Australasian Zebra Population

Foal born at Canberra:

A foal was born on 16/04/2024 at the National Zoo to second time mum, Kiva. The foal's sex is currently not known.

The National Zoo now have nine zebras in total (across two groups).

Mentioned by @Zoofan15 in the news thread:

Zebra foal has the zoo guessing its gender | Canberra CityNews

 

Transfers:

Young colt Zikomi (2022) has been transferred from Darling Downs down to Altina where he will be the breeding stallion once he matures.

Altina now have 1.4 Zebras.

In his place, Altina's colt Jafari (2020) has been sent up to Darling Downs to be the breeding stallion for their second herd with their young fillies, three of which are of reproductive age at the moment.

Mentioned in the respective news threads.

 

What does this mean for DDZ’s Grant’s herd?

 

They still have a breeding stallion and mares (from the initial herd).

This second herd with the new generic colt and the first generation mares is only temporary from what I understand; to prevent the mares from going to long without having a foal.

 

I’m hopeful that long term Darling Downs Zoo can receive a purebred Grant’s stallion to cover their first generation mares in the second herd. Considering the number of surplus colts held at ZooDoo, I would have considered them a likely source; but apparently their current plans are to transfer out their young mare (Jupiter).

Unfortunately it looks like we’ll see hybridising in the second herd if Jafari is to sire foals; but as @Jambo mentions, it’s important not to have mares reproductively inactive for an extended period of time, so this at least serves a purpose.

 

Acquiring another purebred Grant's stallion is the goal long term; hopefully something will be able to be organised asap.

Unfortunately re. Zoodoo are being quite difficult in that aspect. New ownership has changed things up there.

 

Correct. Little feet are paddling furiously out of sight under the water but it may take a while.

 

National Zoo Update:

Kiva's latest foal has been sexed as a female. This is their first female foal born at Canberra in a while, so really good news.

Kyan has also moved into the second group with his older brothers (Kiambo and Jabari).

Reported by in the news thread.

 

I have not been able to find any news about Taronga Zoo's former zebra Bwana or Canberra Zoo's former zebras Kike and Zahra. By any chance does anyone here knows what has happened to them?

 

Bwana died in 2022 aged 18 years.

Kike and Zahra are deceased, but I don’t know the year they passed. Kike last gave birth in 2021, so would have died circa 2022.

 

Kike died early 2022, and Zahra died around 2020 unfortunately.