Taronga Zoo Taronga Zoo News 2024

It’s a girl!!!!

Taronga Zoo have announced the birth of a female Pygmy hippopotamus calf!

We are delighted to celebrate this special day by announcing the birth and public debut of a four-week-old female Pygmy Hippo calf, named Lololi.

Experienced mum, Kambiri gave birth to 4kg Lololi on 16 January 2024 and has since been bonding in the behind-the-scenes nursery. Lololi and Kambiri have gained swimming confidence, and the two can now be spotted suckling, splashing and snoozing in the pool - mum of course in tow when Lololi explores all terrains of the outdoor habitat.
 
Jambo said:
Amazing news! Just beat me to it.;)

I really like the name Lololi which means 'love'.

She's on display in Kambiri's usual enclosure, just past the Bongo.
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This was certainly a much anticipated announcement and it’s nice to see we were all correct in predicting World Hippopotamus Day to be the day of the reveal. After the sad loss of the last calf in December 2021, I can understand their trepidation in announcing the birth too early and why they’d wait for four weeks. My friend was advised my staff the calf is exceptionally robust and healthy, so I have every confidence she’ll survive.
 
steveroberts said:
Congratulations Kambiri thats so wonderful about little Lololi, she'd be so so cute ❤️❤️❤️
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I’m pleased to see my guesses of a female calf were on the mark. She’s very pretty. With Lololi’s birth, it means there’s now a girl for every guy (if only we could say the same for our Common hippopotamus population); though I suspect the long awaited Hippopotamus IRA will offer the potential to create matches of unrelated hippos for the first time in many years. :)
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’m pleased to see my guesses of a female calf were on the mark. She’s very pretty. With Lololi’s birth, it means there’s now a girl for every guy (if only we could say the same for our Common hippopotamus population); though I suspect the long awaited Hippopotamus IRA will offer the potential to create matches of unrelated hippos for the first time in many years. :)
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Lets hope they get a move on with it. Even if there is a match they are fairly related unfortunately. With the last calf having heart issues. There is the possibility of hereditary issue with close matches.

It is fantastic news to have a new calf!.
 
Tiger91 said:
Lets hope they get a move on with it. Even if there is a match they are fairly related unfortunately. With the last calf having heart issues. There is the possibility of hereditary issue with close matches.

It is fantastic news to have a new calf!.
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Taronga’s pair now have two healthy daughters, which comprise 1/3 of the regional population. It absolutely makes sense to re-pair Fergus and Kambiri with unrelated mates when the opportunity comes to do so, as well as for the reasons you mention regarding their relatedness.

There will initially be some surplus within the region (we’re not gonna see each of the 3.3 Pygmy hippos matched with an unrelated mate); but with that in mind, it’s an ideal time for additional non-breeding holders to come onboard.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Taronga’s pair now have two healthy daughters, which comprise 1/3 of the regional population. It absolutely makes sense to re-pair Fergus and Kambiri with unrelated mates when the opportunity comes to do so, as well as for the reasons you mention regarding their relatedness.

There will initially be some surplus within the region (we’re not gonna see each of the 3.3 Pygmy hippos matched with an unrelated mate); but with that in mind, it’s an ideal time for additional non-breeding holders to come onboard.
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I guess it also depends on there age as well. Is it worth repairing them if they are older.
I can see this youngster (if she survives the last one was 6 weeks of memory before death) being retained and taronga importing a new mate. Ideally importing unrelated pairs would be ideal. But the way our region seems to function at times. I wouldn't be surprised to see imports matched to existing animals.

ETA: it would be nice to see some new purpose built exhibits with them though. It would be interesting to see how they go in mixed species habitats. Where mixing them with say colobus would work. The same way orangs are mixed with otters. Given the pygmys are quite small but also a decent size.
 
Tiger91 said:
I guess it also depends on there age as well. Is it worth repairing them if they are older.
I can see this youngster (if she survives the last one was 6 weeks of memory before death) being retained and taronga importing a new mate. Ideally importing unrelated pairs would be ideal. But the way our region seems to function at times. I wouldn't be surprised to see imports matched to existing animals.
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Definitely. Kambiri is only 14 years old. Her mother bred for the first time at 24 years and produced four calves.

Taronga could potentially import a male from outside the region to cover both cows. They’ve held a male and multiple cows before and are planning a new exhibit in the near future. The Hippopotamus IRA will provide additional incentive to increase their holding capacity, potentially functioning as a breeding hub for the region.
 
Tiger91 said:
I guess it also depends on there age as well. Is it worth repairing them if they are older.
I can see this youngster (if she survives the last one was 6 weeks of memory before death) being retained and taronga importing a new mate. Ideally importing unrelated pairs would be ideal. But the way our region seems to function at times. I wouldn't be surprised to see imports matched to existing animals.
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That would mean sending both the current pair elsewhere and that wouldn't necessarily make sense as Kambiri is the best mate for Fergus (the other two females are their daughters).

This female will probably head down to Melbourne if there isn't an import within the next few years; unless a new facility comes on board which is a fair chance imo.
 
Jambo said:
That would mean sending both the current pair elsewhere and that wouldn't necessarily make sense as Kambiri is the best mate for Fergus (the other two females are their daughters).

This female will probably head down to Melbourne if there isn't an import within the next few years; unless a new facility comes on board which is a fair chance imo.
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Do we know how old the pair are at taronga. If the IRA takes say another 5 years before we see an import. I could see them retaining her and importing a mate if one of the parents dies. It will be interesting when they build the new exhibits whether they increase capacity.
 
Tiger91 said:
Do we know how old the pair are at taronga. If the IRA takes say another 5 years before we see an import. I could see them retaining her and importing a mate if one of the parents dies. It will be interesting when they build the new exhibits whether they increase capacity.
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The Taronga pair are born 2009 (Fergus) and 2010 (Kambiri). Females can reliably breed into their 30’s, so both Kambiri and her daughters will be of use to the breeding programme for many years to come.

Petre (Kambiri’s mother) delivered her last calf at 31 years.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Definitely. Kambiri is only 14 years old. Her mother bred for the first time at 24 years and produced four calves.

Taronga could potentially import a male from outside the region to cover both cows. They’ve held a male and multiple cows before and are planning a new exhibit in the near future. The Hippopotamus IRA will provide additional incentive to increase their holding capacity, potentially functioning as a breeding hub for the region.
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Its good to hear she is quite young!.
Being a small species but a popular species im hoping the new exhibits do them justice. But also incorporate increased capacity. They are currently kept where ever they will fit. Which while it works. It would be good to see them treated to a purpose built exhibit.
 
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Tiger91 said:
Its good to hear she is quite young!.
Being a small species but a popular species im hoping the new exhibits do them justice. But also incorporate increased capacity. They are currently kept where ever they will fit. Which while it works. It would be good to see them treated to a purpose built exhibit.
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Exactly, especially when you consider the current exhibits were built with Tapir in mind!
 
Tiger91 said:
Yes, the old tapir exhibits are also looking a bit worn these days as well.
But you also have all these asian species, them suddenly a Central African species.
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The overarching theme would be rainforest. They still have Eastern bongo (albeit designated for phase out), which is also Central African; with species like Bolivian squirrel monkeys and Fishing cat representing the rainforest biome of other regions/continents. Let’s be grateful they haven’t stuck a Southern cassowary in there yet! #MelbourneZoo :p
 
Tiger91 said:
Yes, the old tapir exhibits are also looking a bit worn these days as well.
But you also have all these asian species, them suddenly a Central African species.
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It was initially an Asian themed precinct, but we've seen things change over the years with the loss of the Malayan Tapirs (and subsequent replacement being Pygmy Hippos), and perhaps more recently the Squirrel Monkeys replacing the White Cheeked Gibbons.
 
@Zoofan15 @Jambo @Tiger91

(laugh emojis galore) So true ZooFan about we should be grateful that they havent stuck a Southern Cassowary in there yet. Just stopped to realise that the (albeit individuals changing with passage of time of course) Francois' Langurs, Fishing Cats and SC Otters (Binturongs would say too but short period of absence) are the only continuous mammal species in the precinct. The 'Wild Asia' based theme as you guys noted gone now with a (almost inevitable with traction of regional patterns) collective rainforest theme from all continents with rainforests (birdwise includes Aus'). Well not to sound too cynical glad they found a place for Ekundu the Bongo to stay at Taronga also, but..I think you know what am trying to say you guys have already said it well. Its a viable habitat for medium future if used wisely with right species.

Yeah the two exhibits for Fergus, Kambiri and baby Lololi are very tired now, never on the big side to begin with when built for the Malayan Tapirs with Zoolex's (ZooLex Exhibit - Wild Asia's Tapir) estimates being 237 sq m (170 sqm land & 67 sqm water) and 202 sq m (122 sq m land & 80 sq m water), there is an additional use area but only 16 sq m and then three 12 sq m (4m x 3m) pens, so all in all very cramped. The exhibits are less than 20 years old (2005) but Fergus, Kambiri and Lololi need better living homes I think tbh.
 
steveroberts said:
@Zoofan15 @Jambo @Tiger91

(laugh emojis galore) So true ZooFan about we should be grateful that they havent stuck a Southern Cassowary in there yet. Just stopped to realise that the (albeit individuals changing with passage of time of course) Francois' Langurs, Fishing Cats and SC Otters (Binturongs would say too but short period of absence) are the only continuous mammal species in the precinct. The 'Wild Asia' based theme as you guys noted gone now with a (almost inevitable with traction of regional patterns) collective rainforest theme from all continents with rainforests (birdwise includes Aus'). Well not to sound too cynical glad they found a place for Ekundu the Bongo to stay at Taronga also, but..I think you know what am trying to say you guys have already said it well. Its a viable habitat for medium future if used wisely with right species.

Yeah the two exhibits for Fergus, Kambiri and baby Lololi are very tired now, never on the big side to begin with when built for the Malayan Tapirs with Zoolex's (ZooLex Exhibit - Wild Asia's Tapir) estimates being 237 sq m (170 sqm land & 67 sqm water) and 202 sq m (122 sq m land & 80 sq m water), there is an additional use area but only 16 sq m and then three 12 sq m (4m x 3m) pens, so all in all very cramped. The exhibits are less than 20 years old (2005) but Fergus, Kambiri and Lololi need better living homes I think tbh.
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It’ll be interesting times ahead for Taronga considering how lacklustre the regional breeding programme for Fishing cats has been of late. Like golden cats, they breed markedly better when held off display and neither Taronga or Hamilton have undertaken this. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Fishing cat phased out of Taronga’s collection when the last one passes.

I’m glad Taronga plan to build a new Pygmy hippopotamus exhibit, which I hope will take the form of multiple exhibits. Three exhibits would see them well equipped to manage breeding of this species, which has the potential to really take off once the Hippopotamus IRA is complete.

It’s great they still have Ekundu, but sadly he’s been confirmed to be the last of his kind to live at Taronga. The open range zoos are better suited to holding herds, but it’s a moot point considering no facility holds numbers even resembling a herd.

And yes, I like Southern cassowary; but I like them even more when they stay in the Australian precinct. :p
 
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