Because the breeding pair at Wellington Zoo were the same age as the breeding pair at Hamilton Zoo, there was little opportunity to swap between the zoos for many years. Hamilton Zoo reared 2.7 pups in 2004, 2.0 pups in 2006, 2.0 pups in 2007 and 1.0 pups in 2008. The 7 females were sent to Orana Wildlife Park, and the 7 males retained. Wellington Zoo bred to capacity, rearing 2.1 pups born 2005 and 3.0 pups born 2006. By the early 2010s, the founders of both zoos had died of old age and Hamilton needed a new breeding female to pair with one of their 7 males. They were sent Rukiya (2005) from Wellington Zoo in 2011, who at almost 7 years of age, was considered old for a species which reaches sexual maturity at 12-18 months and lives to an average age of 10 years. The 6 offspring of the Wellington pair have since died out and following the export of 5 males in February 2015, Hamilton Zoo is left with 2 males, and the 10 year old Rukiya, who is still to produce offspring. With Wellington Zoo planning to import four young dogs to found a new pack in the immediate future, I hope Hamilton will wait to receive surplus offspring from this pack as their founders, upon the passing of their current aged trio, rather than establishing their own young pack independent of Wellington. If this were the plan, I’m guessing Wellington would retain male pups from their new group, and send a pack consisting of surplus sibling females to Hamilton, for breeding with either the two ageing males, Atsu and Zumo, or if they have passed away by then, new male imports. I guess time will tell.
Looks like I was far too quick to judge. I was told by a lady working as a zoo host at Hamilton Zoo that Rukiya has given birth. Fingers crossed the pups survive.
I have only seen one of the male dogs on my last two visits to Hamilton Zoo, as well as Rukiya. Has one of the males passed away? If so, was it Zumo (2006) or Atsu (2006)? There is still no news of pups from Rukiaya Also, is anyone aware of an update on the Wellington import (originally scheduled for 2014)? Orana Wildlife Park are now reduced to two dogs (both females born in 2004). They are the older siblings of Zumo and Atsu. From having several large packs, NZ is now apparently reduced to just four dogs!
According to Hamilton Zoos STQRY page they currently hold two African Wild Dogs male Zumo born 11 April 2007 at Hamilton Zoo and female Rukiya born 22 November 2006 at Wellington Zoo. So I would guess that Atsu has passed away. https://www.stqry.com/v/Painted-hunting-dogs/i_32115a8fd26d872553ed948d47bcda49
Thanks for that, Tygo. Wasn't Rukiaya born September 2005 though? I'm sure she's 10 this year? Hamilton Zoo have recently imported two female hunting dogs from Perth Zoo. I don't recall the names but I think one began with an M??? I'm assuming they're from the 2012 litter born at Perth Zoo. The new dogs are being housed in the enclosure vacated by the male pack sent to Singapore earlier this year. A sign referred to the breeding pair still available for viewing in the main enclousre. I assume this means they won't be introduced to Zumo until they give up on Rukiaya breeding.
Thanks to Tygo for the following update on Hamilton’s African Wild Dogs: https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/hamilton-zoo-news-2017.466112/ The aged female Rukiya (2005) has passed away which has prompted the zoo to introduce his mate Zumo (2006) to the two new females, by far the best move if the zoo wish to breed the species. Personally I think Zumo should have introduced to them upon their arrival two years ago, and Atsu and Rukiya retired from breeding and left as a pair.
