Mongu is 22 so if she was to be pregnant, it would be a great achievement considering most females cease cycling in their late teens if they haven't conceived by that point.
African Elephants in Europe 2025
- Thread starter Elephant Enthusiast
- Start date
Yoga's first time meeting the three cows at Ouwehands Dierenpark (still with a fence between them):
Wow. He barely fit through the door. Who is that spirited cow? It looks like she is dominant.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
The spirited cow is Franzi. Though it is quite odd that Franzi, Duna and Yoga seem to be quite aggressive with one another, flaring their ears and forming a ridge across the middle, and lunging at one another through the barrier, Yoga is a well socialized bull, with a calm disposition with the cows at Boras, though considering Tooths aggressive behavior while at Ouwehands Dierenpark, they do have reason to be wary of a new bull.
I find it odd that only Duna is the breeding cow, while the other two are older flatliners. And all came from different zoos. It would make sense there is some aggression among cows even though I only saw clear dominance but not actual fighting.
I am not sure that the 2 other are flatliners. They may well still be cycling. But the thing is, once a female elephant is past her early 20‘th, she almost never gets pregnant, even if she maintains a cycle (which most females do). Tembo and Aja were already way too old when they came to Rhenen and were put together with a bull.
By the way, there is no fighting between the females. Tembo and Duna are a close bond. Aja is a bit of an outsider but there is no fighting between the 3.
By the way, there is no fighting between the females. Tembo and Duna are a close bond. Aja is a bit of an outsider but there is no fighting between the 3.
That is what I mean by a flatliner. They possibly could not produce follicles for pregnancy.
Well no, they’re likely still ovulating and releasing eggs. However due to uterine pathologies from never being pregnant, the eggs are unable to implant. Most old cows who never breed have fibroids, thickened uterine walls, uterine scarring, and other issues that prevent a fertilized egg from successfully implanting. Flat liners and young cows that cycle but are never able to successfully maintain a pregnancy are normally that way because of hormonal issues, not physical ones.
You made it more sensible. I always thought it would be because the cow reduces hormones to retain pregnancy. The female has only so many follicles to produce in her lifetime. And I am sure an elephant cow has even less than a woman would because of the length of pregnancy and raising a calf. But I have heard a few instances of the cow being mated nearly after birth due to hormones.
Nature is interesting.
The Horse Boy
Well-Known Member
What do you guys imag the future of Warsaw might hold for elephants? They have a young bull sitting with non reproductive females, but I'm not sure if the facility is more equipped for breeding or bachelors.
Elephantguy10
Member
Kariba at the opel zoo have given birth
A Daugther who namend Kaja
A Daugther who namend Kaja
Elephantguy10
Member
I think a bachleor group is probably a better decision
If they want to breed they have to transport the non breeding females to a other facility and then they have to get new cows probbaly a family
But i dont know if the facility is big enough for a family and breeding group
The Horse Boy
Well-Known Member
I thibk you're right there. Their outdoor and indoor facilities look too small to manage a multigenerational grouping. Europe also needs more African bachelor holders. The asian bull facilities greatly outnumber the African ones, as more and more Asian bachelor exhibits have kept popping up over the recent years. The African bull holders in Europe are about a couple in France and one in Hungary that opened from scratch a few years ago.
Elephantguy10
Member
Female Elephant Heri at the Zoo basel died today
She was euthanised
She was euthanised
A ray of hope now that Opel Zoo in Kronberg seems to continue with managing to breed their African elephant. Be nice if the other cow will follow through at some point.
Absolutely spectacular news about the Opel Zoo birth! And a cow, what more could you ask for? Very, very good news 
I also have no doubt Cristina will fall pregnant soon enough if she hasn't already, both her and Tamo know what to do, so it's only a matter of time, subjectively.
This is also very interesting news, specifically in regards to the Berlin Tierpark when they are ready to receive animals again. I would presume they will call back some of the animals they already own, but who? I think it's safe to assume that Matibi and her daughter Makeba will likely stay in France, and Pori, Tana, Tamika, and Elani will likely stay in Halle, which leaves either Lilak, Kariba, and Kaja (which will leave just Cristina and Neco at Opel with Tamo), Pori and Panya from Hodenhagen (leaving them with only Nellie as a potential breeding cow), or recalling Kando from Magdeburg and bringing in a new cow group from else-where.
Regardless of which route they go, it would be a major disruption to whichever facility they pull from. Definitely going to be interesting to see what happens down the road!
I also have no doubt Cristina will fall pregnant soon enough if she hasn't already, both her and Tamo know what to do, so it's only a matter of time, subjectively. This is also very interesting news, specifically in regards to the Berlin Tierpark when they are ready to receive animals again. I would presume they will call back some of the animals they already own, but who? I think it's safe to assume that Matibi and her daughter Makeba will likely stay in France, and Pori, Tana, Tamika, and Elani will likely stay in Halle, which leaves either Lilak, Kariba, and Kaja (which will leave just Cristina and Neco at Opel with Tamo), Pori and Panya from Hodenhagen (leaving them with only Nellie as a potential breeding cow), or recalling Kando from Magdeburg and bringing in a new cow group from else-where.
Regardless of which route they go, it would be a major disruption to whichever facility they pull from. Definitely going to be interesting to see what happens down the road!
Elephantguy10
Member
Absolutely spectacular news about the Opel Zoo birth! And a cow, what more could you ask for? Very, very good news
This is also very interesting news, specifically in regards to the Berlin Tierpark when they are ready to receive animals again. I would presume they will call back some of the animals they already own, but who? I think it's safe to assume that Matibi and her daughter Makeba will likely stay in France, and Pori, Tana, Tamika, and Elani will likely stay in Halle, which leaves either Lilak, Kariba, and Kaja (which will leave just Cristina and Neco at Opel with Tamo), Pori and Panya from Hodenhagen (leaving them with only Nellie as a potential breeding cow), or recalling Kando from Magdeburg and bringing in a new cow group from else-where.
Regardless of which route they go, it would be a major disruption to whichever facility they pull from. Definitely going to be interesting to see what happens down the road!
There Are rumors that the Pori Family will Move to Berlin and come back After 2 years
Because Halle is going to rebuilt the enclosure
If they really do this I hope they can stay in Berlin and other Elephants will Move to Halle
Maybe Numbi after she has given birth
Hopefully a healthy Girl
The full press release also states that the two remaining elephant cows, Rosy and Maya, will be leaving the zoo. Where they will go and how a future breeding group in Basel will look like will be determined in collaboration with the EEP in the coming months.
I do not think the choice is on Tierpark Berlin alone. All elephants you quote are now part of established breeding herds in other zoos. So, just simple call back is not an option.Absolutely spectacular news about the Opel Zoo birth! And a cow, what more could you ask for? Very, very good news
This is also very interesting news, specifically in regards to the Berlin Tierpark when they are ready to receive animals again. I would presume they will call back some of the animals they already own, but who? I think it's safe to assume that Matibi and her daughter Makeba will likely stay in France, and Pori, Tana, Tamika, and Elani will likely stay in Halle, which leaves either Lilak, Kariba, and Kaja (which will leave just Cristina and Neco at Opel with Tamo), Pori and Panya from Hodenhagen (leaving them with only Nellie as a potential breeding cow), or recalling Kando from Magdeburg and bringing in a new cow group from else-where.
Regardless of which route they go, it would be a major disruption to whichever facility they pull from. Definitely going to be interesting to see what happens down the road!
Plus the studbook keeper has moved earth and ocean floors to have all the elephants be part of a functional breeding herd elsewhere. Most realistic ... I think will be younger elephants from the breeding program.