A new bull is a necessity for breeding, but the intent to acquire two additional cows when they already have three reproductive age cows gives an indication as to the large herd they intend to hold.
The incoming giraffes will presumably be under the age of two years (considering transport will either be from New Zealand or inter-state) and so there will be a brief overlap between their maturation and the oldest cow’s reproductive years before the anticipated retirement of her from breeding (by her early 20’s); or they may choose to place her on contraception, which is largely effective in this species.
It will likely be the rhinos getting run of the area the current cow habitat encompasses and the giraffes, zebras ect. getting run of the current bull area. Purely based on the locations of both exhibits which would allow the current complexes easier connection with the future ones.
Yeah 100% based on location of current Rhino yards and current Giraffe + Zebra yards.
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ramsayi
Well-Known Member
i think this would largely depend on the pools in the elephant habitats. of corse they could fill them in before the animals get there but i could see them not using the middle area (where the pool for the cow(s) is) untill its made safe or if the rhinos come before Putra mas leaves ,easy enough to block the viewing platforms from guests as well, just add pot plants like they did for the old otter area.
I agree it’s likely they wouldn’t allow the rhinos access to the pool. There’s too much risk of an incident for no benefit to the rhinos (Southern white rhinoceros aren’t known for favouring swimming/wading like their Indian counterparts).
In any case, I’m of the opinion this would be sectioned off anyway so as not to create a direct interface between Putra Mas and the rhinos.
I suspect they might cement or pull deep soil over it and create a mudwallow of sorts.... I am glad that Perth Zoo is now taking on the "oldies" (non breeding and post reproductive) and allowing more space for breeding!
I agree. It will provide Werribee additional capacity to acquire additional breeding rhino cows (they currently have one); while Perth focus on breeding giraffe (which Werribee incidentally have a bachelor herd of).
Interestingly, it appears Perth’s rhino paddock will be a substantial size for three geriatric rhinos. This presumably points to flexibility around housing additional species with them like nyala; or to accomodating a larger grouping of rhinos/breeding in the long term future.
No. The latest information we have is that there will be seperate (and permanent) exhibits for rhinoceros and giraffe, with the latter to share with zebra and ostrich.
I could imagine Lowland nyala being held with the rhino and there’s a possibility they could use a filter gate to allow the nyala to traverse between the two main exhibits; but I’d anticipate this to be the extent of rotation.
That would be good to see. Eland are currently held by all three of Australia’s open range zoos; as well as Altina and the National Zoo and Aquarium.
Male Eland can be aggressive, so presumably Perth would only be interested in a small group of females for display in a mixed species exhibit; rather than designating facilities/space for the separation of a male and breeding. The open range zoos are better equipped to manage this, with Monarto alone reporting 12 births in 2023-2024.
Surprising to hear this. Obviously the expansion into the current elephant complex will give them more space, but Elands are still quite large antelope for a city zoo imo. Not to mention there would also need to be extensive renovations done to the fencing to keep them in. Those guys can jump!
Are we sure you’re talking about the Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus) and not the more prevalent Common Eland, which have an actual presence in Australian zoos?
As excited I would be for the members down under to receive the rarer former. I, among most of us, are more certain it will likely be the latter species.
It would certainly be Taurotragus oryx. There would be zero supprt for importing Taurotragus derbianus when the region is focussed on Common eland. From Perth’s perspective, they’d be easy to obtain with large numbers being bred in the region. As noted above, a small herd of females would be the most likely outcome were Perth to hold them.
It sounds like he’s progressing well with his crate training, which will resume once his musth cycle comes to an end. Monarto will provide him with a world class habitat, so I’m sure his keepers are as excited for him to make the move as we are.
Luke899
Well-Known Member
I’m really excited for permais transfer. I feel really really emotional for permai.
Makes me teary thinking about how much better her life will be and having many new friends, a larger enclosure, and so much better quality of life, potentially around new borns in an auntie role.
She’s less then two weeks away from transfer now, really can’t come soon enough!
Makes me teary thinking about how much better her life will be and having many new friends, a larger enclosure, and so much better quality of life, potentially around new borns in an auntie role.
She’s less then two weeks away from transfer now, really can’t come soon enough!
I felt similarly positive about Burma’s export by the end. It may have been the end of an era for Auckland Zoo (a century of elephants etc). and it will undoubtedly feel strange visiting, turning the corner and not seeing her in her exhibit; but it was undeniably a positive move (as well as an inevitable one).
If ever I needed any convincing, it was observing the interactions of Melbourne’s multigenerational herd and seeing first hand the benefits it holds for elephant welfare. Throw in a complex the size of Werribee and Monarto and what more could we ask for?
I fully agree ... as it is better for all concerned she grows along at a facility where she can be among conspefics in a matriarchal herd structure and reconnect with her old mate too (not that she will ever ... conceive ... as they spoiled those chances while keeping her only at Perth Zoo).
One criticism / feedback in foresight: the pace of change and that all elephants will only be together for winter 2025 Antipodes-style just does not much appeal to me. I do not see why they could not have moved forward the transfer of the matriarchal herd much earlier. To me, it does not make that much sense to stall events ...
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The transfers have been brought forward slightly - Permai is transferring January: and Pak Boon and Tang Mo are transferring in March.
The Monarto complex was very much arranged in haste versus the Werribee complex, which had been planned for years. It was built in a fraction of the time and as with many projects, ran behind schedule to the point where it wasn’t complete when Burma arrived in November last year.
With four cows coming from three herds, Monarto would have used that additional time since November to work on completing the rest of the complex that will be invaluable in managing these cows separately until a cohesive herd is formed - something that’s not guaranteed and could require an extended or even permanent separation of the proposed herd.