Asian Elephants in Europe 2024

Does anyone know how the elephants at Chester zoo doing? Especially the younger ones. I can’t imagine the big difference from 6-8 elephants at once down to three younger elephants with an old cow. It’s so eerily different.
 
ZCChip said:
Does anyone know how the elephants at Chester zoo doing? Especially the younger ones. I can’t imagine the big difference from 6-8 elephants at once down to three younger elephants with an old cow. It’s so eerily different.
Click to expand...
I certianly am very worried about their younger girls. Loosing their mother so suddenly and not having another experienced cow to support them has got to be a massive stressor. I can't help but fear for an EEHV flair up. I do wonder what Chester plans to do. Indali is at a perfect age to begin breeding, but without her mother to guide her the presence of a breeding bull may be a harm more than a help. On the other hand Chester no doubt want to grow their herd as fast as possible with how many elephants they've lost.
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
I certianly am very worried about their younger girls. Loosing their mother so suddenly and not having another experienced cow to support them has got to be a massive stressor. I can't help but fear for an EEHV flair up. I do wonder what Chester plans to do. Indali is at a perfect age to begin breeding, but without her mother to guide her the presence of a breeding bull may be a harm more than a help. On the other hand Chester no doubt want to grow their herd as fast as possible with how many elephants they've lost.
Click to expand...


I agree. Hopefully they will bring in a small mother and daughter group (or pair) with a bull to show them the ropes or provide support. That’s my view on things.
 
ZCChip said:
I agree. Hopefully they will bring in a small mother and daughter group (or pair) with a bull to show them the ropes or provide support. That’s my view on things.
Click to expand...

That's the nicest theory to bring in a small group that adopts the two girls. You wouldn't have any safety that it works between new and old group though. Bringing in a new group would cause lots of additional stress at first at least. And who would be willing to give a small matriline away at all? First of all Chester needs to fix the problem, otherwise it makes no sense to bring in new ones as long as there is a high risk of losing individuals.
 
I am only curious.

now the two young bulls are gone from zoo Praha, why not let Ankhor in their space so he could have some company with the cows at night through the gate? I checked their cams and saw the cows sleeping (not sure of the two older ones as they are usually kept on the right side of the screen). Then I saw ankhor weaving alone. Maybe he’s in musth.
 
Hi everyone, I’m devastated to say that Chester Zoo’s 4 year old Asian Elephant Riva Hi Way passed away earlier this week..
I contacted Chester Zoo today and they told me,
“An anomaly was detected in her daily blood test and It was imperative for us to investigate quickly and thoroughly but, heartbreakingly, while undergoing a further routine diagnostic procedure, Riva died under general anaesthetic”.
 
Ryley said:
Hi everyone, I’m devastated to say that Chester Zoo’s 4 year old Asian Elephant Riva Hi Way passed away earlier this week..
I contacted Chester Zoo today and they told me,
“An anomaly was detected in her daily blood test and It was imperative for us to investigate quickly and thoroughly but, heartbreakingly, while undergoing a further routine diagnostic procedure, Riva died under general anaesthetic”.
Click to expand...
Chester is really in the trenches right now with their herd. Down to two young animals under the age of 10 and a geriatric cow? Yikes
 
Ryley said:
Hi everyone, I’m devastated to say that Chester Zoo’s 4 year old Asian Elephant Riva Hi Way passed away earlier this week..
I contacted Chester Zoo today and they told me,
“An anomaly was detected in her daily blood test and It was imperative for us to investigate quickly and thoroughly but, heartbreakingly, while undergoing a further routine diagnostic procedure, Riva died under general anaesthetic”.
Click to expand...

The situation in Chester shows how important it is that EAZA takes care of the matrilines, which right now are endangered to be lost; plus the singular cows that still are in breeding age. Situations as in Hamburg (two matrilines without bull) or in Berlin (matriline with the bull being the father of the cow in breeding age) can be painful losses for the future.
 
Pongo said:
The situation in Chester shows how important it is that EAZA takes care of the matrilines, which right now are endangered to be lost; plus the singular cows that still are in breeding age. Situations as in Hamburg (two matrilines without bull) or in Berlin (matriline with the bull being the father of the cow in breeding age) can be painful losses for the future.
Click to expand...
The limitations on breeding really do make this entire situation so much harder. From one standpoint, breeding cows in natural intervals from the age of 8 onward is the logistically best way to ensure the continuation of a matriline. However, with bachelor facilities being full or near full as it is, risking having 5-6 bulls born a year isn't something regional holders can accomodate. It's rough all around.
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
The limitations on breeding really do make this entire situation so much harder. From one standpoint, breeding cows in natural intervals from the age of 8 onward is the logistically best way to ensure the continuation of a matriline. However, with bachelor facilities being full or near full as it is, risking having 5-6 bulls born a year isn't something regional holders can accomodate. It's rough all around.
Click to expand...

The general limitation makes sense. If you allow anyone to breed they will do it and cause a huge problem. There are herds where it doesn't matter if they breed within the next ten years (e.g. Pairi Daiza, Planckendael, Leipzig = those with a sufficient number of young cows within a matriline). Right now threre are about 30 matrilines and I think the focus needs to be on those you are endangered to lose (=singular cows approaching the age of 25, and matrilinies with the youngest member being between 15 and 25) as this limits the number of future breeders.
 
Pongo said:
Would be nice if it worked, but honestly I remain sceptical as long as they host two matrilines.
Click to expand...
Was the conflict caused by the eldest cows, Ceyla-Himali and Indi, not getting along? Now that Ceyla-Himali is gone will they try to integrate her daughters in with the other two cows? That would seem the most sensible route if they were able.
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
Was the conflict caused by the eldest cows, Ceyla-Himali and Indi, not getting along? Now that Ceyla-Himali is gone will they try to integrate her daughters in with the other two cows? That would seem the most sensible route if they were able.
Click to expand...

You have a pregnancy in a highly problematic EEHV environment and want to merge matrilines for even more stress?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top