Wellington Zoo and the Million Dollar Question (Post 1/2) In 2017, Wellington Zoo announced they’d begun the process of introducing their Sumatran tigers for breeding. Two years later, they still hadn’t progressed beyond mesh contact introductions and with no inkling of cubs (or even an introduction), many of have been wondering what the story is. A friend of mine visited the zoo this week and was told that Wellington Zoo have no plans to breed their tigers and ceased introductions years ago. Senja tested positive for an extensive array of allergies and has been receiving immunotherapy. Studies on humans suggest immunotherapy has little to no impact on conceiving or pregnancy; but it was noted allergic diseases can both impact upon fertility and complicate pregnancy. My guess is the latter has rendered Senja unsuitable for breeding.
Wellington Zoo and the Billion Dollar Question (Post 2/2) Of course, the billion dollar question is now…Why are they sitting on Bashi (the most genetically valuable Sumatran tiger in Australasia!)??? The pandemic would have prevented any exports to Australia over the last two years, but it’d be preferable to see him sent to Hamilton Zoo instead of Reggie (Kirana’s intended mate) as is the current plan. Bashi’s Australian matches (Cinta, the daughters of Soraya etc) are now at the end of their reproductive lifespans so imo, the best course of action would be to send Bashi to Hamilton Zoo for breeding upon Mencari’s death and then pair Reggie (who’s nine years younger) with a daughter from Auckland’s new pair.
Current Breeding Pairs Ndari at the National Zoo turns 14 years old in less than three months. Given the record for the eldest first time dam in the region is 12 years 2 months; and combined with the fact the zoo have been trying to breed from Aceh and Ndari since 2016 without success, it’s reasonable to assume this pair will not be breeding. Following confirmation Wellington’s pair will not be breeding either, this reduces the region to three planned breeding pairs: Auckland Zoo: 1.0 Ramah (08/07/2017) Arriving 2022 0.1 Zayana (15/10/2018) Arriving 2022 This pair are cause for much excitement. Aside from the fact they’re both young and mother raised with siblings, their genetic value means their cubs will be easily placed within the region. Given they’re not yet in the country, I’m hopeful of cubs in 2023 factoring in time for introductions etc. Adelaide Zoo: 1.0 Kembali (16/11/2014) Oz x Sali 0.1 Delilah (08/02/2016) Juma x Kaitlyn This pair are young and Delilah wouldn’t have spent long on contraception at Australia Zoo, meaning they’d both be reproductively viable. Delilah was peer raised with two same age cubs (one being her littermate), so there shouldn’t be any social issues with this pair. All going well, we may see cubs as early as the second half of 2022. Darling Downs Zoo: 1.0 Jalur (12/06/2008) Oz x Molek 0.1 Rani (09/02/2010) Ramalon x Binjai This pair are getting on in years. Rani is now 12 years old, so she’s approaching the end of her reproductive life. They’re both well socialised cats (each coming from mother raised litters containing opposite sex siblings); and combined with the expertise and experience at DDZ in managing introductions, have been successfully introduced to each other. Hopefully 2022 will be their year.
Oklahoma City Zoo has now applied for an export permit for male Ramah to be exported to Auckland Zoo to breed with Zayana, who is to be exported to Auckland from Topeka Zoo. https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...ngered-species-receipt-of-permit-applications
It’s so exciting to know that Ramah and Zayana will soon be on their way to Auckland Zoo - a milestone achievement. Ramah and Zayana are the first Sumatran tigers imported into New Zealand from outside the region since 1994. Ramah is the first male of his species ever to be imported into New Zealand from outside the region. They’re also Australasia’s first import since 2008. If successful in breeding, they’ll produce Auckland Zoo’s first Sumatran tiger cubs since 2008; and New Zealand’s first Sumatran tiger cubs since 2014.
Sumatran tiger Sali is being transferred from Hamilton Zoo to Auckland Zoo: From social media: Great news - we’re looking forward to welcoming Sumatran tiger Sali to Auckland Zoo! Relocating from our friends at Hamilton Zoo, female tiger Sali will arrive in Auckland later this month as part of the zoos’ global breeding and advocacy programme for this critically endangered big cat. Sali, who’s bloodline is well represented in the tiger population and is therefore not required to breed, will become the first tiger to experience our new Lowlands tiger habitat within the South East Asia Jungle Track – due to open fully this spring! Later this year, the Zoo also hopes to welcome a young pair of Sumatran tigers from the United States who have specifically been selected by the international breeding programme managers to breed and contribute their valuable genes to the population in Australasia. On arrival at Auckland Zoo, Sali will undergo a brief observation period in the tiger habitat’s inside quarters, ahead of being given the choice to venture outside.
Good news all round as this will open up the opportunity for Hamilton Zoo to receive a male Sumatran tiger for breeding with Kirana. Reggie at Orana is her intended mate, though I'd prefer Bashi (unrepresented founder) was considered instead given he will no longer be breeding with Senja at Wellington Zoo. Hopefully Sali doesn't prove a distraction to Ramah during attempts to pair him with Zayana. Other zoos have experienced this issue when housing 1.2 tigers and have had to screen off exhibits to refocus the male's attention on his intended mate.
Great news; Auckland do have the space to hold another surplus tiger and were probably looking to obtain one for their new Tiger complex as the arrival of the US pair has been further pushed back to the end of this year. I do agree, Bashi is a much better choice to be paired with Kirana. He's wildborn and also unrepresented, compared to Reggie who's a first generation offspring of a wildborn pair. Taronga's trio of cubs too are also some that may be part of future pairings in the region. I'd like to see Perth and Melbourne get re-involved with the breeding program soon.
Although Auckland Zoo have gained a tiger that will be redundant to their breeding programme and ultimately take up space that could be utilised by the breeding pair and their adult offspring, it suggests what we've all predicted that the offspring of Ramah and Zayana will be quickly placed in breeding pairs once they reach maturity. I doubt we'll see them hanging around for years like Taronga's triplets are set to. In the meantime, Sali will make a fantastic display animal. She was handraised by keepers at Dreamworld and has been the most engaging of Hamilton Zoo's tigers from a visitor perspective. As well as freeing up space at Hamilton, Auckland likely considered this when accepting the transfer.
Hamilton Zoo to receive male tiger late 2022: Following the news of Sali’s transfer to Auckland Zoo later this month, Hamilton Zoo have indeed announced their intention to receive a male tiger in late 2022, all going to plan. As previously reported by @Matt_C, Reggie at Orana Wildlife Park is Kirana’s intended mate; though Bashi at Wellington Zoo would be a more logical choice - especially considering there’s a decade in age between them and that Bashi doesn’t have the luxury of time.
Capacity of Auckland Zoo's Tiger Exhibit With the revelation Auckland Zoo will now be housing an additional adult tiger (surplus to the breeding programme), I was interested to know the capacity of their complex. Taronga gave a definitive capacity of eight tigers for their 1500m2 complex; but all Auckland Zoo have stated is a capacity of a breeding pair and their offspring into adulthood for their 1360m2 complex (note: figures don't include the night houses). Simple Maths implies Auckland Zoo can house 7.25 Sumatran tigers, but obviously there's more to it than that. The complex consists of three exhibits and three separate day rooms. The sizes of these areas are as follows: Small Exhibit = 200m2 Medium Exhibit = 370m2 Large Exhibit = 790m2 Day Room One = 18m2 Day Room Two = 28m2 Day Room Three = 23m2 From my observations, the small exhibit is suitable for either a single tiger or a mother and her juvenile cubs; the medium exhibit is suitable for either two well bonded adults (it's too confined for introductions) or a mother and her adolescent cubs; while the large exhibit is suitable for a breeding pair or a mother and her adult cubs. The day rooms (which are interconnected) aren't suitable for long term housing and will function as an extension to the small and large exhibits, which adjoin the night house. In conclusion, the capacity of Auckland Zoo's exhibit is approximately eight tigers, with a large litter (four cubs) maximising the capacity of the largest exhibit.
Jalur has been returned to Tasmania Zoo: Jalur (2008) has returned to Tasmania Zoo. He was sent to Darling Downs Zoo to be paired with Rani (2010) in 2020. We will await news from Darling Downs Zoo as to whether this pairing was successful (i.e. if a birth is announced in the coming weeks); or if failing that, what male they will receive in his place. I understand Cinta (2008) was distressed by Jalur’s transfer, so hopefully she will welcome his companionship upon their reintroduction in Tasmania.
Fingers crossed the pairing was successful. Considering he was sent back rather quickly i'm inclined to believe she may be pregnant. It's either that or both of them really don't get along well together at all. If that was the case though, i'd imagine they'd give them more time, not just two years.
I understand the two got on well, so I’m hoping Rani is either pregnant or has newborn cubs. Although they were related (their respective grandfathers are brothers), they were a good match socially as they both came from litters with opposite sex siblings and were well socialised. Alternatively, if the demand was there for Jalur to be returned sooner rather than later (for Cinta’s welfare), they may have chosen to seperate them now while Rani is still young enough to conceive with a new male. She’s now 12 years old, so a new introduction would have to be carried out soon before her fertility declines. Rani’s great great grandmother holds the record for oldest mother first time mother in the region, when she herself gave birth at the age of 12 in 1990.
Rani herself is twelve years old, and so there's still a window of chance that she could still give birth. Considering this would be Darling Down's first litter of Sumatran Tiger cubs, it would be understandable if they haven't announced a possible birth as of yet. The gestation is normally just over three months so i'm sort of doubting she's still pregnant (if she is/was at all). Jalur's transfer would've involved a bit of training and from the time they found out Rani might've been pregnant, it wouldn't really give enough time to send Jalur away before the birth of the cubs. It could be done, but I highly doubt it. If the move was for Cinta's welfare; which is another option, i'd expect the studbook already has another potential mate for Rani lined up. Although she isn't necessarily genetically valuable, cubs from her wouldn't hurt the region.
The zoo were likely under a time constraint due to Cinta’s welfare so it may have been out of their control as to when the transfer took place (i.e. ASAP). In an ideal world, it would take place once the cubs were a few weeks old. This would mean they’d survived the birth, Rani was happily rearing them and they had survived the critical first month. I’ve reviewed the list and options for a new male within Australia are limited to five tigers (if we discount elderly and juvenile males; and direct relatives): 1.0 Nelson (03/06/2019) Ranu x Kaitlyn 1.0 Mati (21/08/2010) Lari x Soraya 1.0 Indra (21/08/2010) Lari x Soraya 1.0 Pemanah (17/01/2019) Clarence x Kartika 1.0 Sakti (20/08/2011) Satu x Jumilah Sakti was an antisocial tiger, so can be ruled out. Nelson is the most distant relation; but the other three are better socialised, having all been raised with opposite sex littermates. Pemanah may be the best option as he has years ahead of him to be paired with a new female at Darling Downs Zoo if Rani doesn’t conceive. It would also clear the backlog at Taronga, who have otherwise been unable to place their latest cubs.
Cinta and Jalur were always quite close, so it's possible the plan was the whole time to send Jalur only temporarily, possibly until cubs were conceived between him and Rani. That's interesting re. Sakti. Do you know why he's antisocial? His sister and brother (Kartika and Kembali) at Taronga seem to be doing fine socially. Taronga have had quite a lot of success with keeping their cubs with mum, Kartika. The latest cubs are now three years old, and all quite close to one another. I was told no issues were present between Kartika and her cubs (I should probably say children now lol); at one point though she was given a break from them though as they tend to be quite rough and playful, which is perfectly understandable for the young tigers. The older two brothers too at Mogo would probably be an option, although their age and closeness may impact any chance of them being put into a breeding situation.
Unfortunately the time Jalur and Cinta have spent apart means the reintroduction will be the same as introducing two unfamiliar tigers. Jalur is a placid male and Cinta is clearly keen for companionship, so I don’t anticipate any issues. Sakti was separated from his mother and littermates around the age of 18 months to 2 years due to conflicts between them; while his littermates remained with Jumilah for several years. Their father was notoriously antisocial, so Sakti likely took after him. I’m thinking the Mogo males may be the best option. None of Soraya’s eight offspring have bred, yet her daughters have been involved in four pairings (indicating a desire to breed from this line). This could allow this to finally happen, while also bearing in mind they’re only third generation descendants of Nico-Meta, which is also desirable. Pemanah’s intended mate may be a female from Auckland’s pairing; with his sisters remaining in a trio with their mother long term if they’re all getting on well.
I doubt Sakti would be placed in a breeding situation then, especially if he takes after his father, Satu who had problems being introduced to his former mate, Jumilah. He almost killer her during introductions on multiple occasions. It would explain why Sakti's been placed at Dubbo; a non breeding facility. I think one of the Mogo boys would work best. They have the luxury of if one male dosen't work, the other could be used instead, although I don't think they'll have the time for that in Rani's situation. I think we'll definitely expect to see even multiple pairings within the region due to Auckland's pairing. Depending on how many cubs are born in that first litter; i'd imagine they would want to put at least two into breeding situations once they come of age. There's quite a lot of zoos within the region that could do with another male/female unrepresented within the region.
Given the cost of transit and the distance involved, Mogo would be wise to advise which of their males would be most suitable for a pairing with Rani (i.e. get it right first time). The more placid of the pair would be the obvious choice to counter Rani’s more fiery disposition. Ramah and Zayana could well become the new Nico and Meta. Their offspring will be in high demand and could supply several zoos with unrelated mates for their tigers. I’d expect to see a pairing with one of Taronga’s triplets and a pairing with one of Australia Zoo’s triplets as a minimum. I’m still holding out hope Bashi will be transferred to Hamilton Zoo instead of Reggie. Reggie is currently the second most genetically valuable Sumatran tiger in the region; but his unrepresented founder uncle is the first and having recently turned 14, time isn’t on Bashi’s side. They’d be better to hold Reggie back and pair him with an Auckland bred cub.
