Your Favourite Individuals

Bob the alligator at Alligator Adventure in Myrtle Beach. It was a place I used to go to a lot as my family always would go to Myrtle Beach about every year. She is a tails alligator which made her quite special in my eyes. Also Utan, who is a 18ft Siamese x Saltwater crocodile at the park. He's said to be the largest crocodile in the US, although I'm sure there's to to be some exaggeration in that.
 
Zoofan15 said:
That’s interesting! Historically the region has focussed on Sumatran orangutan. Perth Zoo’s colony was founded by a pair of Sumatrans and two Bornean females; so when it was acknowledged that they shouldn’t be hybridised, it was easy to streamline their colony via the Sumatran pair and their many offspring. Adelaide and Melbourne chose to import Sumatran orangutans, with Adelaide exchanging with Perth along the way.

Auckland Zoo stated it was a conscious decision to source Bornean orangutan for the founders of their colony in the 1980’s, as the rest of the region focussed on Sumatrans. This seemed illogical to me, but it was explained that Bornean orangutans were easier to source (for the reasons you’ve mentioned).
Click to expand...

I've seen all the Australasian Orangutan groups back in the 1990's- barring Adelaide. I remember being very interested in the Perth Sumatrans in particular, as it was a definite dynasty founded by Atjeh (he was already dead) and Puan (whom I saw). At Auckland NZ, the Borneans were fairly recent arrivals, I know at least(?) two of them came from Frankfurt in Germany. For me, Sumatrans win out every time over Borneans for their looks, activity and interest level!
 
Pertinax said:
I've seen all the Australasian Orangutan groups back in the 1990's- barring Adelaide. I remember being very interested in the Perth Sumatrans in particular, as it was a definite dynasty founded by Atjeh (he was already dead) and Puan (whom I saw). At Auckland NZ, the Borneans were fairly recent arrivals, I know at least(?) two of them came from Frankfurt in Germany. For me, Sumatrans win out every time over Borneans for their looks, activity and interest level!
Click to expand...

The founders of Auckland Zoo’s colony were:

0.1 Dara - born 1977 at Frankfurt Zoo - arrived 1983
1.0 Horst - born 1978 at Frankfurt Zoo - arrived 1983
0.1 Indra - born 1980 at Rotterdam Zoo - arrived 1983
1.0 Charlie - born 1981 at Singapore Zoo - arrived 1984

Four offspring were bred from these imports:

0.1 Intan - born 1989 (Horst x Indra) - exported 2009
1.0 Datuk - born 1989 (Horst x Dara) - exported 1996
1.0 Isim - born 1994 (Horst x Indra) - exported 2015
0.1 Darli - born 2000 (Charlie x Dara) - died 2000

Horst and Dara were half siblings; so the breeding of the fourth offspring produced was planned so that Charlie was the sire (the males were separated/rotated by this time). The quartet were initially housed together until Horst became aggressive to the younger Charlie.

I’ve seen both species of orangutan, but personally prefer the Bornean orangutan.
 
I’ve seen both species of orangutan, but personally prefer the Bornean orangutan.
Click to expand...

Is that because they are the more unusual in your area? Its the reverse of the UK...
 
Most recently the buffy tufted marmoset "Arthur" from Guarulhos zoo who is now at the MMCP's captive breeding center at the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais has become a firm favourite of mine.

His parents "Marcelinho" and "Madonna" and siblings are very loveable little monkeys too and with very strong characters despite their tiny size.
 
Zoofan15 said:
I’ve seen both species of orangutan, but personally prefer the Bornean orangutan.
Click to expand...

Pertinax said:
Is that because they are the more unusual in your area? Its the reverse of the UK...
Click to expand...

Actually, it’s the opposite. Bornean orangutan were the species I grew up seeing at Auckland Zoo, so were the ones I formed an association with. When I saw photos of Sumatran orangutans at Perth Zoo; or those previously held at Auckland Zoo in the the history book A Tiger by the Tail, I thought they were less attractive looking due to the increased facial hair. The cheek flanges on the male Borneans look more impressive for the same reason (less hair to cover them up).

While neither species are sociable in nature; Auckland Zoo held up to seven in one group in the early 2000’s, which made for an active and exciting exhibit. It was always the highlight of my visit as a kid.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Actually, it’s the opposite. Bornean orangutan were the species I grew up seeing at Auckland Zoo, so were the ones I formed an association with. When I saw photos of Sumatran orangutans at Perth Zoo; or those previously held at Auckland Zoo in the the history book A Tiger by the Tail, I thought they were less attractive looking due to the increased facial hair. The cheek flanges on the male Borneans look more impressive for the same reason (less hair to cover them up).

While neither species are sociable in nature; Auckland Zoo held up to seven in one group in the early 2000’s, which made for an active and exciting exhibit. It was always the highlight of my visit as a kid.
Click to expand...
I didn't know Auckland had had any Orangutans previously. Sort of presumed current group were their first.
 
Pertinax said:
I didn't know Auckland had had any Orangutans previously. Sort of presumed current group were their first.
Click to expand...

They acquired three orangutans in the 1920’s - a pair in 1924; and then a male to replace the first male who died within a month of arriving. None survived more than four years.

The zoo's next orangutan was a Sumatran female named Ginger Rodgers. She arrived in 1939 and died in 1943.

In 1956, they imported two Sumatran orangutan from Taronga Zoo. They were estimated to have been two years old on arrival and were named Topsy and Turvey. Like Ginger Rodgers, they were humanised and performed in tea parties. Topsy died in 1968; and Turvey died in 1971. They bred only once, with Topsy delivering a stillborn infant 29/05/1967.

All of these imports were wild caught.
 
Dianamonkey said:
I recall a very old great indian hornbill in the bird house of London zoo called Josephine as being an animal we always visited at the zoo when I was younger.
Click to expand...
The great Indian hornbill "Josephine" was a favourite of mine too; she died in 1998 and was estimated to be in her early fifties.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top