Sumatran Rhinos In Captivity

04-02-2012

This story has already been posted on a different thread but think this is particularly relevant to this one so I have posted it again.

Way Kambas rhino, Ratu, is apparently 10 months pregnant

AFP: Rare Sumatran rhino pregnancy offers hope to species

causes of miscarriage in captive Sumatran rhinos?
05-02-2012

Does anyone know why females in captivity (Emi at Cincinnati and now Ratu at Way Kambas too) suffer these repeated miscarriages without Progesterone supplement. Is it captive stress, diet or some other factor that causes this? Presumably wild Sumatran rhinos don't suffer from this. I am particularly interested why it should have arisen in Ratu also, as her diet and general living conditions must be very close to wild Rhinos.

20-02-2012

Having just re-read this article it mentions a male called Tam which hasn't been mentioned previously in this thread. Does anyone know anything more about him?

20-02-2012

Forgive me please. It has just occurred to me that Tam and Kertam are probably the same animal.

31-05-2012

Interesting article on some of the efforts currently being made in Sumatra to conserve the species... Including using AI on a female who's got three feet after losing the fourth to a snare and trying to bring some wild stock into captivity
Endangered species: Sex and the single rhinoceros : Nature News & Comment

04-06-2012

That is a very interesting article. I hadn't realised the female 'Puntung' had a missing foot... Some other interesting points/news also arise from this article;

1. Given the bad state of her uterus, it seems that this female will never be expected to breed normally, despite being quite young, but they hope to harvest embryos from her and somehow advance them some other way.

2. The subspecies distinction between the Malaysian/Sumatran/Bornean animals is now being dropped (or overlooked, depending on your viewpoint) to allow more flexibility between the holders of the tiny pool of captive animals.

3. At long last it is mentioned what is planned for the female 'Suci' at Cincinnati- AI using sperm from the Bornean male 'Tam'.

05-06-2012

In the Cincinnati zoo thread, it was said that Ipuh would be bred with Suci just so Suci could be bred and more animals could be produced. I guess Ipuh (her father) will be her preliminary mate, but Tam would be later down the road?

05-06-2012

The zoo is and has been working actively to breed Suci and Ipuh. At this point Suci is receiving ultrasounds several times a week in hopes of detecting a pregnancy. The biggest issue the zoo is facing at this point is Ipuh's age. Due to his age, an estimated 30-35, they've found that he tires quite easily. Now that it has been approved for the zoo to receive semen from Tam, I assume they will now try and switch focus to artificial insemination. Eventually Dr. Terri Roth and others at the zoo would like to obtain more rhinos to continue breeding in Cincinnati, but at this point in time AI will have to do.

06-06-2012

Thankyou for that update. (You'll see I deleted my previous post as being irrelevant in the light of this information.) Do you know how long they have been attempting to breed from them in this way?

I wish Cincinnati every success in getting her pregnant from one of these two options.

21-06-2012

The Asian Rhino Project have posted on facebook that Andalas and Ratu's calf is due towards the end of the month. Good to hear that all's going to plan.

22-06-2012

Fantastic news. Have been hoping for an update on the calf and it's finally here. Hope everything goes well!

23-06-2012

Rhino Baby Due Soon - Cincinnati Zoo - YouTube

23-06-2012

The news I have been waiting for.

BBC News - Endangered Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity

Hope everything goes well with the little one.

23-06-2012

Brilliant!

Blackduiker
24-06-2012

A little note on the tape from the Cincinnati Zoo, Los Angeles has always been able to successfully keep them in captivity as well, we just haven't been given much of an opportunity to breed them here. Our specimens have always been sent to other locales to help in their breeding programs. Remember it was originally our female sent to Cincinnati that got the ball rolling there. Then after Los Angeles exhibited Andalas for a time, he was shipped off to Indonesia, leading to another success story.