We can live in hope since it mentions: "we are part through the improvement of our elephant house and paddocks, with a new all weather sand paddock already completed". When will they get serious with this AI though cause good conditioning can take ages to accomplish?
I'm quite sure they have no plans to part with their elephants- the house and paddocks are modern and they only recently enlarged or upgraded the outside area. I just wish they could be persuaded by EEP or otherwise, to exchange the existing four breeding age females for 'exhibit- only' animals. I don't feel the proposed 'AI attempts (if in fact they happen), are sufficient justification for keeping the present animals.
I argee Grant, what happened to the Port Lypmnes Asian elephants? did they ship them to other zoos breeding this species
The(3?) older ones- which were their original females, went to a 'sanctuary' somewhere in Spain or Majorca. I imagine they are in 'retirement' there, though I think 'Luka' the bull went with them. The two younger females(which they imported more recently from Rotterdam,) plus the female calf born at PL have been sent to Antwerp. Maybe one of our European members can outline the future for them..
The youngish females Yu Yu Yin and Khaing Phyo Phyo were shipped to Antwerpen in May 2006. Bull Alexander ex Blijdorp Zoo Rotterdam was sent there on short term breeding loan in April 2007. He has been bred to both incoming females and for sure K P P is pregnant and due in April 2009. The elder females Rani and Buria at Benidorm Terra Natura came in with Luka in July 2006. Actually, they rejoined their erstwhile companions Yasmin, Motki and Tanya. Luka's prime task is to breed with the 3 youngest females at Benidorm, Khaing Soe Soe, La Grande and Momo. I have not had any news on breeding over there.
That's good news about Luka. He was underused at Port Lympne as so many births didn't survive- in fact only the female calf now at Antwerp. I hope they can handle him okay as he's known to be a dangerouis male (he killed two keepers in Belgrade...) Regarding the younger females and bull Alex. Does ANtwerp have a good facility for Elephants or are they living in an old style Elephant House there?
I really think this should go in the European elephants thread. So, I copied this and my answer there.
Karishma at Whipsnade. Karishma, the female sent from Twycross to Whipsnade, to elephant 'boot camp' has settled in fine. She lives with two of the other females and the older calf 'Euan'(the four Whipsnade females live mainly as two 'pairs' of friends She is smaller than the two much older females(Azeeza and Mia) but not that much. SHe has been mixed with the bull okay. She does not cycle at present- possibly due to the stress of being moved. Hopefully that will change with time.
didn't know where else to stick this, twycross have received £3million pounds from a local development agency which puts in place the £11million needed to build their new visitor centre and entrance complex, this area will also include a large aviary and an enclosure for snow leopard, this was on the bbc news website.
£11 million, blimey, this is going to be some visitor centre! Twycross have the luxury of sitting on some pretty large cash reserves so it's good to hear they will be using them to improve the infrastructure of the zoo. Hopefully they will resist the temptation to throw up another red brick institutional building and employ a decent architect! Shame they don't put a bit more of their money into primate conservation in the field though.
Hard to see much from the tiny photo, but you can make out the enclosures for birds and snow leopards. Seems like most of the money will go on the restaurant, gift shop and visitor facilities.
So, if she was inseminated in August .. it would now be time for the result But on the issue: why if you seriously go for AI and wish to breed your elephants .. why not be bold and try for all 3 cows. If the elder cows Tonzi and Minbu are not brought out to a bull shortly, it will be another great waste story for Twycross Zoo (as is the case with gorillas too)
would Twycross not send tonzi and minbu back to chester after the phenomenal first time success last time?
This is all just so stupid, and the elephants are being denied the opportunity to breed normally, or socialise with a male, as a result.... Its been going on far too long now
