Wellington Zoo Wellington Zoo News 2016

Zoofan15 said:
The lack of breeding of the higher profile animals is partly circumstantial:
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Thanks Zoofan15 for the information. I would appreciate any insights you may have on the slightly less high profile animals in the Wellington Zoo collection and any plans to breed them. In particular the Golden Lion Tamarin, African Crested Porcupine, Cotton Top Tamarin, Sun Conure and Tasmanian Devil.

The holding of single sex groupings is usually an indication of successfully managed breeding programmes (at least in European and American collections.) In Australasia it indicates that we have insufficient spaces available to viably maintain genetically valuable species in the long term. This is due to the low number of Zoo's in New Zealand and Australia (IMHO). The only solution available is for more species to be managed within European or American SSP.
 
kiwimuzz said:
Thanks Zoofan15 for the information. I would appreciate any insights you may have on the slightly less high profile animals in the Wellington Zoo collection and any plans to breed them. In particular the Golden Lion Tamarin, African Crested Porcupine, Cotton Top Tamarin, Sun Conure and Tasmanian Devil.

The holding of single sex groupings is usually an indication of successfully managed breeding programmes (at least in European and American collections.) In Australasia it indicates that we have insufficient spaces available to viably maintain genetically valuable species in the long term. This is due to the low number of Zoo's in New Zealand and Australia (IMHO). The only solution available is for more species to be managed within European or American SSP.
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No probs, happy to help.

I'm not the most knowledgable person on here with regards to the lower profile animals but I'll help with what I do know and others can fill in what they know:

Tasmanian Devil There are no plans to breed the Tasmanian Devils, at Wellington or the other two zoos. All females were at least three years old when imported to New Zealand, which is post reproductive age for this species. The plan is for New Zealand Zoos to hold surplus males and post reproductive females to free up space in Australian zoos for breeding.

Golden Lion Tamarin Wellington has been largely unsuccessful with breeding this species. A pair were kept near the entrance back in the 2000s but never bred. A new pair were imported in 2014 but the male died shortly after arrival. They imported a new male in 2015. Auckland Zoo have also exhibited Golden Lion Tamarins but have also never been successful in breeding them. They initially kept post reproductive individuals.

Articles on the previous pair of GLT (Krefield and Aide):

http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwpubafs/2003/masseynews/sept/sept22/stories/tamarin.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/27208/Bens-a-rock-for-lonely-tamarin

Article on the death of the male GLT imported 2014 (Orolito):

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/10388076/Mini-monkeys-death-a-blow-to-breeders

New male GLT (Bronx) imported 2015 to breed with the female (Clementine):

https://wellingtonzoo.com/news/meet-the-new-mini-monkey-on-the-block/
 
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kiwimuzz said:
Thanks Zoofan15 for the information. I would appreciate any insights you may have on the slightly less high profile animals in the Wellington Zoo collection and any plans to breed them. In particular the Golden Lion Tamarin, African Crested Porcupine, Cotton Top Tamarin, Sun Conure and Tasmanian Devil.

The holding of single sex groupings is usually an indication of successfully managed breeding programmes (at least in European and American collections.) In Australasia it indicates that we have insufficient spaces available to viably maintain genetically valuable species in the long term. This is due to the low number of Zoo's in New Zealand and Australia (IMHO). The only solution available is for more species to be managed within European or American SSP.
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The Sumatran tigers in Australasia are an interesting case. They've been held in the region since the 1970s, first by Taronga Zoo. They've bred well at many zoos in the region and following a huge baby boom around the late 2000s/early 2010s, there is a large surlplus not needed for breeding. Females such as Selatan (born 1990 at Melbourne Zoo) were once the only females of breeding age in the region and bred from as soon as they turned 3-4 years of age. These days, most females are not being bred from, and those that are breeding are being bred for the first time at around 8 years. The region runs it's own breeding programme, but liases with breeding programmes in other regions, especially Europe to import tigers. So far they've only exported two females outside of the region in recent years, which places a much higher value on their genetics than our region does. It'd be good to see more females follow and more new genetics imported.
 
about time! That has taken so long to finally happen. Excellent news indeed.
 
Chlidonias said:
about time! That has taken so long to finally happen. Excellent news indeed.
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More than excellent news. I do hope they can import some more diversity along the route into Australasia region. You guys and gals will no doubt enjoy this so much. Congrats!
 
Chlidonias said:
the nyala have been put on display. Photos from the zoo's facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WgtnZoo/photos/pcb.10154218234648462/10154218224643462/?type=3&theater

Some comments from same:
"...we are still in the process of making these arrangements but long term 8 new Nyala will be staying in Wellington and 19 (including our existing Nyala) will be going to other Zoos in Australia and NZ."
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I guess this means one imported male stayed behind (and the other 19/20 will be transferred to other ZAA zoos)?
 
Excellent news on a beautiful antelope! Finally we are seeing a (relatively) new species given support in the region. Do we know which zoos in Australia that will be receiving nyala? Guessing Werribee and Monarto.
 
Sadly Rokan the Sumatran Tiger has been Euthanised.
Wellington Zoo's sumatran tiger Rokan put down - National - NZ Herald News
Wellington Zoo's sumatran tiger Rokan put down
1:37 PM Thursday Nov 17, 2016

Wellington Zoo's 20-year-old sumatran tiger was euthanised today.

Rokan the tiger's health recently deteriorated, said general manager animal care and science Mauritz Basson.

"Our zoo keepers and veterinary team have been monitoring Rokan's health closely over the past few years and he began to show signs of age, which were affecting his mobility," Basson said.

"Rokan has had regular medical examinations and we were able to manage his arthritis with pain relief and anti-inflammatories, but his lameness has increased over recent months.

"Close observations over the past month showed that he was no longer able to move comfortably and easily. The welfare of our animals is paramount, and the observations showed we were no longer able to sustain his quality of life, so the decision to euthanise Rokan was made today.

"Rokan has been much loved by his carers and other zoo staff over the past 20 years. He has also always been popular with our visitors who seem to have a real love for tigers."

Rokan has been at Wellington Zoo for 20 years.

His mother Cantik bore two litters of cubs, which have lived in zoos around Australasia. Rokan was one of her first cubs, and Cantik's legacy has been important for the regional breeding programme for sumatran tigers.

"Rokan was a bit of a charmer with the female tigers, and would get away with sneaking up on them to give them a fright," said carnivore team leader Paul Horton, who has worked with Rokan over the past 14 years.

"Like lots of cats, he could be sneaky and playful - but he also had a relaxed side," said Horton.

"While he was always keen to get involved with training, he would always let you know when he had had enough."

Fewer than 400 sumatran tigers are left in the wild. The critically endangered animal faces grave threats from habitat destruction, poaching and illegal hunting. Large areas of their habitat are cleared to make way for large unsustainable palm oil plantations in southeast Asia.

"Rokan has helped so many people find a connection with tigers to understand the threats these animals face in the wild," said Horton.
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