It’s been an exciting few days at Monarto Safari Park with animal arrivals by road and a much smaller journey for another giraffe (the first to enter the new Wild Africa precinct).
Firstly, three-year-old giraffe Inkosi, which means King in Zulu, arrived at Monarto Safari Park on Wednesday after an epic 2,749km journey from Perth Zoo.
“Keepers at Perth Zoo worked closely with Inkosi to get him used to his crate. This training meant that he was fully prepared and comfortable during his journey. He’s been looking out the back of his trailer for the entire trip,” said Dr Ian Smith, Zoos SA Senior Veterinarian who accompanied Inkosi throughout.
“As soon as we got to Monarto Safari Park, Inkosi exited his crate and has settled into a giraffe shed to rest and acclimatize overnight. He’ll be able to see the other giraffe in the herd while undertaking his quarantine and then he’ll be released into the large Waterhole exhibit to mingle with the ladies.
“Inkosi, the great-grandson of Monarto favourite Tambo, will be our breeding male and play an important role in safeguarding the species. The species coordinator has specifically chosen him as he is genetically matched to our females,” finished Ian.
This morning Inkosi ventured out into his holding yard after Monarto Safari Park keeper Mark Mills called to him. Due to the rain, the ground is a little muddy and Inkosi took a look and then promptly returned to the comfort of his quarantine accommodation. Inkosi will be monitored regularly throughout the day.
In further giraffe news, seven-year-old male Mzuri has moved from the Waterhole breeding herd to make room for Inksoi and is the first giraffe to move into Monarto Safari Park’s Wild Africa safari area. Mzuri will soon be joined by other giraffe who will roam the largest safari experience outside of Africa.
The safari precinct, hotel and glamping facilities look set to open in early-mid 2023.
And today, Thursday 3 November, a three-year-old Southern White Rhino called Carrie is due to arrive from Australia Zoo at around 4 pm. Weighing in at 1,400kg the female will arrive by road, her arrival delayed by just over a week due to flooding in the Eastern states.
Carrie will undergo a period of quarantine in one of Monarto Safari Park’s rhino bomas before joining the other Southern White Rhinos.
“The Southern White Rhino is threatened with extinction with only an estimated 14,000 animals thought to exist in the world. With losses to poaching of around 10,000 animals in the last ten years, Carrie’s addition to Monarto Safari Park’s group of five other white rhinos (Ibutho, Umfana, Uhura, Umqali and Savannah) is great news for their survival,” said Peter Clark, Director of Monarto Safari Park.
“Rhino are such captivating animals. When you look at them it is very hard to comprehend how someone would want to kill them just for their horn which is just Keratin and only as medicinally useful as chewing your own fingernails. Sadly, the high price of rhino horn on the black market drives these senseless attacks. As a conservation charity, we support Kruger Park Rangers in South Africa who work relentlessly to protect rhino and all the other animals that live there,” finished Peter.
Spanning more than 1,500 hectares and home to more than 50 species of exotic and native mammals, birds and reptiles, you can fit every major zoo in Australia in Monarto Safari Park and still have land left over!
Visit www.monartosafari.com.au for tickets.
