Chimelong Qingyuan Park (unopened) - News and Rumours

Three Indian rhinos have been imported by Chimelong. It was said that one was from Canada and two were from the UK.

 

Was this recent?

 

Any more news on this?

If Canada is involved it can only refer to Calgary, I guess. The UK does not have that many holders either: Chester, Edinburgh, WMSP and Whipsnade. Cannot see that many potential candidates there either. Perhaps Continental and via the UK?

 

Now more special news about this. A piece of news on October 30th about the new Chimelong Zoo that would open in 2017 involved this photo. No words mentioned Indian rhinoceros but a single picture was enough to make us excited. Someone heard that there were three, one from Canada, and two from the UK. The new hearsay said the UK zoo was Whipsnade.

 

There are a limited number of options in Canada to source an Indian rhino.

Toronto has a breeding pair in Asha and Vishnu but they have yet to reproduce. Neither of Toronto's Rhinos are going anywhere.

Then there is Calgary which just received male, Sabari, who was imported from the US.

That leaves African Lion Safari. According to the SSP they have a female, Clover, and males, Mike/Naboo/Arun and Ivan/Jibito. So clearly they have an Ivan. However what is curious is that Ivan was scheduled to breed with Clover as of the July 2015 SSP for Indian Rhinos. That being said African Lion Safari is a privately owned facility and if they owned Ivan (an interesting question seeing as he was born at San Diego Safari Park) they could sell or trade him.

Based on the AZA's studbook there is no other Ivan so African Lion Safari is the most likely place of origin.

 

So African Lion Safari didn't follow the decision of SSP?

 

Perhaps. All I can say is as of July 2015 the SSP wanted Ivan breeding with Clover. Whether the SSP agreed with the trade and switched the choice of breeding male to Mike I don't know. If African Lion Safari owns or owned Ivan they could do whatever they want with him. Just because the SSP says something should happen doesn't mean zoos have to listen. They are free to do what they want with the animals they own. SSP's are just recommendations. They can say breed, dont breed, transfer, dont transfer, where to transfer, things like that but its ultimately up to the zoo that owns the animal to do what they want. Most times they listen. The animals on loan are a different matter. I just cannot tell if Ivan is owned by African Lion Safari or San Diego Safari Park or Greater Vancouver Zoo (which did house Ivan as well). Ivan's parents both appear to belong to the Safari Park (mom was born there and dad was imported from India to the park) so I think they would have ownership but ownership can change upon transfers.

 

Thank you a lot TZFan! Very helpful information.

However the rhino is just name sounds like "Ivan". We still need to check.

 

Any further information on the 2 supposedly from the UK?

 

Just checked all European holders with a status change by comparing the latest International Studbook (2014.12.31) and Zootierliste information. It seems all changes prove to be either animal death or transfers between EAZA zoos. If we trust the timeliness and accuracy of Zootierliste there is little chance those two are from an UK or continental European zoo.

 

Planning to build the largest aviary in China?
World’s Largest Aviary and Tallest Theme Park Building in Works For Chimelong’s Newest Resort

 

5 hectares is massive. It'll be like Jurong's Waterfall Aviary where you could spend all day looking for something and never get a glimpse. Some will no doubt enjoy that more than others.

 

Roughly the same size as Bristol zoo.

Bristol Zoo - Satellite Map | ZooChat

 

Article about the new park / resort :

Construction starts on Qingyuan Chimelong International Forest Resort

 

Any idea what became of this? Chimelong doesn't have Indian rhinos on show currently.
EDIT: Presumably they are being held at the new park being built at Qingyuan.

 

P.R. China has just imported 1.1 from Nepal as part of a 2 pair import deal done at the highest diplomatic level.

LINK: Nepal to send 4 rhinos to China as gifts - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

I think so. Probably will open in 2019 if scheuduled.

 

The receiving collections are in Guangzhou and Shanghai. All seem to be relatively young calves. The first lot are a male Bharda (1,5 YoA) and female Rupasi (2 YoA). Export was start July 2018 and was reported elsewhere in Chinese press.

LINK: Nepal formally gifts two rhinos to China; two others to follow next year – OnlineKhabar

 

Another report on an August 17th, 2018 flight from Kathmandu to P.R. China.

LINK: Cage of one-horned rhino loaded in aircraft at ariport in Kathmandu - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

I wonder if it's Shanghai Zoo or Shanghai Wildlife Park (which I have still to visit).