Strolling down the clearly marked pathways of the Joburg Zoo on Upper Park Drive in Parkview, visitors will marvel at the sight of the oldest and youngest animals waking up from their peaceful slumber or enjoying their favourite meal of the day.

Housing over 320 species totalling 2 000 animals, from reptiles to primates, including amphibians and insects, the Joburg Zoo has it all. Visitors at this City run facility can discover which of these animals in the various enclosures dotting the Zoo have earned their stripes in age as well as those who are young and new.

The oldest animal climbing the age ladder at 55 years old is a Greater-Flamingo, donated to the Joburg Zoo in 1967.

Grace Ntsone, the Curator of Birds says Greater-Flamingos can live up to 60 years in captivity, and up to 40 years in the wild. The Zoo has about 85 flamingos, which are fed a diet of flamingo meal and floating pellets once a day.

“They’re breeding well. We started with a few and now we have many,” Ntsone adds.

She says the Zoo tries its best to mimic a natural environment for the animals. Flamingos often stand on one leg to regulate their body temperature and rest their legs since they spend most of their time standing. To be strong, they must rotate their legs. Another interesting fact is that when they hatch, they’re white, and the pink colour develops from the food they eat.

The second oldest Joburg Zoo animal is the West African Dwarf-Crocodile, which is estimated to be about 45 years old. These reptiles can easily live up to 70 years.

Ian du Plessis, the Zoo’s Curator of Reptiles, Fish, Insects, and Amphibians says the West African Dwarf-Crocodile is endemic to Africa and won’t be found anywhere else living naturally in the world.

In summer, the crocodile is fed small portions of food twice a week, about six chicks and four mice, and in winter, it eats once a week with six chicks or four medium rats.

The Dwarf-Crocodile in the Joburg Zoo is in a double enclosure with the outside one filled with natural sunlight, and by choice, can move to where people can spot him through glass. It has its own waterfall and air conditioning system. Nesting takes place by gathering leaves and other plant material, where the eggs are laid to hatch about 85 days later. The reptile has been housed at the Zoo for over four years.

Du Plessis and his team perform regular health checks and constant monitoring of its health. “There are different enrichment programmes where we use a variety of actions and activities to stimulate the animal’s behaviour to get it as close to what it’s supposed to be in the wild as possible. Its instinct is constantly being developed,” he notes, adding that the Zoo caters to all animal’s needs, from nutrition to enrichment to habitat, climate and social structure.

Another one of the oldest animals you can find at the Joburg Zoo is Lammie the elephant, at 42 years old. She was born in the Zoo in August 1979 and enjoys spending her days roaming around her enclosure, munching on the variety of fruits and vegetables the keepers feed her. She is very interactive and enjoys the public’s attention, especially on weekends. The Zoo currently has three elephants, with the other two named Ramadiba and Mopani.

Alice Masombuka, the keeper of antelopes, says they’re fed turf and vegetables. In the mornings, the elephants start their day with a training session ahead of feeding time. In the afternoons, the giant animals are fed once more. Lammie loves putting things on her head, and she doesn’t mind sharing with Ramadi and Mopani. Masombuka describes Lammie as the sweetest and most patient elephant in the Zoo.

Daisy and Thabo are the two oldest chimpanzees here and the parents of most of the chimps in the group. Daisy was born at London Zoo in March 1983 and moved to Johannesburg a year later. Thabo was born at Joburg Zoo in September 1983.

Katherine Visser, the Zoo’s Curator of Primates says the City run facility currently has nine chimps and the group is protective of each other, with the youngest at 20 months old. They are fed fruit, vegetables, insects, and baboon cubes, formulated with all the right nutrients, so they get enough protein and vitamins.

“They are highly intelligent. They can laugh, feel emotions like sadness, anger, and happiness,” Visser explains. She says it’s sad that the species is highly endangered because of its natural habitat being destroyed.

The youngest animals in the Zoo are from the Scimitar-horned Oryx and sable antelope (Hippo tragus Niger) species. Between October and December, the Zoo welcomed about five new Scimitar-horned Oryx. Mothers are pregnant for seven months. One was pregnant with twins, which is usually rare, however one of the babies didn’t survive.

Two new Sable Antelope were born in November. Their gestation period is nine months, and they carry one infant. They have a compact and robust build, with a thick neck and tough skin. Female Sable Antelope have thinner and straighter horns.

Visit the Joburg Zoo on Upper Park Drive in Parkview, northern Johannesburg to interact with some of its oldest and youngest residents. It is open daily and charges an entrance fee of R110 for adults and children over 12 years of age. Pensioners, students, and children under 12 pay R65. City employees receive a 50% discount.

Written by Brümilda Swartbooi

8/2/2022