North American African Elephant Population 2025

E Maximus

E Maximus

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
2024 Yearly Overview



2024 was a neutral year for the African Elephant population. There were 5 births (3.2), 5 deaths (1.4), and 6 transfers. According to the AZA, there are a total of 13 pregnancies within the population, with 7 being announced and 5 due this spring/summer out of one facility itself! I would also like to point out there were 5 births in 2023, and 5 births in 2024 and 2025 set to at a minimum have the same number of 5 births with only Disney’s and the unannounced pregnancies due dates being left unknown. Here's to hoping we can shatter the trend of 5 with more calves on the horizon!

0.1 Asha (Wild X Wild) was moved from Natural Bridge Zoo to Two Tails Ranch

1.0 Vus’Musi (Wild x Ndulamitsi) was moved from San Diego Wild Animal Park to San Diego Zoo

0.1 Susie (Wild x Wild) was moved from Serengeti Ranch to Myakka Elephant Ranch in July 2024

0.1 Baba (Wild x Wild) was moved from Serengeti Ranch to Myakka Elephant Ranch in July 2024

1.0 Osh (Yossi x Sara) was moved from Oakland Zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee

1.0 Tsavo (Jackson x Moyo) was moved from Disneys Animal Kingdom to Reid Park Zoo in October 2024




1.0 Hondo (Callee X Omma) was born at Henry Doorly Zoo on February 18th. 2024

0.1 Kirkja (Titan x Renee) was born at Toledo Zoo on February 17th, 2024

0.1 Meru (Mabu X Litsemba) was born at Reid Park Zoo on March 8th, 2024

1.0 Thando (Mabu x Nolwazi) was born at Fresno Zoo on August 16th, 2024

1.0 Davu (Mabu x Amahle) was born at Fresno Zoo on August 26th, 2024



Luna (Maclean x Donna) at Disney Animal Kingdom is due sometime in 2025/2026

Kianga (Jackson x Donna) at Disneys Animal Kingdom is Due sometime in 2025/2026

Simunye (Wild x Wild) at Sedgwick County Zoo is due in April of 2025

Talia (Wild x Wild) at Sedgwick County Zoo is due in April of 2025

Xolani (Wild x Wild) at Sedgwick County Zoo is due in May of 2025

Arusi (Wild x Wild) at Sedgwick County Zoo is due in June of 2025

Zuberi (Wild x Wild) at Sedgwick County Zoo is due in Mid/Late 2025



0.1 Tsuni at Pittsburgh’s ICC passed away after her battle with EEHV in February 2024

0.1 Lulu at PAWS passed away in April 2024 at 58 years old

1.0 Tonka passed away May 8th at Knoxville Zoo after a rapid decline in his health

0.1 Anna passed away at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in October 2024

0.1 Donna passed away at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in October 2024



Current Population



Currently, there are approximately 173 African Elephants in North America. 5 (2.3.0) at 2 facilities in Canada and 168 (36.132.0) at 42 facilities in the United States. I have gone ahead and changed the format for the population list and listed the facilities from smallest herds to largest.



CANADA

Parc Safari - Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada

1.0 Jeannot (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

0.1 Carole (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 1.1.0 (2)


Granby Zoo - Granby, Quebec, Canada

1.0 Tutume (Tembo × Sabah) 1999.04.09

0.1 Sarah (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

0.1 Thandi (WILD × WILD) 1991.00.00

Total: 1.2.0 (3)




UNITED STATES



Cameron Park Zoo - Waco, Texas, United States

0.1 Tembo (WILD × WILD) 1977.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Topeka Zoo - Topeka, Kansas, United States

0.1 Tembo (WILD × WILD) 1971.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Myrtle Beach Safari - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

0.1 Bubbles (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Two Tails Ranch - Williston, Florida, United States

0.1 Asha (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Elephant Refuge North America - Attapulgus, Georgia, United States

0.1 Mundi (Wild x Wild) 1982.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Louisville Zoo - Louisville, Kentucky, United States

0.1 Mikki (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

Total: 0.1.0 (1)


Myakka Elephant Ranch - Myakka City, Florida, United States

0.1 Susie (WILD × WILD) 1986.00.00

0.1 Baba (WILD × WILD) 1991.00.00

Total: 0.2.0 (2)


Miami Zoo - Miami, Florida, United States

0.1 Peggy (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Mabel (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

Total: 0.2.0 (2)


Caldwell Zoo - Tyler, Texas, United States

1.0 Macembe (Mabhulane × Swazi) 2010.04.12

1.0 Emanti (Mabhulane × Umoya) 2010.05.12

0.1 Tonya (WILD × WILD) 1977.00.00

Total: 2.1.0 (3)


Milwaukee County Zoo - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

0.1 Ruth (Rip × Tanya) 1981.11.02

0.1 Belle (WILD × WILD) 1981.00.00

0.1 Brittany (WILD × WILD) 1981.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)


Birmingham Zoo - Birmingham, Alabama, United States

1.0 Bulwagi (Peter × Mama) 1981.03.03

1.0 Ingadze (Mabhulane × Umngani) 2009.03.13

1.0 Lutsandvo (Mabhulane × Ndulamitsi) 2010.02.14

Total: 3.0.0 (3)


Montgomery Zoo - Montgomery, Alabama, United States

0.1 Star (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Tina (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

0.1 Makena (Sdudla × Tina) 2007.11.09

Total: 0.3.0 (3)


Roger Williams Park Zoo - Providence, Rhode Island, United States

0.1 Alice (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

0.1 Ginny (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

0.1 Kate (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)


Jacksonville Zoo - Jacksonville, Florida, United States

1.0 Ali (WILD × WILD) 1991.00.00

0.1 Thandi (WILD × WILD) 1980.00.00

0.1 Sheena (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 1.2.0 (3)


Atlanta Zoo - Atlanta, Georgia, United States

1.0 Msholo (WILD × WILD) 1989.00.00

0.1 Tara (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Kelly (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 1.2.0 (3)


Maryland Zoo - Baltimore, Maryland, United States

1.0 Tuffy (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

1.0 Samson (Willie × Felix) 2008.03.19

0.1 Felix (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 2.1.0 (3)


Seneca Park Zoo - Rochester, New York, United States

0.1 Genny C (WILD × WILD) 1977.00.00

0.1 Lilac (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Mokala (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)


East Texas Elephant Experience - Cut and Shoot, Texas, United States

0.1 Krissy (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

0.1 Paige (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

0.1 Jeanie (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)


Performing Animal Welfare Society - San Andreas, California, United States

0.1 Toka (WILD × WILD) 1970.00.00

0.1 Thika (Tantor × Tequila) 1980.10.18

0.1 Mara (WILD × WILD) 1980.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)

Wildlife Safari - Winston, Oregon, United States

0.1 Tava (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Moja (Chico × Wankie) 1982.05.24

0.1 Valerie (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

Total: 0.3.0 (3)

San Diego Zoo - San Diego, California, United States

1.0 Vus’musi (WILD × Ndulamitsi) 2004.02.23

1.0 Tsandzikle (Mabhulane × Litsemba) 2010.12.27

1.0 Inhlonipho (Mabhulane × Umngani) 2011.09.26

0.1 Shaba (WILD × WILD) 1980.00.00

Total: 3.1.0 (4)



Cleveland Metroparks Zoo - Cleveland, Ohio, United States

0.1 Moshi (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Martika (WILD × WILD) 1981.00.00

0.1 Kallie (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Shenga (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

Total: 0.4.0 (4)



Toledo Zoo - Toledo, Ohio, United States

1.0 Ajani (Maclean × Ivory) 2000.08.04

0.1 Renee (WILD × WILD) 1979.00.00

0.1 Twiggy (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

0.1 Kirkja (Renee x Titan) 2024.02.17

Total: 1.3.0 (4)


International Conservation Center - Fairhope, Pennsylvania, United States

1.0 Jackson (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Bette (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Seeni (WILD × WILD) 1993.00.00

0.1 Sukiri (WILD × WILD) 1993.00.00

Total: 1.3.0 (4)



Memphis Zoo - Memphis, Tennessee, United States

0.1 Bambi (WILD × WILD) 1975.00.00

0.1 Daisy (WILD × WILD) 1975.00.00

0.1 Kosti (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Gina (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

0.1 Asali (Macho × Juju) 1985.08.29

Total: 0.5.0 (5)


Pittsburgh Zoo - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

0.1 Tasha (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Savannah (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

0.1 Victoria (Jackson × Moja) 1999.09.12

0.1 Angelina (Jackson × Savannah) 2008.07.09

0.1 Zuri (Jackson × Moja) 2008.07.25

Total: 0.5.0 (5)


Fresno Chaffee Zoo - Fresno, California, United States

1.0 Mabhulane (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

1.0 Thando (Mabu x Nolwazi) 2024.08.16

1.0 Davu (Mabu x Amahle) 2024.08.27

0.1 Nolwazi (WILD × WILD) 1994.00.00

0.1 Amahle (WILD × Nolwazi) 2009.00.00

Total: 3.2.0 (5)


Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States

0.1 Missy (WILD × WILD) 1969.00.00

0.1 Kimba (WILD × WILD) 1977.00.00

0.1 Lucky (WILD × WILD) 1979.00.00

0.1 LouLou (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Jambo (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 0.5.0 (5)


Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, New Jersey, United States

0.1 Tanya (WILD × WILD) 1969.00.00

0.1 Barbara (WILD × WILD) 1971.00.00

0.1 Lucy (WILD × WILD) 1971.00.00

0.1 Megu (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Joyce (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

Total: 0.5.0 (5)


North Carolina Zoo - Asheboro, North Carolina, United States

1.0 C'sar (WILD × WILD) 1974.00.00

1.0 Louie (Bulwagi × Renee) 2003.04.30

0.1 Tonga (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Rafiki (WILD × WILD) 1981.00.00

0.1 Nekhanda (WILD × WILD) 1988.00.00

0.1 Batir (Willie × Tonga) 2002.01.21

Total: 2.4.0 (6)


Reid Park Zoo - Tucson, Arizona, United States

1.0 Tsavo (Jackson × Moyo) 2008.06.28

0.1 Litsemba (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

0.1 Lungile (WILD × WILD) 1991.00.00

0.1 Nandi (Mabhulane × Litsemba) 2014.08.20

0.1 Mapenzi (Mabhulane × Litsemba) 2020.04.06

0.1 Meru (Mabu x Litsemba) 2024.03.08

Total: 1.5.0 (6)


Tampa Zoo - Tampa, Florida, United States

1.0 Sdudla (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

0.1 Ellie (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Matjeka (WILD × WILD) 1991.00.00

0.1 Mbali (WILD × WILD) 1992.00.00

0.1 Mpumi (Sdudla × Mbali) 2012.12.23

0.1 Mavi (Sdudla × Matjeka) 2013.07.29

Total: 1.5.0 (6)


Indianapolis Zoo - Indianapolis Indiana, United States

1.0 Kedar (Bulwagi × Kubwa) 2005.10.18

1.0 Jabari (Titan x Zahara) 2023.09.04

0.1 Kubwa (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Tombi (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Ivory (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Zahara (Ali × Ivory) 2006.08.31

Total: 2.4.0 (6)


The Elephant Sanctuary - Hohenwald, Tennessee, United States

1.0 Artie (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

1.0 Osh (Yossi × Sara) 1994.05.24

0.1 Tange (WILD × WILD) 1973.00.00

0.1 Flora (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Nosey (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Edie (WILD × WILD) 1983.00.00

0.1 Sukari (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

Total: 2.5.0 (7)


San Diego Zoo Safari Park - Escondido, California, United States

1.0 Umzula-Zuli (Mabhulane × Ndulamitsi) 2018.08.12

0.1 Ndulamitsi (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

0.1 Umngani (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

0.1 Swazi (WILD × WILD) 1990.00.00

0.1 Khosi (Mabhulane × Umngani) 2006.09.11

0.1 Phakamile (Mabhulane × Umoya) 2007.09.19

0.1 Qinisa (Mabhulane × Swazi) 2012.08.28

0.1 Mkhaya (Mabhulane × Umngani) 2018.09.26

Total: 1.7.0 (8)


Sedgwick County Zoo - Wichita, Kansas, United States

1.0 Callee (Jackson × Savannah) 2000.09.22

1.0 Titan (WILD × Simunye) 2009.00.00

0.1 Stephanie (WILD × WILD) 1971.00.00

0.1 Simunye (WILD × WILD) 1996.00.00

0.1 Zuberi (WILD × WILD) 2008.00.00

0.1 Arusi (WILD × WILD) 2009.00.00

0.1 Xolani (WILD × WILD) 2009.00.00

0.1 Talia (WILD × WILD) 2010.00.00

Total: 2.6.0 (8)


Dallas Zoo - Dallas, Texas, United States

1.0 Tendaji (WILD × WILD) 2004.00.00

1.0 Okubili (Tendaji X Mlilo) 2023.02.26

0.1 Jenny (WILD × WILD) 1976.00.00

0.1 Congo (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Kamba (WILD × WILD) 1980.00.00

0.1 Gypsy (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

0.1 Mlilo (WILD × WILD) 2004.00.00

0.1 Zola (WILD × WILD) 2004.00.00

Total: 2.6.0 (8)


Disney's Animal Kingdom - Bay Lake, Florida, United States

1.0 Maclean (WILD × WILD) 1982.00.00

1.0 Jabali (Ali × Vasha) 2011.08.24

0.1 Donna (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

0.1 Vasha (WILD × WILD) 1985.00.00

0.1 Kianga (Jackson × Vasha) 2004.07.06

0.1 Nadirah (Jackson × Donna) 2005.12.19

0.1 Luna (Maclean × Donna) 2010.05.20

0.1 Stella (Maclean × Donna) 2016.12.14

0.1 Corra (Maclean x Nadirah) 2023.12.13

Total: 2.7.0 (9)


Kansas City Zoo - Kansas City, Missouri, United States

1.0 Tamani (Bulwagi × Ellie) 2005.10.17

0.1 Lady (WILD × WILD) 1968.00.00

0.1 Lea (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Lois (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Megan (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Tattoo (WILD × WILD) 1978.00.00

0.1 Zoe (WILD × WILD) 1984.00.00

0.1 Christie (WILD × WILD) 1986.00.00

0.1 Zuri (Jackson × Christie) 2009.08.10

Total: 1.8.0 (9)


Henry Doorly Zoo - Omaha, Nebraska, United States

1.0 Sonny (Callee × Claire) 2022.01.30

1.0 Mopani (Callee X Lolly) 2023.03.02

1.0 Hondo (Callee x Omma) 2024.02.18

0.1 Jayei (WILD × WILD) 1994.00.00

0.1 Kiki (WILD × WILD) 2004.00.00

0.1 Claire (WILD × WILD) 2008.00.00

0.1 Lolly (WILD × WILD) 2010.00.00

0.1 Omma (WILD × Jayei) 2011.00.00

0.1 Eugenia (Callee × Kiki) 2022.01.07

0.1 Amandra (Calle x Jayei) 2023.08.08

Total: 3.7.0 (10)
 
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Didn’t you say in the North American African Elephant reproduction thread that one of those 7 African elephants you mentioned that are pregnant miscarried @E Maximus ?

also you didn’t include the year of birth for Meru at the Reid Park Zoo
 
Thank you for summarizing the 2024 occurrences and publishing the current population census, @E Maximus.

Here are some notes regarding the current population.

• The current population census should be approximately 175 (38.137.0) African elephants with 5 (2.3.0) residing at two facilities in Canada and 170 (36.134.0) residing at 40 facilities in the United States.

• 0.1 Kirkja (Toledo Zoo) was born on February 17, 2024.
The Toledo Zoo - Have you herd the news?! | Facebook
The Toledo Zoo - Toledo Zoo Elephant Calf | Facebook

• 1.0 Davu (Fresno Chaffee Zoo) was born on August 26, 2024.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo Announces Second Birth of African Elephant.pdf

• 1.0 Butch passed away on June 27, 2022, at Wildlife Safari.
North American African Elephant Population 2024 - ZooChat
PST_Inspection_Report_Wildlife Safari Winston (01-DEC-2022).pdf
PST_Inspection_Report_Wildlife Safari Winston (03-JUN-2022).pdf
Wildlife Safari - Butch Post | Facebook
Wildlife Safari - Who did it better? Moja | Facebook
Wildlife Safari - Who did it better? Tava | Facebook
Wildlife Safari - Who did it better? Valerie | Facebook
 
John Marchwick said:
Didn’t you say in the North American African Elephant reproduction thread that one of those 7 African elephants you mentioned that are pregnant miscarried @E Maximus ?

also you didn’t include the year of birth for Meru at the Reid Park Zoo
Click to expand...
I did but it's not my place to say who. I have included all public announcements so as not to give it away.
 
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Some news on the new bull at reid park.


Let's hope he breeds with semba and her two older daughters. I read we was brought up around well established elephant herds at his former home in Disney. I know he was being mentored by Maclean, and I'm sure witnessed breeding when he was growing up.
 
The Horse Boy said:
Some news on the new bull at reid park.


Let's hope he breeds with semba and her two older daughters. I read we was brought up around well established elephant herds at his former home in Disney. I know he was being mentored by Maclean, and I'm sure witnessed breeding when he was growing up.
Click to expand...

It looks like a great and positive interaction. Hopefully he will get the job done and he will be there in a long while. Even though he is a son of Jack.
 
Yazziel said:
Titan from the Sedgwick County Zoo is being transferred to a new home.
The receiving facility was not revealed

Saying Farewell to Titan: All About SCZ’s First Male Elephant – Sedgwick County Zoo
Click to expand...
This is great news, as it will either allow him the chance to breed naturally and establish himself as a proven breeding bull naturally in addition to through AI, or join a bachelor herd, which would also be good, as there is a shortage of bulls available for this in North America at the moment.
 
Yazziel said:
Titan from the Sedgwick County Zoo is being transferred to a new home.
The receiving facility was not revealed

Saying Farewell to Titan: All About SCZ’s First Male Elephant – Sedgwick County Zoo
Click to expand...
Great news. It's really good to see these bulls not being hold onto for too long and not wasting their reproductive potential.

Just a guess, but with the San Diego Safari Park's new elephant complex scheduled to be completed this year, I'd hope they'd finally be acquiring a bull to breed with their cows.
 
Jambo said:
Great news. It's really good to see these bulls not being hold onto for too long and not wasting their reproductive potential.

Just a guess, but with the San Diego Safari Park's new elephant complex scheduled to be completed this year, I'd hope they'd finally be acquiring a bull to breed with their cows.
Click to expand...
I expect bull Titan to transfer to a location where he will be allowed to mature further into a breeding bull in a herd of young mature cows and - eventually - to enable him to sire offspring naturally.

I applaud the transparency as well as engagement by the SCZ in Wichita to talk about the trials and tribulations of developing a herd of breeding African elephants and also de-bunk the myth about intercontinental African elephant transport are NOT detrimental to species conservation.

In actuality they excellently serve both as ambassador animals for ex situ public awareness and species in situ conservation and underlining that the true plight and status of African elephants being threatened or not in parts of Africa (and that a unilateral ban under CITES or whatever is an ill-informed strategem - where obviously more extreme opinions seem to have prevailed over real scientific data, status and population numbers and sustainability while not - in all fairness - ever addressing the real conservation issues with elephant conservation in situ.
 
Yazziel said:
Titan new home is Zoo Atlanta.

Log in to Facebook
Click to expand...
Very, very interesting news.

I wonder whether this is a result of them deeming him unable to breed naturally and therefore would be better suited at a 'non breeding' facility where he can still be utilised via AI and not take up valuable space at a breeding facility.

Obviously him being unable to breed naturally is unconfirmed, but we do know he's sired two calves thus far (both via AI) and has yet to sire a calf naturally at Sedgewick for almost a decade now.
 
Jambo said:
Very, very interesting news.

I wonder whether this is a result of them deeming him unable to breed naturally and therefore would be better suited at a 'non breeding' facility where he can still be utilised via AI and not take up valuable space at a breeding facility.

Obviously him being unable to breed naturally is unconfirmed, but we do know he's sired two calves thus far (both via AI) and has yet to sire a calf naturally at Sedgewick for almost a decade now.
Click to expand...
This bull is only 15 years of age ..., by elephant society standards he is a mere adolescent who is too insecure/immature to take on an adult elephant cow. In the natural scheme of things adult elephants bulls do not become breeding bulls before 28-35 years of age ..., so Titan has some way to go.

I wish some elephant managers would realise the basics about bull elephants breeding and the sense or lack of it in certain transfers. At SCZ Titan was with his mother and essentially he was never to become suitable breeding material here and even more so with his mum on site and the matriarchal herd dynamics.

So yeah, if we can wait another 5-8 years perhaps bull Titan might be mature enough to breed naturally when put in with much younger cows than him and thence he might breed naturally. Just certainly not now.

I do hope with his transfer to Atlanta Zoo he may gain experience from an unfamiliar bull - Msholo - who he has never seen nor been mixed with before. Msholo is well in his 30's now. What the eventual destination will be for Titan in a decade's time is anybody's guess....!
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
This bull is only 15 years of age ..., by elephant society standards he is a mere adolescent who is too insecure/immature to take on an adult elephant cow. In the natural scheme of things adult elephants bulls do not become breeding bulls before 28-35 years of age ..., so Titan has some way to go.

I wish some elephant managers would realise the basics about bull elephants breeding and the sense or lack of it in certain transfers. At SCZ Titan was with his mother and essentially he was never to become suitable breeding material here and even more so with his mum on site and the matriarchal herd dynamics.

So yeah, if we can wait another 5-8 years perhaps bull Titan might be mature enough to breed naturally when put in with much younger cows than him and thence he might breed naturally. Just certainly not now.

I do hope with his transfer to Atlanta Zoo he may gain experience from an unfamiliar bull - Msholo - who he has never seen nor been mixed with before. Msholo is well in his 30's now. What the eventual destination will be for Titan in a decade's time is anybody's guess....!
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Fair points. I had confused his age with another bull so I thought he was a little older than he actually is!

But I do wonder why the decision was made to send him elsewhere and not remain at Sedgewick where Callee (a hugely successful bull) could have mentored him. I think one of the best points you bring up is the fact that his mother is in that matriarchal herd. In elephant society, the cows are in charge so they will decide whether a bull is allowed to mate them and how they interact (in most cases). It's likely she would have a huge influence on him during social interactions, as you say. Considering the whole herd also came from Swaziland I do wonder whether there's an element of 'relation' at play. From what I've seen, a lot of elephants who have grown up together have failed to breed in adulthood. Even if they aren't genetically related.

So perhaps getting him out of Sedgewick and to another facility where there's a completely new group of elephants, including an older bull who can mentor him is for the best. He can still contribute to the program via AI in the meantime and will hopefully get the opportunity to be in a breeding situation eventually.
 
Jambo said:
Fair points. I had confused his age with another bull so I thought he was a little older than he actually is!

But I do wonder why the decision was made to send him elsewhere and not remain at Sedgewick where Callee (a hugely successful bull) could have mentored him. I think one of the best points you bring up is the fact that his mother is in that matriarchal herd. In elephant society, the cows are in charge so they will decide whether a bull is allowed to mate them and how they interact (in most cases). It's likely she would have a huge influence on him during social interactions, as you say. Considering the whole herd also came from Swaziland I do wonder whether there's an element of 'relation' at play. From what I've seen, a lot of elephants who have grown up together have failed to breed in adulthood. Even if they aren't genetically related.

So perhaps getting him out of Sedgewick and to another facility where there's a completely new group of elephants, including an older bull who can mentor him is for the best. He can still contribute to the program via AI in the meantime and will hopefully get the opportunity to be in a breeding situation eventually.
Click to expand...
I think it's also a strong possibility they're moving him in preparation for the arrival of the calves. They already have stated they don't quite have the room for an additional 5 elephants so I would be shocked if that isn't a factor. One less bull means more space for the cows and less shifting.
 
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