Melbourne Zoo Announce Hamadryas Baboon Birth Baby baboon bonanza | Zoos Victoria A fourth beautiful baby has joined the Hamadryas Baboon troop at Melbourne Zoo. The little female Gana was born on December 13, but until now she hasn’t been easy to see, because her protective mother Grace has kept the baby on her back and often stayed in secluded areas of the large exhibit. Now Gana is starting to climb down to sit on the ground near her mother for brief periods, as Grace becomes more confident that her baby is doing well. Gana is the fourth baby born since 2015, when Juju was the Zoo’s first Hamadryas Baboon to be born for 15 years. Juju is now two years old, and she will turn three in May. The male Melako was born on May 21, 2017. The female Quasi, born in August, is just four months older than Gana, and the two are starting to become playmates. The Hamadryas Baboons live in the custom-designed Baboon Lookout, opened in 2011. Opening Baboon Lookout provided a spacious new environment for the group and also enabled the Zoo to demolish their old and outdated facility to make space for the new Growing Wild development to be built on that site. Melbourne Zoo Director Kevin Tanner explains that connecting visitors to wildlife is the first step in gaining community support for the Zoo’s conservation campaigns. As an African species, baboons are Ambassadors for the Zoos Victoria Beads for Wildlife conservation campaign, which helps Kenyan women support their families by selling their beautiful beadwork in the zoo shops and online. That income reduces pressure on families to expand their domestic herds, which directly compete with zebra and other wildlife for the scarce water and feed. Hamadryas Baboons are a near-threatened species, classified as Red List by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). They live in a range of habitats including grasslands, arid sub-desert, and rocky hill country. Baboons are foragers, and their zoo diet is very similar to what they eat in the wild: vegetables, insects, nuts, seeds, and leafy branches. Although only two months old, in addition to nursing from Grace, Gana is also very quick to sample any of the solid foods that her mother is eating.
Fifth Hamadryas Baboon Baby Born in Recent Years High Five | Zoos Victoria Five lively baby baboons are turning the Baboon Lookout exhibit into a playground! The Hamadryas Baboon baby boom is continuing! It began in May 2015, when the female Juju was born: the first baboon birth at Melbourne Zoo for 15 years! Then there were three births more in 2017. Now yet another baby has joined the trip. Mahali makes five! Juju is now two years old, and she will turn three in May. The male Melako was born in May 2017. The female Quasi, was born in August 2017. The female Gana was born in December 2017. The female Mahali was born to mother Macey on February 11. The Hamadryas Baboons live in the custom-designed Baboon Lookout, opened in 2011. Opening Baboon Lookout provided a spacious new environment for the group, and it also enabled the Zoo to demolish the old and outdated baboon facility to clear the site for construction of the new Growing Wild development, specifically designed to engage young visitors with the wonders of wildlife.
Zoo-bred Corroboree frog-releasing : Zoos release eggs to help corroboree frogs leap out of extinction
Asian Elephant, Ongard is currently in transit to the United States. A full statement is on MZ's Facebook
This is exciting news, not to mention completely unexpected! A number of people in the USA have complained about the lack of breeding over there and the aging population of Asian elephants, so I'm sure they'll be stoked with this import. Melbourne Zoo are refusing to announce the receiving zoo until tommorow (which is a bit tedious of them) but if anyone has the time or the inclination, they could plug in any zoo in the USA which they think could benefit from a young bull joining their herd and see if they've blabbed. Or we could all wait patiently for Melbourne Zoo to announce it tommorow... Following Bong Su's demise and the export of his adolescent son, this leaves a herd of four adult females, one adolescent female and one juvenile male (who is still with the female herd). Surely an import of a new breeding bull will be on the cards for Melbourne in the near future. Maybe Putra Mas???
This is unexpected and amazing news! The importation of a new bull elephant is definitely cause for celebration. Based on speculation, I believe Ongard will be transferred to the Denver Zoo in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Zoo currently maintains a bachelor herd of Asian elephants which is ideal for Ongard as he should be entering adolescence if not already. In addition, the Denver Zoo imported a bull elephant from Europe in June of 2013 which makes it more likely that Ongard will be transferred to the Denver Zoo. With the passing of Bong Su and the departure of Ongard, the Melbourne Zoo will need a new breeding bull. Putra Mas would be the ideal candidate as his genetics are not represented in the region and he's a capable breeder, evident by the conception of Num Oi and Porntip.
Europe has plenty of Asian elephants bull in supply as well. I guess they would be glad to see some leaving.... Emmen alone has provided over 20 bull calfs in the past 20 years or so....
I hope Ongrad won't just be put into a bachelor herd. Otherwise, what's the point of sending him to the USA now if he won't be breeding for years. He will be eight years old this year and would be capable of breeding. He is the only calf of his dam and the three half siblings he has through his father (2.1) are all still in Australasia, so he would surely be one of the most valauble animals in the North American breeding programme.
While I wouldn't be 100% surprised if he goes to Denver, I don't think he'll be going there. Call it intuition, but I highly suspect Ongard may be calling the ABQ Biopark in New Mexico home after his move.
I doubt any Australian zoo would risk the bad PR by sending an elephant to any zoo in a cold climate area. I predict he'll be going somewhere warm...
I think they've probably kept his destination (and departure until he left) under wraps for fear of animal rights protestors trying to disrupt things. They had a lot of problems when the original Elephant groups were travelling to Taronga and Melbourne. Plus look at the issues Auckland are having currently with the import of their third female from Sri-Lanka thanks to animal rights people thinking they know better. IMO - they've been incredibly sensible by not releasing further information at this stage. It means the keepers and staff travelling with Ongard can get on with what's already a very difficult job without the stress of potential protests and people turning up at the destination airport trying to see him.
I would be very, very surprised if putra mas was sent to Melbourne zoo, but his genetics are still accessible via artificial insemination
Ongard has arrived at Zoo Miami From Zoos Victoria Facebook Page: We’re thrilled to announce that Melbourne Zoo’s bull elephant, Ongard, has arrived safely at his new home in Zoo Miami and has already begun settling in to life in the States! His favourite keeper who was with him the whole way said he “travelled like a champion” (of course he did!) and all Melbournians should be extremely proud of him. Ongard was brought over to the US by San Diego Zoo and is on breeding loan to Zoo Miami who was chosen because of their commitment to care for elephants as well as their lovely warm climate that is well-suited to Asian Elephants. Zoo Miami have spent nearly USD$500K renovating their elephant exhibit in preparation for Ongard’s arrival and we know he is in extremely safe hands. Ongard’s genetic inheritance is currently unrepresented anywhere in North America and is therefore incredibly valuable when it comes to providing diversity to the Asian Elephant breeding program in the US. As for the female herd at Melbourne Zoo, well they didn’t blink an eye after Ongard’s departure. And while we’re not telling Ongard that they haven’t seemed to notice he’s gone, we’re glad that the transition has so far been smooth for every elephant involved. We're putting together some footage of his move now to share with you and will continue to keep you all updated on his life as he settles into life in the tropics. Miami Zoo currently has: 1.0 Dahlip (born 1966 approx) 0.1 Nelly (born 1969 approx)
As mentioned above, Zoo Miami only has one female Asian elephant and she's post reproductive. This article mentions intentions for Ongard's future reproduction: https://www.local10.com/news/florid...r-old-endangered-elephant-bull-from-Australia Zoo Miami does not currently have any female Asian elephants of breeding age, but Magill said the zoo hopes to acquire some for Ongard to eventually breed with. "In the meantime, his genetic material can be introduced into the North American population through artificial insemination," Magill said. It doesn't sound like Zoo Miami will be receiving females any time soon but hopefully Ongard can contribute to the breeding programme through AI in the near future. And with the added space, hopefully Melbourne Zoo can now look at breeding his mother Kulab (2000), who has not bred since Ongard's birth in 2010.
A new Spider monkey has been born - Endangered Spider Monkey gives birth | Zoos Victoria Melbourne Zoo have welcomed a baby endangered Spider Monkey, born safely on Saturday afternoon, June 16. Although exhausted, first time mum Isobella is displaying superb maternal instincts and hasn’t required any assistance from Primate Keepers or Veterinary staff. Keepers were present at the birth, which was swift and complication-free This is the first Spider Monkey born at Melbourne Zoo since hand-raised baby Estela captured Melbourne's hearts seven years ago. Estela was present for the birth and is learning quickly about the maternal behaviours she may one day need herself. 20-year-old father, Oren, has remained by his new family’s side for the past 48 hours. Isobella, Oren and the rest of the troop look forward to celebrating Isobella’s 10th birthday next week with a new healthy baby in tow. Mum Isobella, although born in France, arrived at Melbourne Zoo from Dubbo Western Plains Zoo, just three years ago. Throughout her pregnancy, the Melbourne Zoo Keeper and Veterinary teams have treated her for various pregnancy related complications, so to have a quick and natural birth has been a hard-won achievement. Spider Monkeys live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America and occur as far north as Mexico. Typically, females give birth to only a single baby every two to five years. Young monkeys depend completely on their mothers for approximately ten weeks, and mothers continue to care for their young for the first year of their lives, often moving around the treetops with their offspring clinging to their backs. Isobella, Oren and the rest of the troop look forward to celebrating Isobella’s 10th birthday next week with a new healthy baby in tow. Mum Isobella, although born in France, arrived at Melbourne Zoo from Dubbo Western Plains Zoo, just three years ago. Throughout her pregnancy, the Melbourne Zoo Keeper and Veterinary teams have treated her for various pregnancy related complications, so to have a quick and natural birth has been a hard-won achievement. Spider Monkeys live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America and occur as far north as Mexico. Typically, females give birth to only a single baby every two to five years. Young monkeys depend completely on their mothers for approximately ten weeks, and mothers continue to care for their young for the first year of their lives, often moving around the treetops with their offspring clinging to their backs.
There has also been a Siamang born recently - the Zoo has posted photos of the (as yet unsexed) baby on Facebook.
