Animals and Plants
Animal Updates
Female giraffe Mapenzi heads east to new home
Perth Zoo’s youngest giraffe, Mapenzi, left home on 5 May 2009 to travel the country to Queensland to meet her new mate and the likely sire of her future offspring. Seventeen-month-old Mapenzi was accompanied by a Perth Zoo keeper and a Perth Zoo veterinarian on her six-day voyage from Fremantle harbour to Sydney and then overland to Australia Zoo in Queensland. Australia Zoo has built a new home for Mapenzi which she will share with a male giraffe and hopefully breed with in the next few years.
Read more about Mapenzi's journey here.
Nepalese Red Panda cub twins
Two Red Pandas were born on 28 December 2008 and made their first public appearance on 25 February to have their eight-week vaccinations. The male and female cubs weigh 800 grams each. They are currently tucked away in their nest box but will venture out at about three or four months old. They are suckling well and will start to wean over the next two to three months. Perth Zoo is part of a regional breeding program for the endangered Nepalese Red Panda and has successfully bred 14 pandas since 1997.
Read more about the cubs' debut here.
Black-capped Capuchin born on Boxing Day
Born on Boxing Day 2008, Perth Zoo has another addition to its Black-capped Capuchin family. The infant is developing very well under the care of its parents, Lola and Elvis. You can see the family in their exhibit in the Lesser Primates area.
Learn more about Black-capped Capuchins.
Birth of Pygmy Marmosets triplets
Perth Zoo's breeding pair of Pygmy Marmosets, Mario and Mia, have triplets, which were born on 19 December. The infants appear to be strong and suckling and have been venturing off mum and dad but are staying close together. They are being looked after by both parents and the older offspring. It is unusual for marmosets to have triplets as they more commonly give birth to twins.
Learn more about Pygmy Marmosets.
Three Slender-tailed Meerkat Kits born
Born 27 November, three meerkat youngsters mark the first birth of this species at Perth Zoo in nearly eight years. The kits have been busy learning how to forage and be sentries. The meerkat on sentry duty keeps a look out for any threats or predators while the others forage. If sighted, he or she sounds an alarm call and the group hides in their burrow.
Learn more about Slender-tailed Meerkats.
Photo by Derek Smith.
Successful birth of three Sumatran Tiger Cubs
Perth Zoo has achieved breeding success with the birth of three Sumatran Tiger cubs on 20 August 2008. The female cub, Melati, and two male cubs, Satri and Jaya, are important ambassadors for their critically endangered species. As few as 400 Sumatran Tigers are believed remain in the wild. See them with their mother Setia in the Asian Rainforest.
Read more about the cubs.
Read more about Sumatran Tigers.
Help Sumatran Tigers in the wild. Donate to Wildlife Conservation Action.
Arrival of two female Tasmanian Devils
To help raise awareness of Devil Facial Tumor Disease, two four-year-old female Tasmanian Devils called Genna and Gumnut are now on display in the Australian Bushwalk. Did you know that Tasmanian Devils get their name from their blood-curdling nocturnal screams? Their little ears also flush red with blood when excited or afraid which give the impression of two horns.
Learn more about Tasmanian Devils.
Female Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo finds new home at Perth Zoo
After a few weeks of settling into her new home opposite the cassowaries in September 2008, a female Goodfellow’s Tree Kangaroo, called Tani, is now on display to the public. Having Tani at Perth Zoo will help spread the message about the threats tree kangaroos face in the wild. Perth Zoo supports the conservation of tree kangaroos in Papua New Guinea through our fundraising program, Wildlife Conservation Action.
Learn more about Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroos.