had caught up to him and the time had come to give this old gentleman a dignified and peaceful end.
Daku arrived at Perth Zoo as a young pup in 2011 with his late sister, Mirri. With his goofy, loveable, and sometimes clumsy demeanour, he quickly became a firm favourite for many in the Zoo community.
In the coming months, we plan to bring new dingo puppies into the Australian Bushwalk to continue the legacy that Daku and Mirri left. They will have big paws to fill.
Oh rest in peace Daku
you’ll be missed, 13 years is good Dingo age innings generally.
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That's an annoying caveat. I was under the impression that rhinos had to come through NZ like giraffe.
It makes it more difficult that we can't import from SA, especially since it's where a lot of focus species are easiest to obtain.
It is interesting that no range states are included yet a lot of those countries import from range states. While the countries as a whole have the diseases we worry about.
Realistically it is likely South Africa and other African range states just do not fill out/care to pander to Australian biosecurity wants and needs. Which is interesting as plenty of diseases have slipped through in the recent decade.
As always, there is a story behind this anomaly but it doesn't belong in this thread.
Swanson02
Well-Known Member
Great I'll be heading to Monarto on the 30th
Hopefully she'll be atleast visible by then
I’m tempted to say it’s unlikely. With Putra Mas transferring to Monarto later this year, I imagine they’ll want to keep everything as consistent as possible to minimise disruption to his routine. He’s been making good progress with his crate training and although they’ll be taking a break as he enters musth, the exhibit and barn he occupies has remained unaltered since 2009. He’s notoriously sensitive to change, so I personally wouldn’t be taking the risk.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the incoming Southern white rhinoceros cows occupy Permai’s exhibit, depending on when they arrive.
Considering Putra Mas won't be arriving until later on in this year, I'd assume it's likely the two cows coming in (from Werribee it seems) will be displayed in Permai's former exhibit once they arrive. Probably sooner rather than later, once the minimal modifications are made to the exhibit and BOH area.
The cow paddock is divided into two (with a swing gate separating the paddocks). It was used to (briefly) separate Tricia and Permai on my visit in 2016. I assume you refer to an additional gate seperating these two paddocks from the bull paddock?
Either way, they could close the dividing gate in the cow paddock to prevent unwanted interactions between the elephants/rhinos.
The masterplan doesn’t provide confirmation either way but if they’re bringing in more giraffes in the near future, my assumption is they’d remain in their current exhibit, which will then be expanded into the elephant exhibit. They will still need a house and the elephant barn is not equipped to house a herd of giraffe that size.