Monarto Safari Park Monarto Safari Park News 2020

i’ve certainly seen photos of 20 or more congregating. And usually one would expect that number again being outside of frame. Some of those Bai’s get pretty busy.

 

Bai's are the marshy open spaces where they may congegrate in numbers. Just well into their forest habitat herds of bongo in the forest are very much smaller.

For instance, the same can be said of gorillas on Bai's. But this does not mean that gorilla troupes include 50 members (as in their usual social structures).

 

@Chlidonias, Has a date been set for the Bill to be put before Parliament? Or how is the procedure moving forward from the above?

 

Thanks for clarifying.

As I understand it is basically more like a public engagement procedure not much unlike say new building plans or large plans being planned for an area being advertised for comments on-line or in paper as we get over here (usually our ways this is 6 weeks and then it is promulgated as plan accepted). Curious though that the Department itself remains so slow .. on it!

 

The giraffe calf born to female Myeisha earlier in the month has died. Unfortunately this is the second giraffe calf that has died this year at Monarto.

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A Zebra foal has been born to mother Kenya:
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Saadani, one of their male Cheetahs has died at the age of nine. He was imported from Safari Park Beekse Bergen, Netherlands in 2014 along with his brother Mikumi and sired a litter in 2018. From their Facebook page:

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That's sad news. I remember how pleased they were to have Sadani's genes represented when he sired a litter.

I hadn't heard of his brother, Mikumi, so looked him up. Apparently he died the year he arrived (26/12/2014), after suffering an injury from an exhibit mate - either Sadani; or a female during an introduction.

 

Article on Rhino History/Update on Centre

We're celebrating 20 years of Southern White Rhino conservation

On 9 December, 2000, female Southern White Rhino Uhura arrived from Singapore, marking the first of her species to call South Australia home.

Since then, Monarto Safari Park is proud to have bred seven calves and is now home to six individuals: three adult females, two adult males and little calf Eshe who was born earlier this year.

Our Anthony Taylor Rhino Quarantine and Management Centre is almost complete, which brings us one step closer to being able to house an insurance population of up to 40 Southern White Rhinos here at the park where they’ll be safe from poaching.

Click link for full article.

 

It sounds like the numbers of Rhino to be imported from Africa has dropped from the first numbers quoted of 80. It was stated a few years ago they wanted to import a batch per year.

 

But then the plans for Monarto itself suggest that they will be housing the thirty initially planned— unless ‘up to forty’ is now a very long term goal.

 

I hope that in time Monarto zoo could import the Stunning Addra gazelle, I believe under the massive open range conditions of their new Afrcan exhibit and hot dry climate these highly endangered antelope should thrive. Pearl coast zoo was and I believe the only place that have held them within our region!

 

They were also at Orana Wildlife Park, NZ until the last one died in 2011. It's a shame this wonderful species isn't around anymore in the region; it have could really complemented a lot of the current open-range zoo collections. From the former mammals in New Zealand Zoos thread:

"*Addra Gazelle (Nanger dama)

Five animals were imported from the USA by Orana Park in 1990; one pair was sent on to Australia (to the Pearl Coast Zoo) and three remained at Orana Park. They bred at the park but the group eventually petered out. The last one, a male housed off-display for many years, probably died of old age in 2011."

 

Thanks thats good to know. I feel importing just a few of a species like this its no surprise that they did dwindle down to none, I believe at least double this number would of been a better move!

 

I wonder if this species is a potential candidate species for importing in (hypothetical post-bovid certification) future, given that it was kept in Australia relatively recently. Would fit savanna displays and has good conservation value. Is there a good source for stock? I expect US has loads.

 

Another cheetah death unfortunately for Monarto. Leo (formerly Lion) arrived recently from Symbio Wildlife Park and died due to chronic renal compromise and gastritis. He was originally born at Orana Wildlife Park, NZ in 2013 along with his brother Boo (2013-2018).

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That's sad news; especially considering his brother, Boo, died prematurely too at the age of four. Lion and Boo were born at Orana Wildlife Park in November 2013 and were the only survivors of a litter of four. They were the first surviving offspring of their mother, who gave birth to her first litter (five cubs) that died shortly after birth earlier in the year.

Lion's grandmother, Kura, died at the age of five; his great grandmother, Yatima, died at the age of six; and Yatima's sister, Kaskazi, died at the aged of seven - all of renal issues. It's sad that such a successful breeding line, is also so affected by this condition. While it's not uncommon in this species, the region has seen many other cheetah reach their mid teens.