Australasian Asian Elephant Population 2024 Introduction 2024 is set to be an exciting year for the region’s Asian elephant population, with Werribee Open Range Zoo and Monarto Safari Park planning to build elephant complexes 21ha (Werribee) and 14ha (Monarto) in size. With the opening of these complexes in late 2024/early 2025, it’s been confirmed Auckland Zoo, Melbourne Zoo and Perth Zoo will be phasing out elephants. There are no known pregnancies, but Taronga Western Plains Zoos outlined aspirations to have Anjalee pregnant by the end of 2023, indicating an announcement this year may follow. With Taronga Zoo previously stating they would transfer Pak Boon and Tang Mo to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in the future, it’ll be interesting to see whether plans are announced this year for them (and/or Thong Dee) to transfer to Monarto Safari Park instead. Monarto have indicated two additional females will arrive on site circa 2025 to establish a breeding herd. Current Population Auckland Zoo: 0.1 Burma (00/00/1982) Wild x Wild; Imported 1990 Australia Zoo: 0.1 Megawati (19/07/1999) Sidarta x Umri; Imported 2019 0.1 Widya (21/05/2001) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2019 0.1 Christina (01/12/2009) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2019 0.1 Raflesia (00/11/2014) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2019 Melbourne Zoo: 1.0 Luk Chai (04/07/2009) Gung x Thong Dee 1.0 Roi-Yim (25/11/2022) Luk Chai x Mali 0.1 Mek Kapah (00/00/1973) Wild x Wild; Imported 1978 0.1 Dokkoon (00/00/1993) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2006 0.1 Kulab (00/00/2000) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2006 0.1 Num-Oi (00/00/2001) Num Sek x Lampoon; Imported 2006 0.1 Mali (16/01/2010) Bong Su x Dokkoon 0.1 Aiyara (16/11/2022) Luk Chai x Dokkoon 0.1 Kati (01/01/2023) Luk Chai x Num Oi Perth Zoo: 1.0 Putra Mas (00/00/1989) Wild x Wild; Imported 1992 0.1 Permai (00/00/1989) Wild x Wild; Imported 1992 Sydney Zoo: 1.0 Kavi (17/07/2014) Upali x Yasmin; Imported 2020 1.0 Ashoka (19/08/2014) Upali x Anak; Imported 2020 Taronga Zoo: 0.1 Pak Boon (00/00/1992) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2006 0.1 Tang Mo (00/00/1999) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2006 Taronga Western Plains Zoo: 1.0 Gung (00/00/2000) Unknown x Unknown; Imported 2006 1.0 Pathi Harn (10/03/2010) Bong Su x Porntip 1.0 Sabai (02/11/2016) Gung x Thong Dee 0.1 Porntip (00/00/1992); Imported 2006 0.1 Thong Dee (00/00/1997); Imported 2006 0.1 Anjalee (23/08/2006) Jayathu x Mayuri; Imported 2015 0.1 Kanlaya (14/06/2018) Putra Mas x Porntip Total regional population: 8.19 Asian elephant
The Year Ahead It’s amazing to think how much things can change in a year. This time last January, the destination of Burma, Putra Mas and Permai was unknown. The US was speculated as a potential home for Burma and Permai; with hopes Putra Mas would be retained in the region for his genetic value. Discussions on the latter were always centred around Werribee. Never did we imagine Monarto Safari Park (who according to their masterplan updated in March 2023) would announce in August 2023 plans to fundraise to receive these three elephants - with the target exceeded within the month. The main question going into 2024 is who will be the two additional cows joining Putra Mas, Permai and Burma at Monarto. There’s really only four possibilities: 1. Two reproductive age cows from Europe. 2. Pak Boon and Tang Mo from Taronga Zoo. 3. Pak Boon from Taronga Zoo; Thong Dee from Taronga Western Plains Zoo. 4. Pak Boon and Tang Mo from Taronga Zoo; Thong Dee from Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The import of cows from Europe is highly unlikely and would only arise as a possibility if Taronga are unwilling to transfer some of their cows to Monarto. Even with the complexes at Werribee and Monarto accomodating large numbers, placements for Australian calves bred won’t be infinite and would be better of allocated to the offspring of the founders and first generation stock we have. Any European cows we received would be surplus to their breeding programme and a fraction of the genetic value of our elephants. Of the three Taronga/Dubbo cows, Pak Boon is the obvious choice. Taronga want to phase out and she’s a viable breeding cow that would of great use to Monarto. She’s also genetically valuable as an unrepresented founder. While Thong Dee is settled in the Dubbo herd, realistic conversations need to be had about her future role in this herd. With Porntip, Anjalee and Kanlaya breeding; is Thong Dee needed? Are her ties to any of these cows so strong, that being transferred to Dubbo would be of detriment to her welfare? On the basis of the information we have available, I believe Thong Dee would assimilate well into Monarto’s herd (even more so if reunited with Pak Boon) and be an asset to their breeding programme. It would give Monarto two unrelated founder females, negating the need to introduce additional unrelated cows (now or in the foreseeable future). While Monarto have stated two additional cows (not three) will be joining their herd, I’m optimistic the eventual plan could be for Pak Boon, Thong Dee AND Tang Mo to transfer to Monarto. Thong Dee and Tang Mo had a close relationship at Taronga and unless there’s reason to believe Tang Mo wouldn’t integrate with Burma and Permai, then I anticipate no issues with her integration. It would prevent integrating Tang Mo and Anjalee, which could potentially be problematic; and add females to Monarto’s matriarchal herd (something Dubbo doesn’t need).
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Update First of all, a huge thank you to @Abbey for providing the following update from her visit this week: Anjalee is currently the only cow at Dubbo with a breeding recommendation. At this point in time Porntip and Thong Dee don’t have breeding recommendations. Anjalee will be given the opportunity to breed with Gung and Pathi Harn (i.e. no bull has been identified over the other). It’s a priority to get her breeding considering her age and status as an unrepresented founder to the region. Both Taronga Western Plains Zoo and Monarto Safari Park are being considered as destinations for Pak Boon and Tang Mo. The options are being weighed against the value of reuniting the four Taronga cows (as was the original plan) versus growing the herd at Monarto. The plan is for Kanlaya to welcome her first calf around the age of 14 years (2032). Dubbo currently has the capacity to grow the herd into double-digits. If an expansion occurred in the future, it would be in the area towards the current zebra exhibit.
I will add my thoughts here to avoid my interpretations being mixed with confirmed facts (above): Thong Dee last produced a calf in 2016, so the fact she does not currently have a breeding recommendation implies she will be retired from the breeding programme. She’s well represented with two sons and in addition to the three calves Luk Chai sired at Melbourne Zoo, I was advised the plan is for him to sire the next cohort of calves at Werribee. There’s other breeding priorities at Dubbo. I really hope Pak Boon and Tang Mo go to Monarto Safari Park. They have the space to maximise use of Pak Boon (a valuable founder cow) and so I hope this is prioritised for the sake of the regional breeding programme. If not, it will leave Monarto in an interesting predicament with regards to the future of their herd. Werribee are decades away from being able to facilitate a split of their herd and importing cows from Europe (another option) seems counter-productive when they’d be of less genetic value (globally) than our region’s cows. It’s no doubt desirable to breed bull calves other regions would potentially want to import. I suspect whether Porntip breeds again will be influenced by the decision on where to transfer Pak Boon and Tang Mo. She last bred in 2018, so the situation isn’t as urgent as Thong Dee’s, but something to consider in the near future. They may well end up with a two year age gap between her calf and Anjalee’s, which we can likely expect around 2025 (if Anjalee conceives this year). I believe Porntip having a calf would be beneficial to Kanlaya, though she’s formed a close bond with Anjalee and will no doubt learn maternal skills via her calf. I had hoped Kanlaya would welcome her first calf at the age of 12 years, as Mali did at the end of 2022; but it’s good to see a plan already in place for her to conceive at this age, welcoming her first calf around 2032. Since there’s no reason to believe Porntip would have a fourth calf, I anticipate Anjalee will be the only breeding female in the herd by then, so it’ll be interesting to see if they synchronise her having a calf that year too (approx seven year birth interval). This could even explain the reason behind Kanlaya producing her first calf at 14 years.
It's interesting to see that Dubbo has capacity to potentially double the herd. I wonder if this on current capacity, expected capacity with the new barn. Or whether this is expected with an expansion into the zebra exhibit. I would make sense In the future to redesign/ expand the paddock set ups not only for more space but to refurb the areas around the exhibits and make them look better. With the larger savannah being planned, it is a bit redundant to have zebras out there and then an exhibit dedicated to zebra.
I would assume that’s with the new barn as the existing paddocks are sufficient to manage an expansion of the matriarchal herd, but the new barn would be needed to manage a larger herd indoors for an extended period. They currently (including juveniles) have three bulls and four cows and the acquisition of Pak Boon and Tang Mo would increase their holdings to nine elephants, plus breeding Anjalee. I consider it likely Pak Boon and Tang Mo will go to Monarto however, meaning the increase at Dubbo would likely be more incremental. Perhaps Anjalee giving birth 2025; Porntip 2027; and then Anjalee and Kanlaya in 2032. This would take them to 11 elephants (including calves), which is certainly manageable - especially with the new barn.
I find it really curious that they have said this. As both Werribee and Monarto have never had an emphasis on this. And both of there climates are colder and hotter then what Dubbo itself see's. It's positive to see that they are at least thinking about expansion and future movement in that direction. Im half expecting an odd decision with the movement of females. The split that they did initially was odd in and of itself, as thong dee and tang mo were the closest and yet they split them up. In favour of current arrangements. I wouldn't be surprised if thong dee and tang mo go to Monarto. Pak boon retained for Dubbo or sent to Monarto.
It appears there’s no intention to transfer Thong Dee out of Dubbo. Pak Boon and Tang Mo will either go to Dubbo or they’ll go to Monarto. I’ve said all along that Thong Dee joining Pak Boon and Tang Mo at Monarto makes sense. With Anjalee now in the mix, it doesn’t make sense for Pak Boon and Tang Mo to join the Dubbo herd; and Pak Boon would have to concede her role as matriarch to Porntip if they were reunited. I agree it’s a shame the split couldn’t have been Porntip/Pak Boon and Thong Dee/Tang Mo. Porntip and Thong Dee both having sons ultimately determined their fate of transferring to Dubbo together. They had the space to manage multiple bulls and when Gung transferred out, one of the remaining cows was non viable as a breeder (unaffected by having no bull).
If they do transfer out thong dee that gives them 3 breeding females to focus on going forward when kanlaya becomes reproductive age. If they are factoring in the impact of the reunion of the elephants at this stage. It wouldn't surprise me to see thong dee shipped out. Depending on if Monarto are willing to take an extra cow. She was closest with tang mo where the pak boon and porntip of memory were close but not as close. With a slight rivalry over who is matriarch being there of memory. Onto of that, if they introduce another potential matriarch the effects that would have on anjalee especially if pregnant or with calf. Would have to be something they would be weighing up.
Dubbo has lower average lows than Werribee in all Winter months. Not by much, but Werribee's average low is 5*C in all three months whereas Dubbo is 4*C, 3*C, 4*C. Not a big difference, but I believe this is due to being inland rather than coastal.
Pak Boon transferring to Monarto Safari is beneficial to the breeding programme as a whole. If she’s Monarto’s only breeding cow, it’s likely she’d be allowed to breed at natural birth intervals. I’d expect to see her have at least three calves. If Pak Boon transferred to Dubbo, I doubt she’d have more than one. That would be a risky strategy with regards to succession of her line imo, when you consider EEHV has to date killed two adolescents in the region (Tukta and Man Jai). Pak Boon and Tang Mo have a good relationship and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Pak Boon assume the matriarch role at Monarto over Burma and Permai. If they both transferred to Dubbo, Pak Boon would need to concede dominance to Porntip; and both would need to establish their place in the herd alongside Thong Dee and Anjalee, the latter of whom they’ve never met and could be either pregnant or have a young calf at foot. It has the potential to cause a lot of stress in the herd. Porntip assumed the role of matriarch early on in the formation of Taronga’s herd. Initially Thong Dee didn’t integrate as well as the others due to her background (she lived as a single elephant), but the efforts of the team helped her make the adjustment. Gung had a fondness for Thong Dee from early on, possibly because she was the only cow he could dominate due to his small size. Even Tang Mo was too much for him in the early days!
Im surprised they are considering Porntip and Tang mo for western plains. Kanlaya is right in the hit zone for EEHV. And the stress of new elephants could be enough stress to flair it up. Im surprised that thong dee doesn't have a breeding recomendation with parti harn. That would if a male was born have the genetic difference to Luk chai. And by the time a male calf would be of breeding age placement overseas wouldn't be a huge issue. Considering north americas asian population is quite old, and will be needing males soon. They have males on site for natural breeding which gives the best chance of a female calf which they could do with. Otherwise all matrilineal lines will all have very similar genetics as they will depend from only a limited number of females. It would be beneficial to widen the gene pools while they have the chance.
I agree. Kanlaya represents their one and only matrilineal line. Bar the addition of Anjalee, losing Kanlaya would effectively take Taronga’s herds back to the starting point of 2006 - with all four cows 18 years older. It would be beyond devastating. It’s really now or never for Thong Dee. If she doesn’t conceive in the next couple of years, then the decision to cease breeding from her will become irreversible. I’d prefer to see her transferred to Monarto where she can be paired with the founder bull, Putra Mas. It appears at best he’ll be breeding with a single cow and remain significantly underrepresented compared to Gung and Bong Su (despite their respective losses).
With Gung only having Luk chai his representation isn't huge and would be the same as sutra mas once he breeds with porntip. If its not been to long for her to conceive again. Once kanlaya breeds and Puta mas sires offspring with porntip. The possibility is there for him to be more represented than Gung is.
I think you’re confusing Porntip with Pak Boon: Porntip (mother of Pathi Harn and Kanlaya) is at Dubbo and will remain there. She may or may not breed again. Pak Boon (no living offspring) is at Taronga, but may go to Monarto to breed with Putra Mas. If Porntip breeds for a third and final time at Dubbo, it would almost certainly be via a natural mating with Gung. She already has a calf to Bong Su and a calf to Putra Mas, so it would be beneficial for her to breed with Gung this time. This would create a second line from Gung outside of his two sons with Thong Dee. If Pak Boon transfers to Monarto, I imagine she would have two or three calves (all sired by Putra Mas). A new bull would then be transferred in to breed with their daughters.
With Thong Dee, I think it's the case of Dubbo considering how well represented she will be down the line. She has three grandchildren already, two of which are daughters who are almost guaranteed to breed down the line at Werribee. Alongside that, the plan is for Luk Chai to sire three more calves to each of the females once they arrive at Werribee. If they elect to breed Thong Dee again, there's no guarantee this won't be another bull who will effectively just be taking up space within the region which needs all the space we have. A daughter would be preferable, but even in that case, there's the debate of whether a daughter of Thong Dee would ever get the chance to breed too. Especially as Dubbo (with limited space) have bigger priorities - being Anjalee and Kanlaya down the line. In any case, the only case I can see her breeding again is if she is sent with Pak Boon to Monarto. Although I would be surprised if that was to happen; breaking up the cows again isn't the best choice imo. Especially when you consider the herd stability at Dubbo is crucial right now for Anjalee's breeding chances. With all that in mind, AI (with Putra Mas) is probably her only realistic option. But even then, I would be surprised if we see another AI breed calf in the region.
If they’re not careful, Gung and Thong Dee are gonna become the Nico and Meta of elephants! It sounds like Thong Dee will be retired from breeding (and remain at Dubbo); but in the event they did breed from her, I’d hope they’d at least breed her with Pathi Harn as a third son from Gung and Thong Dee would be completely unnecessary. We can likely rule out AI with Thong Dee via Putra Mas, as in that case, they might as well just send her to Dubbo. In any case, like you say, do Dubbo want three matrilineal lines in the events Thong Dee produced a daughter? Probably not. It’s ironic Taronga have the most female lines (four across their two zoos) while the larger facilities at Werribee and Monarto will have no more than two each. Melbourne’s keepers advised there was a strong emphasis on natural breeding within the region going forward and there’s certainly the capability to implement this now we have a generation of young bulls growing up with excellent socialisation. Bong Su was a relic of an era where behavioural non breeders were common (Heman being another) and especially with the open range zoos and mentorship of young bulls, this will surely become a thing of the past.
Very fair point and I imagine this is a very big contributing factor as to them electing to not breed Thong Dee at the moment. Especially with the limited space they have it's important they're able to have the space going forward for priority females like Anjalee and Kanlaya. The only situation I think we can see Thong Dee breeding again is if Anjalee fails to conceive. Then Dubbo might be more inclined to allow Thong Dee to breed again to give Dubbo two matrilineal lines (in the hope of a daughter). But then again, by that time it may be too late for her anyways - she's now gone seven years since her last calf. If they wish to breed from her again, it would have to be soon.
That’s certainly a possibility as Anjalee is an unproven breeding cow at this stage. I’m willing to dismiss her failure to conceive at Taronga as being due to the complications of her irregular cycle, which shouldn’t be a hindrance when they have bulls on site, but there’s no guarantees. Unfortunately the time taken to ascertain this may elapse with Thong Dee becoming non-viable, but that’s a risk they may have to take. There’ll also be of urgency to get Pak Boon on site and breeding at Monarto if that eventuates as the plan. If she can transfer in 2025, I don’t foresee any issues considering her last calf was in 2017. It’ll be a similar birth interval between Dokoon’s last two calves (nine years).
