Sable antelope history at Werribee

[steveroberts]

@Zoofan15 @Zorro

Yes the export of the Hippos to Indonesia was a ''wait no!!! Indonesia can acquire Hippos elsewhere, we can't really afford to send any of our Hippos away'', and that poor Pygmy Hippo that somehow escaped from Tipperary and was shot in the NT wilderness, still makes me want to cry.

Oh and another castration story now didn't know about, a male Kudu also, whyyyyyyyyyyy?

Thanks for reminding me about the Addax population we once had too. They are such handsome/beautiful antelope too.

 

[Zorro]

@Zoofan15 @Zorro

Yes the export of the Hippos to Indonesia was a ''wait no!!! Indonesia can acquire Hippos elsewhere, we can't really afford to send any of our Hippos away'', and that poor Pygmy Hippo that somehow escaped from Tipperary and was shot in the NT wilderness, still makes me want to cry.

Oh and another castration story now didn't know about, a male Kudu also, whyyyyyyyyyyy?

Thanks for reminding me about the Addax population we once had too. They are such handsome/beautiful antelope too.

It certainly makes one wonder if the powers that be look at the bigger picture?. Exporting hippos out of a region that could not import them was a mistake that should never have happened. Referring to the feral Pygmy hippo its even worse knowing that it was a female but managed to avoid the local crocodile population for around 6 years

 

[Jambo]

@Zoofan15 @Zorro

Yes the export of the Hippos to Indonesia was a ''wait no!!! Indonesia can acquire Hippos elsewhere, we can't really afford to send any of our Hippos away'', and that poor Pygmy Hippo that somehow escaped from Tipperary and was shot in the NT wilderness, still makes me want to cry.

Oh and another castration story now didn't know about, a male Kudu also, whyyyyyyyyyyy?

Thanks for reminding me about the Addax population we once had too. They are such handsome/beautiful antelope too.

It’s a giant shame neither Melbourne nor Dubbo were willing to take on the Cairns hippos. Both zoos didn’t require a bull at the time; and both zoos didn’t have the space to accomodate three further hippos too. If it wasn’t for SeaWorld, our population may have been in even more dire straights than it is now.

Regarding the Addax; it’s a massive disappointment to see Werribee phasing them out. They were only breeding them just a few years ago, but it seems they’ve decided to stop due to a lack of regional cooperation with the species. A big shame as they’re such a majestic antelope species adding to the fact they’re critically endangered too.

 

[Zorro]

It’s a giant shame neither Melbourne nor Dubbo were willing to take on the Cairns hippos. Both zoos didn’t require a bull at the time; and both zoos didn’t have the space to accomodate three further hippos too. If it wasn’t for SeaWorld, our population may have been in even more dire straights than it is now.

Regarding the Addax; it’s a massive disappointment to see Werribee phasing them out. They were only breeding them just a few years ago, but it seems they’ve decided to stop due to a lack of regional cooperation with the species. A big shame as they’re such a majestic antelope species adding to the fact they’re critically endangered too.

Just going by a number of Youtube videos about Werribee zoo they don't appear to have much in the way of large game animals that's a bit disappointing considering its the only open range zoo in Victoria!

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15 @Zorro

Yes the export of the Hippos to Indonesia was a ''wait no!!! Indonesia can acquire Hippos elsewhere, we can't really afford to send any of our Hippos away'', and that poor Pygmy Hippo that somehow escaped from Tipperary and was shot in the NT wilderness, still makes me want to cry.

Oh and another castration story now didn't know about, a male Kudu also, whyyyyyyyyyyy?

Thanks for reminding me about the Addax population we once had too. They are such handsome/beautiful antelope too.

The biggest loss was certainly that of the young bull Common hippopotamus (Tippi). Not only was he one of the most genetically valuable animals in the region, he would be a much sought after breeding bull.

Contributing to the decision to export was the fact that three bulls were held between Dubbo and Werribee at the time and space was limited. On hindsight, I don’t doubt the region’s zoos regret this decision.

 

[Zoofan15]

Just going by a number of Youtube videos about Werribee zoo they don't appear to have much in the way of large game animals that's a bit disappointing considering its the only open range zoo in Victoria!

For an open range zoo, Werribee are very limited species wise.

They have Common hippopotamus, Southern white rhinoceros, Giraffe and Bison representing the large ungulates; with a handful of medium ungulates and two equids - but they don’t hold other species of rhinoceros like the other two open range zoos; and they don’t have a breeding herd of giraffe (only a small bachelor herd).

Large carnivores are poorly represented. They just have African lion and Cheetah. In keeping with the African theme, there’s no plans to expand their big cat collection at this point in time - whereas Dubbo hold Sumatran tiger in addition to these species.

Werribee hold gorillas, so are doing better than Dubbo who hold no great apes; but I’d love it if they considered Common chimpanzee down the line since they no longer hold them at Melbourne Zoo.

 

[Swanson02]

Regarding the Addax; it’s a massive disappointment to see Werribee phasing them out. They were only breeding them just a few years ago, but it seems they’ve decided to stop due to a lack of regional cooperation with the species. A big shame as they’re such a majestic antelope species adding to the fact they’re critically endangered too.

This is really disappointing. I didn't know Werribee was also phasing out Addax. At this rate, they won't have any antelope species at all in a couple of years! Does this just leave Monarto, Altina, DDZ, and TWPZ as the only Addax holders?

Last time I was at Monarto I was told importing in more ungulates was high on their priority list. Now whether it was more species or just new stock in a genetic sense, I don't know. I appreciate Monarto importing more Lemurs and Hyenas as more genetic diversity is always appreciated. But they desperately need to freshen up their ungulates. I've said it before but I find large cohesive herds of antelope much more interesting than the coupla' of giraffes, a dusty ostrich and an old zebra many of our zoos are collectively calling 'African Savannas' nowadays.

 

[Zorro]

This is really disappointing. I didn't know Werribee was also phasing out Addax. At this rate, they won't have any antelope species at all in a couple of years! Does this just leave Monarto, Altina, DDZ, and TWPZ as the only Addax holders?

Last time I was at Monarto I was told importing in more ungulates was high on their priority list. Now whether it was more species or just new stock in a genetic sense, I don't know. I appreciate Monarto importing more Lemurs and Hyenas as more genetic diversity is always appreciated. But they desparately need to freshen up their ungulates. I've said it before but I find large cohesive herds of antelope much more interesting than the coupla' of giraffes, a dusty ostrich and an old zebra many of our zoos are collectively calling 'African Savannas' nowadays.

That's quite right some are displaying the bare minimum and believe this is good enough

 

[Zoofan15]

This is really disappointing. I didn't know Werribee was also phasing out Addax. At this rate, they won't have any antelope species at all in a couple of years! Does this just leave Monarto, Altina, DDZ, and TWPZ as the only Addax holders?

Last time I was at Monarto I was told importing in more ungulates was high on their priority list. Now whether it was more species or just new stock in a genetic sense, I don't know. I appreciate Monarto importing more Lemurs and Hyenas as more genetic diversity is always appreciated. But they desparately need to freshen up their ungulates. I've said it before but I find large cohesive herds of antelope much more interesting than the coupla' of giraffes, a dusty ostrich and an old zebra many of our zoos are collectively calling 'African Savannas' nowadays.

If Werribee Open Range Zoo phase out Addax, that would reduce the region to five holders: Altina Wildlife Park, Darling Downs Zoo, Monarto Safari Park, Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Orana Willdife Park.

Orana Wildlife Park imported 1.3 Addax from Australia in 2018 and are committed to them long term. As a critically endangered species, it’d be nice to see more regional interest in them.

I agree large herds are a spectacular site given it represents how they live in the wild and gives the visitor a chance to observe natural behaviours you wouldn’t necessarily see within a pair or small herd.