The Sleepy Hippo
Well-Known Member
Also taking a moment remembering the bulls that didn't survive to see the home that was planned for them. Thinking how much both Bong Su and Man Jai would have loved this new facility!
Werribee Open Range Zoo Werribee Open Range Zoo News 2025
- Thread starter austrlain zoo gower
- Start date
I’ve thought about them both a lot today - namely as I watched Luk Chai submerge fully into that epic pool (and how much Bong Su would have enjoyed that); and also contemplating how much fun Man Jai and Luk Chai would have had in exploring this complex together - supporting each other in a new environment.
Bong Su was after all a founder of this herd and made an invaluable contribution in siring three calves to survive to adulthood, one of which is Mali, whose family line will continue in this world class facility; one of which has gone to North America as a founder; and one of which is at Dubbo awaiting his assignment!
According to this news article, Kulab, Num-Oi, and Kati made the move on Saturday (February 8), while Mek Kapah, Dokkoon, Mali, Aiyara, and Roi-Yim made the move on Monday (February 10).
Elephants trumpet, squeak and flap their ears after their complex move across an Australian city – KGET 17 News
Thanks for sharing @Elephant Enthusiast.
It appears they ultimately stuck with the order of transfer I was advised of back in November 2024 (albeit with two days between the transfer of the second and third group rather than one):
Sorry everyone for the mishap, I meant to say Monday initially rather than Tuesday (on holidays right now so some of you may know how it gets
). And I did only see the two double crates go past on the highway hence my confusion so perhaps Mek Kapah was moved earlier in the morning as the others went past just after midday.
I'm just reading my messages back with my source and he advised me there was five days in between the moves when in reality it was all of the moves across five days as we now know. Sorry for the confusion everyone!
On a more substantial note, I emailed the zoo directly and they told me the hope is for all the elephants to be on display come the beginning of next month.
Good point. I know there was a strong emphasis on transferring the calves sooner rather than later as they’re now well and truly into the danger zone for EEHV. The zoo are regularly testing (and have been since the calves were a year old) to negate any risks.
Fingers crossed with progress overseas with the vaccine trial that one day, EEHV will largely become a issue of the past.
From what I've seen, it really looks like the herd is taking to the new spaces quite well and are having the times of their lives.
The absence of any new elephants would also help; they're effectively just a new environment with new smells, sights, sounds ect. It would be incredibly enriching and engaging for them if anything. They're still eating the same things, interacting with the same keepers and are still together as a cohesive herd.
Staff have luckily put them in a really good position where they can settle in without much to worry about!
I imagine it won't be too long before we have vaccine trials here too. I understand the staff have just been keen on getting the elephants across to Werribee first (where they also have the new facilities dedicated to this), and where the elephants can be monitored in a more stagnant environment without having the implications of the move reflecting on the trials.
I really hope so and yes, from a trial perspective, they’d need to ensure no external influences were affecting the results e.g. the stress of the move. It is after all a trial, with a need to have consistent (and successful) outcomes across all test subjects in order for it to proceed to the stage it can be offered as a routine vaccine. I’m optimistic for its success nonetheless!
Saffron has struggled with arthritis for years. Now zookeepers have found something that works.
How do you treat arthritis in an ageing Arabian camel? Zookeepers at Werribee Open Range Zoo tried arthritis cream but it was licked off pretty quickly.
So they've settled on regular visits from equine soft tissue therapist Christian Langeder.
"My job is to make her supple. It's very osteopathic in nature," he says.
"What happens is I come over and try to turn back the clock just by softening muscles and opening up joints. I just try to make her feel better."
Saffron is one of three camels at Werribee. Keepers say they don't pick favorite's but she does get a lot of love and attention.
"Absolutely she's a spoilt camel but she's well worth it," Ms Irving says.
The part that caught my attention is the mention of only 3 camels being at the zoo - last few times ive been, there was 6 or 7 camels in the arid paddock with the oryx. I'm looking forward to being able to view this area on foot as part of the new elephant area (ie, you'll walk past this paddock plus one with Zebra, to reach the elephant exhibit.
How do you treat arthritis in an ageing Arabian camel? Zookeepers at Werribee Open Range Zoo tried arthritis cream but it was licked off pretty quickly.
So they've settled on regular visits from equine soft tissue therapist Christian Langeder.
"My job is to make her supple. It's very osteopathic in nature," he says.
"What happens is I come over and try to turn back the clock just by softening muscles and opening up joints. I just try to make her feel better."
Saffron is one of three camels at Werribee. Keepers say they don't pick favorite's but she does get a lot of love and attention.
"Absolutely she's a spoilt camel but she's well worth it," Ms Irving says.
The part that caught my attention is the mention of only 3 camels being at the zoo - last few times ive been, there was 6 or 7 camels in the arid paddock with the oryx. I'm looking forward to being able to view this area on foot as part of the new elephant area (ie, you'll walk past this paddock plus one with Zebra, to reach the elephant exhibit.
According to the Zoos Victoria inventory, they had 1.6 Dromedary camel in July 2020; with 1.3 dying between July 2021 and June 2024, leaving them with the three camels (all female) mentioned in this article.
1.6 in July 2020
No change between July 2020 and June 2021
1.6 in June 2021
1.6 in July 2021
0.2 died between July 2021 and June 2022
1.4 in June 2022
1.4 in July 2022
No change between July 2022 and June 2023
1.4 in June 2023
1.4 in July 2023
1.1 died between July 2023 and June 2024
0.3 in June 2024
I can remember the names of some of the females; Saffron, Amy, Lucie, Aloe, Sahara. The latter two have been the only ones born at the zoo since 2010. I'm sure if someone mentions the name of the male, I'd recognise it but I can't remember it for the life of me.
It's quite a shame that the numbers have dwindled to just three. I wonder whether they'll acquire a new male or whether they'll just stick to the current trio. I know the masterplan showed the new safari station in place of the arid savannah so perhaps they're a phase out species considering they weren't featured in the masterplan.
At least with dromedary camels they are not in short supply!. Hopefully they will get some more to add in now with the oryx. Now that they have extra viewing into the arid paddock and they passed out addax.
That is a fair point! I believe at least one of Werribee's former camels came from private hands - this used to be mentioned in the safari tour ages back when talking about them and the feral population we have
The addax weren't part of the arid paddock it was always just the Scimitar Horned Oryx (in big numbers) and a breeding group of Dromedary Camels. So it would be good to get the Camels back up and breeding again as the habitat feels quite empty otherwise.
Side-topic split to here: Keeping invasive introduced species in Australian zoos
Amani the giraffe has died:
From socials:
Yesterday Werribee Open Range Zoo’s keepers and veterinarians, alongside external medical specialists, made the difficult but kindest and most humane welfare decision to euthanise one of the zoo’s seven Giraffes.
Amani, 17-year-old senior male, underwent an examination under anaesthesia (EUA), X-rays and additional medical tests that revealed a painful, progressive and untreatable condition – an extensive lesion of his lower jawbone, which had caused his jaw to become swollen and unstable.
Zoo staff are waiting for additional test results from The University of Melbourne pathologists to gain further insights into the condition.
Amani was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2007 and arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2009.
He was a protector and played an important role model for the Zoo’s three sub-adult giraffes Wayo, Jesse and David, never leaving them behind and regularly leading them into their sleeping yards at night.
From socials:
Yesterday Werribee Open Range Zoo’s keepers and veterinarians, alongside external medical specialists, made the difficult but kindest and most humane welfare decision to euthanise one of the zoo’s seven Giraffes.
Amani, 17-year-old senior male, underwent an examination under anaesthesia (EUA), X-rays and additional medical tests that revealed a painful, progressive and untreatable condition – an extensive lesion of his lower jawbone, which had caused his jaw to become swollen and unstable.
Zoo staff are waiting for additional test results from The University of Melbourne pathologists to gain further insights into the condition.
Amani was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2007 and arrived at Werribee Open Range Zoo in 2009.
He was a protector and played an important role model for the Zoo’s three sub-adult giraffes Wayo, Jesse and David, never leaving them behind and regularly leading them into their sleeping yards at night.
African Wild Dog Update
Nelson (2016) was the male dog that passed away last year.
His death leaves the zoo with three male dogs (all brothers of Nelson):
1.0 Neo (17/11/2015) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo)
1.0 Ziggy (25/08/2016) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo)
1.0 Madash (25/08/2016) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo
Nelson (2016) was the male dog that passed away last year.
His death leaves the zoo with three male dogs (all brothers of Nelson):
1.0 Neo (17/11/2015) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo)
1.0 Ziggy (25/08/2016) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo)
1.0 Madash (25/08/2016) Guban x Kimanda (Dubbo
White Rhino calf Jabulani who's now seven months old was introduced to his father, Kifaru last month.
Father and son meet at zoo | Northern
Father and son meet at zoo | Northern
It’s good to hear that all the cows are living together cohesively:
“Jabulani is a curious young rhino, but it certainly helps when there are eight tonnes of ‘rhino bodyguards’ between him and Kifaru – Jabulani’s mother Kipenzi, grandma Sisi, great grandma Make and herd member Letaba,”
Albeit ahead of Sisi and Letaba transferring to Perth in the future.