Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo News 2023

[Nile Hippo Expert]

It’s very interesting - especially when you consider the fact he’s always been with much older cows.

And to answer your question, no. He’s been at Oakland since he was ten for almost two decades now. It would be nice if they would give him the opportunity with new, younger cows at a different facility but obviously Oakland is of the firm belief he’s a behavioral non breeder.

Osh was supposed to naturally breed Lisa and Donna, both of whom were then still able to reproduce upon his arrival but that unfortunately never happened.

 

[Jambo]

Osh was supposed to naturally breed Lisa and Donna, both of whom were then still able to reproduce upon his arrival but that unfortunately never happened.

Yeah but it’s important to note Osh was still young himself, so pairing him with much older cows (then aged in their 20’s) wouldn’t have really been the best choice. Especially if Osh was on the smaller side at the time, he wouldn’t have been able to mate them.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It’s very interesting - especially when you consider the fact he’s always been with much older cows.

And to answer your question, no. He’s been at Oakland since he was ten for almost two decades now. It would be nice if they would give him the opportunity with new, younger cows at a different facility but obviously Oakland is of the firm belief he’s a behavioral non breeder.

I personally feel they are overtly restrictive in that assessment since he honestly has never been tried in earnest. TBH: Adult breeding African elephants are usually in the 30-35 age range in the wilds and with good reason. So, a 10-year old with older breeding cows is just a social structure and husbandry regime nightmare and totally unnatural for adult elephant society. The cows will simply not accept him. Hence, I really found that "We do not believe in breeding elephants" a rather fundamentalist politically correct statement (let me just put it that way diplomatically).

To put it plainly: Osh has never been tried in earnest with any bulls and cows nearer his age range to relate to and perhaps show amorous advances to. He would surely benefit from being sent to a bachelor herd and get that all important experience of his own sex and how young bulls' behavioral needs can be better met in a bachelor herd setting (mind you: elephant males start combat and challenging eachother almost from birth ... and Osh simply has not had that cohorte once he got into is early teens).

This issue has been a regular feature in recent decades across Continents where adult bulls should be 22-25+ or ideally 28-35+ to be a breeding bull that all cows will come to accept as a good suitor. These bulls also have special needs and 2 adult bulls of similar age also never go ..., they suffer under the challenge and dominance infighting (in the wilds often the dominant chases off the lesser bull in order to have peace of mind and freedom to move).

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Osh was supposed to naturally breed Lisa and Donna, both of whom were then still able to reproduce upon his arrival but that unfortunately never happened.

The introduction of a teenager to both fully adult cows is and was a rather inept and uninformed breeding strategy to get elephants to reproduce successfully to begin with. It is the odd one bull out that even manages to do this in their teens both in the wilds or in captivity.

The rest is just history (as we experience it past, present and future) and we should rather learn from it now (rather than later) and not suffer the obvious consequences later of few more decades of rather disappointing figures in elephant reproduction.

At least, the way I see it the current AZA African elephant breeding program is getting a bit out of the dark woods. I would even advocate imports from range states for new founder stock from threatened or to be likely culled populations (as their global management is a One Plan Approach conservation strategy in situ and ex situ).

Further, I consider the current hardline CITES stance on provisos for export to zoos for captive-breeding are rather ineffective way to conserve wild elephants in range states (where usually their response to in situ conservation is just seriously lacking). Also bear in mind that CITES is first and foremost an economic trade off facility and not a conservation tool.

 

[Frankie_number_1_fan]

I certianly don't see an issue with Oakland planning to be a bachelor facility. Goodness knows more bachelor holding is never a negative thing and the demand for male specific facilities will only grow as we see more calves being born.

But it is a shame Osh was never given a real chance to breed naturally. He was transferred rather young and never placed with reproductive females long-term. On the other hand though, I don't believe he ever was around a mature bull growing up that would teach him what to do breeding-wise anyway, so him being a behavioral non-breeder WOULD make sense.
It's a huge gamble for Oakland and any receiving facility to move a non-proven, approaching middle-aged bull into a breeding situation. If he hasn't exhibited mating behavior in the years he's been at Oakland then it makes more sense for him to remain at the facility rather than wasting resourses on a move. Having an older bull to help acclimate and guide younger males at the facility is an ideal social aspect for bachelor herds.