European elephants

11-05-2008

So intelligent you are UntBwe, I'm sorry if i'm berading you with questions.
(Tell me if i am.) I've been "googling" but no luck, have you any idea when Alexander will actually go to Sevilla? I fact when he went to Antwerp last year
many sites (inculding olifantenhuis) said that he would move to a non-breeding facility, in this case Sevilla, But he has moved to Amersfoort will this be his last stop?

Also "Zoosih" told me the other told that certain zoos breed with only the same subspecies of elephants, where were Motek and Warda born?

11-05-2008

Dragon(ele) heart, you are again asking a question no one here can really answer, only time will tell. Alex`transfer to Amersfoort is a very good example that plans within the elephant EEP will change at short notice! Yes, Alex was originally scheduled to go to a non breeding facility as "teacher" for young boisterous bulls. But then Amersfoort had the idea that they could use him for breeding as Sammy was still not able to mate the adult females, and I do not think anyone here has reliable information about if and when Alex will leave Amersfoort!! They won`t let him go before a good number of the 4 females are pregnant, and no pregnancies are confirmed at the moment. I guess at the moment the plan is to send him to a non breeding facility, but maybe next year another zoo - like Amersfoort last autum - decides to take him temporarily or permanently, as he virtually guarantees breeding sucess?

Only time will tell, please keep that in mind before asking so many questions.

11-05-2008

One more thing, it seems at the moment that Amersfoort really wants Sammy back which means Alex will go to another zoo once he has fulfilled his "task" in Amersfoort, but even this could change (not very likely, though).

12-05-2008

That's the only right conclusion for now. Amerfoort is still waiting for 100% succes rate for all females. That Sammy is returning to Amersfoort is a fact, but only when Alex left the zoo.

Today I heard that the planning for the move of Than Myan and Kan Kaung to Dierenrijk will not before September this year.

12-05-2008

Have you got the link? or did you hear somewhere else?

13-05-2008

An elephantkeeper told me...

13-05-2008

I think Radza is going to miss the two rascals, they seem to do a lot with him. Emmen is probably the most successful zoo in the netherlands when it comes to elephant breeding, at the moment. I wish Melbourne had regular births. The herd hasn't been this big since 2003. But 4 of them moved to Colonge. While two leave another one could come, a word doc i opened up randomly said that Mingalar Oo is pregnant. I don't think this is definately the case, though i Radza comes in contact with the herd extremly often.

13-05-2008

Since Emmen is not testing the elephants, the caregivers can not tell if an elephant is pregnant or not until the last months. Mingalar Oo had her (first) calf three years ago, so theoretical is it possible for her to be pregnant again.

I'm hoping for Yu Zin.

13-05-2008

So am, 6 years ago since she gave birth. Hope she can have another calf by she comes out of prime breeding age. She is the only grown cow not to have a calf with Radza, Perhaps she doesn't like him? Matriachs and high rank older cows, sometimes really despise sire bulls? But Annabel seems to get along with him.

Do you know the Translation for Yu Zin's name? something like pure is it? (from Swe Zin: pure gold)

13-05-2008

Sorry, that's the only name I do not know what it means. (Shwe Zin = Fantastic)

13-05-2008

UntBwe Would you say the Emmen exhibit in large enough for this growing herd or do they have any plans to extend it, maybe Radza may need an exhibit only for himself because of the sheer size of him LOL

13-05-2008

The present exhibit was build for 15 elephants, there ar now 16, but 2 of them will leave the zoo later this year.

The zoo is making plans for a new to build park and the new elephants exhibit will 3 or 4 times larger then the present one. They have plans to make a separate bulls exhibit. So Radza will get his own exhibit...

13-05-2008

Thats great news, Just in regards to Radza would you know of any Asian bulls in the SSP that are close to his size and weight?

13-05-2008

No, all other bulls have the normal weight of 4000 - 6000 kilograms but Radza is 7200 kilograms! Perhaps there is another elephant a bit larger then average but I don't know which one.

13-05-2008

I don't find Radza's posture very impressive though, he always puts his hind legs right near his front legs and dips his behind. Some people think it's because first of all his head is rather large, but mostly because he has to balance the immense weight of his tusks.

This does mean he looks a bit like a circus elephant, balancing on a small round step. His head also looks out of proportion to the rest of his body. For me, Alexander is a far more impressive animal because he's a lot higher on his feet. Best prospect however for me is Sammy, he's going to be a very handsome animal in about 10 years time (VERY high on his feet, and a normal set of tusks).