Great evaluation! I absolutely agree. Re. the Black Rhino population, we also have to consider the relations of the current cows to the current bulls at Dubbo. Bakhita (2002) is related to all the current bulls at Dubbo; with them either being her half brothers or sons. Conversely, Monarto hold the only male in the region unrelated to her - Induna (2003). The only other adult female, Kufara, being Bakhita's daughter is also therefore related to all the bulls too, even Induna as they share the same sire. Therefore the only unrelated pairing in the region at the moment is Bakhita and Induna. Sending Bakhita to Monarto would make the most sense imo. But imports are drastically needed to prevent further inbreeding! Re. the Indian Rhinos, it was rumored the city zoos eg. Perth, Melbourne and Taronga may possibly acquire Indian Rhinos as replacements for their elephants. At this point it now seems none of the three will end up acquiring them, which is a shame. I would be very surprised to see Werribee acquire them anytime soon; but hopefully Monarto (being Monarto) can be a lifesaver and import an unrelated pair. I don't see why a smaller zoo (like Altina or Darling Downs) shouldn't be interested in them too! EDIT: Just seen @Zoofan15's post which pretty much mirrors mine; obviously there's a very obvious view onto the regional populations at the moment - new holders/imports for both seem the most logical course to continue sustainable regional populations for each species.
Unfortunately I can’t see Werribee acquiring them anytime soon. They have a significant backlog of projects that have been shelved until the elephant complex is completed; most or all of which would take priority over acquiring Indian rhinoceros. With regards to Monarto, I’ve come to expect the unexpected! Dubbo frequently mention being the only Australian zoo to hold three species of rhino and Monarto may well aspire to the same; especially now they can link them to their Asian elephants. I’m not a fan of ambassador species for different geographic continents. They’re Asian elephants, so display them as an Asian species and be open to diversification beyond the African Safari theme.
@Jambo, thanks for your comments relating to the black and Indian rhino in Australia. I agree that the situation for southern black rhino in the short term as a stop gap measure needs to be addressed by another import of surplus bulls from some US collections (both AZA accredited and private breeders). From the zoo network concerned both Abilene Zoo and White Oak in Yulee have a bull southern black rhino spare. Further, I think the El Coyote ranch might have more bulls available. This does not mean further imports of female black rhino are not needed, ... they very much are. Just in the US/AZA and private breeder community these are in short supply. In this respect: Where southern black rhino is concerned nothing has been heard recently of the southern black rhino import cum in situ support from Eswatini or South Africa. What is happening on that front? I am sure the situation locally is complex, but unless species management at Taronga/Dubbo changes fundamentally and the committee starts acting pro-actively both programs will run into major difficulties to manage a regional population. In the case of Indian rhino there is really no reason why the open range zoos at Monarto, Werribee and Australia Zoo as well as the city zoos when the space becomes available from the elephant relocation to these open range zoos ..., it would be fairly easy to import new Indian rhino from either Europe or US sources. EAZA has recently exported 1.3 individuals to South America (which happened with very much less ado than any IRA arrangement in Australia/New Zealand seems to be able to manage). I would like to underline this is not the first time this has happened in any species management program (bongo, pygmy hippo, gorilla, Malayan tapir, langurs). For all intense purposes I think / feel fundamental questions remain at the TAG and overall steering committee level. The time it takes to set up a new IRA is just insane (mind you), On top the time consuming arrangements involved in import / export of exotic wildlife and Veterinary Health guidelines and husbandry/animal transport management ...,this requires acting now and planning for import in 2024 and certainly no later than first half 2025.
The black rhinoceros will always be limited in regional support due to the higher suitability of the white rhinoceros for housing in city zoos. Being semi-social, the latter arguably makes for a more engaging display (though I personally would be more excited to see even a solitary black rhinoceros given their comparative scarcity in the region). Though some fantastic conservation work has been done with the white rhinoceros, their sharp decline in national parks in South Africa suggest there’s no chance of regional support for this species waning anytime soon (which is a good thing since we have 35 coming our way shortly ). It has been suggested in the past that the infrastructure used to quarantine them could be used to undertake a subsequent import of black rhinoceros. I suspect the US would be reluctant to export the individuals you list, but would surely be supportive of an initiative that supplies Australasian (and themselves) with new founders. With regards to Pygmy hippopotamus, I’m fairly optimistic about their future. With the phase out of Common hippopotamus across all Australian city zoos, Pygmy hippopotamus remain their only option for displaying hippos. They’re popular with the public and don’t require a lot of space; while complimenting the other African rainforest species.
In my opinion, it should be the other way with Monarto sending Induna back to TWPZ. Or even potentially swapping him for one of TWPZ's younger males. Monarto is about to begin works on its elephant complex, which will utilize the majority of the Black Rhinos' current areas. Hence getting one of the bulls out of their hair would be advantageous and they will still retain a minimum of one bull for display. From what I heard on my last visit a female Black Rhino import has been put on the backburner. If I could guess Monarto's current priorities it's at least behind the elephants, the Opening of Wild Africa, a hippo import, the mega White Rhino import, and a plethora of smaller projects. Putting any arrival of a female black rhino, 10+ years away. TWPZ has 14+ yards so could easily accommodate him and have plenty of experience breeding Black rhinos. The current population could easily last another 10 or so years while we wait for an import. I know inbreeding isn't desirable but it isn't as disastrous as the current hippo situation.
That’s a good point actually and indeed an ideal time to send one of their bulls to Dubbo. If they can retain one bull, that’s good enough for display; but even then, if ever there was a time to send both of them, it’s now when visitors have the novelty of the Common hippopotamus and the Asian elephant. Bakhita has bred a number of times and is now 21 years old. She could breed twice more with Induna (given they’re an unrelated pairing) and then potentially Monarto could receive her and her calf for display (with Bakhita retiring at Monarto). Dubbo has three younger females, including two juveniles, to breed with; and if they can secure any imports (ideally bulls), then space will be at a premium.
Hari (Indian Rhino) to move to Taronga next year!! Taronga has announced that 1.0 Indian Rhino, Hari, will move from TWPZ to Taronga Sydney next year. He will be moved into the current elephant exhibit following their move to Monarto mid next year. Very excitingly, he will be mixed with water buffalo!!!
I wonder if there are plans to import a female for him, I seem to remember the original plans for the species was to hold two pairs!
If the aim is to hold two pairs, it’d be preferable to import two unrelated pairs with the view of making first generation pairings between offspring. It’s rather pointless to simply import at each generation.
Considering there are plans to mix him with Water Buffalo, I'd assume not, but down the line there may potentially be an option for this. I'd hope Perth would still consider Indian Rhinos as a replacement for their elephants, and they could import an entirely unrelated pair from overseas.
It’s a real shame Melbourne and Auckland have no interest importing Indian rhinoceros as there’s otherwise be the potential to establish a thriving regional breeding programme. As it is, we can still hang on as an annex to the European breeding programme and all going well, welcome subsequent calves to Dubbo’s pair.
The water buffalo are more than likely just as exhibit companions, I believe that was the case with the Sydney zoos former elderly elephant had them for that reason!
Incorrect. Bull Indian rhinoceros don’t require exhibit companions. They’d be there soley for the purpose of creating a more interesting exhibit and that’s assuming it’s possible for them to cohabit as the bull matures. Given his age, he’ll initially more amenable than a mature bull.
IF the space permits, splitting the upper and lower exhibits to keep a male and female rhino may be doable. Im unsure how much space greater one horned rhino actually need tho. The elephant house has the ability to hold the cows in multiple seperate areas. So the infrastructure of keeping a male and female are there, possibly.
I said it just now on the Future Zoos Victoria, but I would like Werribee to house Indian rhino in the Waterhole precinct and make that trail entirely an Indian sub-continent precinct.
There is reasonable space for them if the upper and lower areas were split, although considering they're already breeding them at Dubbo (in a far larger complex) I doubt this would ever become reality. Instead, they might use those two areas to separate Hari and the Water Buffalo if required.
Sorry - but you are incorrect. Western Plains had Water Buffalo as companion animals for their mature bull while awaiting the replacement cow for the one that died before she got out there. They remained with the bull until the new cow was assimilated and then, having served their purpose, they moved out.
In my opinion, Induna and Sentwali should be moved to TWPZ for a good, long while. We're getting close to half-way through the new elephant habitat construction, so we've moved them into another inclosure, which in my opinion, which isn't very nice looking, rather bland, and doesn't give them much sensory engagement compared to the VAST open pastures that the Southern White Rhinos get to enjoy in wild Africa precinct. Its kind of like rhino racism, the black rhinos get the awful enclosure. I feel that TMPZ could focus on Induna and Sentwali much more then we can right now, and properly focus on breeding. We're rather busy with all the new projects like the elephants, rhino imports, plus juggling the hippos aswell, and other things. Would be best if they could leave for a bit. We have plenty of space for them in future.
Considering Induna and Bakhita at Dubbo present the only remaining unrelated pairing in the region, I certainly think this is something they should consider. Even if it was to only send Induna over for breeding, whilst retaining Sentwali. I wouldn't rule out this in the meantime. Considering the Black Rhinos are solitary, it's far more difficult to provide a home like the Southern White Rhinos would have as they share them with a variety of other species - hence the huge paddocks and grazing space they have.
