After seeing some interest in my hypothetical polar bear SSP plan, I decided to go ahead and make a hypothetical plan for another species I'm very interested in, the sloth bear. This breeding plan is interesting as it makes a few changes to the way sloth bears are managed in the country: every single zoo was given a breeding recommendation! However, this does provide a few difficulties. First and foremost, some zoos with only one exhibit may not have the space to hold both cubs and a male bear at one time (as the cubs and father must be separated). To account for this, I've designated four zoos as additional male bear holders when others have cubs and can't accommodate a male bear. These are all zoos that have historically kept more than a breeding pair:
Cleveland Zoo
Zoo Miami
Little Rock Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
As necessary, zoos should utilize whichever of these facilities is closest to provide a temporary holding for their male.
A second possible issue is that the population is near the maximum amount of bears current holders can accommodate. As for this, there's one likely solution I expect to see in the coming years, and that the SSP zoos should prepare for: asiatic black bear and sun bear holders switching to sloth bears. With this providing additional holders (and the potential of recruiting some North American Black Bear holders if necessary), it'd be very possible (and I really hope it happens, as this is my favorite bear species) to see an increase in popularity for this species in the coming years, especially if managed properly.
And now, without further ado, here's the full breeding plan:
Brookfield Zoo:
0.1 Hani- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Katrick
1.0 Katrick- Jack x Thelma, breed w/ Hani
Rationale: This is a proven breeding pair, albeit one that hasn't bred in recent years. Hopefully this pairing can be successful again, but isn't the most likely due to Hani's age. If this pairing is not successful, it isn't the worst problem as it's a well-represented pair (Katrick is a full-sibling to Priya of the Mick x Priya line, with Hani's Goof x Amy line also reasonably well-represented, with Katrick x Hani's son Bhalu is a proven breeder also)
Capron Park Zoo:
1.0 Niko- Franz x Devi- move from National Zoo, breed w/ Vicki
0.1 Vicki- Katrick x Hani, breed w/ Niko
Rationale: Sending Niko to the Capron Park Zoo will create a new breeding pair. Due to Niko being genetically unrelated to the population and Vicki's relatively young age, hopefully this will be a successful pairing.
Cleveland Zoo:
1.0 Balawat- Merlin x Hana, breed w/ Shiva
0.1 Shiva- Subodh x Lina, breed w/ Balawat
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair that is genetically valuable and has a strong chance of future success. Once Bear Hollow is finished, Cleveland should be prepared to recieve additional male bears as necessary from facilities unable to house cubs and a male bear at the same time.
Columbus Zoo:
0.1 Heiderose, breed w/ Rhandir
1.0 Rhandir- Randy x Tasha, breed w/ Heiderose
Rationale: while this breeding pair has yet to be successful, there's no good reason to separate it at press time. Hopefully, even if the pair is unsuccessful, there are enough new breeding pairs created to counteract this.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo:
0.1 Shala- Balawat x Shiva, move from Cleveland Zoo, breed w/ Pabu
1.0 Pabu- Mick x Priya, move from Little Rock Zoo, breed w/ Shala
Rationale: New Zoo to the SSP. This is the creation of a new breeding plan. Pabu is being moved from Little Rock Zoo since it's unnecessary for breeding purposes to have both brothers there, with Shalu being a young bear ready for a permanent home.
Omaha:
0.1 Kara, breed w/ Bodo
1.0 Bodo- Klaus x Ludmilla, breed w/ Kara
Rationale: while this breeding pair has yet to be successful, there's no good reason to separate it at press time. Hopefully, even if the pair continues to be unsuccessful, there are enough new breeding pairs created to counteract this.
Tautphaus Park:
1.0 Mick- Kaylo/Nori x Dusty, breed w/ Priya
0.1 Priya- Jack x Thelma- breed w/ Mick
Rationale: this has been the most successful breeding pair, so will be kept together for future reproductive success. Increasing the population size is of great enough priority that any future offspring from this pair are important.
Lee Richardson Zoo:
1.0 Namba- Randy x Khali, breed w/ Molly
0.1 Molly- Mick x Priya, move from Sunset Zoo, breed w/ Namba
Rationale: moving Molly to the Lee Richardson Zoo would create a new breeding pair. Namba is a genetically valuable individual, so it is important to place him in a breeding situation.
Little Rock Zoo:
0.1 Khali- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Sahaasa
1.0 Sahaasa- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Khali, BhutanxKushali
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair. This zoo has typically kept more than two sloth bears, so would be an ideal candidate for holding surplus males when necessary from smaller breeding institutions.
Philadelphia Zoo:
0.1 Kayla- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Bhalu
1.0 Bhalu- Katrick x Hani, breed w/ Kayla
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair that should be kept together for the best chance of increasing the population size.
San Diego Zoo:
1.0 Jagger- Mick x Priya, move from Tautphaus Park Zoo, breed w/ Lila
0.1- Lila, move from Woodland Park Zoo, breed w/ Jagger
Rationale: This is the creation of a new breeding pair. Both of these are young individuals so hopefully there is plenty of time for this pair to successfully produce offspring.
Smithsonian National Zoo:
1.0 Deemak- Bhutan x Tasha, breed w/ Zaara
0.1 Zaara- Sahaasa x Khali, move from Little Rock, breed w/ Deemak
Rationale: moving Zaara to the National Zoo creates a new breeding pair. Deemak is a genetically valuable animal, making this breeding pair a priority.
Sunset Zoo:
0.1 Tess- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Madhu
1.0- Madhu- Bhutan x Kushali, move from Woodland Park Zoo, breed w/ Tess
Rationale: moving the Woodland Park Zoo cub to Sunset Zoo creates a new breeding pair.
Woodland Park Zoo:
1.0 Bhutan- Knemo x Peanut, breed w/ Tasha, Kushali
0.1 Tasha- Francois x Nocona, breed w/ Bhutan
0.1 Kushali- Randy x Tasha, breed w/ Bhutan
Rationale: this is a proven breeding trio that should be maintained for optimizing future breeding success. Be prepared to house additional male bears as necessary when other zoos have cubs.
ZooBoise:
1.0 Kartick- Bhutan x Tasha, move from San Diego Zoo, breed w/ Paji
0.1 Paji- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Kartick
Rationale: Paji is unlikely to successfully breed at this point, but due to her genetic value, it is important to attempt breeding anyways. Moving Kartick to ZooBoise enables this to occur.
Zoo Miami:
0.1 Keematee- Bhalu x Kayla, breed w/ Hank
1.0 Hank- Francois x Hana, breed w/ Keematee
0.1 Keesha- 524 x 468, do not breed
Rationale: Keesha is likely post-reproductive, so Hank breeding with Keematee is a priority. Hank is a genetically valuable individual, making this an important breeding pair. Expect to be given additional males as necessary when other zoos have cubs.
As I mentioned in my polar bear plan, if anyone has any other species they'd like me to consider in future threads in this series, please suggest them to me, I'll consider any and everything.
Cleveland Zoo
Zoo Miami
Little Rock Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
As necessary, zoos should utilize whichever of these facilities is closest to provide a temporary holding for their male.
A second possible issue is that the population is near the maximum amount of bears current holders can accommodate. As for this, there's one likely solution I expect to see in the coming years, and that the SSP zoos should prepare for: asiatic black bear and sun bear holders switching to sloth bears. With this providing additional holders (and the potential of recruiting some North American Black Bear holders if necessary), it'd be very possible (and I really hope it happens, as this is my favorite bear species) to see an increase in popularity for this species in the coming years, especially if managed properly.
And now, without further ado, here's the full breeding plan:
Brookfield Zoo:
0.1 Hani- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Katrick
1.0 Katrick- Jack x Thelma, breed w/ Hani
Rationale: This is a proven breeding pair, albeit one that hasn't bred in recent years. Hopefully this pairing can be successful again, but isn't the most likely due to Hani's age. If this pairing is not successful, it isn't the worst problem as it's a well-represented pair (Katrick is a full-sibling to Priya of the Mick x Priya line, with Hani's Goof x Amy line also reasonably well-represented, with Katrick x Hani's son Bhalu is a proven breeder also)
Capron Park Zoo:
1.0 Niko- Franz x Devi- move from National Zoo, breed w/ Vicki
0.1 Vicki- Katrick x Hani, breed w/ Niko
Rationale: Sending Niko to the Capron Park Zoo will create a new breeding pair. Due to Niko being genetically unrelated to the population and Vicki's relatively young age, hopefully this will be a successful pairing.
Cleveland Zoo:
1.0 Balawat- Merlin x Hana, breed w/ Shiva
0.1 Shiva- Subodh x Lina, breed w/ Balawat
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair that is genetically valuable and has a strong chance of future success. Once Bear Hollow is finished, Cleveland should be prepared to recieve additional male bears as necessary from facilities unable to house cubs and a male bear at the same time.
Columbus Zoo:
0.1 Heiderose, breed w/ Rhandir
1.0 Rhandir- Randy x Tasha, breed w/ Heiderose
Rationale: while this breeding pair has yet to be successful, there's no good reason to separate it at press time. Hopefully, even if the pair is unsuccessful, there are enough new breeding pairs created to counteract this.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo:
0.1 Shala- Balawat x Shiva, move from Cleveland Zoo, breed w/ Pabu
1.0 Pabu- Mick x Priya, move from Little Rock Zoo, breed w/ Shala
Rationale: New Zoo to the SSP. This is the creation of a new breeding plan. Pabu is being moved from Little Rock Zoo since it's unnecessary for breeding purposes to have both brothers there, with Shalu being a young bear ready for a permanent home.
Omaha:
0.1 Kara, breed w/ Bodo
1.0 Bodo- Klaus x Ludmilla, breed w/ Kara
Rationale: while this breeding pair has yet to be successful, there's no good reason to separate it at press time. Hopefully, even if the pair continues to be unsuccessful, there are enough new breeding pairs created to counteract this.
Tautphaus Park:
1.0 Mick- Kaylo/Nori x Dusty, breed w/ Priya
0.1 Priya- Jack x Thelma- breed w/ Mick
Rationale: this has been the most successful breeding pair, so will be kept together for future reproductive success. Increasing the population size is of great enough priority that any future offspring from this pair are important.
Lee Richardson Zoo:
1.0 Namba- Randy x Khali, breed w/ Molly
0.1 Molly- Mick x Priya, move from Sunset Zoo, breed w/ Namba
Rationale: moving Molly to the Lee Richardson Zoo would create a new breeding pair. Namba is a genetically valuable individual, so it is important to place him in a breeding situation.
Little Rock Zoo:
0.1 Khali- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Sahaasa
1.0 Sahaasa- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Khali, BhutanxKushali
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair. This zoo has typically kept more than two sloth bears, so would be an ideal candidate for holding surplus males when necessary from smaller breeding institutions.
Philadelphia Zoo:
0.1 Kayla- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Bhalu
1.0 Bhalu- Katrick x Hani, breed w/ Kayla
Rationale: this is a proven breeding pair that should be kept together for the best chance of increasing the population size.
San Diego Zoo:
1.0 Jagger- Mick x Priya, move from Tautphaus Park Zoo, breed w/ Lila
0.1- Lila, move from Woodland Park Zoo, breed w/ Jagger
Rationale: This is the creation of a new breeding pair. Both of these are young individuals so hopefully there is plenty of time for this pair to successfully produce offspring.
Smithsonian National Zoo:
1.0 Deemak- Bhutan x Tasha, breed w/ Zaara
0.1 Zaara- Sahaasa x Khali, move from Little Rock, breed w/ Deemak
Rationale: moving Zaara to the National Zoo creates a new breeding pair. Deemak is a genetically valuable animal, making this breeding pair a priority.
Sunset Zoo:
0.1 Tess- Mick x Priya, breed w/ Madhu
1.0- Madhu- Bhutan x Kushali, move from Woodland Park Zoo, breed w/ Tess
Rationale: moving the Woodland Park Zoo cub to Sunset Zoo creates a new breeding pair.
Woodland Park Zoo:
1.0 Bhutan- Knemo x Peanut, breed w/ Tasha, Kushali
0.1 Tasha- Francois x Nocona, breed w/ Bhutan
0.1 Kushali- Randy x Tasha, breed w/ Bhutan
Rationale: this is a proven breeding trio that should be maintained for optimizing future breeding success. Be prepared to house additional male bears as necessary when other zoos have cubs.
ZooBoise:
1.0 Kartick- Bhutan x Tasha, move from San Diego Zoo, breed w/ Paji
0.1 Paji- Goof x Amy, breed w/ Kartick
Rationale: Paji is unlikely to successfully breed at this point, but due to her genetic value, it is important to attempt breeding anyways. Moving Kartick to ZooBoise enables this to occur.
Zoo Miami:
0.1 Keematee- Bhalu x Kayla, breed w/ Hank
1.0 Hank- Francois x Hana, breed w/ Keematee
0.1 Keesha- 524 x 468, do not breed
Rationale: Keesha is likely post-reproductive, so Hank breeding with Keematee is a priority. Hank is a genetically valuable individual, making this an important breeding pair. Expect to be given additional males as necessary when other zoos have cubs.
As I mentioned in my polar bear plan, if anyone has any other species they'd like me to consider in future threads in this series, please suggest them to me, I'll consider any and everything.
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