hi glyn.
yeah i am an avid isis browser myself and i had noticed that the elephants in oz are classified as separate subspecies. like you say, lion subspecies cause a stir too. i have read many scientists now believe they should really only be divided into african and asiatic, something the zoo's no doubt can use to their advantage. i was under the impression the entire black rhino population at dubbo where of the pure southern subspecies and that the only individual who was not of this race was sent to the states to join his respective pure-blood breeding program. as for dora the indian rhino, i gotta say, ever since viewing them in the wild i am obsessed with indian rhino. also, with 3 very good open range zoos in australia, wih no limitations of space (at least i know werribee uses only a fraction of their total owned land for the animals) i cannot see why we have any issues about space for another rhino species. we have all the other main players of the indian floodplains (blackbuck, nilgai, 3 deer species, indian porcupines, macaques, otters, fishing cats, almost bengal tigers) and an asian themed mixed species exhibit would have been awesome. elephants would have been perfect here!

i know spotted deer have been on the table for bloody years, but i did not know of babyrusa. i had hoped this species would one day join our zoos as they would make a wonderful "wallacia" exhibit along with crested macaques, cuscus, birds and komodo dragons.

the zoos seem to be all over the place with priorities. hopefully now the elephants have the go ahead we will see some attention desperately needed new stock for other species like malayan tapir and congo buffalo.