Sorry yes, Tukta was naturally conceived. I remember now because it had been necessary to do AI with Porntip because Gung couldn’t reach her (due to her age) and the zoo thought breeding from the matriarch should be a priority. They decided to let Pak Boon wait and let nature take it’s course. What a difference eight months made, as Gung was then able to breed naturally with Pak Boon. If Porntip had had a female calf first time round, that would have been ideal. Not just as the start of the formation of a matrilineal line around the herd’s matriarch; but given that the donor bull was Bong Su, and the calf would have been unrelated to Gung. Eight years later, they essentially achieved this with Kanlaya’s birth. Here’s hoping she survives and that her and Mali are successful in producing the next generation of Australasian born elephants.
As @WhistlingKite24 reported, Taronga Zoo have received two Dromedary Camels from Taronga Western Plains Zoo, named Ras and Storm. They are currently in the former Bull elephant paddock that used to temporarily hold Giraffe.
Does the zoo have eventual plans to house bull elephants or perhaps connect the two paddocks with a trail? The master plan on the zoo's site said something along those lines, so is that still the case?
The remodelling of the bull elephant exhibit into a camel exhibit suggests elephants will not return to this exhibit; especially since the location of the camel exhibit links into the Australian trail. The relevant section of the master plan was: 7. Elephant Trail A scenic path traversing the zoo where Elephants will walk. For references sake, they’ve just completed 4. African Savannah. My interpretation has always been that the elephant trail was deliberately placed lower on the list to give the zoo time to reassess their position on keeping elephants in a city zoo. The growing pressure on small city zoos to phase out elephants; combined with the fact the herd has been reduced to two females (one non breeding) could likely see them go to Dubbo.
The Zoo also does not allow Free Contact anymore with their Elephants. They would need to build the trail connecting them, as they can no longer walk the females to Gung’s old Paddock. I believe the best option would be to export the remaining females to TWPZ, and consider replacing them with something like Water Buffalo. If they were to continue breeding Elephants at Taronga, they would need to import another breeding female and a bull; and build a trail connecting the two enclosures together. Originally, the plan was to form a new breeding herd from Pak Boon, Tang Mo, and Tukta, but Tukta’s death prevented that from happening.
I agree with everything here except swapping the elephants out for Water buffalo. This just wouldn't cut it from a visitor perspective. I'd personally be in favor of Indian rhinoceros (or something similar); ideally in collaboration with Melbourne and Perth, who are also going to be phasing out their elephants. Or a big cat species such as Sri Lankan leopard. This would fit the rainforest trail theme.
That's the direction I thought the zoo would go, of course once the Congo Precinct is constructed, then the trail would go on the site of the old gorilla exhibit and eventually into Gung's old paddock. A trail taking advantage of the zoo's hilly terrain alongside that connective trail between Wild Asia and Gung's old paddock would also be optimal in terms of giving the elephants more space. I would personally love to see two or three imports of female Asian elephants or perhaps a mix of an antelope species in with the elephants (blackbuck perhaps from TWPZ?). And of course the return of Axis deer, perhaps mixed with junglefowl and babirusa, and the return of Malayan tapirs. IDK, I just feel like elephants are such an integral part of Taronga's history, and Jon Coe's involvement with the design should be highlighted as a method of displaying elephants in a creative manner.
Well it would have to be a species such as Indian Rhino that would fit the enclosure and theme. After all the money Taronga and Melbourne spent on their Elephant exhibits, I don’t think they would be in any rush to replace them. Indian Rhino would be a nice choice; but I don’t think it would be Malayan Tapir.
Taronga Zoo are planning to set up breeding programmes for rare snails from Norfolk Island. This year, two species of snail thought to be extinct have been rediscovered on the island - Nancibella quintalia and Advena campbelli. Snails on the island have been hit hard by habitat destruction and introduced rats and chickens, with climate change expected to also have a devastating effect. The project, which still needs funding but could get underway by December, will be drawing upon knowledge from other breeding programmes for endangered Pacific land snails. More information can be found in the link below: Plans afoot to build insurance population of snails after specimens thought extinct found
State government funding has been secured for new wildlife hospitals at both Taronga and Dubbo. The money will also go towards building a Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Centre at Taronga Zoo. Log into Facebook | Facebook
Taronga Zoo have announced the birth of three Bolivian Squirrel Monkeys. They were all born last week with one arriving last Tuesday and the other two over the weekend. They are the first babies for their squirrel monkey group in four years. From their Facebook page: Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=907987939608985
Taronga Zoo have announced the arrival of lioness Maya from Taronga Western Plains Zoo; glad to see she did arrive eventually like it was initially planned! The intention is for her to breed with one of their males as a genetically valuable animal that was imported from South Africa. Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=401440921225258
Good news indeed. In the first episode of Mega Zoo, they noted Ato and Lwazi would be going to Taronga to meet lionesses and have their own cubs. I wondered if this was just a throwaway comment, but I’m glad to see them follow through. A starting ratio of 2.1 is unusual, so maybe the plan is to retain at least one female cub when Maya produces the first litter in over 17 years.
Taronga Zoo will be releasing eight Bellinger River Turtles back into the wild in the coming days. This is the third release for this species during the current season: Source: Taronga Zoo's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=211119317084272
Great recovery initiative! BTW: 32 in the release now and getting blood samples from 12 prior to release. I would love to know the sex/age ratio in the turtles. How many Bellinger's have been released till date?
