Animals and Plants
Echidna Breeding Success Three Years in a Row
4 November 2009
Perth Zoo has had another successful year of echidna breeding with the birth of two puggles (echidna babies) in August. The puggles made their first public appearance today during a brief weigh-in and inspection by keepers.
The newest additions, Moa (which means “three”) and Kain (which means “one”), can’t be sexed until they are around three years old.
Both puggles were developing very well under the care of their mothers in the nursery burrows. Today Moa weighed 456 grams and Kain weighed 264 grams. They will continue to grow over the next two years until they reach their adult weight of about 4 kg.
The two puggles will remain inside the burrows, until they are ready to emerge in around three to four months time.
Echidnas are very difficult to breed in captivity. Perth Zoo started studying their secretive breeding habits and reproductive biology three years ago which resulted in the Zoo’s first successful breeding of an echidna in 2007.
This success was followed by two births in 2008 and the two this year, with Kain’s mother, Elyan, breeding for the first time in 2009.
Only 13 echidnas have been born in captivity in Australia and Perth Zoo is proud to have produced five of them.
Perth Zoo’s Short-beaked Echidna exhibit is proudly sponsored by Termimesh System.
New Ghost Bat pup in the Nocturnal House
27 October 2009
Perth Zoo's Ghost Bat colony has increased by one following the birth of a pup on 27 October. It was born pink and hairless and will spend about seven weeks attached to its mother’s stomach, even while she flies. It will be weaned in March and fully mature at two years of age. The mother and infant share an exhibit with another female. There are also two male Ghost Bats in another exhibit in the Nocturnal House.
Perth Zoo received its first Ghost Bats in 1977 and has had many births over the years. Female Ghost Bats have four teats but two are ‘false’ teats. While the mother hangs, the infant attaches itself to the mother’s teats to drink milk. When the mother is flying, the infant turns the other way and attaches itself to one of the ‘false’ teats so it can keep attached.
Classified as a vulnerable species, there are only about 5,000 Ghost Bats left in the wild due to changes in habitat and the destruction of the caves and mine shafts in which the bats live.
Photo by Arthur Ferguson.
Pygmy Marmoset twins...again!
20 October 2009
Perth Zoo’s Pygmy Marmoset group has grown again with the birth of two babies on 20 October. The twins are the second set born this year to the Zoo’s breeding pair of Pygmy Marmosets, and were born exactly five months apart.
One of the world’s smallest primates, Pygmy Marmosets can fit in the palm of your hand and the babies are small enough for both to sit on dad’s back at once. Unusual among primates, it is the father who does most of the carrying of the young, with mum often only taking them when they need to suckle. Older siblings also help with carrying and looking after the young.
Pygmy Marmosets are very social animals so having companions is good for their health and wellbeing. Due to Perth Zoo’s breeding success, three males were able to leave the group in September to join another male at Symbio Wildlife Park in New South Wales. It is hoped the Park will be able to find a female and also contribute to the regional breeding program for the species.
The latest additions bring the number of Pygmy Marmosets at the Zoo to 13. Visitors can see them in the Lesser Primates area of Perth Zoo.
Ring-tailed Lemur infant says hello to the world
5 October 2009
Perth Zoo's newest Ring-tailed Lemur was born on 15 September to mother Zanaka and father Gimaro. The yet-to-be sexed lemur brings the number of Ring-tailed Lemurs at the Zoo to four. Perth Zoo is part of a regional breeding program for the threatened species. The young lemur is slowly becoming more independent but still spends a lot of its time attached to mum's stomach.
Ring-tailed Lemurs are from the island of Madagascar, off the south-east coast of Africa. The lemur’s tail is very distinctive with black and white rings all along its length, hence the name ‘ring-tailed’. Its tail is used for visual and scent communication. They live in groups of 5–25 individuals with a core group of adult females. These females form a well-ordered hierarchy that dominates over males.
Perth Zoo has two species of lemurs: Ring-tailed Lemurs, which are found in the Lesser Primates area, and Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs, which reside on one of the islands on the Main Lake. Both species like to sunbathe. They sit in an upright position with their hands on their knees and face the sun.
In the wild lemurs are under threat of extinction due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
Perth Crocodile Gets a New Home
26 September 2009
Environment Minister Donna Faragher today opened Perth Zoo’s newest exhibit for one of the world’s most fearsome predators – the estuarine crocodile.
Perth Zoo’s male estuarine crocodile, “Simmo”, now has an outdoor heated billabong and extra land area for basking, which he used to do in a previously out-of-sight area.
Mrs Faragher said the exhibit, funded by the State Government and Perth Zoo’s corporate sponsorship program, is an important addition to the Zoo as it more than trebles the size of the exhibit and gives visitors further insight into the reptile’s natural behaviours.
“One of the features of the exhibit, which has cost $600,000, is a platform over the pool from which keepers can feed “Simmo” in the summer months,” Mrs Faragher said.
“Estuarine crocodiles are capable of launching half their body length out of the water – usually in an ambush attack – and visitors can now see this unique behaviour.
“Simmo, who weighs about 550 kg and is 4.8 metres long, is very popular with Zoo visitors. The exhibit and its surrounds have also been designed to replicate the Kimberley region of Western Australia, one of the crocodile’s natural habitats.
“This includes pandanus grass and other native plants, rocky crevices and olive python sculptures. Models of cane toads have also been placed throughout the gardens to inform visitors of the threat this pest poses to the Kimberley.
"A 12-metre long, glass viewing area gives visitors the perfect opportunity to see “Simmo” inside his exhibit, whether he’s in his pool or basking in the sun on land.”
Mrs Faragher said next Thursday marked the beginning of Croctober at Perth Zoo, featuring extra presentations on crocodiles and special children’s activities during the school holidays.