I was just on their website and saw that there are two new species that I haven't noticed before. African Wild Dog and Scimitar-Horned Oryx. Does anyone know anything about these two new species? http://www.altinawildlife.com/animals.htm
That happened quietly. I believe the oryx would have come from Mary River. I don't recall when they got the zebra either?
Are there any plans to eventually open the zoo for public to just visit and walk around? and is it true maned wolves are being phased out of aus? I thought that with some new imports there would be some focus on the south america species australia has?
2 male zebra were moved from Mogo to Altina and 6 male hunting dogs were also moved there from Perth.
Maned wolves aren't a phase-out species but nor are they a managed species. Anyway, Altina are attempting to breed them so i doubt the species will be absent from Australian zoos for some time. Currently, hunting dogs are the only canid being managed by ZAA but if enough zoos show support for a maned wolf program, ZAA might change their stance and begin managing them too. The likely-hood that more zoos will list to acquire maned wolves though, is (in the short term at least) quite low.
Which just goes to show how round-about the managed programs are as maned wolves were previously a managed species, had a good founder base and were breeding regularly. All the more surprising given that the species is charasmatic, endangered and displays relatively well. A victim of the previous 'anti-Neotropical species' zoo planning in Australia.
Managed species in Australia can appear to be a hit and miss affair at times and almost seems to be whats in vogue at the time, with species of animal imported as a "phase in species" only to be dropped a few years down the track for something else, but I understand it's all part of the master plan, lol
There's a master plan (to all this confusing management)??? I can appreciate the changes to direction over time, but sometimes these changes seem to happen within a year.
four female Eland arrived at Altina on Aug 13: 'Abeni' (f), 'Amara' (f), 'Asha' (f), and 'Zuri' (f) are all from Monarto Zoo and join the parks three males; 'Samson' (m), 'Samuel' (m) and 'Saracen' (m, gelding). - I am unsure of ages but hopefully it wont be long for them to breed - Eland are a fav. of mine. later this month 6 Addax (2.4.0) and 3 Banteng Cattle (1.2.0) are to arrive from Darwin. -updates from park's fb page.
I should get time to go and have a look in 3 to 4 weeks. It will be good to see the expansion since I was last there.
Dunno about the banteng but that'd have to be where the addax are coming from. I'm 99% sure they're the only people that have addax outside the ZAA.
According to Taronga's Magazine, Uthuli, an 18 month old Giraffe from Dubbo has arrived at Altina, and is settling in nicely.
Some new arrivals (apart from the maned wold pups) include: 0.1 Rothschild's giraffe 'Manzi' from Mogo Zoo 1.2 Banteng from Darwin 5 Addax (not sure of sex) 0.0.2 Bison (born, twins)
1.0 bison born 1.0 Bali banteng born (Altina have confirmed that it is pure) the bison twins have been sexed as 1.1
Altina has a huge amount of animals Red Deer Fallow Deer Wapiti Indian blackbuck antelope Ostrich (African Blacks, white necks & African Blues) Barbary sheep Himalayan Tahr Eland Antelope Domestic Miniture pigs Domestic Goats Alpaca Kangaroos x 4 (re-release program) MANED WOLVES all animals in Australia SPOTTED HYENA AFRICAN HUNTING DOGS Banteng Cattle Giraffe Scimitar Oryx Asian water Buffalo American Bison Addax Antelope Mongolian Wild Horse American Alligators Fresh Water crocodiles Salt water crocodile Peacocks Guinea Fowl Cape Barron Geese Chinese geese Black swans Domestic geese
