They push this as 'natural' but these male calves are far younger(about half the age) than they would be in the wild when they leave their natal group.
Melbourne Zoo is trialing body movement and gesture tracking technology on its orangutans: Orang-u-tech at Melbourne Zoo
I remember seeing Bong Su when it was just him and his one female in the old area. He has a much richer life nowadays. I presume given they have done very successful AI from him, that he has never mated naturally though, even with the fresh cows.
Yes - this is correct. The word from those in the know (keepers and volunteers) is that he doesn't know how to do it. I presume because he has never seen another male do it before. (seriously)
I think probably more complex than that, but possibly due to removal from mother at a too young age and also lack of contact with other males during his earlier years. I thought he might mate with the newer females, but no.
I visited Melbourne Zoo last weekend, and have a couple of notes: -The Tree-shrews are gone, and have been replaced with a trio of parrots - I think Red-bellied Conures, but I'll need to check that. -A Red Panda is expected to give birth shortly, a perimeter has been established around the exhibit to increase privacy. -Baw Baw and Stuttering Frogs have gone on display. -The Australian section has been altered slightly, with a new exit path from Kangaroo Walkthrough that bypasses much of the exhibit and takes visitors straight out to the Maze. I'm not sure what the point of this is. No other notable changes that I saw, although I didn't see the whole zoo.
Melbourne Zoo has announced the birth of Red Panda cubs with a video on their twitter feed (@ZoosVictoria). The video shows two cubs.
interesting article (from a kids' website) about the orangutans at Melbourne Zoo getting more technological enrichments: Melbourne Zoo Orangutans May Soon Be Challenging Visitors To A Game of Tetris Kids News Article
4.0 Philippine crocodiles hatched in 2014 have been sent to Gladys Porter Zoo, USA: Up, up, and away for endangered crocs | Zoos Victoria
Pygmy hippo Obi (b. 2015) is being crate-trained in preparation for his move to Adelaide Zoo in May: Packing Pygmy Hippo | Zoos Victoria. Adelaide haven't had a pygmy hippo at the zoo since female Janice died in 2012.
I found a really cool documentary that was aired here in Australia about Ya Kwanza (Mzuri), the first gorilla born in Australia, and his journey to Jersey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZzyaz-2JeI
2000 captive-bred southern corroboree frog eggs have been released in Kosciuszko National Park in a joint effort by Melbourne Zoo, Taronga Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary: Breeding success for Southern Corroboree Frogs | Zoos Victoria