Felids in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion

Australia Zoo - Sumatran Tiger Birth

Kaitlyn the Sumatran tiger gave birth to a litter of 1.2 cubs in February 2020. This is Kaitlyn’s fourth litter. The sire is either Juma or Ranu.

Their birth brings Australia Zoo’s population of this species to 8.12:

1.0 Juma (2004) Lari x Malu
1.0 Ranu (2004) Lari x Malu
0.1 Singha (2004) Lari x Malu
0.1 Kaitlyn (2007) Imported from Indonesia
1.0 Hunter (2013) Ramalon x Kaitlyn
1.0 Scout (2016) Juma x Kaitlyn
0.1 Delilah (2016) Juma x Kaitlyn
1.0 Reggie (2016) Satu x Maneki
1.0 Nelson (2019) Ranu x Kaitlyn
1.0 Unnamed (2020) Juma/Ranu x Kaitlyn
0.1 Unnamed (2020) Juma/Ranu x Kaitlyn
0.1 Unnamed (2020) Juma/Ranu x Kaitlyn

I can’t wait to see what they name the new cubs; or rather, I can.

 

Some recent cat-related news:

-Monarto Safari Park has named their 1.3 lion cubs. The females have been named Chikondi, Adira and Zahara, and the male was called Kahari.

-Taronga Zoo has Lions again after their last lions left their collection in 2015 when they moved Hunter Valley Zoo. Brothers, Ato and Lwazi arrived recently from Werribee Open Range Zoo. So the zoo finally has both lions and tigers again. It's a shame snow leopards won't be returning...

-As @Zoofan15 announced above, Australia Zoo welcomed 1.2 Sumatran Tiger cubs earlier this year. With a large off-display area consisting of 18 tiger enclosures the zoo is approaching capacity with 12 Sumatrans and 3 "Bengals". I imagine a few transfers will be expected in the near future. I have also uploaded a few photos of the other tigers that were on-display yesterday. It was really interesting to see Hunter (2013) - who is a fully blind tiger and see how he managed to work out his surroundings.
Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) - ZooChat
Hunter the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) - ZooChat
Sumatran Tiger Cub (Panthera tigris sumatrae) - ZooChat
Sumatran Tiger Cub (Panthera tigris sumatrae) - ZooChat

 

Australia Zoo haven’t imported generic/Bengal tiger since the import of those 1.2 in 2007 and have since rehomed their two older males. It’s not hard to imagine they will phase these out now they have become the breeding hub of Sumatran tigers in the region. The offspring of the Indonesian imports are in demand for breeding, so they are likely to remain the hub for at least the next decade.

As for imports, there’s a minimum of two facilities without tigers - Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park, so exports to at least one of these are probable.

 

Perth are also likely to be receiving new Tiger's in the next couple of years. With there remaining male, Jaya now approaching 12 years old.

 

The Sumatran Tiger cubs at Australia Zoo have now been named - the two females are called Sallie and Sage, and the male Malcolm.
Australia Zoo

 

Where do they they get these names from? Malcolm the Tiger?

 

Donor's with lots and lots of money we could probably call one of the next cubs ZooChat if we payed them enough...

 

Hamilton Zoo's Cheetah Import

The two most likely options for importing new cheetah are as follows:

Import from South Africa:

While this option is more costly, hand raised cubs could be imported and better utilised for visitor engagement opportunities than mother raised cheetahs. This is done at Auckland Zoo through encounters, walking the cheetah around the zoo etc.

The import could be part of a joint import with other zoos receiving cats for breeding purposes. Auckland Zoo's ambassador (non breeding) cheetah were imported in 2017 along with their littermates, who went into breeding situations at Orana Wildlife Park and Monarto Zoo.

Import from Australia:

This would be the most cost effective (and therefore most likely) option.

Considering the average captive lifespan is 10-12 years, it would be logical to import cats under three years of age. The most recent male cheetah cubs born in the region are:

1.0 Thumani (21/05/2018) Saadani x Kesho

1.0 Bomani (06/06/2018) Jana x Kyan
1.0 Radi (06/06/2018) Jana x Kyan
1.0 Denzel (06/06/2018) Jana x Kyan

Thumani was born at Monarto Zoo; while the three brothers were born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. They live together as a coalition after Thumani was transferred to Dubbo at 12 months of age. Both litters are related as Jana is a littermate of Kesho. They were sired by a male named Jala, who is also the maternal grandfather of Kyan. Jala was also the sire of Jambo and Moyo Matusi (who were Hamilton Zoo's last cheetah).

It's difficult to say which two of the above males are more likely to be sent to Hamilton Zoo (a non breeding situation), though retaining Thumani for breeding would seem logical as his sire is a founder in the region (albeit from an extensive and well represented European line). Kyan is a king cheetah (a gene Taronga Western Plains Zoo may wish to preserve), but these cubs are her fourth litter (which also contains three females) so the remaining male would by no means be her only descendent left at Dubbo. Kyan's sister, Halla (also a king cheetah), has also bred several times at this facility.

In conclusion, my guess is that two of the males from Jana and Kyan's litter will be the two males imported by Hamilton Zoo.

 

I just received some further information about the Sumatran tiger cubs from Australia Zoo if anyone is interested. The sire of the cubs is Juma and the triplets were born on the 18th February.

 

Here are 6 cat photos from a visit to Taronga Zoo in 1996 for anyone who's interested.

Sumatran Tiger Cub (1996) by akasha posted 13 Jul 2020 at 9:06 AM

White Tiger (1996) by akasha posted 14 Jul 2020 at 9:09 AM

Snow Leopard (1996) by akasha posted 14 Jul 2020 at 9:17 AM

Fishing Cat (1996) by akasha posted 14 Jul 2020 at 9:20 AM

Asian Golden Cat (1996) by akasha posted 14 Jul 2020 at 9:24 AM

Jaguar (1996) by akasha posted 14 Jul 2020 at 9:31 AM

 

Hamilton Zoo are going to be receiving four new Cheetah (my money is on the four young males mentioned above). The previous exhibit is going to be extensively remodeled. Here’s some photos from my visit yesterday:

Cheetah Exhibit (Under Construction) by Zoofan15 posted 26 Jul 2020 at 7:48 PM

Cheetah Exhibit (Under Construction) by Zoofan15 posted 26 Jul 2020 at 7:48 PM

Cheetah Exhibit (Under Construction) by Zoofan15 posted 26 Jul 2020 at 7:48 PM

 

Taronga Zoo’s Sumatran Tigers:

In celebration of World Tiger Day yesterday, Taronga released a few videos about their Sumatran Tigers on Youtube.

Tiger Den Tour:

This video includes a tour of the medical den (where they do their medical procedures on the Tigers), and the Maternal Den (where Kartika gave birth to her three cubs 18 months ago).

The video features Jumilah (2003), and another tiger who appears briefly during the video (Kembali?).



Sumatran Tiger Health Check (on Jumilah):

This video shows a Health Check being conducted on Jumilah in the Medical Den.

 

Taronga Zoo - Jaguar History

Taronga Zoo’s last breeding pair were:

1.0 Ali (born 1978 at Rotterdam Zoo; arrived January 1979)
0.1 Wendy (born 1975 at Auckland Zoo; arrived June 1975)

Ali and Wendy had two litters:

Litter One:

1.0 Quito
Born at Taronga Zoo 24/05/1984
Sent to Ponderosa Fauna Park 23/09/1985 (fate unknown)

Litter Two:

1.0 Maya
Born at Taronga Zoo 28/09/1987
Sent to Melbourne Zoo 01/03/1989 (died 2008)

After Wendy died in 1988, a new female was imported from Melbourne Zoo:

0.1 Jacunda
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Arrived at Taronga Zoo 01/12/1988
Sent to Adelaide Zoo 11/11/1992 (died 2003)

Jacunda never bred at Taronga Zoo.

Ali was the last Jaguar at Taronga Zoo and died in 1996.

Additional notes/info:

Upon his birth in 1984, Quito was the first successful Jaguar cub raised at Taronga Zoo since 1958. There's a photo of him with his mother here: The Taronga Zoo News Release read ... Announcing the birth of a... News Photo - Getty Images

Wendy and her second cub, Maya, are pictured here in 1987: The new baby Jaguar at Taronga Zoo Maya., Mother Wendy. December 9,... News Photo - Getty Images

Ali is pictured here (photo courtesy of @akasha):



As illustrated in these photos, Ali was a melanistic Jaguar; Wendy was a golden Jaguar; and their two offspring were both melanistic Jaguars. Since the gene for melanism is dominant to the recessive golden gene, its possible Ali was homozygous dominant - as he never sired any golden offspring. It should be noted however, a sample size of two offspring is not enough to ascertain this; as one would expect 50% of the offspring of a heterozygous Jaguar (melanistic phenotype) bred with a heterozygous recessive (golden) Jaguar to be melanistic anyway.

Melanism Inheritance in Jaguar by Zoofan15 posted 5 Aug 2020 at 3:32 PM

 

Adelaide Zoo - Jaguar History

Adelaide Zoo’s last breeding pair were:

1.0 Branco
Born at Rotterdam Zoo 07/02/1978
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 25/11/1978
Died at Adelaide Zoo 02/09/2000

0.1 Jasmin
Born at Melbourne Zoo 14/03/1978
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 18/07/1979
Died at Adelaide Zoo 24/01/1991

Branco and Jasmin produced one litter together:

Litter One:

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Adelaide Zoo 16/04/1989
Died at Adelaide Zoo 16/04/1989

After Jasmin died in 1991, a new female was imported from Taronga Zoo:

0.1 Jacunda
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 11/11/1992
Died at Adelaide Zoo 27/08/2003

Jacunda never bred at Adelaide Zoo; and was Adelaide Zoo's last Jaguar.

Additional notes/info:

Branco was a littermate of Ali (who lived at Taronga Zoo).

 

Wildlife HQ recently received 3.0 Servals from Altina Wildlife Park - full brothers Peter (2019), Max (2019) and Mowgli (2020). All of them were bred at Altina. Keepers are currently hand raising six-week-old Mowgli as he was rejected by his mother, Layla (2018). This is the zoo's first species of felid and makes it only one of two zoos that currently house Servals in Queensland. The Australasian population of Servals currently stands at approximately 36 (20.15.1) individuals.
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Spoiler: Servals in Australasian Zoos

Adelaide Zoo, Australia
1.0 Maji 04-10-2011 at Melbourne Zoo
0.1 Kali 14-12-2006 at Wellington Zoo

Altina Wildlife Park, Australia
1.0 Hasani (Maji x Kali) 19-12-2015 at Adelaide Zoo
0.1 Layla 30-01-2018 at South African facility.
0.1 Michelle (Hasani x Layla) 17-08-2019 at Altina Wildlife Park

Auckland Zoo, New Zealand
1.0 Moholo (Sika x Hannelie) 00-00-2005 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Shani 27-03-2013 at Zoo Boise, USA

Crocodylus Park, Australia
0.0.1 00-00-0000

Darling Downs Zoo, Australia
0.1 Nakawa 20-10-2006 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Wanda (Amiri x Nia) 04-08-2019 at Hunter Valley Zoo
0.1 Pixie (Amiri x Nia) 04-08-2019 at Hunter Valley Zoo

Gorge Wildlife Park, Australia
1.0 Zuberi (Maji x Kali) 19-12-2015 at Adelaide Zoo

Halls Gap Zoo, Australia
1.0 Hasani 00-00-2008 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Keta (Souda x Ashaki) 02-08-2015 at National Zoo and Aquarium

Hunter Valley Zoo, Australia
1.0 Amiri 00-00-0000
0.1 Nia 00-00-0000
1.0 Sabor (Amiri x Nia) 00-03-2019 at Hunter Valley Zoo
0.1 Cali (Amiri Nia) 00-03-2019 at Hunter Valley Zoo

Mogo Wildlife Park, Australia
0.1 Nuni 00-00-2008 at Mogo Wildlife Park
1.0 Gundi 00-00-2008 at Mogo Wildlife Park

National Zoo and Aquarium, Australia
1.0 Souda (Sika x Hannelie)30-11-2004 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Ashaki 07-02-2008

Tasmania Zoo, Australia
1.0 Kibuluu 00-00-2015 at National Zoo and Aquarium
1.0 Ekundu 00-00-2015 at National Zoo and Aquarium
0.1 Kijani 00-00-2015 at National Zoo and Aquarium

Wellington Zoo, New Zealand
1.0 Tunde (Kijana x Nkeru) 09-09-2006 at Wellington Zoo
0.1 Shanti (Kijana and Nkeru) 09-09-2006 at Wellington Zoo

Werribee Open Range Zoo, Australia
0.1 Morili 21-12-2008 at Mogo Wildlife Park
0.1 Nanki 21-12-2008 at Mogo Wildlife Park

Wild Cat Conservation Centre, Australia
1.0 Simba 12-01-2012
1.0 Crunchie 12-01-2012

Wildlife HQ, Australia
1.0 Max (Hasani x Layla) 17-08-2019 at Altina Wildlife Park
1.0 Peter (Hasani x Layla) 17-08-2019 at Altina Wildlife Park
1.0 Mowgli (Hasani x Layla) 00-07-2020 at Altina Wildlife Park

Zoodoo Zoo, Australia
1.0 Levi 30-01-2018 at South African facility
1.0 Keeno 08-11-2017 at South African facility

Total: 20.15.1

 

More small cat news! Hunter Valley have just announced the birth of 1.1 Servals to their experienced pair, Amiri and Nia on 30th July. There should be approximately 38 (21.16.1) Servals in the Australasian region. Like 2019, Hunter Valley and Altina have both welcomed successful Serval births and are the main breeders of the species these days.

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Descendents of Indlozi the Serval

It's interesting to see how many Serval in our region are descended from Indlozi:

Indlozi (born 30/03/2000) was imported from Germany by Auckland Zoo in 2001.

Indlozi bred with Mzimba (born 02/03/1997) to produce Sika in early 2002. Sika is the sire of Moholo (born 2005); and likely many of the others listed here that were born at Mogo Zoo in the mid to late 2000's.

Indlozi bred with Shey (born 29 /09/2000) to produce Souda, Ngozi and Nkeru in late 2004. Souda has one offspring listed here (born 2015) and was likely the sire of the other three born at the National Zoo that same year. Nkeru was the mother of Tunde, Shanti and Kali. Kali has had at least three litters at Adelaide Zoo - 1.2 born 24/12/2009; 1.0 born 12/04/2015; and 2.0 born 19/12/2005. One of Karli's sons has sired four offspring to date at Altina Wildlife Park.

 

Melbourne Zoo - Jaguar History

Melbourne Zoo’s last breeding pair of Jaguar were:

Dora - born 09/03/1970 at Melbourne Zoo
Lunoc - born 15/03/1972 at Melbourne Zoo

Their last two litters were:

1979:

1.0 Brian
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/09/1979
Died at Melbourne Zoo 30/06/1983

1.0 Errol
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/09/1979
Died at Melbourne Zoo 28/03/1995

1981:

0.1 Jacunda
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Sent to Taronga Zoo 01/12/1988

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Died at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Died at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981
Died at Melbourne Zoo 24/01/1981

Dora and Lunoc died at Melbourne Zoo in 1988.

Melbourne Zoo’s last pair of Jaguar were:

1.0 Maya
Born at Taronga Zoo 28/09/1987
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 01/03/1989
Died at Melbourne Zoo 24/11/2008

0.1 Muana
Born at Budapest Zoo 27/07/1990
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 11/09/1997
Died at Melbourne Zoo 31/07/2008

Maya and Muana never produced any cubs at Melbourne Zoo.

Additional notes/info:

Dora and Lunoc were also the parents of Jasmin (born 1978), who was sent to Adelaide Zoo in 1979.

 

History of Siberian Tigers in Australasian Zoos

Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo imported their first Siberian tigers in 1976:

1.0 Brutus
Born at Marwell Zoo 10/10/1975
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 28/12/1976
Sent to Adelaide Zoo 24/12/1992 (died 1994)

0.1 Baboeska
Born at Rotterdam Zoo 30/12/1975
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 02/11/1976
Died at Wellington Zoo 18/12/1987

Brutus and Baboeska produced two litters at Wellington Zoo:

Litter One:

0.1 Tanya
Born at Wellington Zoo 27/11/1978
Sent to Johannesburg Zoo 20/03/1981 (died 1982)

0.0.1 Unnamed
Stillborn at Wellington Zoo 27/11/1978

Litter Two:

1.0 Mikov
Born at Wellington Zoo 16/10/1979
Sent to Johannesburg Zoo 20/03/1981 (died 1992)

0.1 Natasha
Born at Wellington Zoo 16/10/1979
Sent to Johannesburg Zoo 20/03/1981 (died 1999)

Adelaide Zoo imported another female in 1988:

0.1 Nara
Born at Leipzig Zoo 09/05/1980
Arrived at Wellington Zoo 22/12/1988
Died at Wellington Zoo 13/10/1991

Wellington Zoo has not held Siberian tiger since 1992.


Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide imported their first Siberian tigers in 1980:

1.0 Kuldur
Born at Leipzig Zoo 27/04/1980
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 26/09/1980
Sent to Mogo Zoo 21/06/1995 (died 1997)

0.1 Nara
Born at Leipzig Zoo 09/05/1980
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 26/09/1980
Sent to Wellington Zoo 22/12/1988 (died 1991)

0.1 Nowa
Born at Leipzig Zoo 09/05/1980
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 26/09/1980
Died at Adelaide Zoo 23/04/1991

Kuldur and Nara produced one litter of cubs in 1983:

Litter One:

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983
Died at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983
Died at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983

0.0.1 Unnamed
Born at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983
Died at Adelaide Zoo 27/02/1983

Adelaide Zoo imported another male in 1992:

1.0 Brutus
Born at Marwell Zoo 10/10/1975
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 24/12/1992
Died at Adelaide Zoo 18/04/1994

Adelaide Zoo has not held Siberian tiger since 1995.


Mogo Zoo

Mogo Zoo imported their first Siberian tiger in 1995:

1.0 Kuldur
Born at Leipzig Zoo 27/04/1980
Arrived at Mogo Zoo 21/06/1995
Died at Mogo Zoo 11/06/1997

Mogo Zoo has not held Siberian tiger since 1997.


Thank you to @Nisha for her help with the above info.

 

Its a shame Aussie zoos did not keep with the Siberians it appears that Tigers are a lot less common in our zoos these days apart from Australia zoo and Dreamworld!