Perth Zoo Perth Zoo News 2025

Four female Slender-tailed meerkat have arrived:
From socials:

We’ve recently welcomed a new mob of meerkats!

These four girls have been settling in behind-the-scenes in our vet department, and keeping our vet nurses on their toes

In the coming weeks, these adorable new additions will be moving into the African Savannah.
That is some very good news they have probably can for the African Savannah expansion. Any idea what Zoo they came from?

The new Slender-tailed meerkats (Nairobi, Tswana, Kasani and Tuli) came from Sydney Zoo.
 
Notes from recent visit:

-The Meerkat enclosure has reopened- The 4 new girls are on display (see photo attached)

-I also managed to see the off display old troop by looking through a fence and I took a photo, not sure what the Zoos plans are for them old ones.

- 1.0 Kigana (19/11/2000) is now the oldest Hyena in Australia and possibly the world (captivity) and is soon to break the record for the oldest ever in captivity -(info from keeper)

And in more info from the hyena keeper, I previously was told we would be receiving 2 female hyenas from monarto, instead I was told once unfortunately Kigana eventually passes away Sabi (Subordinate second male hyena at perth zoo) will go back to monarto, with his old mates/children (He was born there are moved to Perth zoo in 2008) and we will instead receive 2 new males from monarto in exchange.

Why not let him just be with the two new males, I think because they will then have to organise a hierarchy and it will be a bit more difficult.

*Between Sabi going to monarto and PZ recieing 2 new males they plan to upgrade the exhibit

Photo one is one of the new girls on display and photo two is one of the old meerkats from the troop currently being housed out the back away from the public eye, except me ;)
 

Attachments

  • DSC_2517.JPG
    DSC_2517.JPG
    91.5 KB · Views: 4
  • DSC_2664.JPG
    DSC_2664.JPG
    204.9 KB · Views: 5
And in more info from the hyena keeper, I previously was told we would be receiving 2 female hyenas from monarto, instead I was told once unfortunately Kigana eventually passes away Sabi (Subordinate second male hyena at perth zoo) will go back to monarto, with his old mates/children (He was born there are moved to Perth zoo in 2008) and we will instead receive 2 new males from monarto in exchange.
Thanks for this update.

There's a plethora of males that Monarto could provide (they have nine in total), although there are six prime candidates. Two pairs of young brothers who still live in their maternal clans; and then two older males who reside together.

It's interesting that they're considering sending Sabi back to Monarto. He has no breeding value there due to being related to all of their females, so they're possibly just doubting he can successfully integrate with the new males, and instead deem his best chance integrating with a few females to form a non breeding clan.
 
- 1.0 Kigana (19/11/2000) is now the oldest Hyena in Australia and possibly the world (captivity) and is soon to break the record for the oldest ever in captivity -(info from keeper)
Well, that's not true in the slightest. The oldest captive Spotted Hyaena was 41 years old. Even in the wild they routinely live into their 20s. I really doubt he is even nearly the oldest currently in captivity in the world.
 
Well, that's not true in the slightest. The oldest captive Spotted Hyaena was 41 years old. Even in the wild they routinely live into their 20s. I really doubt he is even nearly the oldest currently in captivity in the world.
(Info from Keeper) pls don't shoot the messenger :(
 
Looks impressive. The aerial lines will be 14 metres above the ground as this is apparently the height that deters the gibbons from thinking it’s safe to fall.
That is one of my main concern is the Gibbons falling.
I am going to the Zoo in a few hours so I will be able to take a better photo
 
That is one of my main concern is the Gibbons falling.
I am going to the Zoo in a few hours so I will be able to take a better photo

Auckland Zoo’s aerial pathway is 2km of aerial lines at varying heights of 20-25 metres. No falls of the Bornean orangutan and Siamang that use it have ever been reported.

Perth Zoo will surely be careful to avoid placing it over anything likely to entice the gibbons to jump down onto e.g. a tree, so I don’t anticipate any issues.

Enjoy your visit. :)
 
Notes from recent visit:

-The Meerkat enclosure has reopened- The 4 new girls are on display (see photo attached)

-I also managed to see the off display old troop by looking through a fence and I took a photo, not sure what the Zoos plans are for them old ones.

- 1.0 Kigana (19/11/2000) is now the oldest Hyena in Australia and possibly the world (captivity) and is soon to break the record for the oldest ever in captivity -(info from keeper)

And in more info from the hyena keeper, I previously was told we would be receiving 2 female hyenas from monarto, instead I was told once unfortunately Kigana eventually passes away Sabi (Subordinate second male hyena at perth zoo) will go back to monarto, with his old mates/children (He was born there are moved to Perth zoo in 2008) and we will instead receive 2 new males from monarto in exchange.

Why not let him just be with the two new males, I think because they will then have to organise a hierarchy and it will be a bit more difficult.

*Between Sabi going to monarto and PZ recieing 2 new males they plan to upgrade the exhibit

Photo one is one of the new girls on display and photo two is one of the old meerkats from the troop currently being housed out the back away from the public eye, except me ;)
I would love to see the Hyena exhibit upgraded right now the exhibit has nothing but sand and some enrichment. And the exhibit is ageing. I believe the exhibit was never made for Hyenas if anyway can correct me that would be much appreciated
 
I would love to see the Hyena exhibit upgraded right now the exhibit has nothing but sand and some enrichment. And the exhibit is ageing. I believe the exhibit was never made for Hyenas if anyway can correct me that would be much appreciated

The current hyena exhibit was previously an oryx yard. Perth Zoo held Spotted hyena in the 1990’s, which lived in a small exhibit at the end of the Savannah, which was later redeveloped for Slender-tailed meerkat.

Offspring from the zoo’s first breeding pack were exported to Singapore. It’d be interesting to know if any of the region’s Singapore imports descend from them.
 
The current hyena exhibit was previously an oryx yard. Perth Zoo held Spotted hyena in the 1990’s, which lived in a small exhibit at the end of the Savannah, which was later redeveloped for Slender-tailed meerkat.

Offspring from the zoo’s first breeding pack were exported to Singapore. It’d be interesting to know if any of the region’s Singapore imports descend from them.
I’m glad they got a bigger exhibit. But what happened to the Oryx? I would love to see a Oryx
 
On my most recent visit to Perth Zoo I was told that the dinosaurs won’t extend into Putra Mas exhibit I was that Putra Mas will leave next month.
As soon as he leave the Zoo will start work of turning his exhibit into a Giraffe exhibit.

Just a note that while Putra Mas’ musth cycle would have wrapped up by April/May, they’ve said June for his departure to allow him time to reacclimatise to crate training. He hasn’t participated in this for a few months now and while he may not need a further two months of training, they’re prepared for the possibility he might.

Fingers crossed the move goes well for him.
 
Just a note that while Putra Mas’ musth cycle would have wrapped up by April/May, they’ve said June for his departure to allow him time to reacclimatise to crate training. He hasn’t participated in this for a few months now and while he may not need a further two months of training, they’re prepared for the possibility he might.

Fingers crossed the move goes well for him.
I was told end of May
 
I was told end of May

Yep, that’ll give them a month or so to get back into crate training. After a month they can assess where he’s at and make a call to do another month of training or take the plunge. It’ll be a huge operation logistically speaking, so they’ll want maximum confidence he’ll actually get in the crate on the day.

What they’re teaching him isn’t rocket science for an intelligent animal like an elephant (Taronga’s cows learnt it in three months), but he does seem to have an aversion to crates as evidenced by the failed attempt to ship him to Fort Worth.
 
On my most recent visit to Perth Zoo I was told that the dinosaurs won’t extend into Putra Mas exhibit I was that Putra Mas will leave next month.
As soon as he leave the Zoo will start work of turning his exhibit into a Giraffe exhibit.
Are any other species mentioned for the extended Giraffe exhibit?
 
Back
Top