Asian Elephants in Europe 2022
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The Hedgehog
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@Zoofan15 Im also optimistic that the days of EEHV at Chester are behind us. Now Chester know that Indali’s treatment plan worked,they can implement it in the event of any further EEHV cases. Didn’t Anjan also contact EEHV? If he did hopefully he is also immune to it.https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&r...use-closure/&usg=AOvVaw31WGLBuug8kOxEEwYkaYoy
The Hedgehog
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A bit of positivity for Chester Zoo is that Indali is the eldest Female Calf,since Sundara. Incidentally Anjan is the eldest Bull Calf since Tunga,who left Chester in 2010. This is incredibly hopeful news as most Calf’s have passed of EEHV between the ages of 1-3. With Indali surviving EEHV hopefully no other Calf’s will surcomb to the Vuris. Indali’s EEHV treatment plan is a ray of sunshine to Elephant Calf’s worldwide.
A weird question maybe but would Assam from Antwerp zoo not be a viable candidate to start breeding in Planckendael? Since I heard from keepers they requested a move for him because he got to big to safely work with him as well as him having to duck to get trough the gates of the Egyptian temple. In his interactions with Sam I also saw some pretty assertive mounting so asserting breeding might not be an issue. As well as the fact that Kanvar also transfered from Antwerp.
While I would love for Assam to go into a breeding situation, I don’t think Plankendael is it. Considering Assam is younger and smaller than Kanvar, and apparently the two main breeding girls aren’t accepting Kamvars advances, I don’t think he would be a good fit. Personally I think a place that could be a good fit is somewhere is like Copenhagen, or perhaps Rotterdam or Pairi Daiza. All are facilities that will need a new bull at some point in the near-ish future, but aren’t in pressing need of a fully mature male to jumpstart breeding immediately, so they can wait if Assam still needs a few more years to mature.
The problem I see with Pairi Daiza is that they still work full contact with their elephants. And the keepers have signaled that he is getting difficult to work with in Antwerp where they use protected contact. The main problem (from another keeper) was that the matriarch rejected Kanvar and that they had to alternate the keeping of Kanvar or Yu Yu Yin with the herd. Then the rejection from the 2 breeding females came. Also It's difficult breeding because the cycles alternate making it so that Kanvar was Permanent in must. However I hope they find a Bull that is big enough and genetically compatible soon so their cycles don't disappear.
During my 2 visits one in 2018 and one at the end of 2021 Poh Chin was treated in full contact the one in 2018 I'm not certain anymore but the one in December 2021 he was with the herd and keepers were walking the outside enclosure cleaning it and adding enrichment when the elephants were on exhibit. Of course I don't know if these were isolated instances or regular habits.
It is indeed positive news that the last two calves to contract the virus (Anjan and Indali) survived it. However it emphasis two things:
1) EEHV remains rife within the herd. It's not a matter of if, but when, future calves test positive for it.
2) Early detection and treatment are key. In both calves, treatment was given at the first sign (and in Anjan as a precautionary measure).
Vigilance is essential to the survival of Riva and any future calves - and even then there are no guarantees.
Young bulls Ravi and Thambi will be on the move from Pairi Daiza to the Touroparc Zoo in France in the near future. Given their hybrid status and the EEP‘s new policy on the Bornean and Sumatran hybrids, it will likely be their new home for the long-term future unless they start to have issues of them not getting along (and even then, it might just be physical separation, and not a transfer).
Does anyone know what is happening with Pang Pha and Victor? Their last calf was Anchali a 10 year old cow. None of the other offspring are living. And Pang Pha is pretty genetically valuable (from Thailand). Victor is a full brother to Alexander who is already well represented, but still?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last I heard, they were attempting to breed Pang Pha and Victor again, however no conception resulted (this was also a few years ago now). I would imagine they will likely continue to attempt breeding between the two for the next few years, at which point if things are still unsuccessful, they will send out Victor to a bachelor situation and bring in a new bull to continue the herd with Anchali (and possibly Pang Pha; sometimes a bull swap is all that's needed to get a cow breeding again).
Also in other news, young bull Minh Tan has contracted the herpes virus at Osnabruck. So far he has been battling the virus well and is starting to show signs of improvement, however it will be another few years yet before he is in the clear. Fingers crossed he continues on an upward trend with his recovery and is in good health again soon enough!
Also in other news, young bull Minh Tan has contracted the herpes virus at Osnabruck. So far he has been battling the virus well and is starting to show signs of improvement, however it will be another few years yet before he is in the clear. Fingers crossed he continues on an upward trend with his recovery and is in good health again soon enough!
More sad news, young bull Raj (Gajendra x Shila) has passed away at Hagenbecks animal parkThe suspected cause is herpes virus despite not showing antibodies for the virus, so it will be interesting to see what a complete post Mortem has to reveal.
what a shame. He was at the weaning age too. And Hamburg does not even have a breeding bull in place.
Very upsetting news about Umesh Fingers crossed he follows in the footsteps of the last European herpes victim (Minh Tan) and has a speedy and smooth recovery.
In less upsetting news, five-year-old bull Kitai has recently arrived at La Tanière in France from Koln in Germany, joining his older brother Rajendra and unrelated male Sunay.
With a net loss of 4 animals over the past 3 months, plus the transfer of Rajendra two years ago, things are now much less crowded for Koln’s elephant facility, and I have no doubt the zoo will be happy about the reduction in associated hay costs as well. Those five combined are a lot!
Fingers crossed he follows in the footsteps of the last European herpes victim (Minh Tan) and has a speedy and smooth recovery.In less upsetting news, five-year-old bull Kitai has recently arrived at La Tanière in France from Koln in Germany, joining his older brother Rajendra and unrelated male Sunay.
With a net loss of 4 animals over the past 3 months, plus the transfer of Rajendra two years ago, things are now much less crowded for Koln’s elephant facility, and I have no doubt the zoo will be happy about the reduction in associated hay costs as well. Those five combined are a lot!
Elephantelephant
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No no! Not anymore. I hope he will recover, the virus has been raging too much lately. I pray for him.Zürich's 2 years old bull Umesh has contracted the herpes virus... The treatment has begun as soon as the zoo discovered he was sick. He hasn't shown serious symptoms yet, but his current state of health is critical
This is indeed very sad news, my heart goes out to his caretakers and family. Zurich has had a lot of problems with EEHV in the past and had finally been doing well for the last few years, it's unfortunate they've lost yet another calf.
The only good thing is that Umesh, a bull calf, was lost rather than a cow calf, like Ruwani, which would've been a much more tragic loss for Zurich's breeding program. I really hope Ruwani is doing fine and doesn't contract the virus.
The only good thing is that Umesh, a bull calf, was lost rather than a cow calf, like Ruwani, which would've been a much more tragic loss for Zurich's breeding program. I really hope Ruwani is doing fine and doesn't contract the virus.
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