Pregnant Rhino » Chester Zoo

Pregnant Rhino
13-05-2008

I was told by one of the keepers that either kitani or manyara (can't remember which) is pregnant with sammi's baby and due in october. Anyone have any other information on this?

13-05-2008

It has been known on this forum for some time now, without checking the other threads, I think Kitani is the one who is pregnant. Sammy was moved out of Tsavo a few months ago to Tsavo 2, (the offshow house which can be seen behind the meerkat statue) in preparation for the birth. Manyara was left with Kitani to provide company and prevent Kitani from becoming too stressed.

One member on here said that when the baby is born, the calf and mother will be swapped with sammy for a couple of weeks to give the arrival some privacy. The calf will then be moved back to Tsavo after a couple of weeks.

I'll try to find the post with this information...

13-05-2008

[quote=bongorob;49034]Kitani is expected to calf in September 2008. No other females are pregnant. Manyara and Ema are not currently cycling. Rosie is cycling but she is very erratic.

Kitani is quite neurotic and Manyana has been left with her to keep her company. Around a week before the birth is due she will be transferred to the offshow house, and a week after she has had her baby, mother and baby will be returned to the Tsavo exhibit.

QUOTE]

This quote was on the 'more news at chester' thread...

13-05-2008

cheers,

Do you know what sex the calf is?

also, as quinto and rosie don't get along, is there any news about trying to pair her up with sammi or mugardi?

13-05-2008

Sorry, I don't know the gender or what is happening to Rosie, but I will try and ask one of the rhino keepers on my next visit...

13-05-2008

I think you'll find Rosie has social problems, so she may not get along with the younger bulls either, or then again, she might prove more compatable with one of them.

13-05-2008

kitani is due anytime from september to december and fingers crossed everything will be ok.kitani will be kept in the calfing pen offshow (at tsavo1) which is behind the main pens.manyara will be seperated when her and kitani show signs off increased aggression which could be anytime.when kitani has had her calf they will be offshow for at least a week to ensure calf is feeding ok and for it to gather its strength.hope this helps.

13-05-2008

Thanks maximus, I wasn't too sure if they would be taken to Tsavo 2 or the offshow area in Tsavo 1, so thanks for clearing that up!

14-05-2008

presumably Manyara will be put back with Sammy(or another bull) at that time? Do you know anything about other possible breeding attempts/combinations with the rhinos? And any news about a fourth female arriving?

14-05-2008

That makes more sense than moving her to the new house shortly before she is due to give birth. Maybe it is what the keeper I spoke to meant.

14-05-2008

the zoo already has four females, emma, rosie, kitani and manyara

14-05-2008

it could be possible that the zoo is trying to get multiple 1.2 combinations

Sammy x Manyara/Kitani
Magadi x Ema/new female

Rosie is an odd one beacuse she doesn't get along with others, so i don't think Quinto has a proper mate. A new female would also allow Quinto to attempt mating again, with less risk of confrontaion...

14-05-2008

Personally I think after kitani has her calf and things calm down that they should try rosie with mugardi, because I think he is a younger male with a bit more about him than sammi or quinto, so he might put her in her place but who knows.

It would be nice to see a new rhino though, its always nice to see new animals though isn't it

15-05-2008

I agree that myabe they should try Rosie with another one of the males to see what she is like then. Quinto should definatly get a new female since he and Rosie arent doing anything.

15-05-2008

I'm of the opinion that Quinto, one of the only two fully mature Black rhino bulls in the UK, is currently underused at Chester and might be better being loaned to e.g Port Lympne- who have several cows he could be bred with.