Taronga Zoo Rhinos at Taronga
- Thread starter Newzooboy
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i'd say the fat lady has well and truly sung. and thats ignoring that some of those 3.2 rhino are related from memory....
how so? by that do you mean my logic that low founder populations cannot repopulate a given species? well there are plenty of examples of species that have no i'll effects from sever bottlenecking, i'll give you that. all white-tail deer in NZ are said to come from just a mere handful of animals for example, but in the case of the rhino, i suspect the effects of inbreeding might be a little more severe.
still i'll admit i'm no scientist and thus i'll have to concede i just have no idea about the effects of inbreeding on rhinoceros'.
however there ARE two reasons i think times up for the northern white rhino....
1) the very few rhino at dvur kralove are not thriving. instead they are hardly breeding. i think climate impacts the zoos ability to house this species and this is resulting in the poor breeding outcomes there. and whilst dvur kralove could easily switch to the southern race exclusively and move these valuable animals to a more worthy environment, such as africa, they havent. they have instead selfishly tried to hold on to the only thing that makes their frozen little zoo unique. and help secure their extinction.
2) civil unrest in the congo resulted in the death of all known wild rhino. conservations groups watched in horror as the last 50 or so animals were poached by militias. with them went the NWR's only chance at maintaining a healthy purebred population. the only way to save the animals from extinction was for them to be illegally airlifted out of a war zone. as if that was gonna happen.
lastly there is one other reason, but its more why i THINK we should give up on the NWR rather than an actual sound reason for we it can't be done.
The northern white rhinoceros, is NOT A SPECIES - its a race. white rhinoceros are actually, whilst endangered, in a much brighter position than most rhinos. so if its a case of where to allocate money, i don't want
a cent spent on a captive breeding program that would otherwise go to sumatran rhino captive breeding program. because they are far more valuable.
in regards to the northern whites there is only one thing left worth doing - send them back to africa. send them to kenya, breed them up in a semi-natural preserve and then start using those animals to repopulate former habitat there. if they need fresh blood don't hesitate to hybridise them with southern whites. the unique characteristics of the northerns should, in theory of natural selection, prevail in the right habitat type anyway. so in a few thousand years they will be back to being a purebred subspecies roaming the wild with the special adaptations that are advantageous to being in the north of africa.
i agree that AI research in ANY rhinos can have some benefit, in one way or another, to all other rhino species. my point was more that this is not actually the aim of the AI thats going on a dubbo and that its my personal belief that the talk of saving the northern white rhino is just that - talk. talk amongst zoos that so far haven't done anything helpful at all....
Unfortunately there are almost certainly more southern whites in East Africa then there are northerns.
Going back several steps, I notice that the historic records for Taronga's blacks don't include/mention the East African individual from Perth. I think he/she was paired up with the last surviving black (at the time) and both eventually ended up at Dubbo. Can anybody shed any light?
Going back several steps, I notice that the historic records for Taronga's blacks don't include/mention the East African individual from Perth. I think he/she was paired up with the last surviving black (at the time) and both eventually ended up at Dubbo. Can anybody shed any light?
'DYNAH' arrived at Taronga Aug28, 1981 from the Perth Zoo. She stayed there until she was transferred to Dubbo with 'TARONGA' (born Aug23, 1958). The pair were moved on Nov8, 1991. Both died at Dubbo - DYNAH on May5, 1995 and TARONGA sometime after that.... hope that helps.
I know FERDINAND originates from Tanzania, whist PEGGY originates from Kenya.
I know FERDINAND originates from Tanzania, whist PEGGY originates from Kenya.
MARK
Well-Known Member
There was another Black rhino (male) that was sent to Taronga from Adelaide zoo in the late 70s??, He had been at the Adelaide zoo for many years alone untill the move to Taronga zoo, (to breed), I think he may of been wild caught and imported into Taronga first before his move to Adelaide, he had quite a good pair of horns on the boy, I am sure I have a couple of photos of him.
MARK
Well-Known Member
Phoenix, There was one male which was removed from the Aussie program which if I remember correctly went to the Port Lypmne group in the UK, I dont know if it went via the US or not. But that was in more resent times.
No, it went to Zoo Berlin (and later Dvur Kralove).
Off-topic: to correct a few facts about NWR's in captivity:
1) Dvur Kralove has been the only zoo to ever make an effort to breed the NWR species. It has registered 4 births + 1 hybrid (that has since died) to date by natural means. The current 3.2 are unrelated as far as we can discern.
2) IZW has been involved with the NWR programme since 2001/2002 in order to force a breakthrough to more rapidly increase their numbers. Enormous strides have been made in AI technology and freezing/thawing procedures for ovae and semen plus tissue cells (also of other deceased NWR unrepresented potential founders). We are only waiting on if and when the AI usage in SWR is 100%. Till date 3 AI births have been successful and several more AI are going through their paces as we speak. Whether we will use SWR as surrogate mothers remains to be seen for the future. However, the picture ... though 3 to midnight is not completely ... hopeless. The last thing that dies is hope and I do think we should keep on trying till the very last minute.
3) That the Lord's Resistance Army from Sudan and North Congolese rebels made huge profits off poaching the last NWR's, does not deflect from the undeniable humbling truth that the Congolese central government and park authorities let the NWR window of opportunity slip from them ... and were in fact so complacent that when first talk was to relocate the remaining 20+ NWR to Kenya in 2006 they flatly refused. Now, alas in hindsight we must concede that played a major role in the current NWR predicament.
Back on SWR in Oz. I do not think the situation is as bleak as is said. However, having said that I do think that some of the current female rhino associations at Werribee and Monarto need to be broken up to stimulate breeding (viz the situation at Auckland-Hamilton pre-move and now).
mark - i thought US, but whilst my memory usually serves me correct - i could so be wrong. may very well be the rhino i spoke of.
kifaru bwana - yes, i agree wholeheartedly the congolese government is almost entirely to blame. when they announced that they "could protect their own wildlife" they signed the rhino's death certificate.
however thats about all i agree on. no births for 10 years equals complete an utter failure on their part. san diego and dvur kralove have refused to acknowledge they are incapable of breeding the animals and rather than move in a new direction, such as attempt consolidation and repatriation, have instead contributed to the worsening of the situation.
kifaru bwana - yes, i agree wholeheartedly the congolese government is almost entirely to blame. when they announced that they "could protect their own wildlife" they signed the rhino's death certificate.
however thats about all i agree on. no births for 10 years equals complete an utter failure on their part. san diego and dvur kralove have refused to acknowledge they are incapable of breeding the animals and rather than move in a new direction, such as attempt consolidation and repatriation, have instead contributed to the worsening of the situation.
The latter is not true and does no justice to Dvur keeping staff and animal management and their policies in regard to NWR cooperative breeding management.
Dvur is one of the major zoos in Europe for rhino breeding (blacks, SWR (upto 1980's), NWR and Indians) full stop. When it became clear that natural breeding was getting ever more difficult, management has actively advocated relocation of the NWR to Kenya for a last minute rescue operation (and bring these together with the then remaining Garamba rhino on an intensively protected ranch in Kenya (2005/2006 time period).
This move was first blocked by the Congo govt. and wildlife authorities. Later on officialdom within Europe blocked decisive action allowing for export to proceed. Within the timeframe 2006-2009 20+ rhino were annihilated in Garamba untill .. (none where left after scouting operations by the Kenyan rhino trackers).
At long last and any day now the day will come nearer that at least their 2.2 (ex an elderly sickly cow) healthy stock will fly out to Kenya.
Dvur has been one of the very few proponents of the Back to Africa initiative (and from a point of view of relocation large numbers of hoofstock back to East and South Africa is unparalled anywhere).
I am fairly sure that this animal is 'SINYA'. He originated from Tanzania, arriving at Taronga on July 10, 1947 with two others 'GEORGE' (m) and 'ESTHER' (f).... he was sent away and returned to Taronga where he passed away on Aug 30, 1982.
I will get back to you on the Taronga blacks when I pass by the house tonight and check up on the studbook (do not have it around here at the moment).
MARK
Well-Known Member
I think you are quite right about this well done, I will try and hunt down the pics of him
those pics would be cool to see -
Also found SINYA's transfer dates;
10.07.1947 - Arrival at TARONGA ZOO from Tanzania
25.11.1947 - Transfer to ADELAIDE ZOO
23.06.1981 - Transfer to TARONGA ZOO
30.08.1982 - Death, He did not sire any calves. All 9 black rhino calves born at Taronga were sired by FERDINAND.
Also found SINYA's transfer dates;
10.07.1947 - Arrival at TARONGA ZOO from Tanzania
25.11.1947 - Transfer to ADELAIDE ZOO
23.06.1981 - Transfer to TARONGA ZOO
30.08.1982 - Death, He did not sire any calves. All 9 black rhino calves born at Taronga were sired by FERDINAND.
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Is Ferdinands bloodline still extant in any zoo?
Taronga's black rhino births are as follows, all were sired by FERDINAND:
TARONGA (F) 23.08.1958 dam: PEGGY died in DUBBO
UNNAMED (M) 11.10.1958 dam: SONYA died 11.10.1958
MILDRED (F) 17.04.1960 dam: SONYA died 08.05.1966
SQUEAKER (F) 11.01.1963 dam: DIANNE trans to ASHTON'S ANIMAL KINGDOM 14.08.1969 and later went to MELBOURNE ZOO, died 1978.
BEAUTY (F) 02.05.1965 dam: PEGGY died 24.09.1980
UNNAMED (F) 19.08.1965 dam: TARONGA died 21.08.1965
POMPEY (M) 26.05.1967 dam: PEGGY died 24.10.1972
UNNAMED (F) 26.07/1967 dam: TARONGA died 26.07.1967
CODY (M) 20.05.1975 dam: BEAUTY trans to BERLIN ZOO 18 Jul 1988 - not sure if he sired any offspring in Europe. If not then FERDINAND's bloodline died out.
TARONGA (F) 23.08.1958 dam: PEGGY died in DUBBO
UNNAMED (M) 11.10.1958 dam: SONYA died 11.10.1958
MILDRED (F) 17.04.1960 dam: SONYA died 08.05.1966
SQUEAKER (F) 11.01.1963 dam: DIANNE trans to ASHTON'S ANIMAL KINGDOM 14.08.1969 and later went to MELBOURNE ZOO, died 1978.
BEAUTY (F) 02.05.1965 dam: PEGGY died 24.09.1980
UNNAMED (F) 19.08.1965 dam: TARONGA died 21.08.1965
POMPEY (M) 26.05.1967 dam: PEGGY died 24.10.1972
UNNAMED (F) 26.07/1967 dam: TARONGA died 26.07.1967
CODY (M) 20.05.1975 dam: BEAUTY trans to BERLIN ZOO 18 Jul 1988 - not sure if he sired any offspring in Europe. If not then FERDINAND's bloodline died out.
Cody did get on to become a breeder at Berlin/Dvur.
Thank you all Ozzies out there!
K.B.