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Felids in Australasian Zoos – News, History and Discussion

Discussion in 'Australia' started by Zoofan15, 30 Nov 2017.

  1. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Last edited: 6 Nov 2018
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  2. MRJ

    MRJ Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    37 is actually quite a good number. 20 randomly selected wild individuals should contain 95% of the genetic variation of population and is regarded as the optimal minimum for setting up a breeding program. Of course many programs have had to be set up with fewer animals.
     
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  3. toothlessjaws

    toothlessjaws Well-Known Member

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    I thought it was closer to eight! so I agree thirty seven isn't so bad. I always thought 50 was the optimal minimum for most mammals though?
     
  4. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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  5. MRJ

    MRJ Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    My source is ‘Viable Populstions for Conservation’ ed.Soule. Of course the assumption is that the population will be rapidly expanded from that point, into the hundreds for most serious programs.
     
  6. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    Actually, I remember learning that in order for a population to survive indefinitely, a minimum of 500 adults is needed, because below that natural selection ceases to effect the population and the species ceases to evolve.

    Species with considerably less than 50 founders can survive for many years, but those that reproduce fast and have larger litters
    (like mice)
    recover faster whereas those that reproduce slowly with only one or two offspring each time are more susceptible to become extinct because of the long time to recover from the loss of genetic diversity.

    :p

    Hix
     
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  7. MRJ

    MRJ Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    In a sense, yes. With each generation we loose genetic variation but the rate of loss declines the larger the population. At the same time genetic mutation occurs constantly, increasing genetic diversity. 500 individuals is the point at which creation of diversity through mutation begins to exceed loss. Note this is effective ie breeding individuals, not young, old or infertile animals.

    However most conservation programs do not attempt to have a population that can "last forever" in captivity as this is very expensive. Rather the objective is usually expressed as something like "X percent genetic variation after Y years requires Z number of animals".

    As genetic variation is only lost after a breeding event (ignoring the loss of non-breeding individuals), species with a short generation time require more individuals in the population for the population to retain a required genetic diversity over a given length of time than a species with a long generation time, simply because the long generation time species does not have to breed as often over a set period of time.​
     
  8. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    What do you mean by "a required genetic diversity"?

    :p

    Hix
     
  9. MRJ

    MRJ Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    The plan might call for, say, 85% of the population genetic diversity in 10 years, Actually I can't recall any program that I have seen that calls for less than 85% not to say that does not occur. Depending on the circumstances population may refer to the wild population or the captive population.
     
  10. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Auckland Zoo Sumatran Tiger - Molek (2000-2018)

    Auckland Zoo's Sumatran tigress Molek has been euthanised, aged 18 years.

    Molek was born at Wellington Zoo 10/01/2000, and moved to Hamilton Zoo in 2001; before being transferred to Auckland Zoo in 2006, where she gave birth to 2.1 cubs in 2008.

    Molek was exceptionally popular with the visitors. Last time I was there, there were crowds of 4-5 people deep to see her and her son, Bernai, at feeding time.

    It's been a difficult couple of years for Auckland Zoo with several big cats been euthanised due to age related issues:

    2017:

    Sheeka (African lion) 1999 - 2017
    Jaka (Sumatran tiger) 2000 - 2017
    Anubis (Cheetah) 2005 - 2017
    Osiris (Cheetah) 2005 - 2017

    2018:

    Kura (African lion) 1998 - 2018
    Amira (African lion) 2001 - 2018
    Molek (Sumatran tiger) 2000 - 2018
     
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  11. WhistlingKite24

    WhistlingKite24 Well-Known Member 10+ year member Premium Member

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    This seems like the most appropriate place to announce the following news.
    The pair of lions at Billabong Zoo (“Milo” and “Misty”), which were imported from South Africa, produced two male cubs in August.
    One of the cubs died a few days later, and the other cub, “Amari” is currently being handraised due to complications.
    Here is the extensive story...
    Billabong Zoo
     
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  12. WhistlingKite24

    WhistlingKite24 Well-Known Member 10+ year member Premium Member

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    As reported on the news page, Melbourne Zoo’s three male lions have moved to Monarto Zoo for breeding. The zoo wil recieve two adolescents from Werribee.
    Some interesting changes.:)
     
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  13. marmolady

    marmolady Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    So Monarto's lion population, if I'm following the recent changes is:

    Males: Inkosi (Tiombe son), Jelani, (Tiombe son), Mlinzi (Kiamba son), and newcomers from Melbourne Kito, Kashka and Kubwa

    Females: Tiombe, Zalika, Kiamba, Nia (Tiombe daughter), Husani (Tiombe daughter), Makena (Kiamba daughter)

    This leaves only Nia, Husani and Mekena as reproductive age females, but I believe they are related to the Melbourne males through their grandmother's line. I wonder if further lionesses will be imported from overseas.
     
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  14. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    That's correct @Nisha

    Kura (1998) > Kuchami (2001) > Johari (2003) > Melbourne Males (2015)
    Kura (1998) > Amali (2001) > Kiamba (2004) > Makena (2013)
    Kura (1998) > Tiombe (2004) > Husani/Nia (2013)

    Not the best genetic match in my opinion, when there are plenty of other options for males in the region. In my opinion they would have been better off sending two or more of the males from Lazerus and Maya's 2016 litter to Monarto for breeding and breeding them with Jahzara (2011) and Makena (2013). Husani and Nia are the granddaughters of Lazerus so ideally shouldn't breed with his offspring. Monarto has a larger exhibit than Mogo so could have better accommodated breeding (Lazerus's son, Baako and Jahzara have been paired at Mogo).

    I don't think it'd be possible to integrate unrelated lionesses to Monarto's lioness pride so unless they were to hold two prides I doubt this would happen. Monarto already have two prides as they also have three males in a separate pride (son of Kiamba and sons of Tiombe).
     
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  15. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    A number of articles regarding the import of the three male lions by Monarto Zoo, including this one issued by Monarto, refer to Monarto as having six lionesses (not seven):

    Three new lions roar into Monarto Zoo

    Does anyone know what happened to the seventh lioness?

    Last I was aware, they had Kiamba (2004), Zalika (2004), Tiombe (2004), Kibira (2004), Husani (2013), Nia (2013) and Makena (2013)?
     
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  16. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    Probably a media mistake. ;)
     
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  17. Zoofan15

    Zoofan15 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    I hope so, Kiamba's been through enough.
     
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  18. marmolady

    marmolady Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Kibira died a little while back I believe.
     
  19. Jambo

    Jambo Well-Known Member 5+ year member

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    She did!!! When did she die and why? It was never announced by Monarto???
     
  20. marmolady

    marmolady Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    I don’t know specifics, I was told by a volunteer when asking about the lion pride.