Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
I can see him moving to Denver, as their exhibit is built to hold up to eight bull elephants, and they currently have five, so Duncan moving to Denver is a possibility.
North American Asian Elephant Population 2023
- Thread starter John Marchwick
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The post from the zoo says he’s moving in hopes to become a dad. I don’t think this would apply to a facility like Denver unless they’re misleading the GP. Or poor wording of course.
Is there a chance he may go to Fort Worth, OKC or White Oak? LA or National'd be an interesting choice as well, especially given Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh's relatively recent arrival at the latter facility.
Duncan is also related to all of the OKC breeding cows…
The announcement specifically states he is moving to a breeding situation with a herd. Not sure where, but anxious to see. The Asian Elephant SSP needs to produce more calves soon!
Nichole has passed away at TESS
The Elephant Sanctuary (@theelephantsanctuary) | Instagram
The Elephant Sanctuary (@theelephantsanctuary) | Instagram
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
Oh that is so sad! Just six weeks after she arrived from San Antonio! At least she wasn't alone when she died though.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
I called it!
That’s… not even close to a breeding herd where Duncan is going but regardless I’m glad Duncan is going to Denver!
Denver is a fine place to go. Given their current age distribution, how many individuals they have, and the natures of the animals involved, Duncan will likely fit in just fine.
However, I would not be at all surprised to see one of their older boys (most likely Bodhi) end up departing at some point in the near future to serve as a breeding bull elsewhere (hopefully St Louis) as well. He’s old enough and large enough to command the respect of cows, socially affable, and is proven fertile via AI.
However, I would not be at all surprised to see one of their older boys (most likely Bodhi) end up departing at some point in the near future to serve as a breeding bull elsewhere (hopefully St Louis) as well. He’s old enough and large enough to command the respect of cows, socially affable, and is proven fertile via AI.
Groucho could be another one given he’s a proven breeder and has sired 2 daughters at Fort Worth.
Groucho is at Denver to stay. He's in retirement there and serves a very valuable mentor role in the current bachelor herd.
He’s not in “retirement”, they’re still actively collecting semen from him and he is very actively socializing with and serving as a mentor to younger bulls. Retirement would imply a complete cease-fire of any attempt to breed from him at all, and him being housed largely either by himself or with geriatric cows, neither which are the case for him.
Regardless, I have my doubts about Groucho leaving as well, not only because he*is* an excellent mentor bull, but mainly just due to age. I would be very, very happy if he was moved into a natural breeding situation, but at 52 years old, he is absolutely an older bull, and while transfers for similar aged, if not older animals can and do occur, they’re not without risk.
Houston zoo explained Duncan's move on instagram:
"Correct, Baylor is a couple of years older and both him and Duncan share the same parents. However, Duncan is naturally much more self-reliant and confident than Baylor is. These personality traits make Duncan a better choice and will really help him to integrate into a new herd."
Additionally some visitor gave more details:
"last time I was at the zoo I was told by a keeper that Duncan was the bull who’d butt heads and fight with Thailand the most. So much in fact that they couldn’t even be on enclosure together. So that might be a big reason as to why he’s leaving instead of his older brother."
"Correct, Baylor is a couple of years older and both him and Duncan share the same parents. However, Duncan is naturally much more self-reliant and confident than Baylor is. These personality traits make Duncan a better choice and will really help him to integrate into a new herd."
Additionally some visitor gave more details:
"last time I was at the zoo I was told by a keeper that Duncan was the bull who’d butt heads and fight with Thailand the most. So much in fact that they couldn’t even be on enclosure together. So that might be a big reason as to why he’s leaving instead of his older brother."
Regarding Nicole, TES published a video of her first days at the sanctuary shortly after her arrival and you can see that she is in pretty poor shape. She is walking very slowly and her stance shows that she is trying to get her weight off her front feet, indicating severe pain in her front feet/legs. I had hoped she´d have more time at TES, but I am not surprised she died so soon. Her feet/legs must have been in horrible condition.
Regarding bulls, integrating Duncan at Denver is probably pretty easy since he s far younger then the other bulls and therefore automatically the lowest ranking group member. If there is a natural hierarcy due to the age and size of the animals, integrating bull elephants into a bachelor group is far easier then integrating unrelated female elphants.
Regarding bulls, integrating Duncan at Denver is probably pretty easy since he s far younger then the other bulls and therefore automatically the lowest ranking group member. If there is a natural hierarcy due to the age and size of the animals, integrating bull elephants into a bachelor group is far easier then integrating unrelated female elphants.
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