Tasmania Zoo Tasmania Zoo news

A new species for Tasmania Zoo! A female Javan Gibbon has arrived from Mogo. There are now three zoos in the region housing this species: Log into Facebook | Facebook

The zoo now has twelve primate species:

Mandrill
Siamang
Northern white-cheeked gibbon
Javan gibbon
Lion-tailed macaque
Black crested macaque
Crab-eating macaque
Black-capped capuchin
Ring-tailed lemur
Cotton-top tamarin
Common marmoset
Pygmy marmoset

Considering they also have African lion, Sumatran tiger, African wild dog, Serval, Nepalese red panda, Asian small-clawed otter, Slender-tailed meerkat, Dromedary camel; and the requisite Australian collection, Tasmania Zoo is yet another facility putting the country’s main zoos to shame.
 
The zoo now has twelve primate species:

Mandrill
Siamang
Northern white-cheeked gibbon
Javan gibbon
Lion-tailed macaque
Black crested macaque
Crab-eating macaque
Black-capped capuchin
Ring-tailed lemur
Cotton-top tamarin
Common marmoset
Pygmy marmoset

Considering they also have African lion, Sumatran tiger, African wild dog, Serval, Nepalese red panda, Asian small-clawed otter, Slender-tailed meerkat, Dromedary camel; and the requisite Australian collection, Tasmania Zoo is yet another facility putting the country’s main zoos to shame.
They also have a breeding group of Capybara, Cheetah and Caracals - pretty comprehensive range of exotic mammals.

You got me curious about which zoos currently have the most diverse primate collections in the region and according to the exotic mammal lists it is as followed. Perth Zoo is the current frontrunner from the rough list I created. Lots of places have exactly 10 species but I have included the select few that sit above that number (probably missed a zoo or two).

1) 14 primate species

Perth Zoo: Sunda Slow Loris, Ring-tailed Lemur, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Golden Lion Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Cottontop Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Common Marmoset, Bolivian Squirrel Monkey, Black-capped Capuchin, Hamadryas Baboon, White-cheeked Gibbon, Javan Gibbon, Sumatran Orangutan

2) 13 primate species

Mogo Wildlife Park: Ring-tailed Lemur, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Golden Lion Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Cottontop Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Bolivian Squirrel Monkey, Black-capped Capuchin, Siamang, White-handed Gibbon, Javan Gibbon, Hybrid Orangutan, Western Lowland Gorilla

Adelaide Zoo: Ring-tailed Lemur, Golden Lion Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Cotton-top Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Bolivian Squirrel Monkey, Mandrill, Dusky Langur, Black-and-white Colobus, Hamadryas Baboon, White-cheeked Gibbon, Siamang, Sumatran Orangutan

3) 12 primate species

Tasmania Zoo: Ring-tailed Lemur, Common Marmoset, Pygmy Marmoset, Cotton-top Tamarin, Black-capped Capuchin, Mandrill, Crab-eating Macaque, Sulawesi Crested Macaque, Lion-tailed Macaque, Javan Gibbon, White-cheeked Gibbon, Siamang

Melbourne Zoo: Ring-tailed Lemur, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Emperor Tamarin, Cotton-top Tamarin, Bolivian Squirrel Monkey, Black-handed Spider Monkey, Black-and-white Colobus, Hamadryas Baboon, White-cheeked Gibbon, Siamang, Sumatran Orangutan (including hybrids), Western Lowland Gorilla

4) 11 primate species

Darling Downs Zoo: Golden Lion Tamarin, Red-handed Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Cotton-top Tamarin, Pygmy Marmoset, Common Marmoset, Bolivian Squirrel Monkey, Black-capped Capuchin, Rhesus Macaque, Hamadryas Baboon, Siamang
 
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Tasmania Zoo have received a male Snow leopard from Melbourne Zoo:

From Zoos Victoria’s social media:

He’s all grown up, and the time has come to bid a fond farewell to Melbourne Zoo’s Snow Leopard cub Sikari. Sikari arrived safety at Tasmania Zoo last week and is already exploring his new home.

At 18 months old, Sikari and his sisters Asha and Manju are at the age when wild Snow Leopard cubs also leave their mothers to establish a new territory. Sikari is now doing that as part of the international breeding program that preserves an insurance population for this beautiful species, which sadly is classified as Vulnerable in the wild.

Sikari’s sisters Asha and Manju remain at Melbourne Zoo, but it’s expected they will also move to a new home sometime next year as part of the international program.
 
Tasmania Zoo have received a male Snow leopard from Melbourne Zoo:

From Zoos Victoria’s social media:

He’s all grown up, and the time has come to bid a fond farewell to Melbourne Zoo’s Snow Leopard cub Sikari. Sikari arrived safety at Tasmania Zoo last week and is already exploring his new home.

At 18 months old, Sikari and his sisters Asha and Manju are at the age when wild Snow Leopard cubs also leave their mothers to establish a new territory. Sikari is now doing that as part of the international breeding program that preserves an insurance population for this beautiful species, which sadly is classified as Vulnerable in the wild.

Sikari’s sisters Asha and Manju remain at Melbourne Zoo, but it’s expected they will also move to a new home sometime next year as part of the international program.
I do hope Tasmania Zoo acquires a partner for the Snow leopard (given climate ..... also).
 
Tasmania Zoo is yet another small zoo within the region making their mark in the region’s zoos

The progress Darling Downs Zoo and Tasmania Zoo have made in the last five years is astounding. In my opinion, they’re the two most progressive zoos in the region; closely followed by Altina.

Mogo Zoo was also making great strides a decade or so ago but now seem to have stagnated. They’re obviously happy where they are, but it would have been great to have seen them continue to grow.
 
The progress Darling Downs Zoo and Tasmania Zoo have made in the last five years is astounding. In my opinion, they’re the two most progressive zoos in the region; closely followed by Altina.

Mogo Zoo was also making great strides a decade or so ago but now seem to have stagnated. They’re obviously happy where they are, but it would have been great to have seen them continue to grow.
I agree there are a number of progressive and up coming regional zoos, Darling Downs zoo and Altina seem to be standout’s but there are others who are also progressing at a good rate. Yes also agree that Mogo did appear to stagnate for a while but seems to be on the move again.
 
Tasmania Zoo have imported Binturong - a new species for the zoo:

New popcorn-scented 'bear-cats' at Tasmania Zoo

The Binturong are a potential breeding pair and of the Javan subspecies (A. b. penicillatus). They came from Hamerton Zoo via Darling Downs Zoo.

Tasmania Zoo are the tenth holder of Binturong in the region and the second holder of the purebred Javan subspecies (the other being Darling Downs Zoo, who also hold 1.1).
 
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A new primate species for Tasmania Zoo. A 1.1 pair of Red-handed Tamarins have arrived: Tasmania Zoo welcomes new Tamarins

While Red-handed tamarin are Least Concern, they’re scarce in Australasia given Tasmania Zoo is joining Darling Downs Zoo and Hunter Valley Zoo as the third holder, so it’s good to see another facility acquire them.

Like many of the small zoos in the region, Tasmania Zoo continues to make steady and measurable progress in expanding their collection.
 
Exciting times ahead. Tasmania Zoo are expanding with an African precinct named iTazAfrica underway. Stage one were the giraffes arriving but further stages with see the arrival of more giraffe, zebras (new species) and additional African species for the zoo. From ZAA's website:

"Not even the ever-present threat of COVID-19 or weather extremes has stopped continued growth at Tasmania Zoo as they approach their 20th anniversary next year. Tasmania Zoo has seen ongoing upgrades and new developments all year round. Their major project this year iTazAfrica is a contemporary facility that houses giraffes. The facility includes off-display housing, an animal training and management area and a viewing and interactive platform. Stage one of the project has just been completed in December 2022, with further development set to take place next year. The ongoing development will also bring additional Giraffes, Zebras and other African species into the zoo."
 
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