Introduction I’m wanting to learn more the African wild dogs kept in our New Zealand zoos and their history. In recent years, they have been kept at Orana Wildlife Park, Wellington Zoo and Hamilton Zoo. I will contribute what I know already to the posts below, but additional information is appreciated as there are a lot of blanks to be filled in.
Hamilton Zoo Founders: Hamilton Zoo received 2.1 African wild dogs in 2003. They were young (born 2002?) and from Africa (Cango Wildlife Ranch?). They were named Hasani, Rafiki and Zuri. Rafiki was initially the dominant male, but was soon supplanted by Hasani. I believe Hasani was the father of all of Zuri’s litters. Zuri gave birth to at least four litters (there may have been more where the pups didn’t survive): Litter One (born 2004): Nine pups: 1.0 Tatu 1.0 Tano 0.1 Moja 0.1 Mbili 0.1 Nne 0.1 Sita 0.1 Sabba 0.1 Nane 0.1 Tisa Litter Two (born 2006): Two pups: 1.0 Mac 1.0 Mazi Litter Three (born 11/04/2007): Two pups: 1.0 Atsu 1.0 Zumo Litter Four (born 2008): One pup: Ishe Imports/Exports: The 0.7 females from the 2004 litter began to clash with their mother, Zuri, for dominance. They were moved to the second hunting dog exhibit around 2007. All 7.0 male pups (born 2004 - 2008) remained in the pack. Zuri was exported to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in 2008 (where she bred again in 2009). Two new females were imported from Orana Wildlife Park in 2008. They were named Shira and Mwenzi. The 0.7 females born at Hamilton Zoo were sent to Orana Wildlife Park around 2008 as replacements for Shira and Mwenzi. Shira and Mwenzi were initially introduced to just Hasani and Rafiki as introducing them to all nine males would have been difficult. Mwenzi died soon after; as did Hasani and Rafiki, who were getting on in years. No surviving pups were born to this group. The zoo then attempted to introduce Shira to the seven males. This was unsuccessful and Shira died the same year. A new female, Rukiya (born 22/11/2005) was imported around 2011 from Wellington Zoo. She was successfully introduced to Zumo and Atsu; while Tatu, Tano, Mac, Mazi and Ishe remained as a separate pack (exported to Singapore Zoo in 2014). No pups survived from the 2.1 pack of Zumo, Atsu and Rukiya. Atsu died around 2015 and Rukiya in 2015/2016. Two new females were imported from Perth Zoo in 2016 - Tafari and Msaka. They were introduced to Zumo upon Rukiya’s death. Tafari has since died and Zumo and Msaka are a non breeding pair (Zumo is too old; Msaka is infertile). Two new males (brothers) were imported in 2017/2018 from the UK - Romeo and Kudu. Any additional info (especially dates) are much appreciated.
Orana Wildlife Park Orana Wildlife Park received at least two males (I’ve found another source that says three) around 1999. Can anyone confirm details? Two females, Shira and Mwenzi, arrived in the early 2000s (2002?) from Cango Wildlife Ranch and were introduced to the males. No (surviving) pups were ever produced. By 2003, the pack had been reduced to 1.2 and following the death of the last male in the mid 2000s, Shira and Mwenzi were sent to Hamilton Zoo around 2008. Seven females (born 2004) were imported around 2008 from Hamilton Zoo. They were Moja, Mbili, Nne, Sita, Sabba, Nane and Tisa. Mbili, Sabba and Nane had died by May 2012; leaving Orana with Tisa (alpha female), Nne, Sita and Moja (lowest ranking). Tisa died 10/11/2012 leaving the zoo with Nne (new alpha), Sita and Moja. One of these females had died by 2015; and the remaining two had died by 2017. Eight new females have since been imported from Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The sisters are from at least two different litters. Taronga Western Plains Zoo had litters in November 2015 and August 2016, so they are likely from these litters. Any names and dates for any African wild dogs mentioned here are welcomed.
Wellington Zoo Wellington Zoo’s pack (all now deceased) began with the import of four dogs from Johannesburg Zoo in July 2003. These dogs consisted of a dominant pair of 1.1, and two subordinate dogs. The genders of the subordinate dogs, and the names of all four founders is unknown. The first litter was born in 2004 (sometime between May and September). The litter consisted of three pups. There was a male named Mongo; a female named Layla, and a third pup (name and gender unknown). The second litter was born 22/11/2005. There were three pups, two males named Moyo and Jelani; and a female named Rukiya. I don’t believe any more litters were bred as the exhibit had reached carrying capacity by the time the second litter was born. Rukiya was exported in 2011 to Hamilton Zoo. I believe she was the only export from this pack. By May 2012, the founders were deceased (as was one of the pups from the 2004 litter). The remaining dogs were Mongo (the alpha), Jelani, Moyo and Layla (the only female and the lowest ranking). Layla died around 2013 and Jelani in late 2013/early 2014. Mungo and Moyo were euthanised 11/04/2014. Wellington Zoo stated in 2014 that more African wild dogs (four founders from South Africa) would be arriving that year; but five years later, this has yet to happen.
Nope. The earliest newspaper clipping I have for them is from January 1999 (it's an advert for them being on display, not an article, so it doesn't have any information other than that they are new) so they would have arrived late the previous year. Orana's 30th anniversary booklet has 1998 as their year of arrival. They'd have almost certainly been Perth-bred though.
I'm not sure sorry. I just know they are from England and that they were born in 2012. I'm hoping the fact that Hamilton Zoo went to the effort of importing these two male dogs from England, means that they will be breeding them. Since Msaka is now infertile (following a uterine infection), they will have to import a new female. The obvious solution is to import one of the younger females (born 2016) from Orana Wildlife Park's pack of eight. The eight females at Orana are from two litters (of nine and eleven pups respectively) born to the pair at Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Guban and Kimanda. Does anyone know where Guban and Kimanda came from? I'm wondering if one of them was born at TWPZ in 2009 (Zuri's litter). If so, it'd be cool if Zuri's line returned to Hamilton Zoo considering she was Hamilton Zoo's most/only successful breeding female.
Msaka and Tafari were born at Perth Zoo on 23 May 2011. They arrived at Hamilton Zoo on 7 October 2015 (not 2016). Tafari is now deceased.
Wellington Zoo Four founders were imported from Johannesburg Zoo in July 2003: 1.0 Nyoka (Born December 2001) Died April 2006 1.0 Zahabu (Born December 2001) Died December 2008 0.1 Malaika (Born March 2002) Died May 2006 0.1 Mupenzi (Born March 2002) Died September 2012 Five litters were born to this pack: Two litters were born at Wellington Zoo to Malaika and Mupenzi in May 2004 (three pups survived): 1.0 Mongo (Born May 2004) Died April 2014 0.1 Kibibi (Born May 2004) Died September 2007 0.1 Layla (Born May 2004) Died February 2013 One litter was born at Wellington Zoo to Malaika in November 2005 (three pups survived): 1.0 Jelani (Born November 2005) Died February 2014 1.0 Moyo (Born November 2005) Died April 2014 0.1 Rukiya (Born November 2005) Exported December 2011 One litter was born at Wellington Zoo to Mupenzi in July 2006. No pups survived. One litter was stillborn at Wellington Zoo to Mupenzi in May 2008.
