elephants are in » Taronga Zoo

in-situ vs ex-situ
28-10-2005

hey patrick
thanks for your response. firstly, id like to say that do agree with your points about ins-situ conservation.
the first thing i believe is that it is the most cost effective way of having a real conservation impact on a species, ecspecially its population. other local measures like public education, anti-poaching leglislation and habitat restoration are other grass rots actions that can help a species.
i have mentioned before that a uk based welfare agency did a financial evaluation on a rhino conservation program in africa and found that it was 16 times cheaper to maintain a rhino in the wild than it is in a zoo.
that is a valid point but african conservation programs are often a case of one-step forward, two-steps back...for example, when wpz got its black rhinos out of zimbabwe over ten years ago, the country was seen to be one of the most politically stable. now its a completely different story and the region where wpz got its rhinos from is devoid of these magnificent animals.
in one west african nation, a chimpanzee rescue and rehab centre featured in a documentary by lindal davies has been ravaged by civil war and many of the apes have contracted tb and aids.
so whilst i agree with your points about local climate and so forth i still believe these centres ongoing future can be fragile, depending on where in the world they are located. secondly, many mammal species and alot of birds are able to adapt to northern hemisphere climatic conditions; i think it has alot to do with the fact that u until recently many species range was much broader than todays and often included european/middle eastern areas where there are temperature extremes.
the way i envisage in-situ and ex-situ working is through a sort of partnership, similar to what currently exists, and just like what you and mark said earlier.
of the many examples available an australian based program for the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot from tasmania which involves npws operated breeding centres, adelaide zoo and healesville sanctuary has led to the release of over a hundred captive-bred birds back into the wild and a significant recovery in numbers. thats an example of shared facilites. shared skills and support has seen australian zoo keepers from taronga and adelaide zoo travel to the setchelles island groups and mauritian islands to assist in recovery programs for magpie robins and echo parakeets.
financially, zoos continue to provide monies for conservation activities. in one night, taronga raised $35, 000 for asian turtles and now collects money through a 'gold coin for a golden coin' (turtle) collection box.
as far as privacy for animals goes like you said alot of species dont breed well under the gaze of the public. auckland zoo's success with golden cats, as well as that of melbournes, all occurred in behind-the-scenes facilities. zoos do recognise the limitations of many species to adapt to public display, a purpose built conservation breeding facility at taronga lies beyond backyard to bush and can be seen only from the road below the zoo. this centre's design is actually extremely adaptable, to reflect changing conservation priorities.
finally to wrap things up i eccomend you visit singapore zoos website or browse some of the old, online copies of international zoo news for a good history on the status of douc langurs. on drills, a london zoo primate keeper has confirmed to me that program is advancing 'slowly but surely'. with a bit of luck, there might be drills in zoos for alot longer...

Black Rhinos
29-10-2005

Hi all,

Thats great news with Monarto zoo also getting Black rhino the climate there should be perfect for them hot and dry. Maybe in the future they could swap breeding bulls with Western plains zoo and work togeather on this species, it's a pity that werribee zoo is not keeping Black rhino as well, the more we have in this country the better from a breeding point of view.

There is talk about Australia zoo getting rhino as well, the way they are growing I would not be surprised what they got. Over the next five to ten years they are going to be huge, I guess with the money they have to spend they could have just about anything they wanted.

Elephants for Taronga and Melbourne zoo's
15-11-2005

Does anyone have any information about the elephants arrival date? I haven't seen or heard anything about them for awhile. Has the court case ended or is it still on going? Last time I was at Taronga zoo there were signs saying they were due to arrive in December I think.

07-12-2005

It was on the news tonight that approval has finally been given to import the elephants ... looks like they are definitely coming now.

There were some conditions placed on the approval - but I didn't catch what they were.

08-12-2005

I also saw the news. The conditions revolved around changes to the exhibit - making it better, though they didn't say what exactly. Where are the elephants at the moment? I think that they have been in quarantine all this time but am not sureI must admit I'm hoping that they'll be at taronga (and able to be viewed) by mid january as I will be in Sydney then. Really would like to be able to see them then.
Jason

elephants
10-12-2005

hey guys
the humane society and various other welfare organisations have tried to block the import again by calling a last minute tribunal in sydney. attended by the zpb of nsw the outcome will be known by the 16th of december.
subject to no further complications the animals should arrive by easter. currently they are in quarantine

10-12-2005

When I saw the news about the elephant importation being given the go ahead,the interviewed people from the RSPCA etc all seemedresigned to it.How disapointing that theyare continuingto try and block it.

elephants are in! but should we hold our breath?
08-02-2006

it's official! (again)..........or at least according to melbourne zoo. the zoo's have won and the elephants are about to head to the purpose-built cocos-keeling island quarrentine facilities, before arriving in australia later in the year. looks like they missed the commonwealth games........

09-02-2006

yeah thts good to see , i always supported them coming , but no to sydney, i support melbourne having them , but taronga's exhibit in my opinoion is 2 small , or the wrong shape , it's round , i reakon the better option would have been an elongated exhibit , to stimulate movement , or did a spearate rotation exhibit like melbournes , maybe on 2 levels , giving the site .

no doubt they will breed , previously , there was insufficent stock .

have u seen the conditions , i have read that a complete closed circuit tv sysetm , with upto 24 cameras at ech exhibit. 2 mud wallows at each , 24m squared , and a 12 month trial for each elephant to choose the beeding they like most ! , dirt mounds have also had to be built . taronga has to meet 22 conditions , with melbourne 18 .

the tribunal however did rule that the elephants - did not secify jst tarongas or melbournes , maybe all , will; be transferred to western plains , if the stricy contingencies , have not acheived the desired outcome. .

my opinion , also a note that soon a elephant snctuary will be set up fior cirus elephants , although i beleive taronga already has plans to house the retired elephants at a new sanctuary in nsw or vic . anyine confirm ? hopefully it will be much like the elephant sanctuary in tennesse , that is currenlty recuing 8 abused elephants from the hawthorn corp. ,
go check it out at
www.elephants.com and follow the many links .
kool well thnx again

13-02-2006

Patrick and I once had a very in depth conversation about the elephant sanctuary in Victoria. it was originaly set up to accomodate the ex ashons circus elephants, at least one of which has since died. Wht the whole ifea couldn't have been for breeding herds either I don't know. Now that Irwin has the three bullens elephants at his place ( and they have been there so long that it seems that they are permanent), there are now only three circus elephants left ( to my tally) Ana and the two from Ashtons. The elephant sactuary in Victoria never seemed to get of the ground ( this was about three years ago) so is there any new news about it?

13-02-2006

gday

yea i hve been reading up on the taronga updates in the telegraph and it says thta jessicA NAPIER ( FORMER MECLOUDS DUGHTERS ACTRESS ) IS BARACKING WITH THE RSPCA FOR AUSTRALIA'S six retiring elephants to go to taronga instead ? so tht has 6 in australia i dnt no either . also in light of this i have heard tht taronga is setiing up an elephat sanctruary , or there already is one , i have seen 1 photo of a sign tht says 'taronga elephant sanctuary " and it was in nsw i belive ??? i will try an dfind this picture and send yas an address

16-02-2006

actually jay, i belive 2 of the ashton's elephants died tanya and abu.
i believe it was just gigi who ended up with arna at stardust circus.

i agree with you. although australia zoo don't own the bullens animals - they doo seem to be a permanant fixture there. i saw a advertisment at the bottom of the zoonewsdigest for an australia zoo elephant keeper. it said they where expanding and wanted more elephants. after the controversy melbourne and taronga have gone through i doubt the irwin's have intention of causing even more fuss (though they do have alot of friends in high places including the PM and i'm sure they could import them if they wanted too - just not without a fair bit of bad publicity as well). now i'm not sure either how many circus elephants are left (i know there is one young female african in NZ) but i suspect if they are fortunate enogh to retire, they will easily be accomidated for at either dubbo or australia zoo. there really isn't enough elephants in circus' in australia (nor are any young enough) to justify a constructing a sanctuary. i have never heard of the taronga sanctuary before.

so lets hope those poor animals get to move to dubbo or australia zoo soon.

16-02-2006

its sounds silly , situtunga females at dubbo , with males in nz , carnt we swap ? the bongos are ok , did u all no tht werribee has 2 males afican asses , i found it while on isis , how kool , are they on display ?

my idea was , get the elephants out of taronga , to dubbo , and get some sumatran rhino , if possible , and put 1 or 2 in sydney , as the elephant exhibit can be divided in 2 , and put some more in dubbo , dubbo has a great enviriomment , out bac in the nature sanctuary , which has gone to ruin , again money , and build some isolated pens there away from ppl , and connect the to a central service area , wif crushes etc , how kool . and of course 1 on display !!!

the problem with all zoos is money , i no i repeat it a lot but it is ! also we carnt jst breed some animals as for genetics , and the avilibiltiy of new stock , with quarrentine , did yas no warren andersons private zoo , all his antelope - addax and oryx as an example , are still in the northermn territiory , they were bought buy the bloke who has mareeba wild animal park , but the nt and queens qovt wont them then go to his zoo for the reson if they escape , they will breed and become feral , ??? i no i think u would c if a white animal was running awya , so if they r 2 b moved , the males have to be desexed ????

16-02-2006

yeah, i heard about that rediculous stuff with the QLD government refusing to let antelope and tapir be moved into the state. no wonder you guys don't have a public statutory zoo (sorry jason, i know this is a touchy subject)!!

as for the werribee ass' Zoo_Boy - don't get too excited - the african wild ass is actually just the proper name for a domestic donkey. same species. sorry.

i checked out your photos of dubbo online - nice to see so many shots of the elephant exhibit. i had no idea how large the areas where and i was very happy to see that they are massive. this is exactly the sort of environment that i think should be the minimum standard size for elephants. i am now hoping that the taronga animals are eventually moved there after everyone realises how ********* the "new" taronga exhibit actually is.

i'll post some more comments regarding your photos, but i might move to the dubbo section to avoid this thread going off topic..

16-02-2006

sorry yea bac to elephants soz guys