Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo rhinos
- Thread starter TriUK
- Start date
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I do hope that the rhinos are alright
.I agree, it's concerning considering the recent issues the zoo has had. But in the absence of any further information let's assume it's just routine.I do hope that the rhinos are alright
How old are the Rhinos there? Have they had much success in breading?
Baringogiraffe12
Well-Known Member
Paignton hold 1.1 (Manyara born 2002 & Sita born in 1990) - Sita has had a calf in 2007 (Zuri - now at Chester) but this pair has never successfully bred.
Baringogiraffe12
Well-Known Member
IIRC, she is the second oldest black rhino in the UK, with Rosie at PL being two years old. A grand age indeed.
would think larger mammals have longer lifespans....
Unfortunately, some zoos do sit on their animals despite it being sub par... The Rhino House in Paignton is so outdated and with the public barrier so close onto their indoor the rhinos hardly have any privacy.
I have been of the opinion that a long time ago that pairing should have been broken up and either the bull Manyara or the female Sita transferred for breeding to a place where she did have a proven suitor. For cow Sita it is now way too late, but I would prefer that bull Manyara (arrived in 2010 to breed at 8-years old with 20 year old Sita ... the age difference ...., perhaps not) be sent back to Port Lympne or better yet to Chester for breeding. So frigging easy ... to accomplish!
100% with you on this one. Unfortunately after the first calf, sired by the proven bull Kingo, he was unavailable for a second visit to Paignton (required for more breeding at Port Lympne themselves presumably) and they were sent the younger, unproven Manyara instead. When it became apparent he hadn't learned to mate successfully, Sita should have been sent to a proven bull e.g. Kingo at Port Lympne to breed again before she became reproductively inactive. The only good outcome is that Sita's one calf, a female, is now a regular breeder at Chester.
The bull Manyara needs a more spacious enclosure and maybe the stimulation of some different females to effect successful mating- still possible in different circumstances.,
The bull Manyara needs a more spacious enclosure and maybe the stimulation of some different females to effect successful mating- still possible in different circumstances.,
Excuse my ignorance, but what difference would a large enclosure make for successful breading?
I think probably the answer would be yes. The ideal is somewhere like Port Lympne,really big paddocks on the hillside and different females could be run with him(Manyara) to stimulate more interest in mating. If he was to return to Port L ympne I'm sure he would become proven in a short time but its unlikely he ever will in the current situation. Of course Paignton don't have the luxury of that sort of space but it needs to be taken into account when managing a species like Black rhino.
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Probaby yes. One example is 'Rosie' the oldest(?) female black rhino who lives at Port Lympne. She is a non-breeder due to social problems as she was born and handraised at ZSL. Or say, house two young bulls before they are old enough to breed. Paignton were lucky that Sita was first bred with an experienced proven male- in which case considerations like space or partners is not quite so important. Unfortunate that the current partner (Manyara) wasn't proven before he came to Paignton. Proven bulls are not numerous in the UK but best option would have been to send Sita to either Port Lympne or Chester and return her in-calf. Worth knowing too that the very first UK breeding of Black rhino was in Bristol Zoo in the tiny enclosure that later had the pygmy hippos in it- so if the pair are compatable it can work in smaller spaces sometimes.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
Surely Paignton have the smallest rhinoceros enclosure in the country, except perhaps Edinburgh or Longleat? I enjoy the shade and the long grass in the outdoor paddock (although on three visits I only ever saw them indoors) and from memory it has decent separation options, but in terms of size it is definitely substandard, and as mentioned upthread the indoors is even worse.
Edinburgh's is smaller. But they have only held either one or sometimes two immature male Indian rhinos in it at any time. Its not suitable for breeding I don't think.
The two rhinos only tend to come out briefly in the morning anyhow.
