Join our zoo community

African Elephants in Europe

Discussion in 'Europe - General' started by bommel, 9 May 2018.

  1. bommel

    bommel Member

    Joined:
    11 Mar 2017
    Posts:
    8
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    There are some zoo's without a breeding bull, like Vienna zoo, Sosto zoo, Tierpark Berlin and Beauval. Does anyone know if they are getting a breeding bull soon?
     
  2. Hyak_II

    Hyak_II Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    19 Jan 2014
    Posts:
    1,435
    Location:
    Canada
    It is likely that Vienna and Beauval will be getting bulls in the nearish future, yes.

    For Sosto, they most likely won't get a bull for a few years yet. They just had a calf born recently and their breeding cow is young with two calves under her belt already, so they're in a good place to just let their breeding cow raise her two young offspring right now. That said, you never know!

    Berlin won't be getting any new elephants any time soon. As far as I'm aware their goal is to move most, if not all of their elephants off zoo grounds to renovate the pachyderm house in the nearish future.
     
  3. Elephant Enthusiast

    Elephant Enthusiast Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29 Nov 2017
    Posts:
    448
    Location:
    British Columbia, Canada
    0.1 Chupa is pregnant and is expecting in July/August of 2020 at the Erfurt Zoo. The sire is 1.0 Kibo (Erfurt Zoo)
    Chupa, the Erfurt Zoo's elephant, is pregnant | MDR.DE

    The birth of this calf is very significant for the European population as Chupa is the only viable offspring of her parents making her very genetically valuable. In addition, this will be the first calf produced by both Chupa and Kibo.

    With the publication of this news, Europe will have the birth of four African elephants between 2019 and 2020; Sabie (Wuppertal Zoo) who's expecting in March/April/May 2019, Sweni (Wuppertal Zoo) who's expecting in July 2020, Chupa (Erfurt Zoo) who's expecting in July/August 2020, and Tika (Wuppertal Zoo) who's expecting in September 2020.
     
  4. Elephant Enthusiast

    Elephant Enthusiast Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29 Nov 2017
    Posts:
    448
    Location:
    British Columbia, Canada
    Tiergarten Schönbrunn has announced that 0.1 Numbi is pregnant and expecting in July of 2019. The sire is 1.0 Steve (Phinda Game Reserve).
    Wir erwarten Elefanten-Nachwuchs | Tiergarten Schönbrunn

    The birth of this calf is very significant for the European population as Numbi conceived through artificial insemination using frozen sperm from a wild bull. In addition, the calf will be very genetically valuable as Numbi was wild born and Steve lives in the wild.

    With the publication of this news, Europe will have the birth of FIVE African elephants between 2019 and 2020:

    0.1 Sabie (Wuppertal Zoo) March - May 2019 (1.0 Tusker | Wuppertal Zoo)
    0.1 Numbi (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) July 2019 (1.0 Steve | Phinda Game Reserve)
    0.1 Sweni (Wuppertal Zoo) July 2020 (1.0 Tusker | Wuppertal Zoo)
    0.1 Chupa (Erfurt Zoo) July- August 2020 (1.0 Kibo | Erfurt Zoo)
    0.1 Tika (Wuppertal Zoo) September 2020 (1.0 Abu | Halle Zoo)
     
    FunkyGibbon and Elephantelephant like this.
  5. Hyak_II

    Hyak_II Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    19 Jan 2014
    Posts:
    1,435
    Location:
    Canada
    Interestingly, all of the animals who's pregnancies are public knowledge, all tie in to Wuppertal. Sabie and Sweni both live at Wuppertal, Tika lives and was born there as well. Numbi was originally imported by and lived a Wuppertal for many years, and the sire to Chupas pregnancy is Kibo, who was born at Wuppertal as well.
     
    Elephant Enthusiast likes this.
  6. Elephant Enthusiast

    Elephant Enthusiast Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    29 Nov 2017
    Posts:
    448
    Location:
    British Columbia, Canada
    0.1 Sabie gave birth to a male calf named Gus on April 20, 2019 at the Wuppertal Zoo. The sire is 1.0 Tusker (Wuppertal Zoo).
    Eleventh elephant calf born in Wuppertal herd | Wuppertal Zoo

    This is Sabie’s fifth calf (fifth viable calf) and Tusker’s fifteenth calf (thirteenth viable calf) and their fifth calf together.
     
    Elephantelephant likes this.
  7. lintworm

    lintworm Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    27 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    5,498
    Location:
    Europe
    Ouwehands Dierenpark and Wuppertal will switch Elephant bulls. Tooth will move to Germany and Tusker goes to the Netherlands.
     
  8. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    Rhenen and Wuppertal exchanged bulls. Tusker and Duna understand well, which is important for breeding.
     
  9. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    Does anyone know anything about breeding plans in Valencia and Lissabon? Both zoos have cows suitable for breeding and bulls. Calves are nowhere. It is possible that Jassa does not cover. In that case, I would suggest an exchange for another bull. They have six young cows and two bulls in Valencia. Kibo already has several offspring mainly in Boras and Jambo may already be able to reproduce. Conditions in warm Spanish are ideal for breeding. What's the problem?
     
  10. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    bug ....... Spain:D
     
  11. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    Valencia's Jambo would soon be leaving because of a problem with the leading cow Matla. It's a shame, because I thought he could take care of the calfs if Kibo wasn't doing it yet. Don't you know, is Valencia planning to bring a new bull instead of him?:(
     
  12. The Hedgehog

    The Hedgehog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    23 Aug 2017
    Posts:
    953
    Location:
    England
    Do you think Jambo will come to a zoo in England
     
  13. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    25 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    12,245
    Location:
    Amsterdam, Holland
    My impression is more that something is definitely amiss elephant management wise in Valencia full stop.
     
    Rajang-GOAT likes this.
  14. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    The only good option is the West Midlands. But outside England he could travel to:
    - Lissabon- exchange with bull Jassa
    - Sóstó- breeding with Kwanza
    - Wien- breeding with Mongu, Tonga and Numbi
    - Beauval- breeding with Ashanti, Tana and Ndala (but there is a plan to come
    Tembo of Colchester).
     
  15. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    But youtube videos show that Kibo is mating with the cows but is not successful. I would recommend placing 2 or 3 cows in another zoo. Perhaps the situation in the group would calm down and the remaining cows might be pregnant. I would have left Matla, Manti, and Maya in Valencia. Metzi, Muti, and maybe Miri, I'd place elsewhere. So Matla would become a clear matriarch because Manti is five years younger and Maya four years younger. Kibo is a quality breeding bull, so there will be no problem with him.
     
    Kifaru Bwana likes this.
  16. The Hedgehog

    The Hedgehog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    23 Aug 2017
    Posts:
    953
    Location:
    England
    What about Jambo going to Colchester
     
  17. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    It would be a pity that it would be better to place him in breeding females. Colchester is his native zoo and is therefore not suitable. Although cows have no kinship with him, they take care of him, and therefore they take him almost as their calf.
     
  18. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    25 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    12,245
    Location:
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Thanx for elaborating as with my observations I was merely wondering what the real issue is! This given that they have had proven bulls around! Have the cows been reproductively evaluated at all and are they cycling at all?

    I also would be inclined to transfer some females out to new breeding group
     
    Elephantelephant likes this.
  19. Elephantelephant

    Elephantelephant Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2019
    Posts:
    955
    Location:
    Europe
    The problem is that the device is nice but not enough for 6 cows. The interior has only 4 cows. Another factor may be that all 6 cows are at the same age and there may be tension in the group in terms of hierarchy because they do not have an older experienced cow. And that can prevent them from getting pregnant. Especially Matla (19) and Muti (18) should become pregnant. Hopefully bioparc will give up 2 or 3 cows and allow them to breed. The situation in their herd would calm down and the remaining cows might be pregnant.
     
    Kifaru Bwana likes this.
  20. Kifaru Bwana

    Kifaru Bwana Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    25 Jan 2006
    Posts:
    12,245
    Location:
    Amsterdam, Holland
    Right, so animal management wise you are saying their exhibit is insufficient for 7 adults ... not to mention any potential cows?!

    Question 1: Why does Bioparc not send out 2-4 elephant females and do they hold on for dear life and equally again as elsewhere losing their reproductive potential?
    Question 2: Why not bring in an experienced older female to become their matriarch?
    Question 3: Do they have elephant restraining facility and procedures to perform reproductive evaluations and or do hormonal treatments?
     
    Rajang-GOAT and Elephantelephant like this.