Unfair criticism of Melbourne and Werribee Zoos "ABC animals"

[Grant Rhino]

You state they MZ dont need to import Zebras but a state funded zoo should be importing new bloodlines, the zebras they have would be a fair bit in bred as are many here so why cant they import new bloodlines, If a small regional zoo can import what I believe was the largest ever single import of Zebras into Australia why are MZ not doing so even though you state they dont need to but in fact they do need to do so, Since DDZ importation they have not only bred quite a few young some have been sent to other zoos around the country so they are gaining from this also, lets not look through rose coloured glasses

I would've edited my previous reply but the time to do so has elapsed.

While MZ / WORZ have not imported new bloodlines of zebras, they have a very solid record when it comes to importing. Over the past five years, Zoos Victoria have imported the following (and these are just the ones I remember or know of):

1x male gorilla (from Europe) to breed with the MZ females

2x female lions (from Denmark) to breed with Johari (now deceased) at WORZ.

2x young male baboons (from USA) to breed within the troop at MZ

2x snow leopards (male from Germany, female from UK) to breed at MZ

8 nyala (2 male, 6 female), from Singapore (from memory) via New Zealand.

Since these bloodline imports, all five of these species have bred at WORZ or MZ. Zoos Victoria have scored 5 out of 5 from these imports.

In an earlier post someone asked "What are Melbourne Zoo doing?".... Well this is what MZ have been doing.....

 

[Zoofan15]

You state they MZ dont need to import Zebras but a state funded zoo should be importing new bloodlines, the zebras they have would be a fair bit in bred as are many here so why cant they import new bloodlines, If a small regional zoo can import what I believe was the largest ever single import of Zebras into Australia why are MZ not doing so even though you state they dont need to but in fact they do need to do so, Since DDZ importation they have not only bred quite a few young some have been sent to other zoos around the country so they are gaining from this also, lets not look through rose coloured glasses

As for the "inbred bloodlines" of zebra, how do you know they're inbred? Do you have a source for this or is it just an assumption? And secondly, if DDZ are importing them then why does ZV need to do the same thing at the same time? As you've said, the new bloodlines imported by DDZ will serve the whole national population to some degree. MZ did their bit by importing new snow leopards - hence they are already doing their bit...

On the subject of zebras, the Darling Downs Zoo import of Grant’s zebra was more significant than just enhancing the genetics of the regional population. It’s about sustaining what was once a decent regional population of purebred Grant’s zebra - that has since dwindled to a handful of animals (I’m aware of one mare at Hamilton Zoo; and a stallion at Keystone - if still alive).

Starting in the 1960’s, Auckland Zoo made at least two imports of purebred Grant’s zebra - the descendants of which were distributed to Hamilton Zoo etc. By the mid 2000’s, rather than further inbreed their now mildly inbred stock; Auckland and Hamilton Zoo chose to import unrelated hybrid Plains zebra and therefore hybridise their herds.

Zebras are not impossible to import (as we all know). There is really no excuse for zoos continuing to breed hybrids. If a few more zoos had taken the initiative to do this sooner, we could have a thriving regional breeding programme for Grant’s zebra. A generic zebra will draw the same crowds as a purebred Grant’s zebra; but it’s purebred counterpart will additionally hold genetic value as a captive insurance population.

This isn’t a criticism directly solely at Zoos Victoria. Many major zoos have dropped the ball on this one; and let’s just thank our lucky stars DDZ caught it. I’ll watch with interest to see who it’s passed to - and if they run with it.

 

[Zorro]

On the subject of zebras, the Darling Downs Zoo import of Grant’s zebra was more significant than just enhancing the genetics of the regional population. It’s about sustaining what was once a decent regional population of purebred Grant’s zebra - that has since dwindled to a handful of animals (I’m aware of one mare at Hamilton Zoo; and a stallion at Keystone - if still alive).

Starting in the 1960’s, Auckland Zoo made at least two imports of purebred Grant’s zebra - the descendants of which were distributed to Hamilton Zoo etc. By the mid 2000’s, rather than further inbreed their now mildly inbred stock; Auckland and Hamilton Zoo chose to import unrelated hybrid Plains zebra and therefore hybridise their herds.

Zebras are not impossible to import (as we all know). There is really no excuse for zoos continuing to breed hybrids. If a few more zoos had taken the initiative to do this sooner, we could have a thriving regional breeding programme for Grant’s zebra. A generic zebra will draw the same crowds as a purebred Grant’s zebra; but it’s purebred counterpart will additionally hold genetic value as a captive insurance population.

This isn’t a criticism directly solely at Zoos Victoria. Many major zoos have dropped the ball on this one; and let’s just thank our lucky stars DDZ caught it. I’ll watch with interest to see who it’s passed to - and if they run with it.

Your quite correct @Zoofan15 how can anyone not have criticism of ANY major zoo for breeding hybrids when they could import the pure species/subspecies there is no real reason not to this, these are state funded zoos they have the money, if a small guy can do a outstanding job of it the majors should be able to at least do the same but as you said they have dropped the ball on it so YES theres room for criticism

 

[nczoofan]

Your quite correct @Zoofan15 how can anyone not have criticism of ANY major zoo for breeding hybrids when they could import the pure species/subspecies there is no real reason not to this, these are state funded zoos they have the money, if a small guy can do a outstanding job of it the majors should be able to at least do the same but as you said they have dropped the ball on it so YES theres room for criticism

Looks suspiciously at the North American “generic” giraffe population.

 

[Zorro]

Looks suspiciously at the North American “generic” giraffe population.

At the end of the day almost all comes down to management with some zoos and zoo people who are outstanding in what they do while others can and should lift there game. Any well funded zoo should have a duty of care to breed are pure as possible, yes it is more difficult to import some animals into Australia but not really impossible