Australian and ( NZ) Elephants news and discussion

Other factors such as the position of the calf would have combined with his size to give the outcome it did. Kulab was also a young, first time mother aged 10 years.

Ongard remains the heaviest calf to date in the region. Bong Su generally sired heavier calves than the other founder bulls:

Birth Weights of Elephant Calves in Australian Zoos

Gung’s Calves:

1.0 Luk Chai born 2009 (Thong Dee): 96kg
0.1 Tukta born 2010 (Pak Boon): 120kg
1.0 Sabai born 2016 (Thong Dee): 101kg
1.0 Jai Dee born 2017 (Pak Boon): 130kg

Bong Su’s Calves:

0.1 Mali born 2010 (Dokoon): 111kg
1.0 Pathi Harn born 2010 (Porntip): 116kg
1.0 Ongard born 2010 (Kulab): 142 kg
1.0 Man Jai born 2013 (Dokoon): 131kg
1.0 Sanook born 2013 (Num Oi): 131kg

Putra Mas’ Calves:

0.1 Willow born 2016 (Num Oi): 103kg
0.1 Kanlaya born 2018 (Porntip): 120kg

 

Not really, most males are normally born at about 120-130kg from what I have heard. Ongard was also the wrong way around; as was Mali (Ongard’s half sister) eight months earlier. Another factor was that Kulab was only about 10 years old at Ongard’s birth.

 

Its a shame then that Ongard was exported, since it removed a founder line.

 

He went to where (cannot now remember)?

 

Zoo Miami. Ongard is owned by San Diego Zoo Global, who have loaned him on breeding loan to Zoo Miami since his arrival in the USA in 2018.

At the time it was stated female elephants would be brought to Zoo Miami to breed with Ongard; while he would contribute to the regional breeding programme through AI. Disappointingly, neither have happened (three years on).

 

That is the infuriating part and makes you shake your head in disbelief.

I know full well the US program urgently needs female cow elephants and a few unrelated bulls.

 

Burma the Asian Elephant at Dubbo has been put to sleep due to long-term arthritis problems:

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The end of an era, as the last elephant from Taronga’s old herd passes away. Many followed them over the decades - some through visiting Taronga as a kid; others like me through history books about Taronga, when the elephants dwelled within the grounds of the heritage listed elephant temple.

Burma has lived a long and impressive 62 years; and while she was never integrated with the young breeding herd (imported 2006), she benefited greatly from her interactions through the fence with them at Dubbo. She was especially fond of Sabai by all accounts.

Vale Burma (1959-2021).

 

Devastating news. Heartbreaking more the less. She has been a member of the Taronga community for almost 40 years. Her death not only marks the end of the Taronga Zoo original Elephants era, but also the end of the original Western Plains elderly females era. She was obviously loved by so many, and my condolences are with the Taronga team.

Rest In Peace Burma

 

He may be the sire of Tupelo’s unborn calf at the Houston Zoo.

 

Rest in peace dear Burma.

 

Auckland's elephants will be moving to Australia. Anjalee will be moving to Taronga Western Plains Zoo to join the breeding herd and Burma with join the Sumatran herd at Australia Zoo here in Queensland:

 

Separating them!

 

I think it's a good decision. They are friends because there are no other elephants, so they have no other choice . And Burma could be in trouble at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. In my opinion, Burma will become a matriarch at the Australia Zoo, and Anjalee will probably join the new herd without any problems.

 

I agree. This is the best possible choice for both of them. It would of been well thought out by the people who cared for them daily. Burma now having four other younger elephants in her life that would not have happened other wise. Also the young Anjalee has a chance to breed with a proven bull instead of the AI which did not work for her to date!

 

Anjalee was chosen as a companion for Burma, due to having a similar (playful) personality. As Burma is getting older, she’s not always wanting to play; and understandably can’t match the energy levels of 14 year old Anjalee.

The best thing about the herd Burma is going into, is that she won’t be obliged to join in the younger elephant’s games if she feels like taking a back seat; but will have the option to if she wants to. Burma will instead be able to fulfill the more traditional role for an elephant of her age - either as the new matriarch; or a senior ‘aunty’ within the herd.

 

I thought this might be of interest to some. The most we have seen so far of Australia's Zoo elephants. There are a few aerial shots of their off-display paddock at the back of the zoo at 0:09.

Source: Australia Zoo's YouTube

 

This is quite a large area just above the new elephant barn with lots of bush land. If the zoo is building a raceway from the barn and holding paddocks to connect it to the display area its going to be quite a long distance to reach it.

 

Thats news for me, do you possibly have a source verifying she came from Saigon Zoo?