Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo News 2023

[Tiger91]

Irregardless of what’s gone on in the past, we’ve seen encouraging examples of coordination at a regional level, which is indeed how the decisions are made (not individual zoos making individual decisions as they did decades ago).

Lowland nyala were imported in large numbers to found a thriving breeding programme and other species such as Cheetah have been imported via group imports. In the future, there will be the Southern white rhinoceros import which will be of immense benefit to the region beyond the three receiving zoos.

While coordination has improved there is still quite a lot of improvement that could be achieved. A lot of the good imports appear to be spear headed by one or two majour zoos and then the rest jump on. Look at the francois langurs, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbon species. All of these have organised breeding programs and all of them seem to be acting out of there own accord rather then as a coordinated region making decisions.

I have no reason to believe that hoofstock will be managed any differently which is a shame. especially since Werribee have always had one of the better hoof stock varieties of our open range zoos.

 

[Zorro]

Surely after the mess we have been in with certain species. We should start to see some level of regional cooperation with species coordination, when it comes to species of interest.

There is a difference between should and would it comes down to the management at the end of the day!

 

[Tiger91]

There is a difference between should and would it comes down to the management at the end of the day!

Very true!

It seems to be talked about a lot more now. The biggest issue is the stud books are not zoo run but person run. If AZA took control of species planning and the stud books we may see better regional cooperation.

 

[NathanTheAsian]

I'll be visiting Werribee Zoo in a few days so if you all have any questions for staff I can try to get answers for them.

 

[Jambo]

I'll be visiting Werribee Zoo in a few days so if you all have any questions for staff I can try to get answers for them.

Hopefully you have a great visit!

I do have a few questions:

• Are there any plans to import any hippos on the horizon? Is the IRA progressing well?
• Will Kipenzi the rhino be breeding again? And are there plans to acquire more rhinos via the Australian Rhino Project?
• Are the Vervet Monkeys being phased out? If so, what's being floated as a replacement?
• Are there any other species being considered for mixing with the elephants (besides Blackubuck)?

Appreciate anything you can get.

 

[Zoofan15]

I'll be visiting Werribee Zoo in a few days so if you all have any questions for staff I can try to get answers for them.

Hopefully you have a great visit!

I do have a few questions:

• Are there any plans to import any hippos on the horizon? Is the IRA progressing well?
• Will Kipenzi the rhino be breeding again? And are there plans to acquire more rhinos via the Australian Rhino Project?
• Are the Vervet Monkeys being phased out? If so, what's being floated as a replacement?
• Are there any other species being considered for mixing with the elephants (besides Blackubuck)?

Appreciate anything you can get.

Thanks @NathanTheAsian. I wouldn’t mind knowing any details you can find out on the Vervet monkeys including names, ages and genders. It looked like the troop had dwindled considerably on my last visit.

I’d also be interested to know if all the Indian antelope will be moving to the elephant complex. If so, has a replacement species been identified for them on the Savannah.

 

[NathanTheAsian]

@Jambo
1. The volunteer I asked said that she was unsure of any plans of importing, but it was unlikely. I was also unable to get an answer on the IRA.
2. They are currently attempting to breed Kipenzi again. Keepers also told me that there are plans to acquire quite a few new rhinos.
3. I wasn't able to get anything on the vervets.
4. Currently it is just the blackbuck as they want to provide as much space as possible for the elephants.

@Zoofan15
1. I was not able to get any info on the vervets. I visited the exhibit multiple times and only ever saw three of them.
2. Keepers told me that a bachelor herd of excess blackbuck would most likely stay on the Savannah.

Sorry I wasn't able to get anything on the vervets, but I hope the rest of this helped.

 

[Zoofan15]

@Jambo
1. The volunteer I asked said that she was unsure of any plans of importing, but it was unlikely. I was also unable to get an answer on the IRA.
2. They are currently attempting to breed Kipenzi again. Keepers also told me that there are plans to acquire quite a few new rhinos.
3. I wasn't able to get anything on the vervets.
4. Currently it is just the blackbuck as they want to provide as much space as possible for the elephants.

@Zoofan15
1. I was not able to get any info on the vervets. I visited the exhibit multiple times and only ever saw three of them.
2. Keepers told me that a bachelor herd of excess blackbuck would most likely stay on the Savannah.

Sorry I wasn't able to get anything on the vervets, but I hope the rest of this helped.

Thanks for asking what you could.

That’s exciting to hear they plan to acquire a number of new rhinos. They may well be receiving some rhinos from the import of 35 founders from South Africa; though we also have juvenile cows in the region, who will also need to join breeding herds in the future to promote their reproductive health (including Auckland’s two juveniles).

 

[MRJ]

Very true!

It seems to be talked about a lot more now. The biggest issue is the stud books are not zoo run but person run. If AZA took control of species planning and the stud books we may see better regional cooperation.

This seems to come up all the time, so here goes trying to explain it again.

• Firstly ZAA (not AZA, that is American) controls nothing. They advise and assist, that is all.
• Species programs are run by the host zoo, the studbook keeper is an employee. The zoo has to commit to supporting the studbook keeper. The studbook keeper recommends what animals should be bred or moved to fill the spaces available, and no more. (edit: and of course maintain maximum genetic diversity).
• Zoos decide what animals and how many they will hold. If a zoo wants 5.5 nyala, fine, 10.10 even better. If none, fine also. How many animals a zoo plans to hold depends on a number of factors unique to each zoo, including money, space, the zoos masterplan and the personal preferences of the staff making the decision.
• Of course, zoos are encouraged to hold program species rather than non--program species,
• It there are insufficient spaces to support a program, the program is dropped.
• Having said that, programs are often started with insufficient spaces in the hope more spaces will come available later.
• Programs are started and dropped as recommended by the Taxon Advisory Group, which consists of representatives of interested zoos.

Hope that helps.

 

[Tiger91]

This seems to come up all the time, so here goes trying to explain it again.

• Firstly ZAA (not AZA, that is American) controls nothing. They advise and assist, that is all.
• Species programs are run by the host zoo, the studbook keeper is an employee. The zoo has to commit to supporting the studbook keeper. The studbook keeper recommends what animals should be bred or moved to fill the spaces available, and no more. (edit: and of course maintain maximum genetic diversity).
• Zoos decide what animals and how many they will hold. If a zoo wants 5.5 nyala, fine, 10.10 even better. If none, fine also. How many animals a zoo plans to hold depends on a number of factors unique to each zoo, including money, space, the zoos masterplan and the personal preferences of the staff making the decision.

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the info. But that was my actual point, if ZAA ( lmao bit dyslexic and didn't pick that I put AZA), actually took control of stud books. A lot of these issue would be resolved. Back when I was doing zoology at uni we did meet and talk to a few people that have controlled stud books. And while they don't get paid for taking it on in a sense that it is something they take on ontop of their normal workload. From how it was explained to us at least by the guys from Taronga. It is still that person taking control of the species and there ability and the effort they put in varies and it can be very clearly seen reflected in the breeding programs. There was one such person we met and I got a very strong sense of the fact, that they were doing it for recognition and not for the love of the actual animals. And over the years there have been some questionable decisions made. Which one can't help but think is it because some people who are in control of the stud books arnt actually doing it for the benefit of the species. When we asked the question what happens if someone retires/quits etc, it was said that if no one takes it up then there is no one to actively manage the species stud books.

So again if ZAA, being a corporation was to take control of its species programs and actually employ teams to coordinate and maintain stud books. Which isn't a far fetched ideology given what they are actually there for. We would see much better consolidation of species management. While probably seeing improved member participation and willingness of zoos to invest in species. I am aware that individual zoos have always had the say on what they hold and how many. But I have also seen zoos drop species due to poor management of species because the old stud book holder retired/quite/didnt want to do it. Then there is no one person looking after the regional population things fall apart and zoos start looking for better managed species. For a corporation that determines if zoos can get acreditation and access to ZAA endorsed managed species. I.e if your not in ZAA your not getting access to Sumatran tigers. It is ridiculous that they let individual people manage the stud books and they themselves do not mange the species. ZAA is an association for maintaining animal welfare, zoos and conservation. In todays world it is a bit rediculose that our conservation of managed species is so flimsily managed. When if no one wants to take up the stud book or if someone takes it on and isn't passionate or puts effort into it then the species can go from well managed and fall into mismanaged and impacting if zoos want it.

 

[MRJ]

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the info. But that was my actual point, if ZAA ( lmao bit dyslexic and didn't pick that I put AZA), actually took control of stud books. A lot of these issue would be resolved. Back when I was doing zoology at uni we did meet and talk to a few people that have controlled stud books. And while they don't get paid for taking it on in a sense that it is something they take on ontop of their normal workload. From how it was explained to us at least by the guys from Taronga. It is still that person taking control of the species and there ability and the effort they put in varies and it can be very clearly seen reflected in the breeding programs. There was one such person we met and I got a very strong sense of the fact, that they were doing it for recognition and not for the love of the actual animals. And over the years there have been some questionable decisions made. Which one can't help but think is it because some people who are in control of the stud books arnt actually doing it for the benefit of the species. When we asked the question what happens if someone retires/quits etc, it was said that if no one takes it up then there is no one to actively manage the species stud books.

So again if ZAA, being a corporation was to take control of its species programs and actually employ teams to coordinate and maintain stud books. Which isn't a far fetched ideology given what they are actually there for. We would see much better consolidation of species management. While probably seeing improved member participation and willingness of zoos to invest in species. I am aware that individual zoos have always had the say on what they hold and how many. But I have also seen zoos drop species due to poor management of species because the old stud book holder retired/quite/didnt want to do it. Then there is no one person looking after the regional population things fall apart and zoos start looking for better managed species. For a corporation that determines if zoos can get acreditation and access to ZAA endorsed managed species. I.e if your not in ZAA your not getting access to Sumatran tigers. It is ridiculous that they let individual people manage the stud books and they themselves do not mange the species. ZAA is an association for maintaining animal welfare, zoos and conservation. In todays world it is a bit rediculose that our conservation of managed species is so flimsily managed. When if no one wants to take up the stud book or if someone takes it on and isn't passionate or puts effort into it then the species can go from well managed and fall into mismanaged and impacting if zoos want it.

Thank you for replying to me. it sounds like you might have been talking to studbook keepers a few years back. Recently things have tightened up quite a bit. Because it is easier for me I'll be replying again in point form.

• Firstly, ZAA is a club for zoos. If it's member zoos want it to do something and are willing to pay, it will do it.
• ZAA does employ Species Management staff to support the programs, but not to run them, although the Tasmanian Devil program, which was the largest program (I think it has been overtaken by the Orange-bellied Parrot Program) is managed by ZAA.
• Excluding the half dozen or so actual conservation programs, all programs exist solely for the benefit of zoos, ie to ensure they have animals in the future. It is up to zoos to support them.
• Zoos and ZAA have recognized that the days of somebody doing this job in their spare time have gone. These days the Director must commit to providing the time and support for their staff member to fulfil the role. If the staff member is not performing the Director is informed and ultimately held to account.
• Species Managers and Studbook Keepers do not have the sort of power implied. They must produce an annual report and recommendations for their species (typically 15 to 20 pages long), which are then reviewed by the ZAA SMP staff, TAG conveners, and by the nominated representative of all zoos holding the species or with an interest in holding the species. They can question or request amendments, and then must either endorse or not endorse the report. Once a zoo has endorsed the report they must do everything in their powers to fulfil the breeding and movement recommendations.
• I think it is good that keepers and curators can manage studbooks, Their jobs should not be just chopping vegetables and shoveling ****. Even if someone is only doing it for a career advantage, so what as long as they are doing a good job.

At the end of the day programs only succeed if there are sufficient places. However ZAA cannot and should not be telling zoos to provide those places. (of course ZAA can point to the need, though).

 

[Tiger91]

Thank you for replying to me. it sounds like you might have been talking to studbook keepers a few years back. Recently things have tightened up quite a bit. Because it is easier for me I'll be replying again in point form.

• Firstly, ZAA is a club for zoos. If it's member zoos want it to do something and are willing to pay, it will do it.
• ZAA does employ Species Management staff to support the programs, but not to run them, although the Tasmanian Devil program, which was the largest program (I think it has been overtaken by the Orange-bellied Parrot Program) is managed by ZAA.
• Excluding the half dozen or so actual conservation programs, all programs exist solely for the benefit of zoos, ie to ensure they have animals in the future. It is up to zoos to support them.
• Zoos and ZAA have recognized that the days of somebody doing this job in their spare time have gone. These days the Director must commit to providing the time and support for their staff member to fulfil the role. If the staff member is not performing the Director is informed and ultimately held to account.
• Species Managers and Studbook Keepers do not have the sort of power implied. They must produce an annual report and recommendations for their species (typically 15 to 20 pages long), which are then reviewed by the ZAA SMP staff, TAG conveners, and by the nominated representative of all zoos holding the species or with an interest in holding the species. They can question or request amendments, and then must either endorse or not endorse the report. Once a zoo has endorsed the report they must do everything in their powers to fulfil the breeding and movement recommendations.
• I think it is good that keepers and curators can manage studbooks, Their jobs should not be just chopping vegetables and shoveling ****. Even if someone is only doing it for a career advantage, so what as long as they are doing a good job.

At the end of the day programs only succeed if there are sufficient places. However ZAA cannot and should not be telling zoos to provide those places. (of course ZAA can point to the need, though).

Thanks again for the reply!. It's good to hear that they appear to be taking species management and stud books more seriously. Of course it is good for zoo keepers to be able to run and manage stud books, and today it appears that there is a system. Where there are people watching and checking on the people running the species stud books. Which is good.
Back when I was hearing from stud book keepers talking about it, there was very much an element of some people only doing it for the career advantage and only doing it when they had time. Which in and of itself isn't inherently bad. But when they were doing poorly there was no one to correct it and we have seen the results of that reflected in some species. Especially with the back flipping and phase in and outs of species over the years. Todays system that you describe is a better system.
I still think ZAA should be managing a core set of priority/primary species at its base. If they can mandate that white lions and king cheetah not to be held and or specifically bred due to possible bad publicity. Then is no reason that they can't run a network of keepers throughout zoos that report to them for the running of stud books and or species management.

 

[Tiger91]

Thanks for asking what you could.

That’s exciting to hear they plan to acquire a number of new rhinos. They may well be receiving some rhinos from the import of 35 founders from South Africa; though we also have juvenile cows in the region, who will also need to join breeding herds in the future to promote their reproductive health (including Auckland’s two juveniles).

With a bit of luck Hopefully we will see a big reshuffling of rhino when the imports arrive. Hopefully zoo bred animals will be bred with wild animals to diversify genetics.
Werribee hopefully will be able to establish a decent breeding program with them. They have been so close for so long but have just always not quite got there. And white rhino are a species that if bred in large enough numbers can be sent back to Africa and re wilded. The potential is there so it would be good to see our zoos do it. Especially with numbers dropping and Werribee could be a key player in it.

 

[Zoofan15]

With a bit of luck Hopefully we will see a big reshuffling of rhino when the imports arrive. Hopefully zoo bred animals will be bred with wild animals to diversify genetics.
Werribee hopefully will be able to establish a decent breeding program with them. They have been so close for so long but have just always not quite got there. And white rhino are a species that if bred in large enough numbers can be sent back to Africa and re wilded. The potential is there so it would be good to see our zoos do it. Especially with numbers dropping and Werribee could be a key player in it.

It’ll be a fantastic opportunity for the entire region to have a reshuffle. Hamilton Zoo found the arrival of a new bull induced two of their non-cycling cows to start cycling again and indeed under-performing herds may benefit from a new bull; as well as the separation of cows to negate the affect of estrus supression on certain individuals.

Caballe (1995) at Australia Zoo is the region’s most successful breeding cow to date, but has no descendants via her offspring. Her eldest three offspring are deceased; her next two offspring were daughters who have failed to breed to date; and her youngest three offspring are bulls in non-breeding situations. I’m hopeful her eldest daughter (Imani) will be one of the cows to benefit from the shake up. At 16 years of age, she’s fast approaching the age where she’ll be non viable as a breeder if she doesn’t conceive soon.

Werribee have a proven breeding bull and a young viable cow. At a minimum, I’d introduce a further two cows to this grouping - perhaps an adult imported cow; combined with a juvenile from within the regional population e.g. Nyah at Auckland Zoo, who will mature into a breeding cow in the next 3-4 years.

 

[Tiger91]

It’ll be a fantastic opportunity for the entire region to have a reshuffle. Hamilton Zoo found the arrival of a new bull induced two of their non-cycling cows to start cycling again and indeed under-performing herds may benefit from a new bull; as well as the separation of cows to negate the affect of estrus supression on certain individuals.

Caballe (1995) at Australia Zoo is the region’s most successful breeding cow to date, but has no descendants via her offspring. Her eldest three offspring are deceased; her next two offspring were daughters who have failed to breed to date; and her youngest three offspring are bulls in non-breeding situations. I’m hopeful her eldest daughter (Imani) will be one of the cows to benefit from the shake up. At 16 years of age, she’s fast approaching the age where she’ll be non viable as a breeder if she doesn’t conceive soon.

Werribee have a proven breeding bull and a young viable cow. At a minimum, I’d introduce a further two cows to this grouping - perhaps an adult imported cow; combined with a juvenile from within the regional population e.g. Nyah at Auckland Zoo, who will mature into a breeding cow in the next 3-4 years.

I wonder why we haven't seen oestrus being induced manually by hormone therapy in under performing females. It is quite common in livestock species, and would definitely have been used in all the research of looking at IVF/embryo transfer in white rhino. Whether it is a cost thing or what who knows.
If it becomes/starts being used zoos like Werribee would benefit greatly when they have been in situations where cows breed once then fail to naturally afterwards.

 

[Zoofan15]

I wonder why we haven't seen oestrus being induced manually by hormone therapy in under performing females. It is quite common in livestock species, and would definitely have been used in all the research of looking at IVF/embryo transfer in white rhino. Whether it is a cost thing or what who knows.
If it becomes/starts being used zoos like Werribee would benefit greatly when they have been in situations where cows breed once then fail to naturally afterwards.

It’s been used in Common hippopotamus as early as the 1980’s in the region, so I’m sure it would be available to Southern white rhinoceros in this day and age. Whether the physiology is more complex with regards to the reproductive system I don’t know and in any case, cows are more selective in which bulls they’ll allow to breed them. This is apparently the case with Imani, who dislikes Kruger.

Beyond that, separation of the cows overnight (or even changing permutations of housing) and separation of mothers/daughters are common recommendations.

 

[MRJ]

Just to reply to a few of your points.

But when they were doing poorly there was no one to correct it and we have seen the results of that reflected in some species.

I am not aware of any species that has disappeared from zoos because of studbook keeper mismanagement, so I think at this point it would be useful if you were to produce concrete examples. It is easy to throw around vague accusation without foundation. There have been examples of "do not breed" recommendations, but these are caused by a lack of spaces for more individuals.

Especially with the back flipping and phase in and outs of species over the years...I still think ZAA should be managing a core set of priority/primary species at its base.

Again, ZAA is there to assist zoos, not make commercial decisions for them. Any "back-flipping" is done by zoo boards, directors and curators, not studbook keepers or ZAA.

If they can mandate that white lions and king cheetah not to be held and or specifically bred due to possible bad publicity.

The breeding of mutations serves no good conservation or genetic purpose, yet takes up considerable numbers of spaces for both the animals and the "splits" they are bred from.

Then is no reason that they can't run a network of keepers throughout zoos that report to them for the running of stud books and or species management.

ZAA spies in every zoo, hu? Not necessary. Studbooks are now done within ZIMS, so are assessable to anybody with ZIMS access. Indeed, they access data from ZIMS records, so as long as all the holders are on ZIMS, studbook compilation is now extremely easy. Actually the most time consuming part of studbooks is chasing up holders who do not reply to requests for information,

 

[Smaggledagle]

Other 2023 News:

Spoiler: Rehabilitation/Reintroduction News

On May 10th, the zoo announced they bred and released (0.0.7) plains-wanderers into New South Wales.

Zoos Victoria - The conservation win you needed to hear...

On June 20th, the zoo announced they rehabilitated and released (0.0.3) barn owls back into the wild.

After months of care, three orphaned Barn Owls have been released back to the wild, and we couldn't be happier to see their snowy plumage light up the night's sky. | Zoos Victoria

On October 25th, it was reported that the zoo planted 14,000 trees of various species that will complement the new Asian elephant exhibit.

More Trees Planted At Werribee Open Range Zoo