Felids in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion

TWPZ has confirmed that they received two lionesses from San Diego in 2018 (Evelyn and Marion), and a male from Monarto (Mlinzi). They hope to begin introductions and establish a pride.
Zoo Chat | New lions make Pride Lands their home

 

It’s exciting to hear of new imports from overseas!

All three of Kiamba’s living offspring are now in breeding situations, following the export of Jahzara (2011) to Mogo Zoo; the export of Mlinzi (2013) to Taronga Western Plains Zoo; and the import of three males to Monarto Zoo to breed with Makena (2013) and her two half sisters (born to Tiombe).

 

Lion update from Werribee:

Recently I made the trip to Werribee open range zoo. As you all will probably know, Werribee are absent of a breeding male after the death of Johari, late last year. The zoo has two young males (20 months old), Ato and Lwazi, who are not of breeding age yet.

After speaking to a keeper, they confirmed that Ato and Lwazi will be exported before the end of this year. The studbook holder for African lions in the region have not yet given them a chosen destination yet, so their destination will remain unknown for now. Auckland and the new Sydney zoo are options inside the region for them alongside Melbourne if they follow in the steps of their 3 older brothers now at Monarto; the method being, send them to Melbourne until they reach breeding age, before being sent elsewhere to breed.

I think the most logical breeding situation for Werribee in the future will be to: retain a female from the 2016 litter (Kibibi or Aziza), and a female from the 2017 litter (Asali or Ilola), whilst importing an unrelated male to breed with this pair; then send the other two remaining females alongside their mothers, Nilo and Nairobi to Melbourne (retiring Nilo and Nairobi from breeding). This though, will have to come at the expense of exporting Ndidi and Zuberi, who are currently at Melbourne elsewhere.

What do you guys think the most logical breeding situation would be for Werribee in the future?

 

Would importing males from South Africa be an option they appear to have many captive there?

 

Males have been imported from South Africa into the region in the past eg. Lazurus and Ngala to Auckland in 2003. They do have quite a few captive there, and the region could certainly benefit from new males from overseas.

 

I have two ideas:

1. Retain Nilo and Nairibi (as non breeding females), as well as a daughter each; and import an unrelated male for breeding. Being an open range zoo, I'm guessing the lion exhibit is large enough to accommodate a pride of 1.4 adults and their cubs? Export the two remaining daughters and two young males.

2. Send Nilo and Nairibi to Auckland Zoo (or any facility where they can go into a breeding situation) and breed them with a founder male (imported or otherwise). Nilo and Nairibi are valuable as founders, but have been bred with Johari (who is from a well established line); so their offspring are not as valuable as what a mating of Nilo/Nairibi and a new founder male could produce.

 

Shoalhaven Zoo has received an additional two male lions (Ariel and Juda) with the intention of introducing a new genetic line. They have come from Africa (I assume South Africa).
Shoalhaven Zoo
In other news, Dreamworld welcomed two hybrid tigers cubs (two males) last week. Their parents are Pi (2010) and Adira (2015).
Tiger Island | Dreamworld

 

The only update I can find on the proposed five year breeding loan of a pair of Sumatran tigers from Ragunan Zoo is in Taronga Zoo's annual report:

https://taronga.org.au/sites/defaul...AnnualReport_2018_FA2_WebReady_Spreads_LR.pdf

It details how two Taronga Zoo staff traveled to Ragunan Zoo in April 2018 for the purpose of: "Preparation for tiger import from Ragunan Zoo under Sister city relationship."

Hopefully there is some news soon of how (if at all) this has progressed. Taronga Zoo is home to 4.3 Sumatran tigers so it's possible the new breeding pair could be housed at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, where there is more space.

 

Melbourne Zoo Sumatran Tigers - Early History

Melbourne Zoo’s first Sumatran tiger was a male named, Djambi:

Djambi (M)
Born at Rotterdam Zoo 26/11/1975
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 17/09/1976
Died at Melbourne Zoo 04/10/1979

Their next two tigers formed Melbourne Zoo’s first breeding pair:

Poetry (F)
Born at Rotterdam Zoo 25/05/1978
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 21/04/1979
Died at Melbourne Zoo 23/11/1997

Frank (M)
Born at Frankfurt Zoo 20/03/1980
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 02/06/1981
Died at Melbourne Zoo 20/11/1999

Frank and Poetry produced two litters:

Litter One:

Unnamed (U)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 25/07/1990
Died at Melbourne Zoo 25/07/1990

Litter Two:

Calang (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/11/1990
Sent to Perth Zoo 00/00/1994

Selatan (F)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/11/1990
Sent to Taronga Zoo 08/01/1992

The Australasian Sumatran Tiger Regional Breeding Programme was established in 1991.

Thanks to @Senapus and @Michel L'HUILLIER for the information.

 

The brothers have been named ‘Zakari’ and ‘Javi’.
Dreamworld also welcomed a male cub on the 26th May to mother Nika (hybrid) and father Raja (Sumatran).
Tiger Cubs | Dreamworld

 

Any news about SATRI, the sumatran tiger (Melati & Jaya's brother) ?
I can't find infos about him, except his birth (20/08/2008) at Perth Zoo...

 

Satri died at Perth. I think in 2009

 

Sad news.
Thank you however, @Nisha and @Chlidonias

 

Does anyone know what append to HARI (Sumatran tiger), after Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve finally closed in April 2013 ?

 

Does anyone know what zoos Hari was housed at in between his birth at London Zoo in 1997, and his arrival at Perth Zoo in 2007; and if he bred at any of those zoos?

Does Hari have any siblings, or was he Martin and Mira’s only offspring?

Hari sired four litters in Australasia (two at Perth Zoo with Setia; two at Cairns Wildlife Safari with Louise):

Litter One:

Unnamed (U)
Born at Perth Zoo 10/04/2008
Died at Perth Zoo 00/04/2008

Unnamed (U)
Born at Perth Zoo 10/04/2008
Died at Perth Zoo 00/04/2008

Unnamed (U)
Born at Perth Zoo 10/04/2008
Died at Perth Zoo 00/04/2008

Sali (F)
Born at Perth Zoo 10/04/2008
Sent to Dreamworld 00/05/2008
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 00/07/2012
Still at Hamilton Zoo

Litter Two:

Jaya (M)
Born at Perth Zoo 20/08/2008
Still at Perth Zoo

Satri (M)
Born at Perth Zoo 20/08/2008
Died at Perth Zoo 00/00/2010

Melati (F)
Born at Perth Zoo 20/08/2008
Sent to London Zoo 26/09/2012
Died at London Zoo 08/02/2019

Litter Three:

Indah (F)
Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari 13/12/2009
Died at Cairns Wildlife Safari 30/12/2009

Litter Four:

Pi (M)
Born at Cairns Wildlife Safari 19/07/2010
Sent to Dreamworld 17/10/2010
Still at Dreamworld

 

@Zoofan15 : All I have about Hari is here :

1. Events :



2. Ascendants



3. Descendants : You have more than me... ;-)

 

Pi and Indah are both hybrids. There mother isn't a pure Sumatran

 

Concerning Martin's descendancy, here is all I got (maybe not complete...) :
If someone knows the exact birth date of the triplets, you're welcome !