Within minutes apart of each other, Wildlife HQ and Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo have announced that they received Radiated Tortoises today. Security Check Security Check
I would love for more Zoos to get this species! Darling Downs is progressing quite well with their animal collection.
What do you mean more? Nine zoos now keep them, where for so long it was only Taronga. Komodos are positively common in Australian zoos. Unfortunately knowing how it works, next minute, they will be on the 'delete from collection' pile...
Don't worry, since they're so long lived - by the time they're at the end of their lifespans they'd have come full circle and be in favour again. I have my fingers crossed Wellington Zoo's sun bear lives long enough to see the day. Sadly there's not, though Auckland Zoo expressed interest in getting them a while back.
Of the animals I know of currently in Australian zoos (disclaimer: I'm 99% sure this is entirely correct, but there may still be mistakes): *Adelaide Zoo: 0.1 - from the 2019 import from Prague. *Australia Zoo: 1.1 - male from the 2019 import from Prague; female from the Cairns Tropical Zoo when it closed (from the 2013 import from Los Angeles). *Australian Reptile Park: 1.1 - both from the 2013 import from Los Angeles. *Ballarat Wildlife Park: 0.1 - from Taronga Zoo (from the 2013 import from Los Angeles). *DDZ: 1.0 - from the 2019 import from Prague. *Hartleys Crocodile Adventures: 1.0 - from the Cairns Tropical Zoo when it closed (from the 2013 import from Los Angeles). *Perth Zoo: 1.0 - from the 2013 import from Los Angeles. *Taronga Zoo: 1.0 - from the 2013 import from Los Angeles. *Snakes Down Under: 1.0 - from the 2019 import from Prague. So all the animals currently in the country are from the seven imported in 2013 from Los Angeles (all still alive) and the seven imported in 2019 from Prague of which I can only account for 3.1 animals.
Are zoos in Australasia trying to establish a breeding program? Because if they do, I see a lot of lone individuals. Are there import plans for the future?
Melbourne Zoo have announced that they have imported Crested Basilisks from Singapore Zoo and Monocled Cobras from another Australian zoo!
Wildlife HQ now has a Fijian Crested Iguana on display in the Reptile Barn. I saw it this morning during my visit to the zoo. An exciting new addition for the zoo’s growing reptile collection. Fijian Crested Iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) - ZooChat
Taronga Western Plains Zoo have just announced the arrival of four Leopard Tortoises. They are part of the zoo’s new waterhole precinct. Security Check
It might be worth mentioning, although the Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus) is technically a native species due to it's presence on the Torres Strait it's almost non existent in private collections and as far as I know only Cairns Aquarium has this species. Also in the species lost since 2013 section Melbourne Zoo should be listed under Black Lipped Cobra. I personally saw the animal in 2012 but more importantly in 2014 (I think?) there was a news article on the old Melbourne Zoo website (the article cannot be accessed anymore) talking about the Forest Cobra's birthday.
D'Aguilar Wildlife have announced the arrival of two Leopard Tortoises. This is the first time the species has been held in Queensland. Source: D'Aguilar Wildlife's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2646830098911790
Another one of the remaining Komodo Dragons from the Prague import has been publicly announced. Ballarat Wildlife Park has received a Komodo called Toothless. The zoo didn’t mention the animal’s sex but presumably it’s a male: Log into Facebook | Facebook
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary now have Radiated Tortoises. So that’s now five Queensland zoos with this species: Log into Facebook | Facebook