Guanacos » Western Plains Zoo

Guanacos
10-01-2008

ISIS shows 3 male and 3 female guanacos at W.P.Z. Is that right? Anyone know much about them? Are they inbred? Past breeding age?

I know they are not a "glamour" species and I know the region is concentrating on Asian animals, but guanacos are one of the few neotropical species in Aust. and should be maintained if at all possible.

10-01-2008

Can't remember how many I saw but they were in a shared exhibit with the patagonian cavvy, capybara, rhea (i think) and Brazilian Tapir. Good exhibit, on the hot days you used to be able to see the capybara and tapir come running out of the shade into the moat. but I did not see 6 guanaco, doesn't mean they aren't there

10-01-2008

i saw 4 on exhibit last time, and then there were 2 in the 'tip', which is where extra animals go that d not go on display, such as eland, p horse males etc. I saw these 2 animals when i drove around the perimeter, on the road surrounding the zoo. you can see many animals if you drive the public sealed road around the zoo, such as black rhino (more blacks) and also various animals in this tip.

Also, it's called the tip cause it used to be at one stage the old dubbo tip.

20-04-2009

do the guanacos have names?

20-04-2009

The TWPZ guanacos have "attitude problems" so any official names may not be the same as keeper's names for them!