I totally agree, I was disappointed when the Thai elephant import sent the animals to the two city zoos as I had stated years ago!
Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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There was always no way the city facilities would've been able to accommodate the herds long term with the amount of breeding cows each facility had. Taronga, for example, effectively reached capacity after the birth of their first cohort (of just three calves).
Sending Taronga's herd to Dubbo straight away would have also allowed Heman potentially the opportunity to mate some of the cows, however it's worth noting he ended up passing just under two months after their actual arrival to Sydney.
I find it hard to believe that the "powers that be" could not have known this and have wasted a lot of time and many millions of dollars at both zoos going the way they did. As you have rightly stated its quite possible that Heman could of sired a few calfs at that time from a outstanding bull so not only did they lose his genes but could have given him a much better life than he had in that small concrete enclose he lived for so long!
I personally found it really disappointing that Auckland Zoo chose not to receive Gung and Tukta from the Thai import. I understand she was an aggressive cow, so wouldn’t have suited their hands on management style; but there were presumably plans for protected contact facilities the fact they were bringing in a bull.
Had Auckland acquired Gung, they likely would have established a breeding herd; and Taronga in turn could have bred from Heman.
It may of been a blessing, I believe the days of elephant herds in city zoos is over even the London zoo transferred its elephants out to whipsnade years ago!
Yes, a phase out probably was inevitable. A multimillion expansion into Western Springs was originally planned, which may have bought them some time; but the main exhibit had a capacity of three cows, so the writing was on the wall.
There were previously attempts by Auckland Zoo to import a bull in the 1980’s for breeding; and AI was considered for both Kashin and Burma in the 1990’s and 2000’s respectively.
With regard to Sydney zoo I would say I would not be surprised if they expanded the elephant enclosures footprint at some point perhaps to house more than the two current bulls perhaps even taking a young bull or two from other zoos like Dubbo or Werribee in the future acting as a bachelor hub which I believe will free up room in the current breeding herds to free up some space!
That’s quite possible. Werribee will be producing another cohort of three calves around 3-4 years from now, so it would be ideal if Roi-Yim and any bulls from that cohort could transfer to Sydney Zoo long term. Perhaps a decade from now, when Roi-Yim is in his early teens and has had the benefit of being mentored by Luk Chai at Werribee for a few years, enabling him to fulfill the role himself when he and his younger siblings/half-siblings transfer out.
That would free up Werribee to receive one of the adult bulls from Sydney; with the other going to either Monarto or Dubbo at that point. A bull will be needed to sire calves to any daughters sired by Putra Mas and either the other Sydney bull (or Pathi Harn if he sires Anjalee’s next calf) would be the obvious choices.
The problem is there isn't really any space around the current complex that can be utilised - the current complex already takes up a fair amount of the zoos space so an extension is probably only likely in the event Sydney Zoo as a whole expands.
If one of Sydney's bulls ends up moving into a breeding situation, it would open up space for Sydney to take on another bull (or two), depending on their ages. If Werribee do acquire one of the bulls in five or so years time, Sabai from Dubbo (and potentially Anjalee's calf if male) would both be good options to transfer across to Sydney.
I thought there might be a possibly be able to expand into the massive park that I recall the zoo is/was next too.
It would be useful if Dubbo were able to transfer out Sabai (and Anjalee’s calf, if male) as they have five paddocks and currently hold the herd across four groupings:
Gung
Pathi Harn
Sabai
Matriarchal herd
Bearing in mind they like to leave a paddock free for recovery of vegetation, then a male calf from Anjalee really would take them to capacity.
There is the possibility for this luckily - which isn't a luxury shared by most zoos in urban locations. I would be surprised if there was any expansion anytime soon however. But it is something worth considering long term.
Bulls canusually be kept in groups with bull calves. You don’t need a paddock for each bull.
That’s how Dubbo manage them. Gung and Pathi Harn are held in seperate paddocks; and Sabai (adolescent male) has contact sessions with both bulls, but otherwise lives in his own paddock.
Even when Dubbo had two same aged adolescents (Luk Chai and Pathi Harn), their contact sessions were decreased to three sessions per week due to rough-housing between the pair (primarily initiated by Pathi Harn) causing injuries.
Luk Chai and Man Jai had a great relationship; and Sydney’s bulls are cohabiting without issue for now, so Dubbo’s situation appears to be down to the adult bulls’ personalities.
Yes this was slated to be used as future zoo land if the need for it was to be used. Whether that is still a go I havent heard in many years if it is or not. But they did build Sydney zoo where it is because of this.
What would benefit Western plains is a complete rebuild of there elephant area. This idea that the herd needs an indoor barn for them all to fit in is absolute rubbish. Both Werribee and Monarto have harsher winters, I will die on this hill. It's nothing more than a waste of money for either an extra cafe or elephant experience. It does not benefit the elephants and wastes space.
What would be better is to build two new modern barns for night accomodation. With two paddocks for bulls with a couple of smaller musth paddocks attached. Then building two larger paddocks for the matriarchal herd. They would be Able to build larger paddocks, create a more fission and fussion holding style for the elephants. While being able to seperate bulls of when needed but having two large paddocks to have them in during the day allowing multiple bulls to be held together. Bulls are not solitary, the overwhelming majority of the live and semi cohesive groups of bulls. Which is usually headed up by a large mature bull. They then seperate out when musth hits. Western plains if it had larger bull habitats, that were actual elephant habits (I've seen cattle paddocks have more depth to them and look and function better). They would be able to house the bulls together easier.
That would be a great opportunity for Sydney Zoo. While any expansion wouldn’t be to a scale comparable to the elephant facilities at the open range zoos (which would allow them to establish a multigenerational herd), it would at least let them increase their bachelor holdings.
Dubbo are in the most need to transfer out a bull; but depending on how many bull calves Werribee’s next cohort produces, they may find themselves in a similar position a decade from now. 1.2 healthy calves was unbelievably good fortune for Zoos Victoria in 2022-2023!
This is something our elephant keepers need to travel overseas and learn.
I agree a new barn (or two) would be beneficial.
Dubbo currently has three barns:
The first barn (three stalls) was built in 1977 for the 1.4 young African elephants.
The second barn (two stalls) was built ahead of the arrival of the 1.1 African elephants in 1983.
The third barn (three stalls) was built in 2014 ahead of the transfer of the Asian elephants from Taronga.
The herd has expanded since then, with three bulls each occupying their own stall; and Anjalee due to give birth later this year.
The problem is Dubbo don't have a good barn set up that will support matriarchal herd growth - the cows are housed in the newer barn (consisting of three stalls), with one adult cow in each. With Kanlaya maturing into an adult and Anjalee's calf on the way, that barn in particular is certainly beginning to run short on space.
A new, large barn like Werribee's built in place of the original barns would be great with the bulls then being able to utilise the newer barn.