Hyena » Monarto Zoo

Hyena
29-12-2006

I thought i would make a new thread for the Hyena in Australia, and seeing as South Australia will hold the largest number this is where it should be

I am not sure on the Background of the Spotted Hyena at Perth but this is what i can tell you about the 1 Hyena at Monarto

"Vinnie" was with the perth zoo hyena (i presume she was imported with them) until a falling out due to her over aggression. She was then carted off to Whyalla Zoo. Whyalla Zoo iwas in SA and as far as i know was a terrible place. All Concrete, like an 1940-50's Zoo. Her previous exhbit was no more than 8m X 3m about, concrete with a concrete hut for her to sleep in, she had her food offered in bowls, and due to low funds she survived on a Diet of Pal Dog food. THis resulted in her weighing 87kg unlike the regular 60kg a hyena should weigh

Vinnie is now at Monarto she arrived about 2 years ago and lives in an old Wild Dog Lockaway (they now live on the exhibit all the time) she now has at least grass to walk on and dirt to roll in and water to walk in, she is loving life, she is very wary of humans, but gets used to new people and items quickly. And luckily is now on a varied diet, including the odd Blackbuck.

Most likely she will not be intergrated to the new Hyena due to her elderly age and Weight. but she will be able to see them and smell them etc...

I will be back in the park on the 16th and 18th so i will try and get some pics then, if not i will get some sent to me so i can show you all

ZooPro, i am not sure if you saw vinnie when you were at monarto last, if you did anything to add?

30-12-2006

No Ben, I din't see her, but it sounds like she is a whole lot better off now than she was at Whyalla.

30-12-2006

so she lives up at the wild dog exhibit, in a pen, and can u descibe the new exhibit for everyone, yesterday uoi said the wild dog exhibit will be divided.

also, did arazpa have opposition to this aquisition, as with the indian rhino etc.

30-12-2006

Um well it about an 8th of the wild dog exhbit, we will have to wait and see what it looks like at the moment its just grass

04-05-2009

what are the names of all the hyenas?

04-05-2009

Kigali (f)
Mwenka (m)
Kigana (m)
Misitu (f)
Vinnie (f)

05-05-2009

The Perth pair + Vinnie arrived for the opening of the African Savanna(h) exhibit in 1990 (?). All three arrived from the US university which keeps a breeding colony (somebody will tell me which one it is). As far as I am aware Vinnie was neutered before coming to Perth, and as the dominant female caused no end of difficulties with the other female. The decision was made to remove Vinnie, and unfortunately she was sent to Whyalla. I always felt sorry for her, but thankfully never saw the conditions.

The Perth pair had twins and a singleton before they neutered one of the adults due to a lack of interest in the species from other collections. All offspring went to Singapore Zoo/Night Safari (one or the other).

Perth's Savanna display was based on the famous US architects Jones & Jones design for the similarly titled display at Seattle. Unfortunately the area they had to work with was about a quarter of the size, yet the zoo ambitiously tried to fit just as many exhibits in. Over the years there have been many changes to the original exhibits and fewer species, but the original hyaena exhibit now houses meerkats! Way too small for the hyaenas, who now have the previously oryx/hunting dog exhibit.