NEWS
JULY
- Hopes are high that Perth Zoo will soon hear the the thump of little rhino feet.
The zoos male White Rhino, Memphis, has taken
quite an interest in one of his female partners, Katala. Keepers have recorded
intense mating activity between the two. If Katala does become pregnant, the
baby would be born in about 16 months, or around November 2002. It would be the first
birth of a white rhino, in Australia, for sixteen years. The previous birth occurred
in New South Wales, probably at Western Plains.
- Steve Irwin, owner of the Australia Zoo, at Beerwah in Queensland has announced
his plans for the future. A total of $40 million will be spent to transform the
Australia Zoo into one of the best zoos of the world.
At the moment Australia Zoo concentrates on Australian Fauna, plans for the future include
increasing the exotic component, probably to include such well known mega fauna as
Rhino, Lion and Gorilla. The Australia Zoo has already undergone many changes in the
last 20 years and is constantly upgrading its facilities.
- An endangered Matschie's Tree Kangaroo youngster has taken his first steps outside
of his mothers pouch. After ten months in the pouch, keepers watched anxiously as he
made his cautious way to a food bowl. Adelaide zoo has bred 16 of the tree kangaroos over 20
years.
- A pair of rare African Wild Dogs have arrived at their new home at the Monarto Zoo.
The females will eventually be joined by males, as soon as a suitable pair are found.
This is the first time that Wild Dogs are exhibitd at Monarto and joins other African
animals including giraffe, cheetah and in the future, lions.
- Monarto Zoo has also celebrated the birth of yet another giraffe. Humbakahle is
the second calf of the female, Shasa and male, Ketabi, and was born on the
banks of the zoos African Plains habitat. Monarto Zoo has a prolific breeding group
of the giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis, the main sub-species. In December 2000
Ketabi fathered a youngster by Milaika and in August 2000 a female by
Mutanda. Mutanda was herself born at Adelaide Zoo in 1993, while Ketabi
came from Melbourne Zoo in 1989. As of May 2001, Monarto Zoo had a population of thirteen,
(7.6.) giraffe.
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