Melbourne Zoo Pygmy Hippo

MARK

Well-Known Member
Taronga zoo's Pygmy Hippo baby seems to be liking her new home in Melbourne's zoo, it's the same exhibit where her dad use to live in.

Maybe a friend can be found for her at some stage?
 
When was she moved?

And also MARK, do you know where the otters are displayed now?

:)
 
That's excellent news...I hope the otters will move back to their normal enclosure now.
 
Taronga zoo's Pygmy Hippo baby seems to be liking her new home in Melbourne's zoo, it's the same exhibit where her dad use to live in.

Maybe a friend can be found for her at some stage?

Indeed a need (rhyme ...) for new blood from overseas.

What is the potential for importation from either the EEP or SSP from the Aussie BIOSECURITY issue / point of view? :confused:
 
I think there is a young male living at the Mareeba zoo in North Queensland that "maybe" could be paired with her
 
While not possible as a breeding mate there is still posibity that another pygmy hippo will be born in a year. There is still no official confirmation that the mother is pregnant again but I did hear it on a morning show being stated by the director (Cooper?)
 
i think we need a notice at the beginning of all australia threads that states:

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO IMPORT ANY ARTIODACTYL SPECIES INTO AUSTRALIA AT THIS TIME. IN THE INTERESTS OF AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS SANITY, PLEASE REFER TO THE DEFINITION OF 'ARTIODACTYL' BEFORE SUGGESTING IMPORTING ANY ANIMALS FROM ABROAD"

i believe the mareeba pair may be related to the taronga/melbourne/adelaide lineage on their mothers side as she was born in the country whereas timmy came direct from the US. still its unlikely to cause any problems and i am sure melbourne will seek the young mareeba male as a mate - its their only option to form another breeding pair.

unfortunately the pair at mareeba have not been bred again, which is a very unfortunate as there is no insurance if one animal unexpectedly dies. the best outcome would be to breed both pairs (mareeba and taronga) until multiple offspring were born of both sexes to both pairs. however were lucky to get one baby out of the taronga pair given how long it took for them to be paired and their current ages of 23 and 28.
 
To all us other simpletons (not phoenix obviousily)......

ARTIODACTYL: Refers to the order of ungulate mammals with two main toes on each foot, inclucing camels, pigs, and ruminants (and hippos).....

Just wondering what is the point of having such a great quarintine service in Australia if it can not ustilise its rescources to test and clear animals of importance into Australia.

And......

If Australian zoos are seriousily interested in long term conservation of animals why do we keep sepcies of animals that we are unable to import suitable breeding mates for, surely it would better for all concerened for the zoo to export such animals where there genetices can be ustilised in breeding programs.....

Pherhaps the goverment is in support of a zoo filled with goats, sheep and kangaroos...wouldnt that be fun....tourists would be flocking to see that. It might be a good idea for the zoos to use some collective pull in order to change the goverments mind on importation....just a thought...
 
We do have the Co-co Keeling Island quarintine in the Indian ocean where the Black rhinos from Africa went to before they were shipped to mainland Australia, also the Thai elephants were there for a time as well.
 
bdradford - your arguments have been thrown out there countless times before and there are a number of appropriate threads in existence here where you will find the answers to such questions. worth looking up.
 
mmmm. That almost sounds like thinking out of the box, thanks for the info mark.

Just so I can use another BIG word,(just for Phoenix) Rhinos are PERISSODACTYLES (having three toes)......

I understand the concern of bringing in ungulates (to agriculture etc) but what are the other possibilities Mark ? AI, embryo transfer IVF ???

Anybody else got any ideas...
 
I think someone had mentioned a while back that New Zealand could import antelope from some overseas places and then "just maybe" our zoo's might be able to import from there, but I dont know if this is true but I guess only time will tell.
 
Phoenix- I am sure they have (and yet, you pre-empted the numerous post from other users; pherhaps this is indication that more information is required), I will locate the other post and educate myself on the matter further, I just didnt seem the need for the rudeness in your message.

In the 15 minutes since my post however Mark has provided us with two worthwile and viable possibilities to our rediculous importation laws for zoological facilities.

Thanks Mark
 
bdradford - if you honestly think that you can form some sort of think-tank to find a loophole in the biosecurity laws that ARAZPA has not yet thought of, then like i said - there is another thread where this has all been discussed before and you should think about continuing this conversation over there.

goodluck - our nations zoos and the future of pygmy hippopotami are counting on you!
 
I think someone had mentioned a while back that New Zealand could import antelope from some overseas places and then "just maybe" our zoo's might be able to import from there, but I dont know if this is true but I guess only time will tell.

I have a neighbour who imported Hungarian Fallow deer that way.
 
Was that in resent times?

I think it was 15 years ago or more. He had problems as the BSE (mad cow disease) outbreak in Europe happened at that time and it took longer than it should.

I think I was wrong with the deer ever getting to Australia. He had to change his plan due to BSE. I think in the end he collected semen and imported that, then sold the deer in NZ. He could have imported the deer eventually but as he had already imported the semen it was not necessary.
 
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