The Australian Rhino Project - South African Import (Discussion)

Introduction

I thought it’d be good to have a thread dedicated to discussion of this import since it will be a large scale, ongoing event across the next three years; to avoid clogging up the news threads of the zoos involved; and to avoid taking over the rhinoceros population thread, which as thread author, @WhistlingKite24 will be updating with changes to the population.

Key Facts:

The Australian Rhino Project will involve the import of 35 Southern white rhinoceros from South Africa to Australasian zoos.

The three zoos involved are Orana Willdife Park, Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Monarto Safari Park.

They will be quarantined at Orana Wildlife Park for 12 months - with a few retained to increase the genetic diversity of their herd; and the majority sent on to the other zoos.

The rhinoceros will be imported in three stages:

Stage One: 15 rhinoceros
Stage Two: 10 rhinoceros
Stage Three: 10 rhinoceros

No date has been confirmed for when the first import will occur, but my communication with Orana Wildlife Park suggests we’re talking months rather than years now. They were keen to avoid importing during the height of the New Zealand summer (December to February), so I’d suggest March/April 2023 is a probable date - which would also allow them additional time to finish of construction work which has been delayed by Covid-19.

Current Population:

Compiled by @WhistlingKite24 (03/02/2021); Updated by @Zoofan15 (16/09/2022):

Spoiler: Australasian Southern White Rhinoceros Population

Altina Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
1.0 Kei (Khulu x Umqali) 06-02-2006 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Tatu (Martin x Kianga) 05-09-2013 at Serengeti-Park Hodenhagen, Germany
0.1 Mango (DJ x Inyeti) 00-02-2013 at Australia Zoo

Auckland Zoo, New Zealand
1.0 Zambezi (Wild x Wild) ~1992 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Jamila (Kruger x Moesha) 06-03-2012 at Hamilton Zoo
0.1 Nyah (Zambezi x Jamila) 14-08-2020 at Auckland Zoo

Australia Zoo, QLD, Australia
0.1 Caballe (Wild x Wild) ~1995 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
1.0 DJ (Umgana x Letaba) 25-09-2002 at Werribee Open Range Zoo
0.1 Inyeti (Thomas x Aluka) 26-01-2005 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Kibibi (Satara x Uhura) 02-10-2012 at Monarto Safari Park
0.1 Carrie (DJ x Inyeti) 04-12-2018 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Kingston (DJ x Caballe) 00-07-2019 at Australia Zoo

Halls Gap Zoo, VIC, Australia
1.0 Kapamba (Bort x Gingabelle) 18-03-1996 at Emmen, Netherlands

Hamilton Zoo, New Zealand
1.0 Kruger (Wild x Wild) ~1989 in Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Kito (Wild x Mazithi) 26-06-2000 at Auckland Zoo
0.1 Moesha (Wild x Wild) ~1994 in Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Imani (Zambezi x Caballe) 26-03-2007 at Hamilton Zoo
1.0 Samburu (Kruger x Kito) 28-06-2016 at Hamilton Zoo
0.1 Zahra (Kruger x Kito) 12-03-2020 at Hamilton Zoo

Mogo Wildlife Park, NSW, Australia
1.0 Jabari (Khulu x Intombi) 04-10-2006 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Monarto Safari Park, SA, Australia
1.0 Umfana (Wild x Wild) ~1994 in Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Umqali (Wild x Wild) ~ 1994 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Uhura (Hatari x Shova) 26-05-1996 at Singapore Zoo
1.0 Ibutho (Cyrano x Utani) 16-08-1999 at Orana Wildlife Park
0.1 Savannah (Kruger x Caballe) 12-04-2011 at Australia Zoo

National Zoo and Aquarium, ACT, Australia
1.0 Ubuntu (Kruger x Kito) 12-03-2010 at Hamilton Zoo
1.0 Eco (Cyrano x Tamu) 01-05-2010 at Orana Wildlife Park

Orana Wildlife Park, New Zealand
0.1 Utani (Mandhla x Mfolozi) 08-07-1984 at San Diego Safari Park, USA
0.1 Katala (Wild x Wild) ~1997 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Tamu (Memphis x Sabie) 22-12-2002 at Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo, WA, Australia
1.0 Memphis (Mahlebeni x Tombi) 23-10-1987 at Memphis Zoo, USA
1.0 Bakari (Memphis x Sabie) 28-05-2005 at Perth Zoo

Sydney Zoo, NSW, Australia
1.0 Tino (Cyrano x Tamu) 14-02-2015 at Orana Wildlife Park

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, NSW, Australia
1.0 Satara (Wild x Wild) ~1992 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Likwezi (Thomas x Tessie) 20-12-1985 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
0.1 Mopani (Wild x Wild) ~1996 in Kruger National Park, South Africa
1.0 Winston (DJ x Caballe) 04-05-2013 at Australia Zoo
1.0 Humprey (DJ x Caballe) 11-10-2015 at Australia Zoo

Werribee Open Range Zoo, VIC, Australia
0.1 Make (Wild x Wild) ~ 1984 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
1.0 Umgana (Wild x Wild) ~1988 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Letaba (Wild x Wild) ~1992 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
0.1 Si Si (Wild x Make) 19-01-1996 at Kruger National Park, South Africa
1.0 Kifaru (Kruger x Moesha) 30-04-2009 at Hamilton Zoo
0.1 Kipenzi (Umgana x Si Si) 30-05-2013 at Werribee Open Range Zoo

White Rhino Population Total: 44 (20.24)

Aaaaa

 

Unfortunately its a far cry from the original number of 80 planned, the number appears to constantly shrink

 

I originally assumed Orana would retain five rhinoceros from the first import since they’re importing them in batches of 15, 10 and 10. Retaining five at Orana would mean these rhinos could leave the quarantine facilities earlier to go on exhibit; while the other 10 remain in the quarantine facilities until their export to Australia.

However, a complicating factor is pregnancy status. Quarantine regulations between New Zealand and Australia stipulate that female Southern white rhinoceros may not be exported while in the third trimester (gestation for this species is 16 months). It’s possible that one of the cows imported could be in the early stages of pregnancy (as occurred in the 1999 imports), which factoring in the 12 month quarantine at Orana, would see her either give birth in that time or be in the late stages of pregnancy.

If there’s a possibility of cows arriving pregnant, it would be wise for Orana to retain only one or two cows from the first import to allow a contingency if cows arrive pregnant in the subsequent imports. In any case, their priority will be to get a bull on site to cover Tamu (their only viable cow) who hasn’t bred in six years.

Therefore my guess for the first import would be:

1.1 to Orana
1.4 to Dubbo
2.6 to Monarto

 

The reason is because the original plan was for herds to be established in the Australian Outback with 80 rhinoceros imported over four years (20 per year). This was cancelled for various reasons (including biosecurity) and since the zoos can’t accomodate 80 rhinoceros, the plans have had to be scaled back.

@Swanson02 mentioned Monarto are planning for a capacity of 30 Southern white rhinoceros. With this in mind, they’ll likely only want to receive a maximum of 15 founders to allow for population growth. Though there’s been talk of captive bred offspring returning to South Africa, this is a long term goal - with the regional population continuing to function as an insurance population for the foreseeable.

 

@Zoofan15 Getting a chance to look at one of the recent additions of the Sth White Rhino intern' studbook thanks to the links you shared for the available studbooks, was interesting to see that with Sth White Rhinos the international holdings and breedings didn't really occur in Europe and North America until the 1960s (I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as was equally surprised to find our region only started with them from 1980 onwards..though 40 years ago now was still a lot more recent than was expecting).

I agree with you about 15 founders for Monarto at a minimum leaving the accommodating space for the generation which follows. Mogo actually has a very decent sized paddock currently (9,500≈ sqm main paddock, 2,300≈ sqm resting yard) for its White Rhino(s) and could actually contribute to the program when it kicks off (an additional 21,350≈ sqm of paddock space could be available if the zoos saw fit to move its Zebras in with the Giraffes). Can imagine places like Altina and Darling Downs would be awesome contributors also (Dubbo, Werribee and Orana only didn't mention as they're a given).

 

Whipsnade Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park held a handful of Southern white rhinoceros between throughout the 1960’s, but their breeding programmes only really took off when they imported large numbers direct from reserves in South Africa in 1970 and 1971:

Whispnade (1970): 7.13 rhinos
Whipsnade (1971): 1.2 rhinos
San Diego (1971): 5.13 rhinos

This is the first time the Australasian region will see zoos import on this scale given the 1999 imports from South Africa were dispersed in small groups across a multitude of zoos.

Interestingly holding such large numbers of cows apparently didn’t hinder reproduction via estrus suppression as we’ve seen in the region’s zoos that hold two or three cows.

 

@Zoofan15 Wow didn't know about the estrus suppression, that's interesting. Hope all goes well of course with as many females able to live in each individual 'crash' as possible. Was quite something to see Sth White Rhinos across three reserves in South Africa in 1998 (Rhino & Lion reserve outside Johannesburg and Game Valley Reserve and the massive 1,000 sq km Umfolozi Reserve in Natal), saw babies at each of them too (at Game Valley a male started facing the car and stamping his legs so we had to cut through a bush path to escape potential protective attack). Found out later that Umfolozi was major haven of re-generating the Sth White Rhinos to optimal population numbers across last century.

Edit: the near charging experience was at Game Valley reserve where you can only drive through in open air tour buses (no large carnivores in that reserve). Some other tourists decided to get off the bus while it was stopped to watch the Rhinos (despite everyone telling them to stay on the bus) and snap photos of the baby Sth White Rhinos running around their mothers, with a camera with the noisiest shutter have ever heard. Them doing that gave (predictably in my opinion even at the time as a nine year old) the sire standing watch protective anxiety. Luckily Zef the I think his name was, the guide and driver, knew all the bush tracks and took the van off the main path, was interesting in itself on a bumpy 'bushwhack' drive with trees hitting the sides of the bus and the bumpiness of the path. My Mum wanted to slap the other tourists for doing what they did, instead she gave me 200 rand (equiv' of about $50-$60 aud today) to give Zef the driver as a thankyou tip for his good survival skills.

 

Both whipsnade and SD WAP imported 20 both also had a pair already being held. Both herds seem to breed well in a large group. I had heard that some American ranchers were looking at importing up to 1000, not sure if this is in the works or not.

 

Yeah a number of zoos in the region have experienced estrus suppression with their females including Perth, Hamilton, Orana and Werribee. It’s believed that cows exert estrus suppression on their daughters, which is why females rarely stay in their natal herd in the region.

Like elephants, female Southern white rhinoceros are subject to reproductive issues if breeding is delayed or birth intervals run too long. For this reason, cows usually immediately go into breeding situations.

For cows who’ve ceased cycling due to estrus suppression, a new bull can sometimes shake things up. Two of the three cows at Hamilton Zoo had ceased cycling by 2007, but the arrival of a new breeding bull that year saw them both conceive within two years.

 

Some of the females in these herds produced 15+ calves and they supplied zoos all around the world including several Australasian zoos. This was at a time when few zoos held this species, so sadly we can’t expect the same demand for Australasian bred calves - no matter how genetically valuable they are. Especially since it’s not difficult to import direct from South Africa.

With this in mind, it’s unlikely we’ll see rampant breeding, but it will be a major boost to our regional population, which due to estrus suppression and other factors is becoming dominated by the bloodlines of a few prolific founders.

 

15 does sound around about right, with Monarto and TWPZ taking roughly 15 each and Orana taking around 5.

I believe 30 is the capacity of the new Wild Africa facility, but the main exhibit is also set for a future expansion so its capacity will be boosted too. So I could see Monarto holding somewhere in the ballpark of 40-45 rhinos in 10-15 years' time.

 

That’s good to know that Monarto are planning for the future and have the capacity to expand, like they do with the Common hippopotamus. They already have large herds of Scimitar-horned oryx etc. but to see a large cohesive herd of Southern white rhinoceros will be an impressive sight indeed.

In terms of future placements for first generation calves, a number of other zoos will need new rhinos to boost their own herds within the next decade. The breeding bulls at Auckland and Hamilton are 31 and 33 years old respectively and each have juvenile daughters in their herd (albeit likely to be transferred out due to mother-daughter estrus suppression); and zoos like Mogo may wish to acquire females and breed.

 

I am wondering if part of the massive white rhino yards/barn could be used for housing the hippos as it could be quite some time if ever before it would be full?

 

Potentially, though they’d require extensive modifications as the hippopotamus would need access to submergible water and multiple
pools would be needed to allow for incompatible animals to be held separately.

My assumption is the infrastructure will be used long term to manage the Southern white rhinoceros herd with regards to isolation of mothers and newborns; and rotation of bulls not run with the breeding herd.

Down the line, it could be used to used to quarantine black rhinoceros if there was an opportunity to import this species from South Africa - but it would need to maintain adequate isolation from other rhinos on site; and take into account this species would tolerate a much lower population density than the white rhinoceros.

 

Future Assessment of Holders

With the 35 new Southern white rhinoceros being distributed between three open range zoos, I’ve completed a brief assessment of the remaining 10 holders to determine probable changes to their population over the next decade.

Assuming one new holder e.g. Darling Downs Zoo emerges in the next decade, I’d estimate the requirement for new rhinoceros across these 11 holders (10 exisiting) to be 5.5 rhinoceros.

A minimum of 2.1 rhinoceros across these 11 holders (10 exisiting) will need to be relocated, with this being an underestimate as calves will be born in the next three years (relocated before the age of seven) - which could increase this number by at least two or three rhinoceros.

On this assessment, there’s approximately space for at least an additional four or five rhinoceros from either the import (or first generation offspring) to fill these spaces.

My assessment is below (note these are not confirmed recommendations):

Altina Wildlife Park:

No change to current holdings. Breed 1.2 young rhinos, but may return loaned bull to Mogo

Auckland Zoo:

New bull when Zambezi dies or retires from breeding; Nyah retained as second breeding cow, with plan to transfer out if not conceived by 12 years due to estrus suppression

Australia Zoo:

New bull due to over representation of DJ: DJ or Kingston retained as stimulant bull with the other transferred out - opportunity for new holder to join the breeding programme; Carrie transferred out - probably to Werribee

Halls Gap Zoo:

May accept second surplus bull - adolescent bull at Hamilton Zoo likely candidate

Hamilton Zoo:

New bull needed ASAP as elderly bull not breeding with 2/3 cows; elderly bull retained as stimulant bull; adolescent bull transferred out

Mogo Wildlife Park:

May receive cow for breeding or allocate space to take back loaned bull from Altina

National Zoo and Aquarium:

No change to current holdings, retain 2.0 young surplus bulls

Perth Zoo:

May receive cow upon passing of elderly bull as masterplan allocates space for at least a 1.1 pair

Sydney Zoo:

No change to current holdings, retain 1.0 young bull

Werribee Open Range Zoo:

May receive one or two young cows

New Holders:

Darling Downs Zoo are the most likely candidate - acquire 1.2 rhinoceros

 

A volunteer mentioned last week that Hamilton Zoo has been asked to pause its breeding program as the animals in the collection are currently well represented in the region.

 

Several of us were enthusiastic supporters of this project in it's formative years until we were told that privately owned zoos were not allowed to participate. Make of that what you will.

 

An interesting development indeed!

Hamilton’s Adult Rhinoceros

1.0 Kruger (1989) has sired 3.5 calves (3.4 surviving); with 1.2 in breeding herds, one of which is pregnant with her second calf.

0.1 Moesha (1994) has produced 1.1 calves (1.1 surviving); with both offspring in breeding herds and one of which is pregnant with her second calf.

0.1 Kito (2000) has produced 2.2 calves (2.1 surviving)

0.1 Imani (2007) has 3.0 siblings (none surviving) and 3.2.1 half siblings (all surviving). Her mother has produced eight calves to date and her father will continued to be represented via his offspring at Auckland Zoo, including a juvenile female and a calf due soon.

The Future of Hamilton’s Herd

The consequence of this recommendation is that Moesha and Imani will lapse into reproductive non-viability. Moesha hasn’t calved in 10 years and Imani is 15 years old and has never bred. Cows that fail to conceive prior to their late teens rarely succeed in doing so in their 20’s or 30’s.

It’s possible they will receive a new bull via the South Africa import, but with several unrepresented founder cows about to be imported, it’s possible the regional coordinator is indeed content for Hamilton’s three adult cows to cease reproduction permanently.

An option a decade from now would be to acquire a new bull once Kruger has passed and a first generation cow born at Orana and centre a new breeding programme around this pair and the juvenile female at Hamilton Zoo.

This may also explain why Samburu (the six year old bull) is still on site despite plans before Covid-19 to export him to Halls Gap Zoo. Hamilton Zoo are constructing a new shelter and with the dividing gates, have the capacity to hold him seperate from the herd long term.

New Rhino Shelter by Zoofan15 posted 5 Sep 2022 at 11:39 AM

 

I’m glad their stance has changed on that with several privately owned zoos joining the Southern white rhinoceros breeding programme in recent years.

With 35 new founders arriving from South Africa in the next few years, there will be a significant surplus of rhinos in the region (especially bulls) and the region would be extremely lucky to have your zoo join the region as a new holder.

With the immense knowledge and experience of your team; plus the space you have available, Darling Downs Zoo would be an asset to the breeding programme.

 

I am very to say the least hearing that was the message given to you guys from the state run zoos, snobbery at its finest when its zoos like yours which are actually keeping half the exciting new birthings & breedings of much loved species, frequent arrivals or re-arrivals of charismatic and threatened species (&sbsp) back to our region (like Sri Lankan Leopards with you and Canberra, with successful cub births in a short time too) that's just one example, and theres so many of the well-run private zoos like yours which while described as 'smaller' (more-so a descriptive term for being privately run rather than size of respective properties) have impressively massive dimensions for the exhibits of resident animals. The big state-funded zoos made a colossal mistake with that mindset, Mogo has one of the most excellent Sth White Rhino exhibits have ever seen (second in spatial dimensions only to Dubbo in terms of ones have personally laid eyes on).