Taronga Zoo Taronga Giraffe Names
- Thread starter jones
- Start date
I know that when I was a kid in the 1950s, Taronga's adult giraffes were the male Jan and the females Mighty and Betty. There were also some young females, offspring of those three.
Jan at that time was the only male in Australia, with no more (supposedly) allowed import, so there was much panic one day when he slipped, fell over and couldn't get up. They finally got him up after about an hour by getting a rope around him and hauling him up against a fence by sheer keeper muscle power (about a dozen keepers hauling on the rope.) Old Sir Edward Hallstrom was there directing the rescue, very hands on, with mud all over his suit.
Jan at that time was the only male in Australia, with no more (supposedly) allowed import, so there was much panic one day when he slipped, fell over and couldn't get up. They finally got him up after about an hour by getting a rope around him and hauling him up against a fence by sheer keeper muscle power (about a dozen keepers hauling on the rope.) Old Sir Edward Hallstrom was there directing the rescue, very hands on, with mud all over his suit.
im pretty sure that Betty is the daughter of Mighty and Jan (born in 1948). Jan sired around 36 giraffe at Taronga.... what a playa! (i think he even bred with his granddaughters)
Jan was actually called 'Jan Smuts', he was born in Johannesburg to wild-caught parents in 1943 and arrived at Taronga in 1947. He started siring offsapring in 1948 and continued till 1967 (death in 1968) He was quite prolific in his time, siring 32 offspring - but many of those were stillborn or died after only a few days.
The first female he bred with was 'Mighty', a wild-caught female from Tanzania. They only bred together once, producing 'Betty' in 1948. However, 'Jan Smuts' and 'Betty' sired six offspring (but two were stillborn). Of the four that survived, one was male, and 'Jan Smuts' bred with the other three!
'Charity' was born in Honolulu in March 1983, and came out to Taronga in November of that year. His original name was 'Dakar', but Taronga had named two calfs born earlier in the year 'Faith' and 'Hope', so Dakar was renamed. He passed away quite recently (last year?).
'Faith' only lived a very short time (about a six weeks). 'Hope', despite going blind in her later years (possibly a result of inbreeding), passed on a couple of years ago. 'Fiona' born in 1974, also died a couple of years back. 'Charity' and 'Hope's first offspring was 'Gerry' who was handreared because 'Hope' rejected him. 'Gerry' was later moved to WPZ. 'Charity' and 'Hope' also produced 'Nyota', born in January 1992. She is still at Taronga, as is 'Andara', who was born at WPZ in 1998 (to Gerry) and moved to Taronga in 1999.
'Charity' was imported for his bloodlines, to take over from the then dominant male 'Jamie', who was born at Taronga on Christmas Day in 1970, and transfered up to WPZ in 1987 because of hoof problems.
Hope this helps.
Hix
The first female he bred with was 'Mighty', a wild-caught female from Tanzania. They only bred together once, producing 'Betty' in 1948. However, 'Jan Smuts' and 'Betty' sired six offspring (but two were stillborn). Of the four that survived, one was male, and 'Jan Smuts' bred with the other three!
'Charity' was born in Honolulu in March 1983, and came out to Taronga in November of that year. His original name was 'Dakar', but Taronga had named two calfs born earlier in the year 'Faith' and 'Hope', so Dakar was renamed. He passed away quite recently (last year?).
'Faith' only lived a very short time (about a six weeks). 'Hope', despite going blind in her later years (possibly a result of inbreeding), passed on a couple of years ago. 'Fiona' born in 1974, also died a couple of years back. 'Charity' and 'Hope's first offspring was 'Gerry' who was handreared because 'Hope' rejected him. 'Gerry' was later moved to WPZ. 'Charity' and 'Hope' also produced 'Nyota', born in January 1992. She is still at Taronga, as is 'Andara', who was born at WPZ in 1998 (to Gerry) and moved to Taronga in 1999.
'Charity' was imported for his bloodlines, to take over from the then dominant male 'Jamie', who was born at Taronga on Christmas Day in 1970, and transfered up to WPZ in 1987 because of hoof problems.
Hope this helps.
Hix
Thanks Hix. once again great info.
'Mighty' had a mate prior to 'Jan'. He was also wild born in Tanzania and arrived the same time as her (his name was 'High'). They produced a few offspring: a male born in 1938 who died the next day (Taronga's first giraffe birth); "Taronga" another male born in 1939 and died two years later and a female "Skye" , born 1941, who died the following year. 'High' died in 1942.
"Clare" was another breeding female. She was born in 1950 in the USA, and mothered many animals at the zoo. her last baby was "Jamie" mentioned above who sired several 'well known recent' giraffes like "Tigga" (female died at Dubbo in 2005, son 'Opala' still at dubbo) and "Ricky" who went to Wellington zoo (passed away recently).
'Mighty' had a mate prior to 'Jan'. He was also wild born in Tanzania and arrived the same time as her (his name was 'High'). They produced a few offspring: a male born in 1938 who died the next day (Taronga's first giraffe birth); "Taronga" another male born in 1939 and died two years later and a female "Skye" , born 1941, who died the following year. 'High' died in 1942.
"Clare" was another breeding female. She was born in 1950 in the USA, and mothered many animals at the zoo. her last baby was "Jamie" mentioned above who sired several 'well known recent' giraffes like "Tigga" (female died at Dubbo in 2005, son 'Opala' still at dubbo) and "Ricky" who went to Wellington zoo (passed away recently).
i read that for many years all giraffes in australia originated from this exceptionally inbred group at taronga.
does anyone know much about the rothchild's that have been imported and now integrated into the main giraffe breeding population?
about how many bloodlines are we looking at now?
does anyone know much about the rothchild's that have been imported and now integrated into the main giraffe breeding population?
about how many bloodlines are we looking at now?
Rothschild giraffe bloodline.
Original animals?
Jaffa - breeding male at Orana, from US.
Females at Orana -Celeste also from US.
Calves - Male Anthony - sent to Perth for their breeding male.
daughters - Sarita, Nathalie, Misha.
Misha is now in Perth where she was bred with her brother to have calves -male - Nakuru (the current breeding male at Dubbo), Mukulu (breeding male at Melbourne) and daughter Shahni.
New male at Orana - Harold, born at Chicago. (related to Jaffa?).
Harold x Nathalie - Makulu(m) now at Hamilton, Zuri(f), bred with her father for two calves, Orly (m) now at Keystone and Armani(m), now at Perth where he has bred with Misha a daughter Mapenzi who is now at Australia zoo. Note that Armanis grandmother is sister of Misha.
Anthonys son Mukulu was sent to Melbourne and his son Tambo is the current breeding male at Monarto.
The current breeding male at Auckland is Zabulu who is the son of Oranas Harold x Sarita.
Confused?
two male blood lines (Jaffa and Harold)
and two female bloodlines (celeste and Twiga - the breeding female at Melbourne).
This took a lot of research and if I have any of the information wrong I apologise and would like to be corrected.
All the breeding males in the region are pure blood Rothschilds and are descended in the male line from either Harold or Jaffa and all have Celeste as a maternal ancestor.
Original animals?
Jaffa - breeding male at Orana, from US.
Females at Orana -Celeste also from US.
Calves - Male Anthony - sent to Perth for their breeding male.
daughters - Sarita, Nathalie, Misha.
Misha is now in Perth where she was bred with her brother to have calves -male - Nakuru (the current breeding male at Dubbo), Mukulu (breeding male at Melbourne) and daughter Shahni.
New male at Orana - Harold, born at Chicago. (related to Jaffa?).
Harold x Nathalie - Makulu(m) now at Hamilton, Zuri(f), bred with her father for two calves, Orly (m) now at Keystone and Armani(m), now at Perth where he has bred with Misha a daughter Mapenzi who is now at Australia zoo. Note that Armanis grandmother is sister of Misha.
Anthonys son Mukulu was sent to Melbourne and his son Tambo is the current breeding male at Monarto.
The current breeding male at Auckland is Zabulu who is the son of Oranas Harold x Sarita.
Confused?
two male blood lines (Jaffa and Harold)
and two female bloodlines (celeste and Twiga - the breeding female at Melbourne).
This took a lot of research and if I have any of the information wrong I apologise and would like to be corrected.
All the breeding males in the region are pure blood Rothschilds and are descended in the male line from either Harold or Jaffa and all have Celeste as a maternal ancestor.
Taronga giraffe were sent to alot of zoos in Aus.
Melbourne recieved a pair in the early 1960's. "Edward" and "Matilda"(originally named Anna) were both offspring of the prolific breeding male "Jan". Maitlda's mother was "Clair" and i dont know Edward's mothers name but she was the daughter of "Betty" (Betty is Edward's grandmother) who was also born at Taronga to "Jan" and "Mighty". Edward and Matilda had a son, "William" in 1967. When Edward died in 1969, William became the breeding male. he sired ten calves with his mother - and two with his sister. Matilda mothered a total of 16 at Melbourne before this line died out.
Adelaide also recieved a few individuals, not too sure, but they inbred a little. some of Monarto's older breeding females would be related distantly to the Taronga animals.
Melbourne recieved a pair in the early 1960's. "Edward" and "Matilda"(originally named Anna) were both offspring of the prolific breeding male "Jan". Maitlda's mother was "Clair" and i dont know Edward's mothers name but she was the daughter of "Betty" (Betty is Edward's grandmother) who was also born at Taronga to "Jan" and "Mighty". Edward and Matilda had a son, "William" in 1967. When Edward died in 1969, William became the breeding male. he sired ten calves with his mother - and two with his sister. Matilda mothered a total of 16 at Melbourne before this line died out.
Adelaide also recieved a few individuals, not too sure, but they inbred a little. some of Monarto's older breeding females would be related distantly to the Taronga animals.
By using the extra Rothschilds males as breeding males for the general giraffe population the zoos have provided a good dose of new blood into the general giraffe population. My worry is what the zoos are going to for the next generation at the two groups are now hopelessly entwined.
pretty sure its not just surplus rothschild's males breeding with the original mixed blood giraffes. instead i think there is no plan to keep rothschilds going as a separate population any more. the plan is just to have a herd of (slightly healthier) generic giraffes.
I find it interesting that, despite the ungulate ban for the past 50 years or so, a giraffe or two was imported in the 1980s when things got critical. (Just shows that zoos can apparently do it if they really want to!)
Likewise scimitar horned oryx and bongos. Both these species suddenly appeared in Australian zoos a decade or two back as if by magic.
Likewise scimitar horned oryx and bongos. Both these species suddenly appeared in Australian zoos a decade or two back as if by magic.
ara, i was under the impression the artiodactyl ban only came into effect late nineties. i think the zoos certainly have "the will" too so i don't think that has anything to do with it.
there are quite a number of animals brought in during the 80's i believe, such as pygmy hippo. i suspect kudu and sable came in later also.
there are quite a number of animals brought in during the 80's i believe, such as pygmy hippo. i suspect kudu and sable came in later also.
There is not, and has not been a blanket ban on all ungulate species being imported into Australia. A number of species can and have been imported over the last 5, 10 and 20 years, and zoos in this region will continue to do so, based on Australian wildlife importation regulations at the time.
It's certainly not a case of "Just shows that zoos can apparently do it if they really want to!"
If you'd like to read the facts about the import and export of wildlife, rather than base discussion on supposition, here's a good place to start: Apply for a permit to export or import wildlife products
It's certainly not a case of "Just shows that zoos can apparently do it if they really want to!"
If you'd like to read the facts about the import and export of wildlife, rather than base discussion on supposition, here's a good place to start: Apply for a permit to export or import wildlife products