Indian rhinos in US zoos

16-03-2008

Mark, Port Lympne haven't kept (or at least bred) Indians and Whites though (to the best of my knowledge) which provides the counter argument to my statement.

They have soley focussed on blacks and have been immensely successful, whereas institutes like Whipsnade have 'failed' with the blacks...

16-03-2008

Yes thats right Jimmy they have never kept whites or Indians but my point was that they have had huge success with the black rhinos

16-03-2008

I probably didn't make myself clear in my original post (sorry!)

What I meant to say was institutes which keep Whites, Indians and Blacks struggle with breeding in the Black rhinos (San Diego, Whipsnade) whereas zoos which keep only Blacks do better (PL)...

My theory is probably dead in the water

16-03-2008

I guess Jimmy its all a matter of "focus" whipsnade have focused on the whites and so have the SD WAP as they also have done with the Indians, so PL have focused on only the Black rhino, guess its a matter of commitment and resources of each zoo

16-03-2008

Often times Indian and White Rhinoceros can both be maintained in herds (whites more so than the indians). However the Black rhinos tend to be the most aggressive and often require seperate pens. It also doesnt help that the black species has two subspecies in captivity that are kept distinct and seperate. Thus they compete for space.

16-03-2008

I agree on that this optimum herd management strat is usually operated for Indians and whites by most if not all institutions.

I am not so sure though on whether strat for the blacks is really that optimal. Blacks in the wild usually consort in groups of females and youngsters and are perhaps less inclined to be socially abject as we might think in captivity. Certainly though, blacks are more boisterous and have more of a "character" than the other species. But just to give you an eye-opener (the most successful breeders in Europe, Dvur Kralove and Port Lympne keep their rhinos in multiple female associations and the young bulls are usually kept pairwise! Sure they have the room, but perhaps there is just ... that little more substance to it (lol).


On the 2 subspecies note: indeed both minor and michaeli subspecies compete for space, especially so in the SSP environment (EEP only has an offshoot of 1.1 in Frankfurt Zoo and the ASMP holds 7.6 at 2 institutions).

Anyhow, CZJimmy and Mark the European rhino questions are better suited to the Other European threads. Perhaps okapikpr might want to start a thread on the other 2 rhino species - whites and blacks - in the US/SSP?

Well, I sure am biased as I would do a runner to the nearest postbag if something new might come up ... (lol) ... rhinowise that is (I do have my limits).

16-03-2008

I just got a san diego newsletter and it said that they have a new baby male born there, Jontu and he is the 55th born at wild animal park

16-03-2008

[quote=jelle;

rhinowise that is (I do have my limits). [/QUOTE]

Is this "Possible"

18-03-2008

New Indian Rhino Calf at Buffalo Zoo

A female, named Clover, born March 1st to Henry and Tashi.

28-03-2008

Is this the pairs first breeding or have they bred before?

29-03-2008

It would be their second calf, the first was transfered to Toronto last year.

29-03-2008

The Buffalo pair is very valuable from a purely genetic perspective as well as for the overall fitness of the Indian rhino population in the US.

If one scans the sit, one could say it is Buffalo, NY Bronx, Oklahoma, The Wilds, Toronto and White Oak really do matter for the Indian rhino SSP (this with 2 express dots).

* The above statement is is not taking away any of the shine of the breeding record of San Diego. It just goes to show that their success has made them overtly over-represented in the SSP population.
* I left out both Forth Worth, Lowry Park and Miami Metro Zoos as all these institutions have yet achieve reproductive success (while containing some genetically valuable individuals).

The only healthy debate one can level at San Diego is that SD-WAP has continued to breed from rhinos with a higher inbreeding coefficient when they could have phased breeding from them out or sent them and their offspring on to other regional programmes (where their genes are not yet fully represented) or even more challenging providing individuals for reintroduction programmes (an area not yet explored fully in global population management, but wished for and actively sought by WAZA).

The same debate goes for the Basel Zoo lines within the EEP ...... (I will take this all up in private pm with okapikpr)

29-03-2008

We are open to any offers of females LOL

29-03-2008

We will have to deal with the regional species coordinators here. Perhaps the International studbook keeper could also play a pivotal role in this too. I am sure that everyone sees the scope for good cooperation here and the need to exchange genes unrepresented in other regions.

Anyhow, regarding the SSP rhinos .. how could I forget: Cincinnati's lone females are important, as is the new Peace River bull.

SSP population update
22-06-2008

2007 successful Births
#389 "Rocky" M 02.10.2007 Arun x Jeta Montgomery, AL
#394 UNK M 05.01.2007 Sanjay x Ellah Bronx Zoo
#395 UNK F 28.10.2007 Himal x Dailey The Wilds
#396 UNK F 01.11.2007 Himal x Sanya The Wilds

2008 successful births
#400 "Jontu" M 25.01.2008 Arun x Jakichu SDWAP
#UNK "Clover" F 01.03.2008 Henry x Tashi Buffalo, NY

New Transfers
#259 "Gram" M from San Diego Zoo to Tanganyika Wildlife Park, Goddard, KS
#351 UNK M from Patna, India to SDWAP
#355 "Ecko" M from SDWAP to Safari Wild, Lakeland, FL
#364 UNK M from Patna, India to SDWAP to the Wilds
#368 "Khali" M from SDWAP to Safari Wild, Lakeland, FL

The is no record to the 3rd imported male that was to go to Peace River/Rum Creek. However, I have found many errors in the most current N American Rhino Studbook and Rum Creek is no longer part of the AZA and is not required to report to studbook keepers. I'll see if I can find more information.