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Chester Zoo Farewell Tunga

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Nisha, 17 Apr 2010.

  1. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    As has been posted in the Belgium forum. Tunga (Asian elephant) is following in his brothers footsteps and departing Chester for Bellewaerde Park in Belgium this week. One of Chester's previous calves (Po-Chin) who also went to the same collection is off to Parc Paridisio (also in Belgium) on Monday to make space for Tunga.

    Good timing really as Chester are really going to be tight on space with two new calves due later in the year.

    Good luck and safe journey Tunga! :)

    Transferts d'éléphants à Bellewaerde Park
     
  2. johnstoni

    johnstoni Well-Known Member

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    I really don't like the photos I've seen of the elephant enclosure there. I find zoo elephant yards with high tensile steel fencing and a couple of sand piles make the facility look much more modern than it is; if the barrier to this enclosure was a dry moat with spikes it would resemble the horrors of many elephant houses long-gone. However, this appears quite a small space, especially where some of the more recent photos suggest the yard has been hotwired into two sections:

    http://www.asianelephant.net/ieper/ieper.htm#
     
  3. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    I wonder if at Parc Paridisio, whether Pochin is joining a breeding group as a future herd bull, or is it just bachelor males?

    Does this mean Tunga will be 'paired' with the other ex Chester male 'Assam'?

    I hope none of these moves mean any elephant ends up alone...:confused:
     
  4. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    No Assam moved to Budapest Zoo in October 09. A four year old male arrived from Zurich not long after that. Tunga will be keeping him company for the next few years.

    Having seen the exibit in 2008 (haven't got photo's sorry) I really didn't think it was that bad. A little basic but perfectly adequete for a couple of partially grown males. It would definetly not be suitable for anymore than a pair but overall it serves it's purpose and I'm sure Tunga will be happy there for the time being.
     
  5. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Just managed to translate the article in the link. Tunga will depart on the morning of Tuesday 20th April. He will arrive at his new home early on Wednesday. The male he will be joining is called Fahim.

    Po-Chin will become the future breeding bull at Paridisio.
     
  6. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Thankyou for translating it for us...:)

    Is Po Chin Jangolie's previous calf?
     
  7. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    The (almost!) complete article translated.


    Bellewaerde Park has scheduled a transfer of elephants to the beginning of next week. Po-Chin is leaving Monday and Tunga, his little brother, will arrive in Ypres Wednesday, April 21 morning.

    To see Po-Chin last time in the environment that is familiar to you must come visit him this weekend. Po-Chin is leaving us this Monday, April 19 after having lived 6 years Bellewaerde Park. It has now reached the age of 10 years and will very soon join the herd Pair Daiz (Paradisio) to address reproductive and contribute to the preservation of the species.




    Immediately after his departure, his younger brother Tunga, age 5, will be transferred from Chester Zoo in England to Bellewaerde Park. There remain a few years to the example of Po-Chin. His arrival at Bellewaerde Park is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 morning.

    That male elephants Bellewaerde Park
    In the international zoos and wildlife parks, Bellewaerde Park is renowned for its center of young male elephants. It is the first zoo in Europe there be special and this is a deliberate choice. Thus, the park is an important link in the framework of European breeding program.

    In the wild, when a male elephant reaches the age of 4-5 years he left his flock for some time. This phenomenon must also be respected in zoos. Bellewaerde Park plays an important role in allowing the transition of male elephants until they reach puberty and can subsequently join a breeding group of another zoo.

    Special Transportation
    The transport of elephants is not a common thing and can be done in two ways. The first is to anesthetize the animals and raise them in the shipping container. The second is to train the animals to get used to be attached during transport and to cooperate voluntarily. Since an anesthesia is never without risk and the welfare pachidermes, Bellewaerde Park has resolutely opted for the latter course.

    Training for transport
    For over a year, trainers Bellewaerde Park and Chester Zoo meticulously prepare the transfer. Po-Chin and Tunga both follow regular training to familiarize themselves with the method and rules of transportation and so easily collaborate on D-Day

    For transport, one of the forelegs and hind legs of the elephant must be attached by a chain. Instruction includes several phases. First, get used to wear some kind of bracelet, then in the enclosures, learn to keep an accurate position while having the legs shackled. This way, the transport can take place safely, both for animals and the animal keepers who accompany them!

    The trip will be short for Po-Chin: it remains in Belgium and moved to Pair
    Daiz (Paradisio) in Ath. For Tunga, the road will be longer since Tuesday morning from the Chester Zoo, located in England, and arrive at Bellewaerde Park to discover its new home Wednesday morning.

    Tunga met Fahim
    Fahim, another young elephant staying Bellewaerde Park, will very soon have a new playmate Fahim 4 years and has resided in November 2009 to Bellewaerde Park.

    When he arrived Wednesday morning, Tunga can explore his indoor enclosure, while Fahim benefit of fresh air from outside. Shortly after, the animal keepers will go Fahim in the pen so that the two elephants to get to know. Social contact between young male elephants is very important. The elephants are also very players and take care undoubtedly set the mood. A Bellewaerde Park, elephants are the favorite animals of visitors!



    I'm pretty certien that Po-Chin is Jangolie's calf. However I'm not sure on that. If it isn't him then it will be Assam (now in Budapest)
     
  8. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    1. I am pretty certain Assam was Thi's calf, so hopefully Pochin will carry Jangolie's genes into another generation.

      Apparently the name Po-chin is not an 'oriental' one, though it sounds like it, but in fact derives from a Building Firm(?) who donated funds toward elephant upkeep at Chester(or something similar) and so had a calf named in their honour.

      The only thing I don't like too much is how these young male Elephants like Tunga and Fahim(and Pochin and Assam) get seperated from their mothers and natal group at the young ages of four or five years old. They seem to suffer no bad effects but despite the propoganda the Zoos put out in this respect, this is much younger than they would leave naturally, as in the wild young bulls stay in their natal groups until they are much older than that. Still, I appreciate Zoos cannot always mimic nature exactly as their conditions do not allow for this.
     
  9. Jacobea

    Jacobea Well-Known Member

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    Any idea what will become of the young bull, Valentino, already at Parc Paradisio? He's not mature according to the Elephant Encyclopaedia or related to any of the females. I presume he will be moved on when he's older so as not to conflict with Po-Chin?
     
  10. elandantiloop

    elandantiloop Active Member

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    Valentino is from is zoo in Indonesia, so not related to any of the females.
    He's going to be the future breeding bull of paradisio, as long as he is not mature and ready to mate Po-Chin will be the breeding bull in paradisio.
    Normally it would have been Sammy but he passed away last year.

    Assam will be the breeding bull of Budapest zoo. In the near future a female from a european zoo wille move to Budapest to breed with him and start a breeding group.
     
  11. Zoogoer2000

    Zoogoer2000 Well-Known Member

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    Po-Chin was born to Jangolie and Chang in 2000 at Chester and then was moved in 2004-5 to Twycross I think?
     
  12. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Po-chin went with Assam to Bellewaerdwe in August 2004. Twycross haven't had a bull for some years now? although they have used AI to get calves. The most recent was born last year.
     
  13. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Twycross have never had a bull.

    The first two calves, both female, were conceived by sending the females Tonzi and Mimbu to Chester for mating with male 'Chang.' (One of these calves Karishma has just had a calf herself at Whipsnade Zoo)

    The third calf at Twycross, a male born last year to younger female Norjahan, was by AI.
     
    Last edited: 19 Apr 2010
  14. Nisha

    Nisha Well-Known Member 10+ year member

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    Tunga arrived safe and well at Bellewaerde earlier today. There's a nice photo of him on the park's Facebook page checking out his new outdoor paddock (will try and copy it into the gallery later) and a link to a news article about the move (link below) translated it reads....

    In Bellewaerde Park in Ypres Tunga arrived, a male elephant of 5 years. He is the brother of Po-Chin, who earlier this week left the park and Ypres for an offspring may provide in pairi Daiza, formerly Pardadisio in Ath.


    In Bellewaerde Park in Ypres Tunga arrived, a male elephant of 5 years.


    Bellewaerde in the world of zoos built a strong reputation as a shelter for young male elephants. Thus, an important link in the context of European breeding programs.

    Tunga get in the park accompanied by Fahim, a playmate of 4 years


    Nieuwe olifant in Bellewaerde Park - Focus-WTV-KW
     
  15. Selma05

    Selma05 Member

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    Video of Fahim and Tunga

    There is a nice video on the facebook prifile of Bellewaerdepark showing Fahim and Tunga meeting and playing with each other.


    Bellewaerde Park | Facebook!