For over 50 years, here at Australia Zoo,
We've been a part of so many different animal breeding programs.
Today we want to highlight
the amazing work that our keepers are doing. Breeding programs are vital
to help the numbers of animals out in the wild,
especially those that are endangered.
And we're going to start out with our Africa department.
So follow me.
Steve: I'm confident that I'll be able to move right up to them.
They haven't got real good eyesight, so as long as I keep talking,
They'll know where I am.
They've got a gestation period of about eighteen months,
which means they can't reproduce
quick enough to keep up with the rate that poachers are taking them out.
Mel: Ruby! We're here with one of your favourite animals.
Can you please tell me why you like working with our rhinos so much?
Well, DJ is a pretty perfect example.
He's pretty cute.
He's pretty much like a modern day unicorn.
So how could you not love him? Mel: You are so right.
Now, big rhinos - pretty cute, but rhino calves may be cuter.
How many have we had here at Australia Zoo?
We've had six calves born here at the zoo.
We were pretty lucky.
When Caballe, our oldest female came over from Hamilton zoo,
she was actually pregnant and then DJ here.
He's had five calves so far, so we're very lucky.
Mel: Wow. So DJ is a pretty great dad.
What do you think
was the key to all of our success with breeding these beautiful animals?
Well, we have some pretty amazing keepers who are very, very dedicated.
So we put a lot of work into our husbandry.
We make sure that we do lots of enrichment and all sorts of training as well
so that we can do any medical procedures that we might need to.
So, yeah, that's definitely helped along the way.
Mel: Awesome.
And then why do you think it is so important for us to breed
rhinos here at Australia Zoo?
Well, rhinos are doing pretty badly out in the wild
unfortunately due to poaching. Southern white rhinos, which DJ is, are actually
their numbers are on the decline and they are classed as near threatened.
So obviously, we want to try and keep the numbers as healthy and strong
as possible in human care so that we do have a future for them.
Mel: Yeah, wonderful.
And I know that DJ is an amazing ambassador for his species
meeting so many guests every single day.
Well, thank you so much for your time, Ruby,
and have a beautiful day with your big unicorn.
No worries, thank you.
Steve: Mate!
We are so lucky.
Have a go at this!
She looks like she might be interested in him.
Oh, look!
It's like a kiss. How's our luck mate, hey?
Too good! Black rhinos!
Mel: Bobby, so great to see you out on our African savanna
hanging out with our giraffes.
Can I ask why you like working with them so much?
Giraffes are the best.
They are the tallest animal in the world.
They the world's largest ruminant.
They're just like the modern - modern day Brachiosaurus.
How can you not love them? They're so peaceful.
They're just wonderful animals to work with.
Mel: Oh, that's so beautiful.
So, Bobby, can you tell us how many giraffe calves have
we had here at the zoo?
We've had 14 giraffe calves over the years, which is just unreal.
And Penny over here, she's actually pregnant at the moment,
and she is expecting in the next few weeks.
Mel: That is so exciting. Well, congratulations.
I can see that gorgeous big round belly.
Do you think there's been any key to our giraffe calf success?
Bobby: Absolutely.
I think the two keys really come down to the climate and the feed conditions here.
Giraffes absolutely thrive in warm, sunny conditions like here.
Southeast Queensland is just optimal for giraffes.
And we've got an abundance of good fresh food for them as well.
So they just... they're in heaven.
Mel: You guys are doing great work with the giraffes.
And can you tell me why it is so important for us to have this breeding program
here at the zoo?
Absolutely. Giraffes are really important advocacy species.
So when people come to the zoo and see these beautiful giraffes,
they're really inspired to care more about the wild counterparts of giraffes
and also other species as well.
So just inspiring that connection with people.
Mel: That is so true.
Well, thank you for all the amazing work you do with our stunning giraffes.
It was great to see you! And have a beautiful afternoon.
Bobby: Thanks Mel, you too!
Mel: Jess, so good to see you.
Now, you are part of the African Department,
but you also look after our red pandas but where are red pandas from?
Yeah, so red pandas are actually from the Himalayas.
So more of your Nepal area versus your Africa area.
Mel: Yeah, perfect.
Well, lucky you that you get to work with them as well.
Now, can you tell us a little bit about our newest additions,
our little red panda cubs that we've just had?
Is this the first cubs that we've ever had here at the zoo?
Jess: Yeah, it is the first time.
So not only is it a first for Australia Zoo,
but it's the first time for our parents.
So Neema and Mohini, previous to ever meeting, they've never had cubs either.
So... Kicking milestones all over the place here.
Mel: Oh, that is so amazing.
And then why is it so important
for us to have red panda cubs and be a part of that breeding program?
Yes. So red pandas are endangered.
Their numbers are decreasing quite rapidly in the wild.
A lot of our endangered animals have a lot of representation
or everyone knows what they are when you're talking about them.
But red pandas don't have that much coverage.
And surprisingly, a lot of people that I talk to don't know what a red panda is.
Mel: Wow. Well, hopefully by doing videos just like this one,
we can spread the message about how absolutely adorable they are
and how much we need to conserve them because they are gorgeous.
Well, thank you so much. You better get back and feed your kids.
They are absolutely adorable. And we'll see you soon.
Mel: Thanks, Jess! Jess: Yeah, thank you.
Mel: Monica, I'm so excited to be here on Bindi's Island.
You look after our gorgeous ring-tailed lemurs here to Australia Zoo.
Can you tell us a little bit about them?
I do.
So I work here at Australia Zoo with our lemur groups.
We actually have 20 lemurs at the zoo, 12 of which live right here on Bindi's Island.
So we've had an incredibly successful
breeding program here at Australia Zoo, which we started in 2016.
And since then we've actually had
14 little lemurs born right here at Australia Zoo.
Mel: That's incredible.
And I've heard we've had quite a few twins as well?
Monica: We have, we have had several sets of twins and a couple of singles
born in there as well.
We actually have two of our little lemurs born right here at Australia Zoo
living on this island.
Mel: Oh, they are so cute.
Now, why is it so important that we're a part of this breeding program?
Monica: It is so important that we do take part in lemur conservation
and that is because they are actually endangered in the wild.
So ring-tailed lemurs, there's only thought to be around two and a half thousand left
and lemurs as a whole are actually the world's most endangered mammal.
Mel: Thank you for what you do and thank you so much for your time.
We'll see you soon.
Thank you so much.
Steve: The ring tailed lemurs have got a real matriarchal system.
So you can see these two females here with their babies - they call the shots.
In fact, this one that's closest to me, she is the matriarch.
She is the alpha female.
Mel: Thanks for tuning in
for an insight into just a couple of our Australia Zoo breeding programs.
Make sure you stay tuned for more breeding program episodes soon.