The info we received from @Mai Thai was from June of last year. The elephant episode from the Zoo Tampa series was filmed before then; so maybe there was a change?
North American African Elephant Population
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The info we received from @Mai Thai was from June of last year. The elephant episode from the Zoo Tampa series was filmed before then; so maybe there was a change?
Maybe I could ask ZooTampa? Write them a quick email.
If someone could, that would be great.
This info both from @Mai Thai and the tv show is from more than a year ago, so something could've changed.
I’ll write them tomorrow.
That’s really sad to hear that Pittsburgh doesn’t have any pregnant girls - I guess that means Victoria will probably never have a calf since she’s already (almost) 23 years old. While it’s possible that she’ll calve later on, like Sukiri did, I’m not overly confident this will occur. Angelina and Zuri are both getting up there in age as well (14) so I really hope their potential isn’t wasted just as their sister’s was. Considering it’s been 14 years since Savannah last had a calf, I’m guessing she won’t be having any more calves either unfortunately.
Elephantelephant
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Alas, so many cows suitable for breeding and nothing. That's a real waste.
ZooTampa is definitely breeding their elephants again. I heard back from the zoo today and they confirmed this and I can confirm this after speaking to a member of their African Elephant care team who wrote back to me.
Mr.Ivory
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This is excellent news considering how genetically valuable Sdula, Mbali, and Matjeka are, hopefully they are successful and we could have two more calves as early as late 2024.
What do you mean with ‚they are breeding their elephants again‘? Does it mean they will let the bull and the females together? Or is he actually mating the females? Is there a confirmed pregnancy? Just the wish of zoo staff ‚to breed their elephants again‘ means nothing if the females are not cycling, or the bull is not mating them, or they just never fall pregnant again (the gap between calves is already so large that is actually sadly very likely that the 2 breeding females will never have a baby again).
The bull and the girls are together 3-4 times a week and he has mated with the females. They didn’t mention a confirmed pregnancy and they also did not mention if the girls are cycling. But the bull has been mating with them and it’s still possible potentially for them to get pregnant. Jayei last known calf Omma was born before Mbalis and Matjekas calves were born and Jayei is having a calf again presumably after 12 years. Never say never is what I’m trying to say.
No one knows for sure that Jayei didnt have another calf in these 12 years (we cant even be sure that is was really exactly 12 years). She very likely had at least one other calf who did not survive, or who was left behind in Swaziland. But what we do know for sure is that in zoos most females who do not have a calf for 8+ years almost never get pregnant again. Theoretically its possible but very unlikely, so dont get your hopes up.
which is why I said presumably…
Females can definitely conceive after eight plus years..i'd put it more up to a decade; although it can really depend on the cow themselves, and their age. It'll become harder to maintain larger gaps between their calves as they grow older.
Mbali and Matjeka still have a chance imo, although looking at their ages (both being in their early 30's), it makes it much more harder. Fingers crossed Sdudlha is successful. I have no idea why Tampa waited this long to try to breed their girls again.
I agree. That would/should be the next focus over the next few years.
Mr.Ivory
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Sdudla actually has a third daughter Makena who was born in 2007 at the Montgomery zoo, he sired two more calves while at Montgomery a male calf born in 2008 but died a month after birth, and a stillborn female born in 2011.
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Mai Thai
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I think the elephant care team at ZooTampa at the time I asked did not want to share any public information about the elephant breeding program and so that is why they said ZooTampa is not currently breeding elephants while they were.
Mai Thai
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Another note is two weeks ago I visited the Indianapolis Zoo to ask the elephants care staff about their breeding program. They said that they have been actively working to breed Kedar with Zahara over the past couple years but they could not confirm or deny if she is pregnant.
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