North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation

We don't know when this footage is from, but there's a chance this could be credible information. Dosen't necessarily confirm a pregnancy, but can confirm they possibly are at least mating.

The footage was from this month.
 
Found this video of Sung Surin aka Shine and Samson mating, though Shine is now a post-reproductive female it makes me wonder why she never became pregnant in the years that Hugo was at the zoo.

 
Found this video of Sung Surin aka Shine and Samson mating, though Shine is now a post-reproductive female it makes me wonder why she never became pregnant in the years that Hugo was at the zoo.

I saw this video earlier and had assumed the cow was Rose-tu but I guess not. How do you distinguish Shine and Rose? They look quite similar to me. Re. Shine not conceiving back when Hugo was at the zoo: it's a true shame why she never conceived but perhaps they didn't have the space to continue breeding, especially if the calf ended up being a bull. Regardless, another breeding cow would've greatly benefited Oregon's breeding program as it's now all up to a single cow who's approaching 30 years and hasn't produced a calf in almost 10 years.
 
Found this video of Sung Surin aka Shine and Samson mating, though Shine is now a post-reproductive female it makes me wonder why she never became pregnant in the years that Hugo was at the zoo.


I see her kneeling then stand up as he mounted with his penis erect but missing her vagina. She could be a behavioral non breeder.
 
I saw this video earlier and had assumed the cow was Rose-tu but I guess not. How do you distinguish Shine and Rose, they look quite similar to me? Re. Shine not conceiving back when Hugo was at the zoo: it's a true shame why she never conceived but perhaps they didn't have the space to continue breeding, especially if the calf ended up being a bull. Regardless, another breeding cow would've greatly benefited Oregon's breeding program as it's now all up to a sole cow who's approaching 30 years and hasn't produced a calf in almost 10 years.


Aren’t they trying to breed Chendra again? I wouldn’t try with her as she’s a different sub species and she’s older.
 
Aren’t they trying to breed Chendra again? I wouldn’t try with her as she’s a different sub species and she’s older.
I don't know if they're trying but if so, I wouldn't get your hopes up. She's 29 years old now and has not been able to carry a pregnancy to term to date. I did see videos of her being bred by one of the bulls a while ago but I've also seen recent video of her and she does not appear to be showing any mammary development so I doubt she's pregnant.
 
I don't know if they're trying but if so, I wouldn't get your hopes up. She's 29 years old now and has not been able to carry a pregnancy to term to date. I did see videos of her being bred by one of the bulls a while ago but I've also seen recent video of her and she does not appear to be showing any mammary development so I doubt she's pregnant.


I don’t think she is either. She doesn’t need to be.
 
I saw this video earlier and had assumed the cow was Rose-tu but I guess not. How do you distinguish Shine and Rose? They look quite similar to me
Although the quality of said video isnt the best, Shine has a prominent pink mark behind her front right(our left) eye and Rose-Tu does not. Rose also has a lot more pink on her neck and into her legs where as the cow in this video has what looks like very little to none. The pink in Rose-Tu's ears is also much wider and spread out where as Shines is more of a thin line along the edge.
 
I see her kneeling then stand up as he mounted with his penis erect but missing her vagina. She could be a behavioral non breeder.
Also for what it’s worth, it is impossible for a bull to access a cows vagina. The exterior opening is a vulva, and connecting the vulva to the cows reproductive system is a long pathway known as the vestibule.

Also both animals are behaving fine in the video. Not every single breeding attempt is successful, and that goes even for proven breeding animals.
 
Also for what it’s worth, it is impossible for a bull to access a cows vagina. The exterior opening is a vulva, and connecting the vulva to the cows reproductive system is a long pathway known as the vestibule.

Also both animals are behaving fine in the video. Not every single breeding attempt is successful, and that goes even for proven breeding animals.


Correct. I was trying to be generic for the laymen here. The vulva is lower, towards the belly. The penis went higher in the video. We don’t see any movement of the penis going lower.
 
Well, I reached out to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park recently and asked about Mkhaya. They seemed pretty ecstatic in their response cause they said “look for an update soon!” So does that mean she recovered from EEHV?
 
Well, I reached out to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park recently and asked about Mkhaya. They seemed pretty ecstatic in their response cause they said “look for an update soon!” So does that mean she recovered from EEHV?
Most likely - I’ve seen her on the cam with the herd and seemed to be doing fine these past few days. Fingers crossed she’s recovered!
 
Most likely - I’ve seen her on the cam with the herd and seemed to be doing fine these past few days. Fingers crossed she’s recovered!

Well, if she’s had it this long and is back with the herd I would think that means she no longer has the virus. She’s had to have had the virus at least for a week and a half. Frankly from what it looks like the African Elephant Population at the moment seems to be doing better than the Asian Elephant population. The Asian Elephant population for example has had 2 deaths from EEHV and the African Elephant Population has had none and in fact maybe even a potential recovery from EEHV. And with the 6 confirmed pregnancies in the African Elephant population in the United States, the Asian Elephant population only has 1.
 
Frankly from what it looks like the African Elephant Population at the moment seems to be doing better than the Asian Elephant population. The Asian Elephant population for example has had 2 deaths from EEHV and the African Elephant Population has had none and in fact maybe even a potential recovery from EEHV. And with the 6 confirmed pregnancies in the African Elephant population in the United States, the Asian Elephant population only has 1.

It has been said for awhile now that Africans are far better off in NA and so long as facilities will step up to the plate with breeding the species should continue okay. Asians... not looking good.
 
Well, if she’s had it this long and is back with the herd I would think that means she no longer has the virus. She’s had to have had the virus at least for a week and a half. Frankly from what it looks like the African Elephant Population at the moment seems to be doing better than the Asian Elephant population. The Asian Elephant population for example has had 2 deaths from EEHV and the African Elephant Population has had none and in fact maybe even a potential recovery from EEHV. And with the 6 confirmed pregnancies in the African Elephant population in the United States, the Asian Elephant population only has 1.

Pre covid I would be shocked if I was told the African Elephant population would be where they are now; back then, the Asian population was doing quite well, but it just goes to show how quickly the tables can turn.

The Asian population is doing okay; EEHV and deaths have just rocked the population harder than is tolerable for the population. A lot of calves have died who have had potential to breed, and expand the herd. Right now Houstan seems to be carrying the Asian population; and that's only because they haven't been harshly affected by EEHV (at least recently).
 
It looks like Mkhaya, a 4 year old African Elephwnt will make it through her battle with EEHV! I’m so excited that the San Diego Zoo Safari Park was able to save her given so many have died from this virus, including 2 Asian Elephants in the United States this year that succumbed to EEHV (Jasmine who was 8 years old and Beco who was 13 years old).

Something I’m starting to notice with EEHV, when it comes to African Elephants I think nearly 10 African Elephants have caught EEHV in the United States but the majority have survived. Females Mkhaya, Zuberi, Zahara, and males Ajabu and Kedar caught EEHV but lived whereas Kalina, Nyah and Lucas did not survive EEHV. While by a current slim margin, more African Elephants who have caught EEHV have lived since 2019 whereas with Asian Elephants that’s not the case. Honestly, it seems the African Elephant Population currently in the United States is doing a lot better given with the number of current confirmed pregnancies, Omaha and their commitment to African Elephant breeding with the birth of their 2 calves this year in addition to the 2 current pregnant elephants of there’s, now Mkhaya recovering from EEHV, things do seem to be looking better for African Elephants in the U.S.
 
Something I’m starting to notice with EEHV, when it comes to African Elephants I think nearly 10 African Elephants have caught EEHV in the United States but the majority have survived. Females Mkhaya, Zuberi, Zahara, and males Ajabu and Kedar caught EEHV but lived whereas Kalina, Nyah and Lucas did not survive EEHV. While by a current slim margin, more African Elephants who have caught EEHV have lived since 2019 whereas with Asian Elephants that’s not the case.

It's a native disease to African Elephants and not Asians, hence the Africans have more resistance to it. Versus Asians that are highly susceptible to it and often die rather quickly from it.
 
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