The Elephants have arrived! Omaha gets theirs next: Elephants arrive at Sedgwick County Zoo (+video) | The Wichita Eagle
The Elephants have names! They are Simunye, who is 18-20 years old and mother to Titan, who is the Bull and is 6-7 years old, Arusi, a 6-7 year old, Zuberi, who is 7-8 years old, Xolani, and Talia, who are both 6-7 years old. I wonder what will happen with Titan when he hits puberty and gets kicked out.
More than likely they will keep Titan on as their breeding bull. His only familial relation is to his mother, there are 5 other unrelated females for him to mate with. Also given the age at which they were brought together, I don't think they will have major issues with Stephanie and the other young females rejecting him as a breeding bull. I honestly don't foresee them transferring him any time soon. They own him outright, his is extremely genetically valuable, and there are 4 females whom he has the potential to produce calves with in the next 5-8 years. Granted, you never know, they may bring in a new male to breed with the maturing girls in the next couple of years, but I think Titan will be calling the zoo home for quite some time.
I'd like to know how related this import of Swaziland elephants is to the last group of elephants imported by San Diego and Lowry Park.
@Hyak_II, my observations rest on the notion of the age of the bull being inadequate for breeding generally. He is a pubescent sub-adult of sorts right now age-wise. Under natural conditions, an adult bull of breeding age is 22-25 years of age minimum. The current bull being the same age as most other cows and his mother in the group is not helping it either. I honestly do hope they may be able to rectify the current set up in future.
The Elephant Exhibit has been named: Sedgwick County Zoo reveals official name of new elephant exhibit | KSN-TV I personally hope that they bring in a breeding age Bull in the near future if at all possible. Not only could he jump start the breeding program he could also provide some guidance to Titain when he reaches puberty.
A video of the new elephant habitat. Looks very nice from what I saw! Sneak peek of Sedgwick County Zoo's new elephant exhibit
Given that these animals arrived stateside in sub-optimal condition, it should in the best interest of the animals' welfare that breeding probably not take place for a few years until their respective body condition improves.
I believe that the zoos exaggerate the "the elephants are too thin" angle. Because seriously, look at the pictures and the footage available, they all look fine to me. Not fat - unlike many elephants in US zoos - but not too thin either. Just like healthy elephants. Which makes sense, because they have been in captivity (bomas) for around a year before they were brought to the US, and a year is enough time to fatten up a starving elephant! But considering that the draught in Swaziland/ South Africa only got really bad AFTER the elephants were caught and placed into bomas, I seriously doubt that they ever were starving at all. This whole story of "rescue" and that the elephants had to go to make "room for rhinos" doesn`t make any sense. These zoos obviously believe that it is ethically and morally ok to capture wild elephants for display in US zoos, and they should at least stand by that opinion and not make up ploys why they had to "rescue" these animals.
Elephant, Stephanie, has begun introductions to her new herd. Longtime Sedgwick Co. Zoo elephant meets new arrivals
Are they managing the young bull elephant separately? They only mention 5 other elephant with their long time female. I believe they had 6 new arrivals.
I'm glad that they are getting to know each other. I was hoping that they would provide Stephanie with some company and hopefully she can provide them with some Grandmotherly guidance.
The article said it was the younger elephants. Perhaps they are keeping the adult female and Stephanie separate until Stephanie settles with the younger animals and then let the adults settle who is the boss without possible bullying. On the other hand maybe the bull hasn't been introduced yet either. Or the author wrote down the wrong number because six elephants arrived to join Stephanie.
Gorillas, Matt and Barika, are expecting the zoo's first gorilla infant due sometime late summer or early autumn. Gorilla at Sedgwick County Zoo expecting to deliver a baby this summer | The Wichita Eagle
Okapis, Likimi and Ulimi, welcomed their first female calf, Amani at the end of May. New okapi calf born at the Sedgwick County Zoo | KSN-TV
