North American Asian Elephant Population 2024

I'll certianly be curious as to whether Louisville actually will create a new elephant exhibit in all honesty. Their statements about it have all made it very clear that these exhibits are (obviously) expensive, and that wasn't something that they definitely would include in their masterplan if it got in the way of other projects. I think its genuinely a 50-50 shot on whether we will see a new exhibit or not.

That being said, their goal on a multigenerational herd definitely makes sense. They've previously been approved to breed by the SSP and AZA, their keepers have experience with calves, and baby elephants are great PR. Bachelor herds are needed, yes, but unfortunately a bit of a public popularity gamble. And for a facility whose general public is used to calves, it doesn't surprise me that future breeding would be in their goals.

 

The zoo's statement about their potential future with elephants now says that any future exhibit would be build to house a multigenerational herd AND a bull group!

(As seen at the bottom of this page)
Follow Our Elephant’s Journey

 

Two more updates out of Cincinnati regarding the Elephant trek, very nice to see it coming together. One thing to note is that they are aiming to complete their large yard with the pool (yard 2) by June so Sabu can return. I will be really interested to see how this project finishes. I was hoping grass would be planted throughout, however, he mentions around the 2-minute mark that they are almost ready to spread sand which makes me feel that greenery will be lacking within the exhibit space itself.

 

Well, I gotta say from the looks of it, I applaud Cincinnati for their tremendous effort in creating the outdoor yards for Elephant Trek! Can’t wait to see the elephants hang out in their new spacious home later on! ^^)b

 

I will be so happy when the new habitat opens and Sabu can return. Breeding for Asiatic elephants really needs a kick in the ass.

 

Things are looking really good for Cinci imo. Their new cows are proven breeders and Sabu is a proven bull. I think its a very real possibility there could be calves on the ground in 2026.
I also don't think Sabu being at Columbus in the meantime is a bad thing either. It's no secret Columbus has needed a proven bull for years, so its kind of killing two birds with one stone so to speak by giving both Cbus' cows and soon Cinci's a chance with him. They're doing everything right currently imo and I hope we see a positive outcome from this (especially given the fact that Sabu is entirely underrepresented)!

 

I meant not just Cincinnati ... - at long last -, I really also looked at the wider Asiatic elephant program.

It is a crying shame that animal welfarist activism has apparently led the AZA to be so very secretive about their policies and long term ex situ conservation breeding plans. I attribute this as a communication and PR failure to adequately deal with all the AW-activism slander and anti zoo campaigns.


On that subject my POV:
AW-groups are more or less playing around with the facts beyond the pale, expunge untruths, abuse gruesome PR advertising and practice outright slander sometimes. For the better part their arguments are so Weltfremd-outside everyday reality of ex situ captive breeding as a mechanism in the toolbox to conserve wildlife, plantlife, wildlands and protected areas and ecosystems in situ.

Further that it is beyond relief that a certain cohorte within the AW can still honestly believe the Natural World can hold up its own pants despite all our the warning signs and the damaging impacts on our Planet Earth by Humankind (including the AW consumptive patterns and footprints left on this Earth) and the wild and the very real dangers of the Sixth Extinction, climate change and the Biodiversity - the real - Crisis threatening all Life on Earth.

BTW: Make no Mistake ... but I do view Animal welfare and BPG in zoos is a fundamental to my Philosophy and Practice of ex situ conservation programs and conservation breeding. Just not the way the AW-activism seems to perceive as good practices (simply rescue and then prevent from rewilding or breeding behaviour et cetera ex situ.

 

Denver - 16 year old Chuck will be leaving in a few weeks for another zoo to become a breeding bull.

Good Luck, Chuck! - Denver Zoo

 

Best of luck to Chuck on his breeding journey!

 

Wow! That’s actually really surprising to me cause I thought Chuck wasn’t genetically valuable much.

 

Chuck's going to Houston Zoo according to the link!

 

I would've thought Bodhi would've been the first to go given his age and his comparative genetic value, but I suppose Chuck does have a wildborn father and he is one of only three surviving calves of his mother so he does have that going for him.

It is nice to see that Houston will be (presumably) turning to natural breeding for their younger girls versus AI, which is a great choice imo. I certianly wasn't expecting this, but this also frees more space up at Denver (which we will be needing in the coming years!)

 

but won’t this push Houston to having 3 adult bulls?

 

Their barn has space for 4 bulls iirc. I am curious on how this will go long-term with Nelson beginning to transition over to the bachelor herd now and Teddy following in about a year; but for right now space isn't an issue.

 

Hm, very interesting news!

I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see Baylor end up going to Denver in place of Chuck.

This also sets Houston up *very* strategically. Thailand can continue to breed with Shanti and Tess until he is no longer able to/passes away, while Tucker can breed with Joy (and down the road Shanti), and of course Chuck can breed with all of the cows there, including young Winnie, who will likely start breeding at some point in the next 4-5 years herself.

 

Honestly this is a good outcome for Houston allows Tupleo to breed at natural birthing intervals, but also would allow Houston to continue their breed program with Tess's matrinial line. And since space is eventually going to become an issue, they can easily move Shanti,. Joy and Tucker and whatever calves they have to another facility.

 

So this is something that just occurred to me this morning, but I actually wouldn’t be surprised if this transfer is proceeding a herd split for Houston.

Oklahoma has their new barn opened, and the rest of their new outdoor exhibit space will be completed soon enough as well. They’ve already expressed that they will be housing a breeding herd, and going off of word on the forms here, they will also be seeking a new breeding bull as well.

In line with that, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shanti, Joy, and Tucker transferred from Houston to Oklahoma to be the nucleus of their new breeding herd. This would simultaneously knock out two birds with one stone, giving Oklahoma a very functional new breeding herd, as well as opening up a lot of space for Houston’s population to expand through Tess‘s family. This would also set Houston up well to not have to worry about doing any further transfers out for another 15 odd years, especially if they send Baylor out around the same time as well.

 

I take it by "Oklahoma" you mean Tulsa? Because Oklahoma City Zoo already has a large, multi-generational herd.

 

As amazing as this is, Tucker already has been recommended to transfer elsewhere. As well as Baylor.

 

Are these confirmed/likely imminent transfers or are they just standing reccomendations as of now?
Honestly not all together surprising to hear, but interesting nevertheless. Joy still has a breeding reccomendation with Tucker at Houston, yes?