Hamilton Zoo Hamilton Zoo News 2023

Mencari celebrates milestone birthday:

Today, Mencari the Sumatran tiger turns 23 years old and becomes the first Sumatran tiger in Australasia to reach this age - a notable achievement for Hamilton Zoo.

Aging Hamilton Zoo tiger turns 23

 

Hamilton has received a male cape porcupine, most likely from Auckland though the keeper was unsure. Apparently mating was observed almost immediately and they are hoping for successful breeding soon.

 

That’s great news. I’d been hoping a transfer from Auckland Zoo would happen for a while now. I agree they’re the most likely option.

Auckland have 3.1 porcupine:

1.0 Bruce (Oliver x Rita) 13/11/2017 Imported 2019
0.1 Kali (unk x unk) 00/00/0000 Imported 2019
1.0 Ayanfe (Bruce x Alika) 18/01/2020
1.0 Unknown (Bruce x Alika) 00/07/2021

It’s been established Bruce and Kali won’t breed; so perhaps he’s transferred down - or one of his sons who represent the genes of their Prague imported mother (Bruce is Monarto born).

 

Plains Zebra Update

The foal born to Zalika in December 2022 has been sexed as a colt. He’s been named Nyika after Nyika National Park. It’s a fitting name as Nyika National Park is the largest national park in Malawi (Malawi is the name of the zoo’s stallion).

Nyika will be the zoo’s only foal for sometime. Marbles is yet to be confirmed pregnant for the coming year. She’ll be 20 years old this year, so is getting on in years.

Since gestation for this species is approximately 12 months, it’s possible the next foal will be to Zalika again in December 2023.

 

Death of African wild dog:

Kudu the African wild dog has died. Sadly Hamilton Zoo have had repeated set backs in their attempts to breed this species.

Hamilton Zoo have an excellent exhibit, so rather than redevelop it for another species (as has been threatened), I hope they persist with them. With the commonsense formula of sourcing three or four young founders, I have no doubt they could successfully breed this species again.

From socials:

During his regular health and well-being checks, the vet and carnivore teams noticed Kudu’s health had deteriorated due to arthritis and associated complications. The team tried to help Kudu by giving him higher doses of arthritis medication, but it didn’t make things better. Having run out of options to alleviate Kudu’s suffering, the decision was made to euthanize

Kudu shared the African wild dog habitat with his brother Romeo. The boys were born at Port Lympne Zoo in the United Kingdom in 2012 and transferred to Hamilton Zoo in 2018. Our team will continue to closely monitor Romeo to ensure his welfare is not compromised while living on his own.

 

Hamilton Zoo - Mencari (2000-2023)

Hamilton Zoo have announced the death of Mencari, who at the age of 23 years, 2 months and 14 days was the eldest Sumatran tiger in the world; and now holds the regional record for longevity in Australasia.

Mencari will be much missed - by the staff who care for her; and the public - including myself, who has greatly enjoyed visiting this majestic tigress over the years.

Hamilton Zoo won’t be the same without her!

Spoiler: Hamilton Zoo Press Release

Our Zoo whaanau is mourning the loss of a very special girl – much-loved Sumatran tiger Mencari.

While 23 years is a remarkable milestone for a tiger, Mencari had remained active and relatively spritely until recently.

The keepers and vet team have been closely monitoring her and noticed she was slowing down and her usual sassy spirit was no longer there. It became clear it was time to step in to ensure she did not suffer.

The difficult decision was made to euthanise her earlier today, in the company of staff who loved and cared for her.

The oldest Sumatran tiger in current records, her 23rd birthday was celebrated earlier this year, Mencari was a grand old lady. Described by her keepers as a real character with a good dose of attitude, she enjoyed laying around soaking up the sunshine and loved a blood ice block on a hot day.

Born at Wellington Zoo in 2000, she transferred to Hamilton Zoo with siblings Jaka and Molek at 14 months as part of the Australasian breeding programme. The three were the first tigers at the Zoo and moved into a new purpose-built habitat. Over the years Mencari captured the hearts of many - educating visitors and promoting the conservation of these beautiful tigers.

Numbers of Mencari’s wild counterparts have been declining drastically, with estimations at less than 400, due to habitat destruction and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. They are listed on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, so the role Mencari has played as an ambassador for her species has been significant.

 

I think Mencari will be the first individual animal at Hamilton zoo that I've felt genuinely sad about losing though Sally, Charlie the kea and a particularly inquisitive antipodes parrot are also up there. I remember when the enclosure was first opened though I didn't know Mencari was one of the original inhabitants. Especially as she aged she was readily viewable and occasionally interested in guests, a great ambassador with kids.
If there is a bright side, it is that Hamilton is now enabled to move forward with acquiring a male and hopefully they will have breeding success in the near future.

 

By virtue of their charisma and long lifespans, the tigers and the chimpanzees will always be amongst the most iconic individuals at the zoo. It’s similarly difficult to imagine Hamilton Zoo without Luka (chimpanzee), who arrived at the zoo as an adolescent in 2004; and is now the 30 year old alpha male and a father of two.

I feel sad to hear of her death, though as the eldest Sumatran tiger in the world, it’s by no means unexpected. The zoo posted an update on her earlier this month, which I correctly predicated was pre-empting the pubic they were preparing to make a difficult (but kind) decision for her welfare.

Mencari really transformed during her time at the zoo from a shy tigress that chose to hide in the bamboo thickets to a confident ambassador for her species often seen on the platforms of the smaller exhibit on my recent visits.

Like you say, her passing will now facilitate the transfer of Scout from Orana Wildlife Park as a mate for Kirana. It’s been nine years since Hamilton Zoo last had cubs - and a new litter is certainly something to look forward to.

 

Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park

Hamilton Zoo and heritage park become one in development milestone

The physical fusion of Hamilton Zoo and Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park is now complete with the opening of the shared entry precinct.

The new area was officially opened in an early morning ceremony on Friday, with a blessing from Te Haa o te Whenua o Kirikiriroa.

 

A Cape Porcupine was born on 2nd April to female Ingozi and male Ayanfe. This birth is a first for Hamilton and follows Ayanfe's transfer from Auckland a mere three months ago: Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

Cape porcupine breeding:

With this birth, Hamilton Zoo has become only the third facility in New Zealand to successfully breed this species. This birth is significant as it continues the imported line of Ayanfe’s mother, who came from the Czech Republic. She’s not currently in a breeding situation and has no other offspring in a breeding situation.

Congratulations to @Matt_C who first reported mating had taken place upon Ayanfe’s arrival.

Looks like you won’t have to wait until the July update to include this birth in your revised population list after all @steveroberts.

0.0.1 Unnamed (02/04/2023) Ayanfe x Ingozi

 

We managed to visit Hamilton Zoo yesterday and the infant cape porcupine was on display and very active. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. Otherwise there appears to be no new developments at the zoo proper, though the new entry precinct and Waiwhakareke are both looking nice and finished, and the Lace Monitor enclosure is also looking near completion.

 

On April 24th, the zoo announced its gender, (0.1). On May 11th, the zoo announced its name, Adana.

Hamilton Zoo
Hamilton Zoo

 

A new species for Hamilton - a sibling pair of Lace Monitors have arrived and are now settling into their new home: Log into Facebook | Facebook

 

Hamilton has demolish the long vacant nocturnal houses and has begun construction on what is signed as a 'ferret enclosure'. A keeper said there were three fairly feral ferrets on site and they are also hoping to house other pest species such as rats and possums. The footings for the enclosure were about 2m x 8m if not larger.

Otherwise the lace monitor enclosure is fairly good but there were no other obvious developments going on.

 

Scout has arrived at Hamilton zoo confirmed by keeper. Lots of vocalisations from the girls and we'll worth a visit for those in the region.

 

That’s really exciting (and long awaited) news!

The zoo will now have to manage three groupings of tigers, with Sali and Kirana now housed separately; but all going well, they could potentially welcome cubs next year.

 

Peggy, a female Siamang has arrived from Orana Wildlife Park giving them a total of four gibbons: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

Sang, a male Red Panda has arrived from Perth Zoo joining female Jamuna. There are no plans to breed but the zoo hopes that he will eventually be their new breeding male: 登录 Facebook | Facebook

 

That’s great news this long awaited import has finally taken place.

Aside from being from a well represented line, I’d anticipate the decision not to breed was as much made on Jamuna’s age. She’s well past her reproductive prime considering this species can produce their first litter at two years of age. I look forward to hearing news of a female import in the future.