North American African Elephant Reproduction

The purpose of this thread is to address the state of African elephant reproduction in North America, to suggest ways to improve breeding between zoos, and to determine potential breeding candidates.

Many zoos in North America are either committing to their elephant program by building a new state of the art enclosure or ending their elephant program by phasing out their elephants. Those committed to exhibiting elephants are more or less dedicated to breeding elephants as well. Unfortunately, in the past decade, fewer and fewer African elephants have been born in North America. Since 2010, 17 African elephant calves have been born successfully and of those, 16 are currently alive. In addition, the North American African elephant population is gradually aging making breeding much more challenging. If a female elephant does not become pregnant by age 25, it’s highly unlikely that she can successfully carry the pregnancy without complication. Further, North American zoos who have African elephants are not working together to bolster the captive population. Although many North American zoos have acquired African elephants from other institutions for breeding, very few elephants are becoming pregnant. Currently, three African elephants are pregnant; Umngani and Ndula at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Mikki at the Louisville Zoo. Ultimately, North American zoos committed to African elephant reproduction need to focus their attention on breeding their elephants by collaborating with other institutions and evaluating African elephants of breeding age.

For decades, zoos in North America have been able to breed African elephants with success through natural reproduction and artificial insemination. However, the number of births in North America are gradually decreasing. Even though the social understanding of elephants has greatly improved, zoos continue to keep unrelated elephants together. This is understandable as elephants need the companionship of others but causes imbalance in the hierarchy. Dominant elephants will harass inferior elephants causing stress and anxiety within the artificial herd. For this reason, zoos should strive to keep females in matriarchal herds containing mothers, daughters, and calves. By keeping females in a matriarchal herd, it promotes natural behaviors and strengthens the bond between members of the herd. Further, zoos should work toward only moving males from institution to institution for breeding purposes. By moving the males, this enables matriarchal herds to stay intact and encourages the natural movement of bulls between herds. Moreover, zoos should strive to keep males in either bachelor herds or as a breeding male. By keeping males in a bachelor herd, it allows them to socialize with others of the same gender and learn the necessary skills to become an adult male. Overall, North American zoos can improve breeding by forming matriarchal and bachelor herds which promotes naturalistic social structures and enables zoos to work towards a common goal of building a sustainable population.

In North America, there are currently 205 (40.165) African elephants as of March 2018. Of those 205 African elephants, only 93 (37.56) are considered potential breeding candidates. The 93 (37.56) African elephants were chosen based on age, fertility, and breeding potential.

The 37 male and 56 female African elephants selected are:

0.0 Name (Father x Mother) Date of Birth (Location)

1.0 C’sar 1974-00-00 (North Carolina Zoo)
1.0 Jackson 1976-00-00 (International Conservation Center)
1.0 Willy 1978-00-00 (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo)
1.0 Tonka 1979-00-00 (Knoxville Zoo)
1.0 Toby 1980-00-00 (Grant’s Farm)
1.0 Bulwagi (Peter x Mama) 1981-03-03 (Birmingham Zoo)
1.0 Maclean 1982-00-00 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
1.0 Artie 1983-00-00 (North Carolina Zoo)
1.0 Tuffy 1983-00-00 (Maryland Zoo)
1.0 Junot 1983-00-00 (Parc Safari)
1.0 Msholo 1989-00-00 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Mabhulane 1990-00-00 (Reid Park Zoo)
1.0 Sdudla 1990-00-00 (Tampa Zoo)
1.0 Ali 1991-00-00 (Jacksonville Zoo)
1.0 Tutume (Tembo x Sabah) 1999-04-09 (Granby Zoo)
1.0 Ajani (Maclean x Ivory) 2000-08-04 (Birmingham Zoo)
1.0 Callee (Jackson x Savannah) 2000-09-22 (Birmingham Zoo)
1.0 Maximus (Willie x Lil Felix) 2003-03-16 (Grant’s Farm)
1.0 Louie (Bulwagi x Renee) 2003-04-30 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
1.0 Tendaji 2003-00-00 (Dallas Zoo)
1.0 Vusmusi (Unknown x Ndula) 2004-02-23 (Fresno Chaffee Zoo)
1.0 Tamani (Bulwagi x Ellie) 2005-10-17 (Kansas City Zoo)
1.0 Kedar (Bulwagi x Kubwa) 2005-10-18 (Indianapolis Zoo)
1.0 Thabo Umasai (Tembo x Drumbo) 2006-02-04 (Pittsburgh Zoo)
1.0 Impunga (Mabhulane x Litsemba) 2007-03-11 (Reid Park Zoo)
1.0 Samson (Willie x Lil Felix) 2008-03-19 (Maryland Zoo)
1.0 Tsavo (Jackson x Moyo) 2008-06-28 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
1.0 Ingadze (Mabhulane x Umngani) 2009-03-13 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Titane (Unknown x Simunye) 2009-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
1.0 Lutsandvo (Mabhulane x Ndula) 2010-02-14 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Macembe (Mabhulane x Swazi) 2010-04-12 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Emanti (Mabhulane x Umoya) 2010-05-12 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Sundzu (Mabhulane x Litsemba) 2010-12-27 (Reid Park Zoo)
1.0 Lucas (Jackson x Renee) 2011-06-03 (Toledo Zoo)
1.0 Jabali (Ali x Vasha) 2011-08-24 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
1.0 Inhlonipho (Mabhulane x Umngani) 2011-09-26 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
1.0 Ajabu (Unknown x Mlilo) 2016-05-14 (Dallas Zoo)

0.1 Kubwa 1976-00-00 (Indianapolis Zoo)^
0.1 Renee 1979-00-00 (Toledo Zoo)^
0.1 Moja (Chico x Wankie) 1982-05-24 (Wildlife Safari)^
0.1 Ivory 1982-00-00 (Indianapolis Zoo)
0.1 Lil Felix 1983-00-00 (Maryland Zoo)^
0.1 Savannah 1983-00-00 (Pittsburgh Zoo)^
0.1 Donna 1984-00-00 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
0.1 Tanya 1984-00-00 (Montgomery Zoo)^
0.1 Asali (Macho x Juju) 1985-08-29 (Memphis Zoo)^
0.1 Mikki 1985-00-00 (Louisville Zoo)
0.1 Vasha 1985-00-00 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)^
0.1 Christi 1986-00-00 (Hogle Zoo)^
0.1 Litsemba 1990-00-00 (Reid Park Zoo)
0.1 Ndula 1990-00-00 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Swazi 1990-00-00 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Umngani 1990-00-00 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Lungile 1991-00-00 (Reid Park Zoo)^
0.1 Matjeka 1991-00-00 (Tampa Zoo)
0.1 Thandi 1991-00-00 (International Conservation Center)*
0.1 Mbali 1992-00-00 (Tampa Zoo)
0.1 Jayei 1992-00-00 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
0.1 Sukiri 1993-00-00 (International Conservation Center)*
0.1 Seeni 1993-00-00 (International Conservation Center)
0.1 Nolwazi 1994-00-00 (Dallas Zoo)
0.1 Simunye 1997-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
0.1 Victoria (Jackson x Moja) 1999-09-12 (Pittsburgh Zoo)
0.1 Batir (Willie x Tonga) 2002-01-21 (North Carolina Zoo)
0.1 Mlilo 2003-00-00 (Dallas Zoo)
0.1 Zola 2003-00-00 (Dallas Zoo)
0.1 Kianga (Jackson x Vasha) 2004-07-06 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
0.1 Kiki 2004-00-00 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
0.1 Nidirah (Jackson x Donna) 2005-12-19 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
0.1 Zahara (Ali x Ivory) 2006-08-31 (Indianapolis Zoo)
0.1 Khosi (Mabhulane x Umngani) 2006-09-11 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Phakamile (Mabhulane x Umoya) 2007-09-19 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Tonji (Sdudla x Tanya) 2007-11-07 (Montgomery Zoo)
0.1 Miss Bets (Willie x Amy) 2007-12-08 (Fresno Chaffee Zoo)
0.1 Angelina (Jackson x Savannah) 2008-07-09 (Pittsburgh Zoo)
0.1 Zuri (Jackson x Moja) 2008-07-25 (Pittsburgh Zoo)
0.1 Claire 2008-00-00 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
0.1 Zuberi 2008-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
0.1 Zuri (Jackson x Christi) 2009-08-10 (Hogle Zoo)
0.1 Arusi 2009-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
0.1 Xolani 2009-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
0.1 Amahle (Unknown x Nolwazi) 2009-00-00 (Dallas Zoo)
0.1 Luna (Maclean x Donna) 2010-05-20 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
0.1 Talia 2010-00-00 (Sedgwick County Zoo)
0.1 Lolly 2010-00-00 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
0.1 Kalina (Jackson x Kubwa) 2011-07-20 (Indianapolis Zoo)
0.1 Omma (Unknown x Jayei) 2011-00-00 (Henry Doorly Zoo)
0.1 Nyah (Jackson x Ivory) 2012-06-28 (Indianapolis Zoo)
0.1 Qinisa (Mabhulane x Swazi) 2012-08-28 (San Diego Zoo Safari Park)
0.1 Mpumi (Sdudla x Mbali) 2012-12-23 (Tampa Zoo)
0.1 Mavi (Sdudla x Matjeka) 2013-07-29 (Tampa Zoo)
0.1 Nandi (Mabhulane x Litsemba) 2014-08-20 (Reid Park Zoo)
0.1 Stella (Maclean x Donna) 2017-01-04 (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

* Females older than 25 that have not reproduced but possibly could depending on fertility
^ Females who have reproduced but have not become pregnant in 6 years or more

With only 93 (37.56) African elephants considered potential breeding candidates, pairing must be well thought out before any mating occurs to prevent inbreeding and to ensure a sustainable population.

Hopefully this thread will help raise awareness of African elephant reproduction in North America. All questions, comments, and suggestions are welcome.

 

Kubwa is 42, wouldn’t she be considered too old?

 

I would consider Kubwa to be reproductively viable as she produced a calf in July of 2011, she conceived three times through artificial insemination, and once an elephant has reproduced, they can conceive until their 50 years old.

Sources: Elephant Life Cycle & Indianapolis Zoo gets new 238-pound baby elephant

 

Who would you best recommend her and Ivory with if they were Artificially Inseminated again?

 

At this moment in time, I'm not sure but I have intentions on posting content regarding breeding recommendations once I do further research.

 

I have to say, you’re probably one of the most prepared members I talked to here! You have all the information and sources!

 

Thank you . I'm happy to see others who share the same interest as me.

 

What about the elephants at Oakland? They did manage to get calves but they ended up dying. Are they still considered apart of the program?

 

The Oakland Zoo currently has 1.3 African elephants that are either post reproductive or potentially invaluable to the North American African elephant breeding program.

0.1 Dunda 1969-00-00
Dunda has never reproduced and at 49 years old, she is far past her prime.

0.1 Lisa 1977-00-00
Lisa has produced three calves (1.0 Kijana 1995-11-03, 1.0 Unnamed 1998-05-21, and 1.0 Dohani 2001-08-30) but all three died in infancy and at 41 years old, she is past her prime.

0.1 Donna 1980-00-00
Donna has produced two calves (1.0 Unnamed 1995-11-21 and 0.1 Unnamed 1999-09-18) but both died in infancy and at 38 years old, she is past her prime.

1.0 Osh (Yossi x Sara) 1994-05-24
Osh has never reproduced and he's inbred as his parents share the same father.

Since Lisa and Donna have not reproduced in nearly two decades, both are considered post reproductive. Even though Osh is inbred, he could potentially participate in the breeding program as his genetics are not represented in North America but that will depend on his fertility.

 

I was kinda hoping for a baby elephant in the future but oh well. Who do you think Osh should pair with (Assuiming he can participate without issue in the program)?

 

At this moment in time, I'm not sure but I have intentions on posting content regarding breeding recommendations once I do further research.

 

Does anyone know if the Dallas Zoo will breed Tendaji with Nolwazi, Mlilo, Zola, and possibly Amahle? Because I know that in the last import, Mabhulane and Sdudla were bred with other females from the import so I would think he is recommended but could someone clarify?

 

With the passing of 1.0 Thabo Umasai, the potential breeding candidates now consist of 92 (36.56) African elephants.

 

Would Ellie(Lowry Park Zoo) be considered reproductive?

 

I would consider Ellie to be post reproductive as the last time she reproduced was in October of 2005 with the birth of Tamani and she has not become pregnant since despite having the opportunity to breed with Sdudla. Ultimately, information on Ellie's fertility will dictate whether she's reproductive.

 

PETA opposes Pittsburgh Zoo application to import elephant semen from Canada

 

But he will be soon. The Sedgwick County Zoo will welcome a bull elephant | The Wichita Eagle

 

My bad! I didn’t see he was on his way till after that post.

 

11-year-old elephant dies unexpectedly at Tucson's Reid Park Zoo

 

With the passing of 1.0 Impunga, the potential breeding candidates now consist of 91 (35.56) African elephants.