San Diego Zoo Safari Park Platypus at San Diego Zoo Safari Park

As some observed earlier: in retrospect Taronga not having an okapi exhibit is equally irrelevant at this stage.

As far as I can see this would enrich both zoo regions with an iconic species and in the case of the platypus: the SDZ would contribute significantly to platypus conservation in Australia.

Second benefit would be that ZAA region would finally get another new ambassador rainforest species to fit with their theme at Taronga (for the more delicate species). Bongo to follow ..???

I just do hope the HS and Co. intervention do not **** up this - IMHO harmless (and quid pro quo) deal - between 2 world reknowned zoos. Out of interest there (and well be knowest to most ... I would assume in am no fan of self-proclaimed animal welfare organisations as such) what are the credentials of HS in native species conservation or even native species' animal welfare?
 
Couple of points relating to the above.

Kifaru Bwana said:
As far as I can see this would enrich both zoo regions with an iconic species and in the case of the platypus: the SDZ would contribute significantly to platypus conservation in Australia.
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San Diego Zoo Global is going to be donating $500,000 to (an unspecified-as-yet) platypus conservation programme in Australia. I'm not sure if this is reliant on them getting platypus or if it is regardless. I haven't found anything specific about it.

Kifaru Bwana said:
Second benefit would be that ZAA region would finally get another new ambassador rainforest species to fit with their theme at Taronga (for the more delicate species). Bongo to follow ..???
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The Bovid IRA is almost ready to run. I'd imagine bongo will be coming in, although through the "smaller" zoos probably. Certainly there will be new bongo before okapi ever appear.

Kifaru Bwana said:
Out of interest there (and well be knowest to most ... I would assume in am no fan of self-proclaimed animal welfare organisations as such) what are the credentials of HS in native species conservation or even native species' animal welfare?
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the Humane Society don't need to know anything about native species conservation, they just need to complain and someone else deals with it. The objections I've read (from any party) mostly revolve around how the few platypus sent out of Australia seventy-odd years ago mostly didn't live long. One would hope that the people making the decision take note of what is told to them by actual experts.
 
A sort-of-update, from the other week. There's a nine minute video of questions-and-answers at the Senate Estimates on the proposal. Lee Rhiannon clearly knows nothing about the specifics of the situation, although she equally clearly opposes it (based, presumably, on nothing).
Senate Estimates: Wildlife Diplomacy – Trading platypus

If you can't view the video, the gist of it is that Taronga is still preparing the documents for the application to present to the government.

Chlidonias said:
San Diego Zoo Global is going to be donating $500,000 to (an unspecified-as-yet) platypus conservation programme in Australia. I'm not sure if this is reliant on them getting platypus or if it is regardless. I haven't found anything specific about it.
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In the video one of the answers specifically says the half-million from San Diego is independent of them getting platypus.
 
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Chlidonias said:
A sort-of-update, from the other week. There's a nine minute video of questions-and-answers at the Senate Estimates on the proposal. Lee Rhiannon clearly knows nothing about the specifics of the situation, although she equally clearly opposes it (based, presumably, on nothing).
Senate Estimates: Wildlife Diplomacy – Trading platypus

If you can't view the video, the gist of it is that Taronga is still preparing the documents for the application to present to the government.

In the video one of the answers specifically says the half-million from San Diego is independent of them getting platypus.
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The transcript of that video is now here: Senate Estimates: Wildlife diplomacy & Platypus exports by Taronga Zoo
 
Does anybody with knowledge of the political scene in Australia have a gut feeling how likely it is that a platypus export will be approved?
 
DavidBrown said:
Does anybody with knowledge of the political scene in Australia have a gut feeling how likely it is that a platypus export will be approved?
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I actually think it is quite likely (despite things I have said in the past about how platypus will never be seen outside Australia again!). The final approval has to be granted by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, who is Josh Frydenberg, and he has been firmly in support of the export since the start.
 
DavidBrown said:
Does anybody with knowledge of the political scene in Australia have a gut feeling how likely it is that a platypus export will be approved?
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While the Greens have forged for themselves an important role in Australian politics, they are seen as opposing the current government and are unlikely to influence them to any degree. Also Lee Rhiannon is fairly isolated within the Greens herself. So while her position remains personal and has no broader public support outside the "animal rights" movement, it seems very unlikely her opposition will have any influence on government policy.
 
Omg now I have to come back to California even sooner than planned.

For how long are they going to be alive ?
 
gormancgo said:
Update this link was under the Giving Opportunities on the website. Looks like they will be going into the Safari Park's new Walkabout

Platypus Pond at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
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Wow. Despite starting this thread and providing updates, I'm still surprised it actually eventuated!

One mild note of caution though - the wording on the link is along the lines of "donate to help bring the platypus to San Diego" which could be interpreted as that it is still not entirely a done deal.
 
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Rayane said:
Omg now I have to come back to California even sooner than planned.

For how long are they going to be alive ?
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Well, one would hope that they will live a normal lifespan (which for platypus is between one and two decades)...
 
Oh. My. God.

This is huge! Deep down I had always hoped it would happen, but I could never really bring myself to expect it to happen, but it did. San Diego worked their magic and hopefully they will do what they did for the Tasmanian devil to the duck-billed platypus. Now its time to start planning for another San Diego trip. :)
 
Chlidonias said:
Well, one would hope that they will live a normal lifespan (which for platypus is between one and two decades)...
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I know the Bronx back in the days didn't make any live longer than 18 months. That's why I'm kind of skeptical.

As long as they don't do the same China did to LA for the golden monkeys, this is an awesome news.
 
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