Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Sumatran rhino move.

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jwer said:
Mostly because i would reckon they are among the richest Zoological society's in the world with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. For some reason or another i would trust them in doing such a thing.

I know what you mean, but ZSL/Whipsnade do not have a very enviable record with their Rhinos other than the Whites, which have been very successful. Although they have kept both Black and Indian Rhinos for very many years, and Whipsnade has a reputation as a 'Rhino' centre the breeding records for both species are actually very poor.

Black Rhino - A pair at each of ZSL & Whipsnade kept between the mid 1960's and the 1980's produced about 10 calves(5 at each location) of which only 2 survived to breed elsewhere. Since those founder animals died, replacement pairs at both locations failed to produce a single calf in the last fifteen years. Both places no longer keep Black Rhino.

Indian rhino- Whipsnade only- first(wildcaught)pair, 1950's onwards, produced two calves, no further breeding from either founders or offspring. 2nd(zooborn) pair, acquired 1970/80's produced 8 calves- 4 did not survive, one died as adult.

As you know, Whipsnade had an Indian calf born recently- the first in 17 years! Not something I would boast about...

Its not exactly in illustrious breeding record for either species. During the same time period Port Lympne's Black Rhino herd has grown to over twenty, with many births, few losses of calves and even some translocations back to the Wild. Rather a big difference in performances here. I think they could possibly have succeeded with the Sumatran rhinos too, if a younger female had been available at the time.
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re. the post about so called "elephant sanctuary" in Tennesse, it is a non breeding facility, which will not house males!, and practices very unsound management practices.
Having this as a model for anybody thinking of helping critically endangered species like asian elephants or sumatran rhinos would be NUTS, and tantamount to saying ," lets give up on the captive saftey net and put all our eggs in one basket in situ and HOPE political, natural and other disasters dont strike- and everything in the wild will hopefully be okay!"
Which unfortunatley does NOT happen!, if zoos had taken Javan or Caspain tigers 30 odd years ago we would still have options now.
Anyone looking for good ex citu large animal breeding models should look at the RIDDLE'S Arkansas Elephant Sanctuary or Ringlings Elephant Conservation Centre!
 
Toronto

Hi Ontario Zoo ,

Thanks for your input .
Are you able to tell us about anything that Metro Toronto Zoo , with their breeding of rhinos , elephants etc ?
I hear that the zoo is one of the better ones in North America , but we seem only to get news about Bronx or San Diego zoos .
 
Nigel I maybe able to help you there, the Toronto zoo holds a pair of Indian rhino which have had three calfs maybe four by now, there are pics of them on the form which i have posted a while ago, thats the breeding male and female and the other pic is of a young bull at three years old. Toronto dont hold any black rhino but do hold a trio of whites, I have not heard of them having any off spring.

The herd of African elephants started out with 1 male & 8 females which they did breed a number of young untill the adult male died and was not replaced so no futher breeding with them there are also some pics on the from of these elephants at Toronto zoo.
 
they are the most amazing animals indian rhinos, dora is so gentle, i worked with himat dubbo, the best part is under the folds of skin, is so smooth i mean its un describable, you just have to feel it to belive it
 
Yep i know what you mean Zoo_Boy, I felt under the skin folds of the ones at the Toronto zoo and if feels like a very soft leather glove.
 
The female at Chester(rosie A black rhino) felt really wierd. We also saw Quinto. He was very aggressive. The members woman was thinking about what to do If he charged. The health an Safety regurlations.
 
Zoo_Boy said:
they are the most amazing animals indian rhinos, dora is so gentle, i worked with himat dubbo, the best part is under the folds of skin, is so smooth i mean its un describable, you just have to feel it to belive it
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The amazing thing is that they are SOOOO unpredictable and aggressive and downright dangerous in the Wild- (I once spent a few weeks in Kaziranga Sanctuary, the most dangerous experience I've ever had...) yet so tame and gentle in captivity. I've said it before, but Whipsnade's original (1950's) male Mohan would allow people(filmstars or other celebrities, NOT the general public!) to ride on his back!
 
Wow. It would be good if they did that now. Imagine the money they would make they could buy a large area of land in India and let the rhino population grow.
 
Writhedhornbill said:
The female at Chester(rosie A black rhino) felt really wierd. We also saw Quinto. He was very aggressive. The members woman was thinking about what to do If he charged. The health an Safety regurlations.
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Quinto lived at Chester for a number of years and then was sent to Whipsnade on a breeding loan. I saw him At Whipsnade several times and he often looked rather excitable and aggressive. When the female Emma(born at Chester but not his daughter) died, Whipsnade aquired a new female. I saw them side by side in the yards soon after her arrival. Quinto was VERY aggressive that day, pacing around huffing and puffing, and horning the metal dividing barrier and making his horn bleed a bit. Sadly that female died and so Quinto is now back on his home turf...
 
Writhedhornbill said:
One of the 2 males from Chester (I don't know who) Knocked off his horn while being transported
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That would probably have been either KataKata, who went to France, or Baringo 2. who went I don't know where (back to Port Lympne?).

Do Chester currently have only two males- Quinto & Sammy? That is probably sufficient for them at present.
 
They definatly have Quinto and Sammy but I think they recieved another from a polish zoo.

I alos think that ISIS is wrong about Chester's rhinos. I know that they have 4 females, Mayara,Ema,Rosie and I think it's pagani ( who lives in the tsavo house)
 
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