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Tuesday, 29 November 2005
Sometimes in the news you'll see that a zoo has been able to breed an animal and everyone seems very happy.
Although some animalsí breed well in zoos, others don't do very well at all and it's a breakthrough when a baby is born.
I've been to an open range zoo that has a very successful breeding program.
Crashing to Earth may not be the most comfortable of arrivals, but this is something to celebrate at South Australia's Monarto zoo. Meet the latest new born now several weeks old. His birth is more evidence that this breeding programming is succeeding. It's also good news for giraffe in general.
"Why has it been so successful?" Krista, Reporter.
"I think because of the space out here. There's 15 giraffe out there and now and the herd functions like a heard does in wild because there's so much space around them out here." Mark Mills, Giraffe and Przewalski Horse Keeper.
Many of the animals found in zoos are struggling for survival in the wild as humans hunt them or destroy their habitat. Zoo breeding programs like these are crucial to keeping many endangered species like the cheetah going.
"In Namibia, is true cheetah country, that's where the last 3000 cheetah remain. The wild cheetah is in a lot of trouble." Michelle Lloyd, Cheetah Keeper.
But it can be hard to work out how to recreate wild habitats to help animals to breed in zoos. These were the first cheetah cubs born in the Australasian region in 15 years. Since then a second litter has been born. But keeper Michelle Lloyd had to reluctantly intervene and hand raise the cubs when their mother became ill.
"What would have happened if you had not intervened?" Krista.
"There is absolutely no doubt that they would not have survived." Michelle Lloyd, Cheetah Keeper.
Because they're now tame, they can safely interact with visitors, for a fee. This is such a unique experience I never imagined in my lifetime that I would be touching a wild animal.
Usually staff would avoid human contact, to allow newborns to learn how to fend for themselves in the wild.
"If we can continue to breed there's a possibility of releasing back into the wild and this is the aim or should be the aim of zoos world wild." Michelle Lloyd, Cheetah Keeper.
And that's exactly what's happened for another species. These may look like normal horses, but they're not. They're Mongolian Wild Horses or Przewalski horses. They became extinct in the wild in 1969. Zoos like Monarto began breeding them.
"We've breed here for years now and we've sent seven horses back to Mongolia back in 1997." Mark Mills, Przewalski Horse and Giraffe Keeper.
There are now about 300 in the wild in Mongolia.
It's not just the Przewalski horse standing on the edge of extinction. The white rhino is another, hunted for its horns.
It's very difficult to breed in captivity, so Watoto's birth in April was a huge event. With such small numbers, zoos ensure the survival of endangered species.
"It's basically a bank to make sure if some big catastrophe happens within Africa and we lose our White Rhinos, we've got a back up, to breed up a population and reintroduce into certain areas if that was to happen." Tony Austin, White Rhino Keeper.
But one species that doesn't have to worry too much is the giraffe. It's highly successful at breeding in captivity and yet another is on the way, with this giraffe Jamala due to give birth any day.