1. Where did Melbourne's exported Orangutans go to? And why did they make this move? 2. Which female at Perth was exported, and where to? 3. Is it correct Adelaide never reared any of the babies born there to Karta & Kluett?
1. Melbourne Zoo sent 1.2 Sumatran orangutan to Sydney Zoo in 2019. Since Melbourne Zoo could easily accomodate the orangutans it had, the move would have been made because: 1) They were surplus to the breeding programme and they wanted to import breeding Sumatran orangutans; or 2) Because they plan to phase them out in favour of joining the Bornean orangutan breeding programme. Both options are possible - neither have been confirmed. For the time being, they’ve retained a young Sumatran male and two hybrids. 2. Negara (1993) was sent to Oklahoma Zoo in 2017. 3. Short answer yes. Many of the infants were stillborn, so they never got the chance. By the time they realised the issue was not with her raising them; but feeding them - it was sadly too late. Prior to the last infant (in which Karta died giving birth to), the staff had devised an elaborate plan to assist her with feeding the baby. They sadly never got a chance to implement this.
It’s especially exciting given the genetic value of this mother and daughter dyad - one wild born; one first generation. It gives a clear indication Auckland Zoo will be breeding again in the near future. The studbook lists Nuninka’s alternative name as Dwang; and DOB as 1988 approx. Cantik is listed as Cantic in the studbook; but mentioned as Cantik on the zoo’s website and several media releases. Their records are as follows: 0.1 Nuninka Born in the wild (Borneo) 01/01/1988 Arrived at Ústí nad Labem Zoo 27/03/1989 Still at Ústí nad Labem Zoo Nuninka has given birth to five offspring: 0.1 Raja (20/12/1998) Died 23/12/1999 1.0 Amos (20/12/2000) Exported 24/07/2008 (Apenheul Primate Park) 1.0 Budi (20/01/2007) Exported 29/09/2015 (Cologne Zoo) 0.1 Cantik (17/12/2011) Still at Ústí nad Labem Zoo 0.1 Unnamed (14/12/2016) Died 11/02/2017 All were sired by a wild born Bornean orangutan named Nunak, who died in 2017. Photos: Nuninka: Bornean orangutan called Nuninka empty enclosure Usti Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image | Shutterstock Cantik: Bornean orangutan female called Cantik outdoor enclosure Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image | Shutterstock
Orangutans in Australasian Zoos (2020) Auckland Zoo Bornean orangutan: 1.0 Charlie (21/03/1981) Zabu x Girlie 0.1 Melur (11/06/1988) Laki x Yasmin 0.1 Nuninka (01/01/1987) Wild x Wild (arriving 2021) 0.1 Cantik (17/12/2011) Nunak x Nuninka (arriving 2021) Hybrid orangutan: 0.1 Wanita (23/03/1979) Roy x Wendy Adelaide Zoo Sumatran orangutan: 1.0 Kluet (18/07/1995) Gambar x Gina 0.1 Puspa (01/01/1975) Atjeh x Puan Melbourne Zoo Sumatran orangutan: 1.0 Malu (29/07/2003) Santan x Maimunah Hybrid orangutan: 0.1 Kiani (24/06/1978) Bobby x Olga 0.1 Gabby (01/01/1990) Santan x Kiani Mogo Zoo Hybrid orangutan: 1.0 Jantan (11/07/1987) Perang x Judy II 0.1 Willow (09/05/1985) Perang x Wendy Perth Zoo Sumatran orangutan: 1.0 Dinar (06/03/1987) Dinding x Abigail 1.0 Sungai (30/12/2011) Dinar x Sekara 0.1 Puteri (12/06/1970) Atjeh x Puan 0.1 Utama (19/06/1979) Atjeh x Puteri 0.1 Sekara (20/07/1990) Hsing Hsing x Puspa 0.1 Pulang (21/12/1993) Atjeh x Puan 0.1 Teliti (20/10/2009) Hsing Hsing x Puteri 0.1 Lestari (09/01/2012) Hsing Hsing x Pulang Sydney Zoo Sumatran orangutan: 1.0 Santan (12/10/1977) Mias x Puppe 0.1 Maimunah (23/05/1986) Pongo x Timor 0.1 Dewi (06/12/2010) Santan x Maimunah
0.1 Jessie (10/07/1978) Tom x Yoka 0.1 Cara (10/09/1981) Jojo x Chiki 0.1 Samantha (25/12/1983) Jojo x Sutu 0.1 Sally (13/01/1985) Jojo x Spitter 1.0 Marty (28/01/1987) Tom x Bebe 0.1 Keza (06/07/1998) Marty x Samantha 1.0 Alexis (20/08/1998) Boyd x Cara *ALPHA MALE 0.1 Malika (27/10/2010) Sam x Samantha 1.0 Bakari (11/06/2012) Sam x Sally 1.0 Kitwe (15/11/2014) Sam x Keza
Chimpanzees in Australasian Zoos (2020) Please give details for any edits needed to make this more accurate. Taronga Zoo-- 8.12 Males Shabani, b.14/09/1994 at Taronga, Monte x Shiba Samaki, b.27/11/2001 at Taronga, Lubutu x Shiba Furahi, b.28/02/2003 at Taronga, Lubutu x Kuma Shikamoo, b.25/07/2003 at Taronga, Lubutu x Sacha Sule, b.04/04/2008 at Taronga, Lubutu x Sacha Fumo, b.16/10/2013 at Taronga, Shikamoo x Kuma Sudi, b.09/08/2014 at Taronga, Shikamoo x Kuma Liwali, b.22/09/2014 at Taronga, Samaki x Lisa Females Spitter, b. 01/06/1960 at Taronga, Sailor x Biddy Lisa, b.23/08/1979 at Taronga, Jojo x Lulu Sacha, b.11/06/1980 at Taronga, Jojo x Spitter Shiba, b.22/05/1981 at Taronga, Jojo x Suzie Shona (sterilised), b.09/10/1987 at Taronga, Danny x Sutu Ceres, b.19/09/1990 at Givskud, Toto x Jenny Kuma, b.06/12/1991 at Taronga, Snowy x Ficha Kamili, b.02/09/1995 at Taronga, Snowy x Koko Naomi, b.25/01/2001 at Givskud, Toto x Jenny Sembe, b.27/02/2008 at Taronga, Lubutu x Shiba Cebele, b.14/11/2017 at Taronga, Samaki x Ceres Safiri, b. 05/2019 at Taronga, ??? x Shiba Sydney Zoo-- 7.4 Males Fritz, 26/03/1982 at private, ??? x ??? Maike, b.18/05/1990 at Jaderberg, ??? x ??? Timmy (neutered), b.09/11/1991 at Schwaben, ??? x Cindy Charli (neutered), b.29/04/1994 at Schwaben, Tommy x Cindy Jerry (neutered), b.04/12/1995 at Schwaben, ??? x Mzde Mani (neutered), b.04/06/2000 at Schwaben, ??? x Cindy Moggli, b.01/10/2009 at Schwaben, ??? x Mzde Females Babsi, b.10/09/1984 at Schwaben, Tommy x Chita Julchen, b.14/04/1985 at Schwaben, ??? x ??? Mary, b.18/12/2002 at Schwaben, ??? x Mzde Sile, b.03/07/2006 at Schwaben, ??? x Julchen Monarto Safari Park-- 5.7 Males Boyd (vasectomised), 29/10/78 at Wellington, Tom x Bebe Tsotsi, b.25/06/1989 at Adelaide, Peter x Fimi Gombe (vasectomised), b.04/02/1993 at Wellington, Boyd x Jodie Sandali, b.26/02/1996 at Taronga, Snowy x Sacha Enzi, b.19/10/2015 at Monarto, Sandali x Zombi Females Zombi, b. 15/03/1995 at Burgers, Ayo x Zola Hannah, b.28/11/1993 at Belfast, Andy x Annie Galatea, b.24/02/1999 at Burgers, Fons x Gaby Lani, b.26/05/2002 at Taronga, Lubutu x Lisa Zuri, b.21/08/2012 at Monarto, Sandali x Zombi Hope, b.19/02/2019 at Monarto, Tsotsi x Hannah Zola, b. 08/09/2019 at Monarto, ??? x Zombi Rockhampton Zoo-- 3.4 Males Cassius, b.18/10/1971 at Coolangatta, ??? x ??? Alon, b.29/01/2008 at Tel Aviv, Abshalom x Avigail Gandali, b.03/02/2020 at Rockhampton, Alon x Holly Females Samantha, b.01/11/1983 at ??? x Coco at Willowbank Holly, b.25/05/1988 Leakey, b.30/12/1994 at Tel Aviv, Chuck x Lilli Capri, b.11/02/2018 at Rockhampton, Alon x Leakey Wellington Zoo-- 4.6 Males Marty, b.28/01/1987 at Wellington, Tom x Bebe Alexis, b. 20/08/1998 at Wellington, Boyd x Cara Bakari, b.11/06/2012 at Wellington, Sam x Sally Kitwe, b.15/11/2014 at Wellington, Sam x Keza Females Jessie, b.10/07/1978 at Wellington, Tom x Yoka Cara, b.10/09/1981 at Taronga, Jojo x Chiki Samantha, b.25/12/1983 at Taronga, Jojo x Sutu Sally, b.13/01/1985 at Taronga, Jojo x Spitter Keza, b.06/07/1998 at Wellington, Marty x Samantha Hamilton Zoo-- 2.4 Males Lucifer, b.1988 at Auckland, Mike x Lucy Luka, b.1993 at Auckland, Mike x Lucy Females Sally, b.1970 at Auckland, ??? x Sissy Lucy, b. November 1975 at Taronga, Jojo x Lulu Sanda, b.10/04/1985 at Adelaide, Peter x Fimi Chiku, b.15/02/2016 at Hamilton, Luka x Sanda
Good work @marmolady, it’s nice to have this all in one place. Just a few notes: Hamilton Zoo Sally was sired by Charlie, who died at Auckland Zoo in 1971. She is the only living offspring of her two wild born parents. I’d be willing to bet that Sally is a purebred, given that her parents arrived via the same animal dealer (likely caught from the same or neighbouring troops). Lucy was sired by Bobby, not Jojo. She was the last of Bobby’s 37 offspring (he died the year she was born). Retrospectively, Lucy was a poor candidate for relocation to Auckland in 1985. Aside from the fact she was the half sister of Mike, she had a newborn infant at the time (which Mike subsequently killed). Rockhampton Zoo Cassius was born to Chiko and Mary. Mary was the offspring of Susie (also the mother of Sutu and Shiba). Chiko was the offspring of Sadie. Both Mary and Chiko were sired by Bobby. Samantha was born to Charlie and Coco. They were both wild born and Samantha is their only living surviving descendent. She is the most genetically valuable chimpanzee in the region, along with Sally at Hamilton Zoo. Holly was born at Bullens Wild Animal Park to Peter and Deanne. Peter was born at Wellington Zoo to Tom and Bebe. Deanne was born to Bobo and Sara. Sara was also the mother of Sam at Wellington Zoo. Bobo was born to Tom and Molly at Wellington Zoo.
Thank you for all that! It sounds as if sending Lucy to Auckland was an absolute blunder of a decision. I honestly can’t see the logic behind that. I’d say Maike and Fritz (Sydney) and Galatea (Monarto) would have the same genetic value to the region as Samantha and Sally. The fact that paternity of a lot of the Sydney chimps makes it harder to assess.
Happy to help! It really was. They should have sent Belle, who was born the same year as Lucy. She was also a half sister, but didn’t have a surviving infant until 1986. Or better yet, waited another two years and sent Lisa (who would have been eight), who was more distantly related. The reason Lucy was sent at all was because Auckland Zoo’s hand raised females, Suzie and Sally, hadn’t bred with Mike in the three years he’d been at the zoo. They thought seeing Mike breed with Lucy (a mother raised chimp) would teach them. It was good to see the info you were able to provide on Sydney Zoo’s chimpanzees. They were completely unhelpful (as they have been with any questions I’ve asked) when I asked if females were off contraception etc. so I don’t know what their breeding plans are. Looking at the info you’ve provided, two females are a mother and daughter; one has two brothers; and the fourth has no direct relatives. She’s also approaching the end of her reproductive years.
Something to keep in mind with Sydney Zoo's chimps is that they came from an unusual situation. I'm not sure how many of them were mother-reared; Schwaben Park was well known (infamous, really) for its performing chimpanzee shows. A whole lot of infants were pulled so they could be handled. I don't know details about the individuals at SZ, but it's possible the females have very limited infant-rearing knowledge. It would be fantastic if Babsi (who may not have any relatives in the group) could have an infant before she is too old.
They haven't imported since 1992 and those three females are now aged 35 to 39. Cara, Samantha and Sally's paternal grandmother (Fifi) lived to 60; as did Cara's maternal grandmother (Bessie); and Sally's mother (Spitter) has just turned 60, so there's no reason to believe these three shouldn't reach a similar age. They're all in excellent health. Similarly, Marty is fit and well; and has a brother still alive at 42, so there's hope for him to reach a similar age. Aside from the lack of imports, Wellington Zoo's chimpanzees have suffered a high mortality rate - with several of the infants born in the troop dying before reaching adulthood. To date Cara has lost two infants; Samantha has lost one adult offspring; and Sally has lost two infants, two juveniles and an adolescent offspring. I'm not aware of any plans to import in the near future. They're hoping Sally will fall pregnant soon, Keza is of prime reproductive age and Malika is approaching adulthood. These females will sustain the troop for the foreseeable.
What's the latest with Monarto's troop? Are Zuri and Lani are contraception? Is Galatea still trying to conceive?
Lani and Zuri are on the pill, to my knowledge. Galatea isn't presently on contraceptives and is having fairly regular swellings. It's a real shame it's not happened for her yet, as she's wonderful with the infants.
Sounds like Naomi at Taronga, who similarly can't have her own infant. I wonder if they will investigate the cause of Galatea not conceiving.
She never had her implanon implant removed; it was left to wear off naturally. It has taken a long time for her cycles to become regular, but it sounds like it's getting there. After losing Zwala under anaesthetic, I don't believe they'd anaesthetise Galatea unless it was totally necessary.
Taronga have announced the birth of a female infant on the 7th of October to first time mother Naomi. This is fantastic news after Naomi’s reproductive struggles that were explored in the documentary series earlier this year.
That’s awesome news! And another female infant as well. Naomi is exceptionally maternal towards her niece, Cebele, so will make a great mother. Though they struggle due to their low ranking in the hierarchy, every infant born into this family will eventually add support and see them find their place in the community. 0.1 Ceres (1990) Imported 2015 0.1 Naomi (2001) Imported 2015 0.1 Cebele (2017) Samaki x Cebele 0.1 Baby N (2020) Unknown x Naomi It’ll be interesting to see who the father is. Samaki and Shikamoo are the most likely candidates in my opinion. Furahi may be high ranking, but a lot of the females fear him. In the meantime, they have Safiri’s paternity to establish also (most likely Shikamoo).
