Hagenbecks Elephants

27-11-2008

According to his headkeeper from Amersfoort (who regularly visits him) he went in to musth September this year.

27-11-2008

Back to Hagenbecks elephants in Germany/Hamburg: The little bull-calf got his name Shahrukh yesterday/today about midnight after a short competition, announced in a common Late-Night-TV-Talk-Show. It is an Asian name, which means in the Indian mythology “king” and the name of a famous Indian bollywood-star, too.

@ dragon: the German “Rüsselchen“ means „little trunk“ and is a common petname while an elephantcalf isn´t named.

27-11-2008

To get on topic again: they named the little bull Shakrukh - after a Bollywood actor, it was born in Rüssels heim (maybe this was a bit unclear)

27-11-2008

...and "Rüssels Heim" means "home of the trunks"! Not to confuse with the well-kown city "Rüsselsheim", where are produced cars, in another part of Germany!

27-11-2008

Sure, there are still a lot of problems to solve such as find more places for “bachelor-groups” of young elephant-bulls and to create gen-pools. But human beings have also to bear in mind the elephants´ close relationship and their social ties and that they are sensitive and very intelligent. In my opinion it is not the right way to abuse them as “breeding-machines”, neither the bulls nor the cows. There is the long and strict training especially of the elephant-cows (and for the bulls it is also a disagreeable situation in the ERC) they have to pass to carry out an a.i. And most of the "a.i.- calves" are males. This is the perversion! A.i. must be an exception. Zoological institutions, who want to breed and to have elephantbabys with the consequence of more visitors and more money, have to reconsider these facts before. They have to build bull-houses (if possible for min. 2 adult bulls!) and to join something like a special “fund”, where every breeder has to pay for establishing an acceptable place for young elephant-bulls. This would be the best way for the elephants. Elephant-management is always an interesting business and new adventure indeed.

28-11-2008

oh thanks I much also prefer the name Shahrukh.

28-11-2008

Does anyone know what ( if at this time) bull is planning to replace Hussein when he goes to Dublin??

28-11-2008

I think that question is still a work in progress. Kandy is now 5 years old now, so Hussein has only limited time left in Hamburg (Bangka is 8 now and she started to present herself to Alexander last year.... so work out the maths). In two years time the bull section will be finished in Dublin, so there's a clear timeframe. Only to leave Hamburg without a breeding bull would really be a wast of all the efforts.

My impression is that the EEP really does want to work out some longer term plans, but reality sometimes does present itself with another situation. Like Rotterdam having a proven bull to replace Alexander and then he had to be euthanized ... This is no algabra, but life and things happen.

28-11-2008

yeah poor Palong! yeah with Kandy being 5 the time will come soon! Same with Ratna and Corny moving too! But there is hope to get Ratna and Chamundi to breed being not related at all, there is talk about getting him to move on another thread until he gains confidence though,

29-11-2008

oh and also, since Calvin is over at Leipzig, wonder how long it will take for Salvana to come back to Hamburg, ?

30-11-2008

Hussein lives alone with Mala in his enclosure and the cows with witch he should breed are brought to him. So no problem to keep Kandy and Hussein.

I think it´s hard to find a bull for Hamburg, 'cause its possible to feed (and so to pet the trunk) the elephants. Some bull like Bindu would have fun with the visitors... Also I don't think, that the enclosure would hold any bull inside...

01-12-2008

Is there any bull that comes to mind that is friendly enough and well behaved enough to fit the requirements of Hamburg? I know of friendly and calm ones, but I'm not sure that they would be fine with people feeding them! ?

01-12-2008

It`s a problem which can be solved, the outdoor enclosure (just) needs to be changed so that there is so much space between visitors and the bull elephant that he can`t reach them. That is not THAT difficult and could be done.

01-12-2008

*grin* Its esay done, but what should the visitors think if they can't feed during winter elephants? In winter only Hussein and Mala are outdoors.

01-12-2008

That`s another thing which needs to be changed, obviously.