Last week I visited Altina and was impressed by their expansion into new species. At the start of the tour we were divided into 3 groups about 16 people and each went with a different guide. These groups walk to the close exhibits and the guide does a talk on each species. We started with the Meerkats. There are 2 enclosures, a larger one at the front with 4 Meerkats and another behind it with 2. Meerkats were given a treat to get the foraging along the glass front. Tasmanian Devils were next. There are 4 enclosures and treats were thrown into the front 2 enclosures to get them out foraging. Altina is now part of the breeding program. Next we saw the Wombats which were sleeping in their dens which were visable in the viewing area. The Black Capped Capuchin are a very recent arrivals and 2 sat up the back on their nest boxes. The other one was moving about. There was 2 large enclosures. There were 3 common Marmoset enclosures. I think the first had 2 males, the second a family group and the third a pair with their triplets. Lastly we went to the Crocodiles and Alligators. The 2 Alligators have been there a few years and are a good size. The guide told us they are only allowed one sex as there is a chance if they escaped they could survive in the Murrumbidgee River which runs through the property. There are now 5 Freshwater Crocodiles as one was recently found illegally held in a local town and Altina staff were called to remove it. The last was the Saltwater Crocodile which was very aggressive when fed. Beside all these enclosures is a pond with Magpie Geese, Cape Barren Geese, Domestic Geese, Swans and assorted ducks. After that tour each group got on their respective horse pulled cart. We were last and our horse was called "Lucky" because he is the worst horse and we would be lucky if we made it back. The tour goes past the Fallow a Red Deer first. Almost all animals came up to the fence as they were fed as the first cart arrived. Next was the Blackbuck, followed by Rusa Deer, Barbry Sheep and Hog Deer. Then we went past WaterBuffalo and Bison before seeing the Waterbucks. I will split the reprot here in caseI lose what I have already typed.
There was a good sized group of Eland in the next paddock and a new Eland handling facility just built beside their paddock. They are very happy how the handling facility worked and recently held a day for zoo staff from other zoos where they demonstrated it working. The carts are then pulled up for a break beside some Banteng as well as a horse and some Kangaroos in that paddock. There is a hand raised Banteng there who likes a pat. Next to this are also goats who people can feed and the kids love to pat. After the break the next enclosure was the Bongo. He had a well vegitated paddock and came out as we approached. Apparently all Bongos bred in Australia so far have been male meaning they have excess single males. Next was the Zebras. The are hopeful the female is pregnant, but they were very frisky as we went past. The Giraffes were the last species before the carnivores and they are hopeful their female is pregnant.
Several Mained Wolves were visible as we passed them, and there appears to be at least 6 enclosures. They are at capacity at the moment and wont be breeding more until some are moved to other zoos. The 3 Hyenas were given treats as we passed and the older one who is the father of the other 2 is separated as the 2 younger ones were knocking him about. They hope to import a female and breed some in the future. The family of white Lions are all in together. They were mixed recently as Mogo told them the father was good with cubs, although it was an anxious moment when the gate was first opened. The male and the cubs did not come over for treats, but the female did and patiently ate her treats. Apparently the male wont come for less than 2 kg of meat. The African wild doge were last and demonstrated how to make a rabbit disappear in half a second. On the way back we passed the Scimitar Horned Orox then the Camels who we had a close look at The last paddocks contained the Addax and the Elk. I missed mentioning the Barbery Sheep and the Ostriches which we also saw on the tour. As we were about to leave one of the keepers came in and asked if anyone wanted to do the Lion feeding tour as they had 2 spaces left. Unfortunately you had to be 18 so I had to leave the kids behind. First we fed the Tawny lions who are a mother and son who are non breeding due to being inbred. The male is actually a pygmy due to inbreeding, although he is not that small, and his mother is fairly old. The white male Lion came in first and made quite a lot of noise when fed. The female then came into her den followed by her cubs. We were told sometimes she takes the meat out eat it with her cubs. This day the cubs came and sat with and on her, eventually pinching a lot of her food. The Lion feeding was quite an experience being that close very impressive animals. I took about 100 photos of the Lions and will upload some more.
Thanks for the great review. I am always a tad surprised when I remember that at Altina visitors are pulled around on horse carts with guides. That is certainly an odd way to tour a zoo!
Should be at least two shouldn't there? Djembe and her daughter Kiazi born at Taronga. Did the Melbourne female die?
Lets congratulate the Australian zoological institutions for phasing out certain animals by replacing them with a new species ; with a small founder base . Does anyone else feel like history is repeating itself? #TripDownMemoryLane
If Altina can get the permits to import animals they will do it themselves. They were also very happy with attendances since the Lion cubs were born. Since then they have had over 200 people do the tour every day.
Yes reading back in the 2014 Tarona thread Taronga currently has 2.1 (female is Djembe) so Kiazi must have been sent somewhere overseas?
Thanks for that. Zawadi born in 2003 ( at Taronga) was also sent to Singapore (not sure if he is still there tho).
It is not on the cards for us to import Bongo guys we are busy importing Maned wolves, and possibly hyena & water buck. The young male Bongo born at Taronga this year has been offered to us at Altina and we have accepted this acquisition but this wont happen until next year. The Melbourne female unfortunately passed away (our current boys mother) not sure on her details or COD but its not looking overly good for the Bongo in Australia.
