The NSW zoos continue to do well with births. So far this year there has been the birth of a zebra filly, four cheetah cubs and another white rhino, all at Western Plains Zoo. More info soon.
NEW SOUTH WALES ZOOS - NEWS for March
The cheetah Cubs
Born in October 2004, the four cubs are the first to be born at Western Plains in 15 years. Their mother is Malika a five year olf hand raised from DeWildt and the father is Jala, a four year old parent raised. Mother is looking after the cubs well and they are now about 3kg in weight.
The zoo is hoping for some more cubs soon as the other two females, Shakkari and Kifani are showing interest in the second male, Masuka.
This means that there are two proven pairs of breeding cheetah in Australia.
Taronga has a new squirrel monkey in the form of male, Oedipus, a male from Emmen Zoo. He joins six females and will hopefully become the breeding male.
Dora the young male Indian Rhino at Western Plains has two new companions. Though normally solitary it was thought that Dora might enjoy the company of the water buffalos, and he does! They have become insepparable. The sight of water buffolos and rhinos together is not unusual as the two species share a common habitat in the grassy jungles and swamps of India.
A young female girrafe born at Melbourne Zoo a year ago is now on her way to New Zealand. The Rothchilds, third to be born at the zoo will find a new home at Orana Park.
A rare green tree python was stolen in broad daylight from the Cairns Tropical Zoo. The tree pythons breed only rarely in zoos and are worth over $20 000 on the black market. They are very difficult to look after though and the staff are worried that she will die.
