Common Hippopotami at Auckland Zoo Hippopotamus amphibius Female Nada was imported from Taronga Zoo in 1939 as a mate for Auckland Zoo’s male hippopotamus, Dimazulu: Nada (F) Born at Taronga Zoo 01/01/1937 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1939 Died at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1965 Nada gave birth to: En Zed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 25/04/1944 Fate Unknown Sire: Dimazulu Unknown (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/01/1947 Fate Unknown Sire: Dimazulu Khama (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 14/03/1950 Fate Unknown Sire: Dimazulu After Dimazulu was exported to Melbourne Zoo, a new male named Kabete was imported from Kenya: Kabete (M) Wildborn 01/01/1953 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 01/10/1956 Died at Auckland Zoo 20/05/1993 Nada gave birth to: Snorkel (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 14/10/1959 Died at Auckland Zoo 30/09/2010 Sire: Kabete Kiboko (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/08/1961 Fate Unknown Sire: Kabete Scuba (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 26/01/1964 Died at Auckland Zoo 03/07/1980 Sire: Kabete Nada’s daughter, Snorkel, gave birth to: Hope (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 24/01/1973 Died at Auckland Zoo 06/04/1983 Sire: Scuba Solucky (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1987 Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/12/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 18/12/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990 Died at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991 Sire: Kabete Snorkel’s daughter, Hope, gave birth to: Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/11/1979 Died at Auckland Zoo 13/11/1979 Sire: Kabete Chad (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/11/1979 Died at Auckland Zoo 19/11/1979 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980 Died at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981 Died at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982 Died at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982 Sire: Kabete After Nada’s death, a new female named Bonnie was imported from Taronga Zoo: Bonnie (F) Born at Taronga Zoo 17/11/1957 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 21/12/1966 Died at Auckland Zoo 31/05/1982 Bonnie gave birth to: Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/03/1968 Died at Auckland Zoo 04/03/1968 Sire: Unknown Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/03/1969 Died at Auckland Zoo 02/04/1969 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/11/1969 Died at Auckland Zoo 29/11/1969 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/05/1971 Died at Auckland Zoo 19/05/1971 Sire: Scuba Wahahui (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 20/06/1972 Died at Auckland Zoo 18/10/1972 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973 Died at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973 Sire: Kabete Faith (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 05/01/1975 Died at Auckland Zoo 16/08/2016 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977 Died at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977 Sire: Scuba Bonnie’s daughter, Faith, gave birth to: Floyd (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/09/1982 Died at Auckland Zoo 23/12/1987 Sire: Kabete Fonzee (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 26/04/1987 Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Fatima (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 31/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Fudge (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 26/03/2016 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 17/03/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 22/03/1991 Sire: Kabete Additional notes/info: Castration of male hippopotami was trialled at Auckland Zoo. The testes are located internally, which combined with the risk of anaesthetic, make it a difficult and risky procedure. It was carried out unsuccessfully on Floyd in 1987 and successfully on Fudge in 1993. Females were contracepted through contraceptive pills and injections to induce abortions. The last births were in 1991 to Faith and Snorkel. Nada’s line is survived in the region at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo by her great grandaughter. Snorkel’s daughter, Solucky (born 1987), was sent to Tipperary Station where she was bred against recommendation to produce a female calf named Cuddles (born 2002). Cuddles is TWPZ’s breeding female and has to date produced two surviving female calves: Kibibi (born 2014) and Kendi (born 2017). The pregnancy of a female hippopotamus lasts just under 8 months. Females often experience post-partum oestrous, explaining the short inter-birth intervals between some calves.
Interesting list. You have Fudge down as (F) though he was castrated... Its interesting this list contains a significant number of calves that either died soon after birth or only survived a few days, despite the mother having raised previous offspring.. This is very similar to some European breeding records for Hippo also.
How embarassing, I used Fatima (Fudge's twin) as a template for Fudge as they had the same date of birth, place of birth and father. I changed the name and date of death but forgot to change the F to an M for gender. Yes, a large number of calves died. I believe the majority were killed by other hippopotamus in the enclosure. The fate of the calves seem to cluster eg. two calves born in 1987 survived, and one born in 1988 survived, while several born in the late 70s/early 80s and early 90s died. I'm guessing this indicated a condition in their environment eg. in 1987, there was the facilities to separate the mother and calf but the increased population density in earlier or later times meant there wasn't. Does anyone know how many enclosures they've had through the years? I believe the original enclosure was divided into two? And indeed quite a few calves survived as the male could be separated from the mother and calf. How about the Western Spring expansion enclosure? I don't know what year they moved into it (1970s-1980s?) but by then there would have had several animals and conditions would have been quite cramped.
Chaka and Bella I found this article on Chaka and Bella. They were Auckland Zoo's first pair of Common hippopotamus and produced 6 calves together. The youngest, a male named Dimazulu, was born in 1937 and bred with Nada (see Post #1 of this thread) to produce the third generation. Bella and Chaka the First Hippos at Auckland Zoological Gardens | Hippopotamus | Zoo Chaka died in 1937; but the author doesn't know the date of death for Bella. I found this article from 1954 which suggests she had died that year: They'll see hippo in the bar - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 1 Oct 1954 An Auckland publican. Mr Charles Nicholson, who had a beer-drinking Tuatara lizard in his bar until zoo authorities removed it, has bought the head and hoofs of a hippopotamus from the Auckland Zoo. They will be displayed in his bar. The hippopotamus, Bella, died of injuries received in a fight with another of her ilk.
Fourth Generation of Common Hippopotamus at Auckland Zoo: I also found this article from 1950: Baby Hippo At N. Z. Zoo - Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954) - 29 May 1950 A visitor's report to a keeper that mother hippo was bashing its youngster was first intimation Auckland Zoo had that the hippo had given birth to a baby. The mother was born in the zoo three and a half years ago. Before being rescued by the staff the new arrival had dived over a miniature waterfall and gone through a grid separating the mother and father's pens. The youngster is how keeping alongside mother. The curator hopes it will live, notwithstanding its lively first hour of life. I believe the mother was Nada's second calf since this hippo (listed as unknown name and gender on the records I have) was born 1947 (see Post #1 of this thread). This article therefore confirms Nada's second calf was a female, and that she gave birth to the fourth generation of Common hippopotamus at Auckland Zoo in 1950.
Great article! I find these statements regarding the hippo enclosure interesting: 1. Auckland Zoo set about enlarging the creek coming from the Western springs lake, enclosing it with a stone and iron fence to create a space for the anticipated new arrival. 2. (Chaka) has occupied a bachelor pond higher up, but the iron grating between did not prevent him taking note of what went on in the old home. 3. Chaka, immobile and half submerged, nestled against the iron bars of his pool glancing from one half opened eye under the bridge to the next pool, where Bella and her baby lay in shallow water. These statements give descriptions of the original enclosure that lasted until around 1975 before being refurbished or demolished. @Kiwi1 , do these statements compare with your memories of the post 1975 enclosure?
I can recall a lot of iron bars in the water persumably seperating different animals but the details are pretty vauge now I am afraid.
Complete Records for Nada (1937-1965) *Includes amendments and additions to the data in Post #1. Nada was imported from Taronga Zoo in 1939 as a mate for Auckland Zoo’s male hippopotamus, Dimazulu: Nada (F) Born at Taronga Zoo 01/01/1937 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1939 Died at Auckland Zoo 12/12/1965 Dimazulu and Nada produced two calves: En Zed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 25/04/1944 Died at Auckland Zoo 09/11/1951 Sire: Dimazulu Unknown (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/01/1947 Fate Unknown Sire: Dimazulu After Dimazulu died in 1946; Nada was paired with her son, En Zed. En Zed and Nada produced one calf: Khama (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 02/06/1950 Sent to Calcutta Zoo 01/02/1952 Sire: En Zed After Kharma was exported to Calcutta Zoo, a new male named Kabete was imported from Kenya to be paired with Nada: Kabete (M) Born in Kenya 01/01/1953 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 01/10/1956 Died at Auckland Zoo 20/05/1993 Kabete and Nada produced three calves: Snorkel (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 14/10/1959 Died at Auckland Zoo 30/09/2010 Sire: Kabete Kiboko (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/08/1961 Died at Auckland Zoo 02/09/1970 Sire: Kabete Scuba (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 26/01/1964 Died at Auckland Zoo 03/07/1980 Sire: Kabete Nada’s daughter, Kiboko, produced three calves: Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 20/08/1967 Died at Auckland Zoo 20/08/1967 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 11/06/1968 Died at Auckland Zoo 11/06/1968 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 09/04/1970 Died at Auckland Zoo 09/04/1970 Sire: Kabete Nada’s daughter, Snorkle, produced nine calves: Hope (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 23/01/1973 Died at Auckland Zoo 06/05/1983 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 31/01/1978 Died at Auckland Zoo 31/01/1978 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 02/02/1985 Died at Auckland Zoo 02/02/1985 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 30/04/1986 Died at Auckland Zoo 30/04/1986 Sire: Kabete Solucky (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/03/1987 Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/10/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 18/10/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990 Died at Auckland Zoo 20/02/1990 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 11/02/1991 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 01/09/1991 Sire: Kabete Snorkle’s daughter, Hope, produced five calves: Chad (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/11/1979 Died at Auckland Zoo 19/11/1979 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980 Died at Auckland Zoo 11/10/1980 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981 Died at Auckland Zoo 30/06/1981 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982 Died at Auckland Zoo 23/03/1982 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1983 Died at Auckland Zoo 05/05/1983 Sire: Kabete
Complete Records for Bonnie (1957-1982) *Includes amendments and additions to the data in Post #1. Bonnie was imported from Taronga Zoo in 1966 as a new breeding female, following the death of Nada the previous year: Bonnie (F) Born at Taronga Zoo 17/11/1957 Arrived at Auckland Zoo 21/12/1966 Died at Auckland Zoo 31/05/1982 Bonnie produced eight calves: Unnamed (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 01/03/1968 Died at Auckland Zoo 04/03/1968 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/03/1969 Died at Auckland Zoo 02/04/1969 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/11/1969 Died at Auckland Zoo 29/11/1969 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/05/1971 Died at Auckland Zoo 19/05/1971 Sire: Scuba Wahanui (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 20/06/1972 Died at Auckland Zoo 18/10/1972 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973 Died at Auckland Zoo 17/06/1973 Sire: Kabete Faith (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 05/01/1975 Died at Auckland Zoo 16/08/2016 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977 Died at Auckland Zoo 12/11/1977 Sire: Scuba Bonnie’s daughter, Faith, produced fourteen calves: Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/02/1978 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/02/1978 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 05/04/1979 Died at Auckland Zoo 06/04/1979 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 27/03/1980 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/03/1980 Sire: Scuba Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 25/10/1981 Died at Auckland Zoo 25/10/1981 Sire: Kabete Floyd (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 13/09/1982 Died at Auckland Zoo 23/12/1987 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 26/08/1984 Died at Auckland Zoo 26/08/1984 Sire: Kabete Fonzie (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 26/04/1986 Sent to Tipperary Station 10/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 08/07/1987 Died at Auckland Zoo 08/07/1987 Sire: Kabete Fudge (M) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 26/03/2016 Sire: Kabete Fatima (F) Born at Auckland Zoo 16/03/1988 Died at Auckland Zoo 31/03/1988 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/09/1989 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990 Died at Auckland Zoo 28/05/1990 Sire: Kabete Unnamed (U) Born at Auckland Zoo 17/03/1991 Died at Auckland Zoo 22/03/1991 Sire: Kabete
Faith had a few stillbirths - some of these may have been a consequence of inbreeding. She also had two sets of twins, which have a higher mortality rate. Many deaths could be attributed to the high population density. The hippos were initially housed in two exhibits (separated by bars) from 1922 to 1982; then housed in one exhibit (divided into two in the mid 1990’s) from 1982 until the Hippo River exhibit opened in 1999. A number of calves, including Fatima (Fudge’s twin), were killed by the adults that shared the exhibit with them and their mother; as there was no way to separate mothers with newborns. A few lucky ones survived - attributed to a combination of luck and their mother’s ferocity in protecting them.
I saw the new exhibit in 1999 but also saw the older barred enclosures behind it which were linked to them, there were about 3 or 4 heavy steel barred pens which were built across a stream so the water flowed though all the pens one after the other which I had never seen before it looked king of neat!
That would have been the original exhibits, which were built using the natural feature of Motions Creek. There’s a video showing it here (best shot of the exhibit is at 1.32): The river running through it was indeed impressive, but the pollution from chemicals made it hazardous to the hippo’s health; not to mention the potential for them to escape when the creek swelled during heavy rainfall. The new exhibit in 1982 avoided both these issues by taking it’s water directly from Western Springs Lake. The exhibit still retained a large body of water at the front of the exhibit and remained in place until construction began on Te Wao Nui in 2010.
The bars across the river in this video appear to be different from what I saw in 1999, the bars I had seen were box section about 150mm by 75mm and were some 3 to 4 metres about the water line allowing for a rise in the water level
You must be talking about the 1982 exhibit. There’s a video which shows an aerial shot of it here (at 42.20): The dividing bars in the middle were put in place during the 1990’s after repeated fights and feuds between Snorkel and Faith.
No, Common hippopotamus will not be returning to Auckland Zoo. The death of Fudge (aged 28 years) obviously came as a shock to them though as the species was accommodated in the 2014 updated master plan: https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21...1in5XuIkdYPfzNUBiPz898fub-rfJXa9RUmveuf046Ams “The redeveloped hippopotamus exhibit centres on underwater viewing that allows visitors to see these magnificent animals from a whole new angle. This engaging new experience is just as popular as the Zoo’s original underwater viewing window at The Coast - Takutai. Further enhancing the experience is a play space that reinforces the enormity of these animals and their relation- ship with water.” Instead, the zoo has redeveloped this exhibit as an extension of the Southern white rhinoceros exhibit. This has been of benefit now they’re breeding rhinos (a calf is due this year) and have added a decent sized herd of Nyala. There’s some good shots of the redevelopment in this video:
