Elephants at Chester Zoo

Elephants at Chester Zoo
19-06-2011

Due to the death of Sheba, has anyone got any information regarding who the new matriarch of the herd is?

Any news on if they are planning to extend the heard further?

Thank you.

19-06-2011

I think it's been established as Maya as the new matriarch.

I don't think there is any plans to acquire a new bull or females.

19-06-2011

I don't think the herd currently has a matriarch in the way most herds do.more of a coalition between 2 or more of the females.

As for expanding the herd further there will be more births as and when they get any of the breeding females pregnant again,I have not heard of any plans for any other females to be brought in,but they do have a long term plan for another Bull once Upali has fathered enough young but apart from that,I don't know of any other plans for any more Elephants been brought into the zoo.

19-06-2011

Thank you both xx

19-06-2011

I was told the same two years ago by one of the elephant keepers.

19-06-2011

'Matriarch' normally implies a senior female with an extended family. At Chester only Thi fits that bill really as Jangoli and Maya don't have families of their own, but are probably both 'senior' to Thi. I dont know if Sheba was a true 'Matriarch' to the rest of the herd but quite possibly as she had been there a lot longer than all the others. I don't know if other Zoos all have true acting matriachs in their herds either- e.g. does Whipsnade(or Twycross) for example?

Possibly one day in the distant future if Thi becomes the senior female she will be the true matriarch if all the rest are her relatives.

19-06-2011

I am unsure of Twycross and Whipsnade's current matriarch but at Blackpool the youngest female Kate is the matriarch although she has been there the longest and Indra is the next in line and then Marcella.