Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2020

From what I can decipher from all the press is that whats going to define this from all other safari parks/experiences is just the sheer scale of the enclosed areas. So large that they can live almost a semi wild lifestyle - which of course is a terrific idea and I suspect will really facilitate rhino breeding.

I'd love to see some African elephants move in.

 

In regards to bringing in additional species of ungulate I believe going back only a few years ago the ZAA wanted to bring in Impala as the regions designated gazelle species and Sable antelopes where the species of interest but the idea appeared to be dropped in flavor for Nyala.I feel the Impala and Sable antelopes would of thrived under the conditions in Monartos new massive african exhibit!, I hope still that one day it would still be possible to add them here.

 

From my understanding Australia can import bovids from New Zealand only. New Zealand can import antelopes only, from the USA, Canada, Singapore and South Africa. The list of antelope species New Zealand can import is diverse. Some of those species are also on Australia's live import list. Assuming its all that simple (and it very well might not be), the following antelope species can presently be imported into Australia:

Addax
Nilgai
Sable antelope
Waterbuck
Lechwe
Grant’s gazelle
Gemsbok
Eland
Nyala
Bongo
Sitatunga
Kudu

 

I kind of like the idea of seeing Gemsbok, Sable antelope and grants gazelle in some of our zoos African plains exhibits instead of filling them up with asian Blackbuck!. I can not seeing Monarto doing this!

 

The Grant's gazelle is an odd one, as I have never heard of them being kept previously or on a wishlist. For a while springbok and impala were jockeying for preferred position as small herding antelope. Both species would be easy to access via South Africa. Note: NZ would probably have few problems with importing springbok as they are still/were? in the country.
Interesting to note that not many of the species on the list are of 'conservation value'. A number of the other species could do with either an injection of new blood or yet again restarting another failed species in Australia...

 

Have you got a link for the NZ import list?

 

Well, I might be visiting Monarto for the first time sooner than I thought! It sounds incredible!

 

Spotted Hyena Update:

Monarto Safari Park keeps their Spotted Hyenas in two groups. They currently have five hyenas in total - 2.0 (Gamba and Mkoko) and 0.3 (Kanzi, Thandiwe and Forest) in two separate groups. Until recently the two males lived at Adelaide Zoo but they were swapped with two males at Monarto. The zoo plans on introducing the two groups in the next couple weeks to try and breed the species. One of their older females, Kigali passed away at the age of 22.

Source: Monarto Safari Park's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=598093087481243

 

A good way to bring in new genes into the breeding stock and ensures the next generation stay a little diverse.

Works both ways (Adelaide Zoo)!

 

Cape Porcupine Update:

Monarto Safari Park currently house a breeding pair of Cape Porcupine - Oliver and Rita. The pair also share their enclosure with their most recent offspring; a male called Charles. The pair's previous offspring - two females Cindy and Barbara have been separated and recently moved into a separate enclosure. These two females will move to another zoo soon. Considering only three zoos in Australia house this species currently, it will be exciting to see where the females end up.

Source: Monarto Safari Park's Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=389599665291150

 

Melbourne Zoo currently have an empty enclosure (which used to house meerkats and Star Tortoise) near their Reptile House. It currently has a sign that says, ‘Something exciting coming soon’. It would fit them perfectly.

 

Fingers crossed, although that enclosure you speak of is rather small for porcupines IMO. Melbourne held a pair of the Indian species for many years. I particularly enjoyed them when they shared exhibit space with the red pandas.

 

Black Rhino Update:

The zoo's Black Rhinos - their two males Induna and Sentwali - will soon receive an exhibit upgrade. After this development, Monarto Safari Park will have the capacity to house a maximum of ten Black Rhinos. This will also allow Monarto to import a female in the near future to hopefully have another facility breeding the species in Australia.

Monarto Safari Park's Black Rhino facilities are set to grow

 

Awesome news indeed. @Kafaru Bwana

 

Yep, a really nice development. About bloody time too ....!

 

Your not wrong Bro

 

Monarto Safari Park is reopening on the 29th June. From their Facebook page:

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Monarto Safari Park has announced that they have welcomed at least ten Tasmanian Devil joeys from three different females.

Full story: We're celebrating record Tasmanian Devil breeding success

 

The lion cubs have now been named - females are Chikondi, Adira and Zahara, and the male was called Kahari.
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Monarto zoo has put up a really nice 1 min video on their Facebook site of one of their new water holes in the Wild Africa a nice look of the progress!