North American African Elephant Population

[Jaxton]

Does anyone know the oldest age an African elephant has given birth at?

In the United States, the oldest first-time mother was Robin at nearly 34. Her calf was stillborn. The oldest successful first-time mother was Sukiri at 28. The United States' oldest mother overall was Kubwa at 35.

 

[zoologicus]

In the United States, the oldest first-time mother was Robin at nearly 34. Her calf was stillborn. The oldest successful first-time mother was Sukiri at 28. The United States' oldest mother overall was Kubwa at 35.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Elephantelephant]

possible candidates that have three african elephants are the San Diego Zoo, Oakland Zoo, and Fresno Chaffe Zoo

Butch
It is written here that he moves to the Wildlife safari, where the cows Tava, Valerie and Moja live.

 

[ZCChip]

Butch
It is written here that he moves to the Wildlife safari, where the cows Tava, Valerie and Moja live.

so he gets to wash cars. Isn’t that every boy’s dream?

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Maggie the african elephant has passed away Maggie The African Elephant In Care Of San Andreas Wildlife Sanctuary Dies At 41

 

[Mai Thai]

Maggie the african elephant has passed away Maggie The African Elephant In Care Of San Andreas Wildlife Sanctuary Dies At 41

Such a shame she died so young.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Such a shame she died so young.

Yes I hoped she would make it to at least 55 like paws former matriarch Ruby, and hopefully her herd sisters were allowed the privilege to see her body and mourn her.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Such a shame she died so young.

I do understand and share your sense of loss given her life history and quality of life narrative.
However 40+ is not a young age for an elephant.

The often quoted as average age for wild elephants at between 50 - 70 seem rather optimistically inflated at best. It would be fairer to claim it is the potential age for a wild elephant to be more scientifically correct.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Sukiri's daughter has been named Suni

 

[Yassa]

Is auskuriert raising her? Or is this another Hand-raised calf?

 

[Mr.Ivory]

Is auskuriert raising her? Or is this another Hand-raised calf?

Sukiri is raising her daughter but her breasts aren't as full as other lactating females and photos of Suni show that she is keeping her head down and her spine is very visible https://zooelefanten.de/profile/amerika/usa/pennsylvania-fairhope-international-conversation-center/suni/

 

[IndianRhino]

Is auskuriert raising her? Or is this another Hand-raised calf?

When they announced her birth they did say Sukiri is bonding with her calf and is caring for her. However, I have not seen a single picture/video of her with Sukiri on their social medias which is odd.

 

[Mr.Ivory]

When they announced her birth they did say Sukiri is bonding with her calf and is caring for her. However, I have not seen a single picture/video of her with Sukiri on their social medias which is odd.

I just saw a photo of Sukiri and her daughter but it would appear that her milk has dried up and they are bottle feeding Suni Sukiri -> Petra Prager – zooelefanten.de

 

[Yassa]

So that calf is as good as dead….

 

[nczoofan]

Pittsburgh again being behind the ball in transparency and only sharing positive developments with the public I hope this calf can survive but given what I have heard here, I have my doubts.

 

[Yassa]

Elephant calves that are handraised from birth almost never survive. And this baby already seems to be in poor condition. I really wonder what is going on there that again a calf is bottle-fed- are the keepers intervening so much after birth that they interrupt/destroy the bond between mother and calf??

 

[Mai Thai]

So that calf is as good as dead….

I completely agree with you. It is so sad to see all of the pictures. Pittsburgh is to blame for this calf’s poor condition. How do they expect the mother to raise the calf when she is being chained to a pole as shown in this image.

 

[ZCChip]

That calf is skinny when she should be fat from the milk.

any idea why Sukiri is chained?

 

[Mr.Ivory]

That calf is skinny when she should be fat from the milk.

any idea why Sukiri is chained?

I don't know and Suni is dreadfully skinny a calf her age should be running around chasing birds and gaining three to four pounds a day. And isn't the use of chaining an elephant a bit outdated

 

[nczoofan]

I completely agree with you. It is so sad to see all of the pictures. Pittsburgh is to blame for this calf’s poor condition. How do they expect the mother to raise the calf when she is being chained to a pole as shown in this image.
View attachment 502241

I saw Houstons recent calf at 2 weeks old. Yes she was an Asian elephant, but still the zoo had her on exhibit with the whole female herd (and other calfs). Its so interesting to see how “protective” certain American zoos are of elephant calf’s compared to other institutions such as Houston. And from what I understand the Houston strategy is more similar to how most European institutions handle calfs.

Back to Pittsburgh though they have never been too transparent about there elephant center or program. Maybe they had a few stories run on the center once but since then silence, and therefore it is kind of hard to understand the welfare of there elephants and such. But from everything that’s happened, pulling the first calf and moving her to the zoo (to basically just bring in visitors), choosing free contact as there hill to die on, the issues with the Philadelphia elephants, and now this calf, one does have to question there program overall. Especially at a time they are trying to become reaccredited.

Like maybe both of the calfs are bad luck. That sometimes happens but at least be like other zoos and provide updates on the situation. For example look at the updates from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo or the Oklahoma City Zoo when there young elephants got EEHV. Regular communication and being realistic about the prospects of survival is better than painting some rosy picture as Pittsburgh seems to want to do.