Indian Rhinos at Whipsnade. » Whipsnade Zoo

Indian Rhinos at Whipsnade.
12-08-2007

Does anyone have an update on whether the 2nd female Indian Rhino at Whipsnade is known to be pregnant or not? (Tests were being undertaken)

The bull 'Jaffna' is due to return to Basel Zoo fairly soon now.

12-08-2007

The new house at Basel for the Indian Rhino looks brilliant. Look at their site.
It has not yet held a bull indian rhino, as Jaffna has been at Whipsnade while it was being built. There were two young rhinos at Basel when I went in 2005. A male that's now at Edinburgh, and the female that's moving to Chester. Jaffna's Children wil soon be taking over England!!

12-08-2007

I will be visiting Whipsnade either in September or October. I know the Asian section head keeper, I'll ask him.

12-08-2007

That's great. Please don't forget! My guess is that Jaffna, the bull may already have left by then, or be going soon.

An update on the Elephant situation would be good too. I don't think I'm going to make it to Whipsnade this year now...

12-08-2007

Well, you could say that as he'll have an offspring in all three of the UK zoos which currently have Indian rhinos.

I wonder if Whipsnade will eventually get another male to replace him? After all, its so much easier than transporting the females elsewhere. If the 2nd female isn't pregnant before he leaves, there's no chance until they bring in another male, plus the mother of the calf will be 'ready' again in a year or two.

13-08-2007

you guys don't know anyone who happens to have a "spare" female indian rhino by any chance do you?.......

13-08-2007

Australia is far more likely to get a replacement female from San Diego, I would think. They have far more than anywhere in Europe. But if 'Dora' has chronic foot disease they need to sort that out first. I don't now exactly what CFD is but a number of Indian rhinos in Europe have suffered similar foot problems(including the previous male at Whipsnade)

Nowadays most zoos keep them on mulch or soft woodship instead of hardstanding areas as their feet are very delicate. Remember in the wild they spend half their time in water... I asked 'Zoo_Boy' if Dora's Vets have been in contact with European ones over this- I'm presuming that they have.

Indian rhino pregnancy
14-08-2007

Jaffna has totally done the business while at Whipsnade WAP! The second Nepali female Beluki is pregnant and due in early 2008. The third female Roopah is post reproductive. You can look it up in the Annual Report 2006 if you like.

14-08-2007

you'd like to think so since taronga/wpz seems to have long history of animal exchnges with the san diego zoos. however, i doubt we will see another come anytime soon. indian rhino are not that common or easy to aquire and since we are but mere fledglings here, with a string of bad luck (i hadn't even read about this CFD with dora before!) i doubt we are high on the san diego waiting list.....

14-08-2007

Great news about Whipsnades second female being Pregnant, hope all gos well for them.

14-08-2007

I think Taronga/wpz need to rethink their Indian Rhino husbandry after what has happened, before rying to get another female..

1. Never keep one on sand again...

2. Provide a soft woodchip or mulch flooring instead of hard ground, as is increasingly done in Europe. This should prevent the foot problems recurring after treatment..

3. Provide adequate wallowing and bathing facilities to allow the animals to total submerge themselves- if not already provided.

4. Then go looking for a new female....

14-08-2007

That's excellent news. I don't understand why it was in the 2006 Annual Report though, as I thought they were still unsure if she was pregnant as recently as this Spring? Are you sure it didn't refer to the other female 'Behan' who has the calf?

Anyway, Jaffna can now return to Basel knowing his work at Whipsnade is complete...

14-08-2007

I was told by Rhino keepers in north America that there is a surplus of males there, so maybe Whipsnade could sorce one from there?

14-08-2007

sandiego wild animal park has recently imported 3 males from india as prt of an exchange programme where indian zoos will receive american bred rhino and at the moment giraffe and zebra.

14-08-2007

The bull 'Jaffna' who is currently on loan to Whipsnade from Basel(but returning soon to Basel) was born in USA, at San Diego.

That doesn't mean there aren't others which are unrelated to him and could be available. Another US male would probably be preferable to a European one because of the small gene pool.