Omaha is evaluating a potential expansion to house more elephants. There was a survey sent to donors a couple months ago. I would assume it would be an expansion to hold a bachelor herd. It did not indicate where they have space to do so.
The question we've all been asking for years unfortunately
I agree! At the very least they need to get more elephants there, no matter whether those are breeding females or bachelors. Tina could, to be frank, drop dead tomorrow and LA would find themselves at the center of ARA scrutiny even moreso than usual. They are in a difficult spot though, there really aren't any obvious females or bachelors in need of placement at the moment. The only facility I can see being willing to offhand any would be White Oak, who definitely would have a few cows to spare as well as bulls.
I certianly am curious on what these facilities will opt to do. Little Rock expressed a hope to expand their elephant exhibit over a decade ago, but due to an issue purchasing land those plans fell through. They doubtlessly are begining to discuss plans now that they're down to two elephants. Miami also had plans to breed again more recently, but their exibit is doubtlessly too small for such an endeavor.
And her name is Kirby.
How exciting! This is setting up Shanti's matriline very nicely!
While I haven't had personal evidence of Romeo being placed with the girls, Fort Worth stated semi-recently that their hope was to have calves approximately every 2-3 years, which would put both Bluebonnet and Belle as being plausibly pregnant at this point.
My guess would be a Radza son. There are a plethora floating around bachelor holding that could've made the move quietly and the departing facility hasn't announced it. While someone from the Calvin or Motek/Warda lines is a possibility, I still find it an unlikely decision. Charlie Gray may be a controversial figure but I don't think he would be daft enough to import a related bull unless he's shipping cows out.
I thought so as well a bull from the Radza line would be the most likely option, and considering the ever growing number of females at ALS it would make the most sense for Lily's matrilineal to be moved but who knows with ALS, they have been willing to separate daughters from their mothers but considering the controversy I don't think Charlie Gray would want that to happen again.
It would be an odd choice to seperate Natasha from her daughter/granddaughters, but I think they would have, albiet slightly, better grounds for doing so than with Emily and Nellie. I can't really think of a scenario that would push them to split the groupings like that when exporting Lily and her five daughters and/or Emily and her inbred daughter would be infinitely easier, but ALS has done odd things to try and offload cows before so it wouldn't totally surprise me. Thats the most "controversial" thing I can think of them doing that would actually be announcement-worthy.