African Elephants In Europe 2022

Does anyone know why Matla gave birth alone? Not in a support group setting?

great news all around!
 
ZCChip said:
Does anyone know why Matla gave birth alone? Not in a support group setting?

great news all around!
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Likely just out of caution. It’s been over 14 years since the group was captured, and none of them have seen a calf since that time. They were all old enough upon capture to likely have seen a number of births and been around calves extensively, so it makes sense that those maternal instincts would be there, but they probably wanted to avoid the chances of the herd working up into a frenzy and accidentally hurting the calf in either excitement or nervousness. Of course we also don’t know the dynamics going on behind the scenes with the animals, they possibly also wanted to avoid the potential for displacement from a dominant animal.

Additionally, the birthing pen was rather small. Even two cows alone in there would be cozy, add a new calf to a first time mom plus a second inexperienced cow, and there’s potential for things to get very rowdy very quick in that pen.

Regardless of that though, the birth was a natural, hands-off birth, that appeared to go very smoothly, and there was at least one other cow within visual and tactile contact with Matla. I have no doubt as the other cows start birthing and the herd gains more cohesion and experience, they will become more and more open to doing natural births with the entire herd present.
 
Hyak_II said:
Regardless of that though, the birth was a natural, hands-off birth, that appeared to go very smoothly, and there was at least one other cow within visual and tactile contact with Matla. I have no doubt as the other cows start birthing and the herd gains more cohesion and experience, they will become more and more open to doing natural births with the entire herd present.
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Speaking of group cohesion and dynamics, can anyone tell me who the matriarch is in this group (maybe Matla as she is the oldest) and is it known if any of the 6 cows are related? Thanks.
 
Rajang-GOAT said:
Speaking of group cohesion and dynamics, can anyone tell me who the matriarch is in this group (maybe Matla as she is the oldest) and is it known if any of the 6 cows are related? Thanks.
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The matriarch of the group is Matla, because of which Jambo could not be involved in the group. I don't know if some of the cows are related. The zoo probably doesn't know either, but I suppose it's not out of the question.
 
First week of life of the first elephant born in BIOPARC
BioParc Valencia have released an update on the progress of their week-old elephant calf (with a video included again), in the title it has been described as intense, but it seems to be a fairly positive situation, and things look like they are running smoothly for now. It appears things are progressing slowly and steadily, and 2 of the next big milestones will be being aloud outside and being introduced to more herd members.
 
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Still not announced, but she's almost certainly a cow (to the point I would wager money on it). At the very end of the video in the posted link, you get a very clear view of the calf as she turns around, where you can see very obviously female reproductive anatomy.

Interestingly, she also has an umbilical hernia, and it would appear her mother, Matla, does as well.
 
Extremely sad news :( Poor Sweni just can’t get a break, she’s had absolutely no luck building a matriline for herself. And of course poor little Tsavo as well :(

Fingers crossed the rest of the Wuppertal herd continues to do well, and manages to avoid whatever afflicted Tsavo.
 
An *extremely* interesting move has just occurred. Gorgeous bull Tembo has been transferred from Vienna to...Bojnice in Slovakia, of all places.

I suppose this tells of one of two things. Either Tembo is genuinely and definitely infertile now, and Bojnice is happy to serve as a retirement facility (I see this as being the more likely), or he is fertile still and has gotten the cows at Vienna pregnant, and in a surprise twist, Bojnice will somehow be sourcing young cows to start a prospective breeding herd with him.

I suppose hypothetically they might also just be holding on to him for a period of time until another animal to bolster their social structure is available, at which point he will be moved out, but considering his age and the fact he hasn't sired a calf in over 17 years, I find that possibility to be unlikely at best.

See more at the link here.
 
Absolutely stunning, unexpected, but very exciting news, Tusker managed to work his magic at Basel! And with 46 year old Heri, of all the cows!
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Heri's first, and only, pregnancy was a premature stillborn in 2004, so considering it has been 18 years since her last pregnancy, this is nothing short of a miracle. She's due in late 2023/early 2024, and of course considering her age and the fact she is essentially a nulliparous cow, I would say cautious optimism at best would be the general "vibe" for her pregnancy, but still, I can't help but be excited for her, and hope that all goes well, and this lovely older girl (who's also a founder) can start to build a matriline for herself.

Fingers crossed all continues to go well, and a healthy miracle calf is born in the future!

See more at the link here
 
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How can it ever be possible ?? I can't believe it. It's a brilliant news. Let's hope the baby will be born healty.
 
Gil said:
How can it ever be possible ?? I can't believe it. It's a brilliant news. Let's hope the baby will be born healty.
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I agree! Tusker managed to pull off something in ~10 months that two other successful, proven breeding bulls couldn't manage to do in 18 years, that elephant is nothing short of Superman in the breeding department, haha.
 
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Basle built a new facility a couple of years ago and they are trying to breed ever since (actually even earlier, they had a bull since many years in an outdated bull facility. The first bull, Calimero, got Heri pregnant once 18 years ago but was sent to Beekse Bergen, while the second bull Yoga was very young and never managed to mate with Rosy and Maya who were both a bit older). But the females they wanted to get pregnant are Rosy and Maya, both born appr. 1995. Bull Jack mated with them but no pregnancy happened, and when Jack was exchanged for Tusker 3 years ago I suspected that both Rosy and Maya were already too old for breeding, being primiparous and already around 25 years old. This seems to be correct since Tusker didnt get them pregnant either.

No one believed Heri could get pregnant and I guess that is why they allowed Tusker to mate her. Its really a miracle. I just hope she will survive the birth; the risk is HUGE and the possibility that this pregnancy will result in the death of mother and calf is high.
 
Thanks @Yassa I just can’t believe it.

i wouldn’t be surprised if they are putting Tusker with the other cows just in case. Even though the past efforts are unsuccessful.
 
Tusker has been with all females since shortly after his arrival. But I dont believe in another miracle (and remember, Heris miracle may turn into a tradegy with both mother and calf dead…).
 
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