Hannover zoo has just announced that 4 of their elephants are pregnant and due in 2010. Seems Nikolai has been busy! Sayang - April Farina - May Manari - July/August Califa - August Also Khiang Hnin Hnin is rumored to be pregnant...so they could possibly have 5 elephant calves at once! But Jenny and Dunja have recently been sent to Belfast which is abit of a shock. It seems Hannover is as rumored becoming an elephant factory and with Farina and Califa going to give birth when they're only 7! not sure i agree with what they are doing to be honest.
In the wild wouldnt the same happen? Or do bull elephants not mate with underage cows, even if they are menstruating?
Indeed, if they aren't ready to get pregnant then their bodies won't allow them to come into season, so there's no harm in them getting pregnant at this age even if it does seem a bit young. And if they're pregnant now then they will almost be 10 by the time they have their babies.
Probably with females breeding this early in life is there is a chance that the Bull elephant present at the zoo is still their father, because captive elephants seem to become mature earlier in life than there wild counterparts. Chester have had this problem in the past.
There are many points to this if cows are not bread at a young age they may develope problems in later life with their reproductive systems.There is also a risk that the cow may undergo delivery problems,at such a young age and may lose the calf or worse still may die herself. This is why we must learn as much as posible about these animals and how they reproduce and at what age, before we take these steps.
Califa and Farina will be 7 when their calves are born, not "nearly 10". The father is Nicolai, who is not related to them. Their father Calvin was sent away in 2008, I guess the zoo knew that Califa and Farina were already fertile so that they could exchange the bull in time.
Not sure but it is also seen early in humans, well at least in the UK. I always thought that weight had a big impact on when females started to cycle but not sure if this holds true in elephants?
The age at which they start cycling is probably realted to their overall condition. With an easier life with better diet and wieght in captivity they can put more of their bodies resources into breeding. But with to 2 young females not fully grown it can put way too much stain on their bodies with muscles and bone structures which are not fully developed yet, so it can be dangerous in the birth process and can lead to problems in later life. I think there has been some reserch saying that females that gave birth early in life have a shorter life expectancy...if i remember right. Also wild females only have their first calf between 10 - 15 years. They were both born in 2003 at hannover so will be 7 when they calf.
Thoose charming young UK girls who get pregnant at a young age A whole generation of "Vicky Pollards"
Sayang's calf, the female was named Saphira almost a month ago. Farina's calf the male, was born 4 days after and yet still has no name ( that I'm aware of) does anyone know the naming process for this little guy? Public competition? or maybe keepers just found a suitable name yet?
After competition Farina´s son was named yesterday "NUKA", which means "little brother". Kleiner Bruder Nuka Aktuelle Nachricht Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover
Just read on Elephant Encyclopadia that Califa's mother Manari has had (6/8/2010) her calf too. No other information at the moment, but here's hoping it's girl!
