Taronga Western Plains Zoo river hippo

C

Coquinguy

Well-Known Member
with all the excitement surrounding the recent birth in Sydney of Monfia the pygmy hippo, i was wondering if anyone was aware of how the breeding program for river hippo was progressing?
the last birth at WPZ was many years ago now, perhaps at least 8 years now. WPZ was recomended to pair for breeding following an upgrade to its hippo facility in 2006/2007. anyone know of a possible result?
secondly, and word on the proposed transfer of hippo between WORZ and WPZ?
also, any news on Brindabella and a possible pairing for her at WORZ?
FINALLY...whats the word regarding both Cairns joining the program for both hippo species; what have they indicated? and does Seaworld still want hippos?
 
With all the mucking around, thank heavens hippos are long-lived and productive of young for many years!

Sorry glyn, I can't answer your questions - hopefully someone "in the know" will.
I have a question of my own - how inbred are Australia's hippos?

Incidentally, to most of the public hippos (whether pygmy or river) are just "hippos". They don't seem to differentiate between the two. Stand near the pygmy hippo enclosure at Taronga and you rarely hear the word "pygmy".

(And as for Bethel - she's a grand old girl and I'll drink to her continued health and longevity.)
 
probably if you got pygmy hippos and river hippos next to one another they might notice the difference, but theres only two places, maybe only even one now in this country where you can make this comparison.
ive pieced together some information on the river hippo in this country....they are fairly closely related but i think there is more bloodlines than the pygmy hippo program.
you did raise a good point re them being long-lived species, but even hippos dont live forever lol.
unfortunately at least two recomendations i mentioned above appear to have stalled. brindabella needs to be allowed to breed at least once more; it was primrose after all who killed her last calf showing she is fertile and will mate with a bull.
adelaide zoo's hippo are effectively non-breeders leaving just 3 institutions left to breed from. 'the last pair of pygmy hippo left in australia' may sound like a sensational, if not misleading headline but i think if ARAZPA member zoos dont act soon they will be condeming river hippo to the same fate
 
Cairns has joined the program but unfortunately as you have mentioned all hippos (both common and pygmy) are pretty well genetically compromised and the decision of the ASMP for commons at present is to not recommend a breeding from any of the animals at Cairns. However this may change in the next couple of years as there is one that is genetically "ok". Pygmys unfortunately are all part of the Melbourne line and therefore not genetically important.

Brings us back to the debate about numbers remaining, genetic lines versus losing a species to the region and if ever we will be able to import!
 
I would rather see inbred hippos in Australia than no hippos at all (and that goes for pygmy hippos, bongos and a whole lot of other species too!)
 
********.
Australia's zoos with hippo really need to get serious about actioning the TAG recomendations and perhaps even look at disabling some of them too.
when you have around a dozen hippo, most closely related spread between just 4 institutions, one of which has just spent many millions of dollars on a new exhibit dont you think it would make sense to start breeding? not stall the program as in Cairns. at this point id prefer to see even a parent/offspring mating opposed to no breeding at all.
this population is ageing and its reproductive and out-breeding potential is reduced.
numbers need to be boosted now. its unlikely any new animals will ever be imported so rahter than let it dwindle it like to see numbers doubled in the short term to stave off future losses of animals from old age.
 
bigcat said:
Cairns has joined the program but unfortunately as you have mentioned all hippos (both common and pygmy) are pretty well genetically compromised and the decision of the ASMP for commons at present is to not recommend a breeding from any of the animals at Cairns.
G'day bigcat,

How do you stop your commons from breeding up there?

Regards
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Cairns has joined the program but unfortunately as you have mentioned all hippos (both common and pygmy) are pretty well genetically compromised and the decision of the ASMP for commons at present is to not recommend a breeding from any of the animals at Cairns.
Wow, Bigcat - that was really quick for Cairns to become part of the hippo program. Does that mean they can join in on all programs, eg. pygmy hippo?
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