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Australasian Hippopotamus Population - Discussion, History and Research

Discussion in 'Australia' started by Zoofan15, 22 Jul 2022.

  1. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Discussion, History and Research

    Introduction:

    This thread is aimed at supporting the Australasian Hippopotamus Population thread by creating a space for discussion, as well as ongoing research into the origins of our regional hippopotamus population.

    The population thread can be found here: Australasian Hippo Population
    Ddd
     
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  2. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource One: Current Population

    ——————————————————————————

    Common Hippopotamus


    Taronga Western Plains Zoo:


    0.1 Nile (15/05/1999) Ollie x Suzie
    0.1 Cuddles (00/09/2002) Fonzie x Solucky
    0.1 Kibibi (11/09/2014) Mana x Cuddles
    0.1 Kendi (25/05/2017) Mana x Cuddles
    1.0 Kani (15/04/2020) Mana x Cuddles

    Werribee Open Range Zoo:


    0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
    0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Unknown
    0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
    0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
    0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella

    Total regional population: 1.9

    ——————————————————————————

    Pygmy Hippopotamus

    Taronga Zoo:

    1.0 Fergus (06/08/2009) Frank x Fluffy
    0.1 Kambiri (26/06/2010) Timmy x Petre

    Melbourne Zoo:

    1.0 Felix (17/11/2006) Frank x Fluffy

    Adelaide Zoo:

    1.0 Obi (25/05/2015) Felix x Petre

    Darling Downs Zoo:

    0.1 Kamina (21/02/2017) Fergus x Kambiri

    Total regional population: 3.2

    ——————————————————————————
     
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  3. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource Two: Auckland Zoo History

    Common Hippopotamus

    Auckland Zoo’s first pair of Common hippopotamus were named Chaka and Bella:

    1.0 Chaka (1920) Imported 1925; Died 1937
    0.1 Bella (1921) Imported 1923; Died 1954

    Chaka and Bella produced six offspring together:

    1.0 Unnamed (September 1926) Died 1926
    1.0 Pondo (January 1929) Exported 1934 (Perth)
    1.0 Unnamed (November 1930) Died 1930
    1.0 Zulu (January 1932) Exported 1933 (Adelaide)
    1.0 Unknown (November 1935) Died 1935
    10 Dimazulu (February 1937) Died 1946

    Dimazulu and Bella produced one offspring together:

    1.0 Horatio (January 1944) Exported 1946 (Melbourne)

    Nada was imported from Taronga Zoo in 1939 as a mate for Dimazulu:

    0.1 Nada
    Born at Taronga Zoo 01/01/1937
    Arrived at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1939
    Died at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1965

    Dimazulu and Nada produced two calves:

    1.0 En Zed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 25/04/1944
    Died at Auckland Zoo 09/11/1951
    Sire: Dimazulu

    1.0 Cetawayo
    Born at Auckland Zoo 01/12/1946
    Fate Unknown
    Sire: Dimazulu

    After Dimazulu died in 1946; Nada was paired with her son, En Zed.

    En Zed and Nada produced one calf:

    1.0 Khama
    Born at Auckland Zoo 02/06/1950
    Sent to Calcutta Zoo 01/02/1952
    Sire: En Zed

    After Kharma was exported to Calcutta Zoo, a new male named Kabete was imported from Kenya to be paired with Nada:

    1.0 Kabete
    Born in Kenya 01/01/1953
    Arrived at Auckland Zoo 01/10/1956
    Died at Auckland Zoo 20/05/1993

    Kabete and Nada produced three calves:

    0.1 Snorkel
    Born at Auckland Zoo 14/10/1959
    Died at Auckland Zoo 30/09/2010
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Kiboko
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/08/1961
    Died at Auckland Zoo 02/09/1970
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Scuba
    Born at Auckland Zoo 26/01/1964
    Died at Auckland Zoo 03/07/1980
    Sire: Kabete

    Nada’s daughter, Kiboko, produced three calves:

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 20/08/1967
    Died at Auckland Zoo 20/08/1967
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 11/06/1968
    Died at Auckland Zoo 11/06/1968
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 09/04/1970
    Died at Auckland Zoo 09/04/1970
    Sire: Kabete

    Nada’s daughter, Snorkle, produced nine calves:

    0.1 Hope
    Born at Auckland Zoo 23/01/1973
    Died at Auckland Zoo 06/05/1983
    Sire: Scuba

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 31/01/1978
    Died at Auckland Zoo 31/01/1978
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 02/02/1985
    Died at Auckland Zoo 02/02/1985
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 30/04/1986
    Died at Auckland Zoo 30/04/1986
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Solucky
    Born at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1987
    Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 16/10/1988
    Died at Auckland Zoo 18/10/1988
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990
    Died at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991
    Died at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991
    Died at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991
    Sire: Kabete

    Snorkle’s daughter, Hope, produced five calves:

    1.0 Chad
    Born at Auckland Zoo 13/11/1979
    Died at Auckland Zoo 19/11/1979
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980
    Died at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981
    Died at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982
    Died at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1983
    Died at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1983
    Sire: Kabete

    Bonnie was imported from Taronga Zoo in 1966 as a new breeding female, following the death of Nada the previous year:

    0.1 Bonnie
    Born at Taronga Zoo 17/11/1957
    Arrived at Auckland Zoo 21/12/1966
    Died at Auckland Zoo 31/05/1982

    Bonnie produced eight calves:

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 01/03/1968
    Died at Auckland Zoo 04/03/1968
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/03/1969
    Died at Auckland Zoo 02/04/1969
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/11/1969
    Died at Auckland Zoo 29/11/1969
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 16/05/1971
    Died at Auckland Zoo 19/05/1971
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Wahanui
    Born at Auckland Zoo 20/06/1972
    Died at Auckland Zoo 18/10/1972
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973
    Died at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Faith
    Born at Auckland Zoo 05/01/1975
    Died at Auckland Zoo 16/08/2016
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977
    Died at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977
    Sire: Scuba

    Bonnie’s daughter, Faith, produced fourteen calves:

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/02/1978
    Died at Auckland Zoo 28/02/1978
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 05/04/1979
    Died at Auckland Zoo 06/04/1979
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 27/03/1980
    Died at Auckland Zoo 28/03/1980
    Sire: Scuba

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 25/10/1981
    Died at Auckland Zoo 25/10/1981
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Floyd
    Born at Auckland Zoo 13/09/1982
    Died at Auckland Zoo 23/12/1987
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 26/08/1984
    Died at Auckland Zoo 26/08/1984
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Fonzie
    Born at Auckland Zoo 26/04/1986
    Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 08/07/1987
    Died at Auckland Zoo 08/07/1987
    Sire: Kabete

    1.0 Fudge
    Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988
    Died at Auckland Zoo 26/03/2016
    Sire: Kabete

    0.1 Fatima
    Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988
    Died at Auckland Zoo 31/03/1988
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989
    Died at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989
    Died at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990
    Died at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990
    Sire: Kabete

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Auckland Zoo 17/03/1991
    Died at Auckland Zoo 22/03/1991
    Sire: Kabete
     
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  4. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource Three: Adelaide Zoo History

    Common Hippopotamus

    A female hippopotamus was imported from the wild 1900:

    0.1 Lischin (00/00/1897) Died 09/06/1901

    A male hippopotamus was transferred from Melbourne Zoo 1920:

    1.0 Edward (16/03/1918) Died 28/10/1928

    A male hippopotamus was imported from Auckland Zoo 1934:

    1.0 Newsboy (00/01/1932) Died 11/08/1977

    A pair of hippopotamus were transferred from Bacchus Marsh 1975:

    1.0 Albert (18/05/1965) Died 07/05/2020
    0.1 Victoria (30/12/1967) Died 20/07/2017

    Albert and Victoria produced 17 calves together:

    0.1 Unnamed (13/10/1976) Died 14/10/1976
    0.1 Unnamed (13/07/1977) Died 23/07/1977
    1.0 Unnamed (01/08/1978) Died 02/08/1978
    0.1 Unnamed (24/04/1979) Died 27/04/1979
    0.1 Alice (19/01/1980) Transferred 25/03/1981 (Werribee)
    0.1 Beatrice (08/04/1981) Transferred 13/09/1982 (Werribee)
    1.0 Unnamed (22/07/1983) Died 24/07/1983
    0.1 Unnamed (07/08/1984) Died 18/08/1984
    0.1 Unnamed (02/04/1985) Died 08/04/1985
    0.1 Rumbin (22/02/1986) Transferred 19/10/1989 (Dubbo)
    1.0 Unnamed (18/12/1987) Died 19/12/1987
    0.1 Leopolda (21/04/1989) Transferred 28/11/1990 (Werribee)
    0.1 Kibu (29/03/1991) Exported 22/10/1992 (Kuala Lumpur)
    0.1 Unnamed (26/09/1996) Died 28/09/1996
    1.0 Makoko (12/02/1998) Transferred 27/06/1999 (Werribee)
    1.0 Unnamed (20/05/2007) Died 00/05/2007
    0.1 Unnamed (00/00/2009) Died 00/00/2009
     
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  5. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource Four: Melbourne Zoo History

    Common Hippopotamus

    Thank you to @Jambo for providing this summary of Melbourne Zoo’s Common hippopotamus history:
     
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  6. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource Five: Taronga/Dubbo Zoo History

    Common Hippopotamus

    The following information was researched by @Zoofan15 and @Jambo and summarised by @Jambo in the below articles; supplemented by additional research by @Zoofan15, @Jambo and @RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe.
     
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  7. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Location:
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    Resource Six: Pygmy Hippopotamus History

    ——————————————————

    Taronga Zoo

    Taronga Zoo's first Pygmy hippopotamus were 1.1 from the United States:

    1.0 Happy

    Born at the Smithsonian National Zoo 01/01/1949
    Arrived at Taronga Zoo 19/11/1954
    Died at Taronga Zoo 17/06/1975

    0.1 Sneezy
    Born at Smithsonian National Zoo 20/12/1949
    Arrived at Taronga Zoo 11/02/1952
    Died at Taronga Zoo 01/01/1978

    Sneezy gave birth to ten calves at Taronga Zoo:

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 19/05/1957
    Died at Taronga Zoo 26/07/1957
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 18/11/1958
    Died at Taronga Zoo 18/11/1958
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 03/02/1960
    Died at Taronga Zoo 03/02/1960
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 31/10/1961
    Died at Taronga Zoo 05/11/1961
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 31/05/1967
    Died at Taronga Zoo 28/06/1967
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.1 Cleo
    Born at Taronga Zoo 13/06/1968
    Died at Taronga Zoo 07/10/2005
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 18/02/1970
    Died at Taronga Zoo 23/04/1970
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 26/11/1970
    Died at Taronga Zoo 28/11/1970
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    1.0 Anthony
    Born at Taronga Zoo 23/07/1972
    Died at Taronga Zoo 13/11/1979
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 28/09/1973
    Died at Taronga Zoo 01/10/1973
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Sneezy

    Cleo gave birth to two calves at Taronga Zoo:

    0.1 Katrina
    Born at Taronga Zoo 21/08/1973
    Died at Taronga Zoo 02/02/2012
    Sire: Happy; Dam: Cleo

    0.1 Cookie
    Born at Taronga Zoo 09/11/1978
    Died at Taronga Zoo 28/09/1990
    Sire: Anthony; Dam: Cleo

    A new male named Timmy was imported from Honolulu Zoo:

    1.0 Timmy
    Born at Honolulu Zoo 29/04/1980
    Arrived at Taronga Zoo 15/04/1981
    Sent to Melbourne Zoo 05/07/1995
    Returned to Taronga Zoo 18/09/2007
    Died at Taronga Zoo 10/05/2011

    Timmy sired one calf prior to his export to Melbourne Zoo:

    0.1 Ady
    Born at Taronga Zoo 31/10/1985
    Sent to Arnhem Zoo 16/06/1988
    Sire: Timmy; Dam: Cookie

    Timmy returmed from Melbourne Zoo in 2007; and a female was imported from Adelaide Zoo:

    0.1 Petre
    Born at Adelaide Zoo 04/08/1984
    Arrived at Taronga Zoo 11/09/2007
    Sent to Melbourne Zoo 12/12/2012

    Petre gave birth to three calves at Taronga Zoo:

    0.1 Monifa
    Born at Taronga Zoo 15/10/2008
    Sent to Melbourne Zoo 30/07/2009
    Sire: Timmy; Dam: Petre

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Taronga Zoo 23/08/2009
    Died at Taronga Zoo 28/08/2009

    0.1 Kambiri
    Born at Taronga Zoo 26/06/2010

    After Petre's export, a new male was imported from Cairns Wildlife Safari:

    1.0 Fergus
    Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari 06/08/2009
    Arrived at Taronga Zoo 2012/2013

    Fergus and Kambiri have produced two calves to date at Taronga Zoo:

    0.1 Kamina
    Born at Taronga Zoo 21/02/2017
    Sent to Darling Downs Zoo 01/11/2018
    Sire: Fegus; Dam: Kambiri

    0.1 Amara
    Born at Taronga Zoo 22/11/2021
    Died at Taronga Zoo 29/12/2021
    Sire: Fergus; Dam: Kambiri

    ——————————————————

    ——————————————————

    Adelaide Zoo

    Adelaide Zoo's first Pygmy hippopotamus were 1.2 from Melbourne Zoo:

    0.1 Janice
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 10/06/1977
    Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 31/07/1979
    Died at Adelaide Zoo 12/09/2012

    0.1 Karla
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 12/01/1976
    Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 15/09/1982
    Sent to Melbourne Zoo 16/03/1988

    1.0 Henry
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 06/09/1979
    Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 27/08/1980
    Died at Adelaide Zoo 25/01/1991

    Janice gave birth to one calf at Adelaide Zoo:

    0.1 Petre
    Born at Adelaide Zoo 04/08/1984
    Sent to Taronga Zoo 11/09/2007
    Sire: Henry; Dam: Janice

    Petre was sent to Taronga Zoo on breeding loan in 2007; and Melbourne Zoo in 2012. One of her calves, Obi, returned to Adelaide Zoo in 2016:

    1.0 Obi
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 25/05/2015
    Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 09/05/2016

    ——————————————————

    ——————————————————

    Melbourne Zoo

    Melbourne Zoo's first Pygmy hippopotamus were 1.2 from the United States:

    1.0 Pi
    Born at Smithsonian National Zoo 26/08/1969
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 06/06/1970
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 25/12/1994

    0.1 Carolyn
    Born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo 01/07/1971
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 20/11/1972
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 18/06/2002

    0.1 Diana
    Born at Maryland Zoo 03/05/1973
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 07/03/1975
    Sent to Pearl Coast Zoo 05/12/1987

    Carolyn gave birth to four calves at Melbourne Zoo:

    0.1 Karla
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 12/01/1976
    Sent to Adelaide Zoo 15/09/1982
    Returned to Melbourne Zoo 16/03/1988
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 22/02/1996
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Carolyn

    0.1 Janice
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 10/06/1977
    Sent to Adelaide Zoo 31/07/1979
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Carolyn

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 23/07/1981
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 23/07/1981
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Carolyn

    1.0 Frank
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 23/07/1981
    Sent to Pearl Coast Zoo 05/12/1987
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Carolyn

    Diana gave birth to three calves at Melbourne Zoo:

    1.0 Unnamed
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 26/04/1978
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 29/04/1978
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Diana

    1.0 Henry
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 06/09/1979
    Sent to Adelaide Zoo 27/08/1980
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Diana

    0.1 Unnamed
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 29/04/1982
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 07/05/1982
    Sire: Pi; Dam: Diana

    A new male named Timmy was imported in 1995:

    1.0 Timmy
    Born at Honolulu Zoo 29/04/1980
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 05/07/1995
    Sent to Taronga Zoo 18/09/2007

    Timmy was sent to Taronga Zoo on breeding loan in 2007; and one of his calves, Monifa, returned to Melbourne Zoo in 2009:

    0.1 Monifa
    Born at Taronga Zoo 15/10/2008
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 30/07/2009
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 09/11/2010

    A new pair was imported from Cairns Wildlife Safari and Taronga Zoo:

    1.0 Felix
    Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari 17/11/2006
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 29/04/2011

    0.1 Petre
    Born at Adelaide Zoo 04/08/1984
    Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 12/12/2012
    Died at Melbourne Zoo 22/08/2016

    Petre gave birth to one calf at Melbounre Zoo before her death in 2016:

    1.0 Obi
    Born at Melbourne Zoo 25/05/2015
    Sent to Adelaide Zoo 09/05/2016
    Sire: Felix; Dam: Petre

    ——————————————————
     
  8. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
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    Posts:
    16,458
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Resource Seven: Founder List and Family Tree

    Common Hippopotamus

    ————————————————————

    Updated Founder List

    1.0 Dizzie (1898)
    1.0 William (1908)
    0.1 Rosamund (1909)
    1.0 Chaka (1920)
    0.1 Fatima (1928)
    0.1 Hilda/Henrietta (Unk)
    1.0 Billy (1948 or 1950)
    1.0 Kabete (1953)
    0.1 Lindy (1948 or 1954) - if not Taronga bred
    0.1 Mumsy (1959)

    Only founders known or suspected to have contributed to the current population are listed.

    ————————————————————
    ————————————————————

    Family Tree (Population Overview)

    This is the current population:

    Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

    0.1 Nile (15/05/1999) Ollie x Suzie
    0.1 Cuddles (00/09/2002) Fonzie x Solucky
    0.1 Kibibi (11/09/2014) Mana x Cuddles
    0.1 Kendi (25/05/2017) Mana x Cuddles
    1.0 Kani (15/04/2020) Mana x Cuddles

    Werribee Open Range Zoo:

    0.1 Primrose (01/12/1990) Harold x Genevieve
    0.1 Brindabella (09/12/1990) Harold x Beatrice
    0.1 Tulip (01/01/2003) Harold x Primrose
    0.1 Lotus (28/03/2008) Harold x Primrose
    0.1 Pansy (18/11/2013) Harold x Brindabella

    ================================

    And this is how we arrived here:

    Taronga Zoo:

    Dizzy (1898) and Fatima (1928) produced Nada (1939).

    Billy (1950) sired Lindy (1954), Bonnie (1957) and Albert (1965).

    Billy and Lindy produced Victoria (1967) and Suzie (1970).

    Billy and Unknown produced Toby (Unlnown).

    ——————

    Adelaide Zoo:

    Albert and Victoria produced Beatrice (1980).

    ——————

    Auckland Zoo:

    Chaka (1920) and Bella (1921) produced Dimazulu (1937).

    Dimazulu and Bella produced Rangi (1944).

    Kabete (1953) and Nada produced Snorkel (1959).

    Kabete and Snorkel produced Solucky (1987).

    Kabete (1953) and Bonnie produced Faith (1975).

    Kabete and Faith produced Fonzee (1986).

    ——————

    Tipperary Station:

    Fonzee and Solucky produced Cuddles (2002).

    ——————

    Taronga Western Plains Zoo:

    Toby and Suzie produced Ollie (1988).

    Suzie and Toby produced Harold (1984).

    Suzie and Ollie produced Mana (1996) and Nile (1999).

    Mana and Cuddles produced Kibibi (2014), Kendi (2017) and Kani (2020).

    ——————

    Melbourne Zoo:

    William (1908) and Rosamund (1909) produced Bella (1921) and Esmeralda (1933).

    Esmeralda and Rangi (1944) produced Genevieve (1955).

    ——————

    Werribee Open Range Zoo:

    Harold and Beatrice produced Brindabella (1990).

    Harold and Brindabella produced Pansy (2013).

    Harold and Genevieve produced Primrose (1990).

    Harold and Primrose produced Tulip (2003) and Lotus (2008).

    ————————————————————
     
  9. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    7 Mar 2015
    Posts:
    16,458
    Location:
    New Zealand
    Research Questions

    I thought a good place to start would be to identify our main research questions.

    The following are a mixture of priority questions including details of founders and offspring born - as well as a few simple questions to tie up loose ends e.g. the date in 2007 that Mafuta died etc.

    The term “Full details” is used to describe birth place, date of birth, date of death, date of transfer and details of offspring - name, gender and date of birth.

    It’s likely as these questions are answered it will open up other questions e.g. if new hippos are discovered. From here, we can work on low priority questions e.g. causes of death, which hippos were hand raised etc.

    Taronga/Dubbo:

    Full details on Hilda and Henrietta

    Full details on Lindy (bar date of transfer to Werribee)

    Full details on Toby

    Full details on all non surviving calves born at Taronga (full details on their mothers will provide name, gender and date of birth; so just need date of death)

    Full details on Mumsy (if not 1961 USA import); if USA import then date of death/transfer and confirmation Albert was her only offspring

    Date of death for Mafuta (1991-2007).

    Melbourne:

    Full details of the mystery bull imported 1966

    Full details of offspring born to Genevieve and Henrietta

    Date of transfer to Werribee

    Werribee:

    Date of death of Alice, Beatrice, Genevieve, Henrietta, Leopolda, Makoko

    Full details of all calves born at Werribee (bar Primrose, Brindabella, Tulip, Lotus and Pansy)

    Date of death of bull transferred
     
    Last edited: 23 Jul 2022
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  10. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Rumbin died on October 4th 2011.

    Beatrice mothered a male calf born 03/01/1989. Unfortunately I do not know when he died; but we can assume he died later that year, or early 1990, due to Beatrice giving birth to Brindabella less than two years later.

    I’ll try to do some more research on these questions though. Hopefully I can dig up something.
     
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  11. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Thanks, I’ve removed Rumbin from the list of questions.

    I agree it’s likely the calf died as he doesn’t appear to have cropped up anywhere else, but the age gap between this calf and Brindabella would have been 23 months which is more than enough time for Beatrice to have weaned this calf and had another one.

    For comparison, Faith had a 23 month gap between Floyd in 1982 (survived) and her next calf in 1984; and Fonzee born in 1986 (survived) was followed by her next calf 14 months later. The latter would have been considered a short interbirth interval though with 18-24 months appearing to be the norm.
     
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  12. Abbey

    Abbey Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for compiling this comprehensive information altogether! The level of research about the regional hippo population by all of you has been phenomenal :)
     
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  13. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    That’s very true. If the calf didn’t die within its first year, it still likely died young. I can’t imagine Werribee attempting to import another female (Leopolda) in 1990 when they may have already two bulls, four cows and a calf. This leads me to believe a lot had died beforehand (obviously though we can rule out Harry, Genevieve and Beatrice) but the other’s fates (the unknown male, Henrietta and Alice) are all up in the air.
     
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  14. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    You’re welcome and thank you! :) I’m astounded by how much we’ve been able to find via newspaper archives alone. There’s been a lot of guess work along the way, but more often than not we’ve been right. A highlight for me was coming across a complete list of the Adelaide births vis Tierdetails as that was a source of intrigue for me for sometime and has opened up additional questions about Werribee’s hippos.
     
  15. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Thank you!

    We knew very little about the history of our regional population before (besides @Zoofan15 ’s history of Auckland), and I remember always being fascinated by Primrose and Brindabella at Werribee, and the mystery around their mothers.

    This led me to conduct research (mainly on the history of Melbourne and Werribee’s hippos initially) - but with this I was able to find info on the hippos at Taronga and Adelaide too, so it’s turned into a sort of a whole population research event!
     
  16. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Yes, I have access to the Victorian State Library database, so have been able to find a lot about Melbourne and Taronga, but there’s almost little to nothing about Werribee which I find interesting.

    I have to say I was shocked to find out Beatrice wasn’t the only Adelaide hippo sent to Werribee. Finding out three more were sent too is shocking! Werribee had a large bloat of hippos at the time than I had initially thought.
     
  17. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I’ve found the Australian newspaper archives to be a valuable source of information on Taronga, Melbourne and even Auckland; but Werribee appears to have had very little media communication. Given so many of their hippopotami appeared to have died prematurely (including a large number of neonates), it’s not surprising given it was around this time zoos became reluctant to disclose animal deaths - versus the early to mid 20th century when information was a lot more free flowing. The same trend was observed at Auckland Zoo.
     
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  18. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Werribee also at the time was a very small zoo (I say small as in collection wise) - and was still operating as a mainly ungulate holding facility. The media at the time would’ve been much more interested in what was happening with apes, felids and elephants at Melbourne rather than the Giraffes and Antelope at Werribee.
     
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  19. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    New Taronga Zoo Information

    Hilda and Henrietta were Mumsy and Lindy!

    Facts:

    Mumsy and Lindy were wild born and arrived at Taronga Zoo 02/03/1951. Mumsy was transferred to Taronga Western Plains Zoo 08/04/1976 and Lindy was transferred there 27/10/1992.

    Billy and Mumsy were the parents of Toby. Toby was born at Taronga Zoo 26/02/1970 and was transferred to Taronga Western Plains Zoo 08/04/1976, along with his mother and Susie (born 1970 to Lindy).

    Deductions:

    Hilda and Henrietta were noted as being in transit to Australia from Kenya in February 1951. We can therefore conclude that these females were the same animals as Mumsy and Lindy, who arrived in March 1951.

    Mumsy would have been the mother of Bonnie (born 1957), as Victoria (born 1967) was noted to have been Lindy’s first surviving calf. We know Mumsy was also the mother of Albert (1965).

    We can therefore remove two founders from the list (Hilda and Henrietta) and add one (Lindy), who was previously thought to be Taronga born.

    Updated Founder List:

    1.0 Dizzie (1898)
    1.0 William (1908)
    0.1 Rosamund (1909)
    1.0 Chaka (1920)
    0.1 Fatima (1928)
    0.1 Lindy (1948)
    0.1 Mumsy (1950)
    1.0 Billy (1950)
    1.0 Kabete (1953)
     
  20. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Great discovery!

    Just as i'd assumed.

    It's good to finally know Lindy and Mumsy were Hilda and Henrietta. I was always fairly sure, as the young female (who was imported in 1954) was never sold to Taronga, and considering Lindy wasn't Taronga born in 1954, the only explanation was both girls being Hilda and Henrietta.

    We also know Mumsy died prior to 1985 at Dubbo. Toby was always (at least imo) the offspring of Mumsy, considering he was bred with Susie (daughter of Billy and Lindy). If they were full sisters, it would've made more sense to breed Susie with her father (50% of her DNA match) rather than her full brother.

    This we means we now know the following:

    Mumsy:

    Bonnie (1957)
    Albert (1965)
    Toby (1970)

    Lindy:

    Victoria (1967)
    Suzie (1970)

    There was also a calf born in 1968; but i'm assuming this was in fact (Victoria) who was born December 1967. It's interesting to see these founder girls had many names as Lindy in this article was referred to as Heather! Although we can assume this may have misinterpreted instead of 'Henrietta'.
     
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