Monarto Safari Park white rhino

Does anybody know what happened to uhura's second calf born in 2007? It was a male, is he still alive?

 

Yes he is still alive, he is living at Monarto. I think Watoto (the first calf) died while at Australia Zoo.

 

I didn't know that about Watoto, very sad.
The second calf Nibbler is getting rather big now

 

i thought the the two whites sent to australia zoo were the two males born at werribee? and that it was one of those that died...

 

I can confirm, Watoto died a few months after arriving at Australia Zoo.

 

and at least one from werribee also died.

 

does anyone actually have the balls to tell us what happened?

 

Australia Zoo have bad luck with Rhino Maybe LOL!
Lost 2 out of 3! Maybe Zoonotic diseases from Rhino Encounters.

 

Thankfully both of the rhinos that died had full brothers that are still alive. However it is a major loss as the herds at Werribee and Monarto are not exactly well represented in births. I have to wonder if maybe the animals should be sent to Dubbo or Hamilton as they don't seem to have trouble breeding white rhinos.

 

now that CWSR is a full ARAZPA member - it will be interesting to see if they transfer the cairns male to another zoo (nearest being dubbo) to try and represent his genes for some surplus males in return. i doubt australia zoo will be getting another go anytime soon.

 

....Nibbler....? wow, not the best name, but glad he is doing well.

I knew AUS ZOO had 'Watoto' (monarto born) 'Ganini' and 'Swazi' (Werribee born) - Watoto died (as mentioned above) - who is left at Australia Zoo?

- also Cairns' male 'NAKILI' has 2 half sisters ('MAPENZI' and 'UTANI') at Orana (all born at San Diego Zoo to the same father) and therefore a nephew in 'IBUTHO' (born to Utani) now living in Monarto, he has some genes in the current population, but would be nice to see his breeding potential.

 

That sounds like a really good idea phoenix, the Mareeba male gets to add his genes to the countrys breeding program and the CWSA get a couple of young gun males

 

Ganini (or DJ) is still alive.

 

They got 2 more males from somewhere, I think it was from Dubbo because they have only 2 males now. I don't know why they would send more if 2 died in about a year.

 

whats happening with breeding of this species, are there any white rhino pregnant at the moment haavent heard anything in ages.

 

im pretty sure "Kito" is pregnant at Hamilton Zoo to "Kruger" and "Uhura" at Monarto - not 100% sure tho

 

Kito is and is due early next year.

 

It seems that both male rhinos died of a rare disease, clostridial perfringens type B:

Australia Zoo now have, along with Ganini, two other male rhinos, Kei and Jabari, both from WPZ. They are also planning to acquire two females from Hamilton Zoo and WPZ.

The following statement makes me question if it' s wise for Australia Zoo to obtain more rhinos:

Hope this answers your questions.

 

I don'tnw but I think I am biased against Australia Zoo. The deaths of the two males rather rocked me and now I am concerned about the wellfare of the whinos that are there now and being sent there in the future. Hopefully all will be well but these are valuable animals genetically. Kei and Jabari are the only calves of the male Khulu. If they died before producing issue of their own then a bloodline could be lost. If a female from Dubbo is being sent there then it probably would be Inyeti as she is unrelated to any of the males. As she is one of two calves fathered by Thomas, who is now dead, then she is even more valuable, too valuable to lose.

 

I am trying to remember back to uni but these clostridial diseases could likley still have spores in the soil which will reinfect the new Rinos. Other clostridials such are vaccinated against. Is a vacine avaliable for this disease.