ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2020

[Nisha]

With respect, whilst I share your irritation regarding Whipsnade'S tigers, the London situation is entirely different. The male Sumatran tiger has now killed 2 potential mates(one before going to London) and imo should be moved to a sanctuary to lead a solitary life, allowing London to bring in a new pair. London can do without the publicity of a 3rd mistake since the new exhibit opened!

Asim did not kill any female's before he came to London. He was born at Frankfurt (2011) and moved to Heidelberg the following year. At Heidelberg he was paired up with a very young female (she was less than 18 months old when they were introduced). Because she was so young she was still very cub like and playful. Asim didn't tolerate her playfulness and became aggressive. She became fearful of him. Because of this it was decided to separate them and Asim was sent to Ree Park and successfully paired with an adult female.

 

[The Hedgehog]

As noted on the ZSL London Zoo Facebook post, Arya the female from Paignton will arrive to join Bhanu.

@Themonkeyguy1 will a new Asiatic Lioness move to Paington Zoo to join Arya's Brother Yali as a breeding mate? If Paington are receiving a new Asiatic Lioness can you please tell me a bit about her?

Kind regards @The Hedgehog

 

[Panthera1981]

Wonder if this is why they can’t find a female tiger to join him as no other collection happy to risk it, ideally your right , move him on and move a whipsnade male to London and find a young female x

Whipsnade keep Amur tigers whilst London keep Sumatran, so would be a bit daft (and a nightmare for the media team!) to put a different subspecies into an exhibit themed towards the other! The same applies to Tiger Falls.

However, this does highlight the limitations regarding heavily themed exhibits. Whether the general public would notice if such a move did happen of course remains to be seen!

 

[Zorro]

Whipsnade keep Amur tigers whilst London keep Sumatran, so would be a bit daft (and a nightmare for the media team!) to put a different subspecies into an exhibit themed towards the other! The same applies to Tiger Falls.

However, this does highlight the limitations regarding heavily themed exhibits. Whether the general public would notice if such a move did happen of course remains to be seen!

Whipsnade did indeed use to keep Sumatrans with one well known pair having many cubs!

 

[pipaluk]

Asim did not kill any female's before he came to London. He was born at Frankfurt (2011) and moved to Heidelberg the following year. At Heidelberg he was paired up with a very young female (she was less than 18 months old when they were introduced). Because she was so young she was still very cub like and playful. Asim didn't tolerate her playfulness and became aggressive. She became fearful of him. Because of this it was decided to separate them and Asim was sent to Ree Park and successfully paired with an adult female.

OK, thanks for correcting me, I'm sure I got that information on here previously though!
Anyway, the female he killed at London was not young and I still think London should move him on as a result of what happened there. The zoo is too high profile to avoid bad publicity if the same tiger is allowed to kill another mate

 

[The Hedgehog]

OK, thanks for correcting me, I'm sure I got that information on here previously though!
Anyway, the female he killed at London was not young and I still think London should move him on as a result of what happened there. The zoo is too high profile to avoid bad publicity if the same tiger is allowed to kill another mate

@pipaluk the Tigeress savagely killed by Asim was Melarti who was relatively young at 8 years old. Melarti was very important to the history of London Zoo. Melarti was related to Hari the last Sumatran Tiger to be born at London Zoo at the time of her arrival. This is not the only thing that made her valuable to the Sumatran Tiger breeding program. Melarti was born in Perth Zoo,Australia,so her bloodline was very underpopulated in Europe.

 

[pipaluk]

@pipaluk the Tigeress savagely killed by Asim was Melarti who was relatively young at 8 years old. Melarti was very important to the history of London Zoo. Melarti was related to Hari the last Sumatran Tiger to be born at London Zoo at the time of her arrival. This is not the only thing that made her valuable to the Sumatran Tiger breeding program. Melarti was born in Perth Zoo,Australia,so her bloodline was very underpopulated in Europe.

8 is considerably older than the other female he didn't get on with. She had 'successfully' bred at least twice with her previous mate at London as well.

 

[Tim May]

the Tigeress savagely killed by Asim was Melarti who was relatively young at 8 years old.

I think that "Melati" was born in 2008 so she was actually ten years old at the time of her death.

Melarti was related to Hari the last Sumatran Tiger to be born at London Zoo at the time of her arrival.

Indeed "Hari" was the father of "Melati".

 

[FBBird]

@pipaluk the Tigeress savagely killed by Asim was Melarti who was relatively young at 8 years old. Melarti was very important to the history of London Zoo. Melarti was related to Hari the last Sumatran Tiger to be born at London Zoo at the time of her arrival. This is not the only thing that made her valuable to the Sumatran Tiger breeding program. Melarti was born in Perth Zoo,Australia,so her bloodline was very underpopulated in Europe.

Presumably the two litters she produced by Jae Jae give enough genetic representation of that particular pairing, which was why he left and Asim came in. Always a risk introducing animals, sometimes bad stuff happens. What happens next with Asim will be down to stud book advice

 

[Nisha]

A female Sumatran Tiger is due to arrive next week. Gasha was born in 2011 at Prague Zoo and was Asim's mate at Ree Park (Denmark) prior to his move to London. They have had three litters together

(the move is confirmed on Ree Park's Facebook page)

 

[Panthera1981]

A female Sumatran Tiger is due to arrive next week. Gasha was born in 2011 at Prague Zoo and was Asim's mate at Ree Park (Denmark) prior to his move to London. They have had three litters together

(the move is confirmed on Ree Park's Facebook page)

If this pair have already had 3 litters I’m assuming no breeding will occur at London for fear of genetic over-representation?

 

[The Hedgehog]

A female Sumatran Tiger is due to arrive next week. Gasha was born in 2011 at Prague Zoo and was Asim's mate at Ree Park (Denmark) prior to his move to London. They have had three litters together

(the move is confirmed on Ree Park's Facebook page)

@Nisha I hope that the spark between Asim and Gasha is, relight and the result is further Cubs and a long term fairytale ending for Asim. I have thought since Malarti’s brutal passing that the best scenario would be for Asim’s ex tigerfriend to come and reside with him. I’m glad that the Sumatran Tiger Studbook keepers have come to the same conclusion.

 

[FBBird]

If this pair have already had 3 litters I’m assuming no breeding will occur at London for fear of genetic over-representation?

I rather thought that

 

[pipaluk]

I rather thought that

I agree, but I guess in some ways this pairing carries less of a risk and the studbook probably wouldn't want to risk an underepresented female. If the worst happens at least this female's genes have been passed on

 

[Nisha]

Ree Park are going out of Sumatran Tiger's for the immediate future (until they build a new enclosure). Hence Gasha needed to be moved on. Asim needs a companion (breeding or otherwise, I would be surprised if they did allow them to have a 4th litter but it's not impossible) and she's a female that he's previously been compatible with. It's a convinient move that makes perfect sense for the current situation at ZSL

 

[Embu]

Sounds like a great idea and a sensible one at that. Why risk another genetically important female(or any female for that matter) when this a proven partnership? There are contraceptives around to prevent over-representation.

Maybe in future if Asim is a genetically important then possibly he could be used for sperm donation with other females without the risk of another Melatai situation. Just an idea

 

[Panthera1981]

I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies, but that’s now two well-known collections (Whipsnade’s Amurs being the other) that look like they won’t be breeding tigers for the foreseeable future. And tiger cubs do bring in the £££s!

So if that’s the tiger situation sorted, I’d be interested to know if there’s any news regarding the gorillas. However I doubt much will be happening in the short term.

 

[Nisha]

Sounds like a great idea and a sensible one at that. Why risk another genetically important female(or any female for that matter) when this a proven partnership? There are contraceptives around to prevent over-representation.

Maybe in future if Asim is a genetically important then possibly he could be used for sperm donation with other females without the risk of another Melatai situation. Just an idea

Asim has siblings elsewhere in Europe. His twin brother (at Le PAL) is also a proven breeder so it's not likely they would need to resort to such measures

Asim's full siblings: All born at Frankfurt to Iban (B2000 at Zoo Amneville) and Malea (B2001 at Berlin Tierpark)

Daseep (F) 2010 - Now at Dudley
Taru (M) 2011 - Now at Le PAL
Berani (F) 2012 - Now at Augsburg

Half siblings: Produced following the temporary loan of his father (Iban) to Warsaw Zoo in 2011/2012

Diana (F) 2012 - Now at Osnabruck
Denar (M) 2012 - Now at Fota
Dandys (M) 2012 - Now at Brno

 

[Nisha]

Gasha and Asim's offspring to date: I didn't include the 2018 litter in my initial post because they DNS but have put them below for clarity

May 2015:
Bethari (F) now at Aalborg
Whitey (M) PTS as a young adult due to a genetic issue
Rimba (M) now at Ramat Gan

February 2017:
Kerinci (F) now at Bioparc Fuengirola
Unnamed (F) died as a young adult

September 2018:
Three cubs born. All died within 3 months of birth

January 2019:
Carrie (F) Moving to Paignton next week
Padme (F) Also moving to Paignton
Chewie (M) Not sure what is or has happened to him yet.

 

[Zoofan15]

@pipaluk the Tigeress savagely killed by Asim was Melarti who was relatively young at 8 years old. Melarti was very important to the history of London Zoo. Melarti was related to Hari the last Sumatran Tiger to be born at London Zoo at the time of her arrival. This is not the only thing that made her valuable to the Sumatran Tiger breeding program. Melarti was born in Perth Zoo,Australia,so her bloodline was very underpopulated in Europe.

I think that "Melati" was born in 2008 so she was actually ten years old at the time of her death.

Indeed "Hari" was the father of "Melati".

Melati was born 20/08/2008 at Perth Zoo to Hari and Setia.

Her bloodline is reasonably well represented; not just through her own offspring, but through her uncle, Tenang (2000-2014). Tenang sired several cubs at Paignton Zoo, who in turn have produced many descendants throughout Europe.

Melati is the great great granddaughter of Nico and Meta, who were born at Rotterdam Zoo; so would have several other distant relations in the Europe through them.