Black rhino at Chester Zoo » Chester Zoo

15-08-2007

Yes, I thought there was one other handraied one apart from 'Rosie' Emma was also very small at birth if I remember. Whether handraising had any bearing on the fact that she never bred either, I don't know. I believe a keeper told me that the reason of her death was stress after a 'mating' session at Chester- she apparently collapsd and died very suddenly soon after.

15-08-2007

I would expect both these females to be recorded pregnant at some time soon. I feel pretty confident Chester's rhino breeding will focus on this trio rather than the older ones, from now on.

16-08-2007

grantsmb,

Yup, these 3 and ... the pairing of Magadi x Ema as I noted earlier. Rosie is probably a good candidate for AI (but I will check with the keepers about her cyclicity). Quinto is a very experienced dominant bull and might breed Rosie if she overcame her nervous+aggressive temperament.

If the QuintoxRosie pairing is not successful, AI her and sent Quinto on to Port Lympne where he would be a valuable breeding asset with their dirge of female contenders.

An update on future rhino movements at Chester: another female is expected from Dvur Kralove later this year (and not the male from Krefeld as I wrote earlier).

16-08-2007

Jelle.

I doubt if Rosie will mate naturally- she does seem an obvious candidate for AI -provided she is fertile.

Quinto would be no loss to Chester if he was sent to Port Lympne. It could easily happen as there has been a lot of 'traffic' in Black Rhino males between the two places already. Quinto would be of much greater value at Port Lympne than he is currently at Chester. Magadi would be sufficient for Ema and the new projected female- provided he's okay for breeding.