North American Asian Elephant Population 2025

Has there been any dates thrown out on when we can expect this complex to break ground/be built? I feel that will be a determining factor in which group moves assuming we see only one more calf (out of Joy) at Houston in the near future.
There haven't been any dates per se, but Tim Morrow mentioned that elephants/a new Asian district would be the next project right after Congo Falls opens up.
 
Has there been any dates thrown out on when we can expect this complex to break ground/be built? I feel that will be a determining factor in which group moves assuming we see only one more calf (out of Joy) at Houston in the near future.

I suspect end of 2026? I do not follow the gorillas there closely though, but it sounded like it is their top priority as for now.
 
I suspect end of 2026? I do not follow the gorillas there closely though, but it sounded like it is their top priority as for now.
Probably not for another few years after the gorilla complex opens this year, but I'd hope that it will at least be complete by next decade.

Houston are currently in an interesting position. They have an elderly bull in Thai who's quite well represented now. If Tess doesn't breed again, it's a while before Shanti will likely have her next calf.

I don't see any rush in breeding the younger cows (Joy and Tilly). In fact a decision should be made first regarding the likely split of the herd. They have a few years.
 
Probably not for another few years after the gorilla complex opens this year, but I'd hope that it will at least be complete by next decade.

Houston are currently in an interesting position. They have an elderly bull in Thai who's quite well represented now. If Tess doesn't breed again, it's a while before Shanti will likely have her next calf.

I don't see any rush in breeding the younger cows (Joy and Tilly). In fact a decision should be made first regarding the likely split of the herd. They have a few years.
I believe another calf or two is going to come from them much sooner than everyone thinks. I recently visited Houston, and Chuck was very interested in both Tess and Tupelo with him even going as far as mounting Tupelo.
 
Probably not for another few years after the gorilla complex opens this year, but I'd hope that it will at least be complete by next decade.

Houston are currently in an interesting position. They have an elderly bull in Thai who's quite well represented now. If Tess doesn't breed again, it's a while before Shanti will likely have her next calf.

I don't see any rush in breeding the younger cows (Joy and Tilly). In fact a decision should be made first regarding the likely split of the herd. They have a few years.
They'll likely breed Joy and Tilly just to ensure they're proven (per AZA reccomendation) and likely another calf from Tupelo since it's around 5ish years since she last conceived. If the timing lines up, they could have two calves in 2027 and then a 2028 calf out of Tilly. They have the ability to have a few more calves on the ground before they're at capacity iirc.
 
Probably not for another few years after the gorilla complex opens this year, but I'd hope that it will at least be complete by next decade.

Houston are currently in an interesting position. They have an elderly bull in Thai who's quite well represented now. If Tess doesn't breed again, it's a while before Shanti will likely have her next calf.

I don't see any rush in breeding the younger cows (Joy and Tilly). In fact a decision should be made first regarding the likely split of the herd. They have a few years.

The original question was when the ground will be broken. As in starting to be built. Yes it will take a long time. Supposedly it will be across the road in the new Asia complex so that is quite a build. I do not believe the gorillas will be there as gorillas do not fit the Asian theme.
 
The original question was when the ground will be broken. As in starting to be built. Yes it will take a long time. Supposedly it will be across the road in the new Asia complex so that is quite a build. I do not believe the gorillas will be there as gorillas do not fit the Asian theme.
The gorilla habitat is nearly done and set to be open this year. It's just the project they're focusing on at the moment.
 
I believe another calf or two is going to come from them much sooner than everyone thinks. I recently visited Houston, and Chuck was very interested in both Tess and Tupelo with him even going as far as mounting Tupelo.
Just to add to this, I saw Chuck full on mating with Natasha while he was still at ALS. And when I say mating, I mean the whole shebang, could have conceived a calf if Natasha was cycling and Chuck was fertile, sort of mating.

Chuck absolutely knows what to do.

Houston has also proven to be an extremely progressive and proactive breeding facility. I think E Maximus’s words are wise ones to listen to.
 
Has there been any dates thrown out on when we can expect this complex to break ground/be built? I feel that will be a determining factor in which group moves assuming we see only one more calf (out of Joy) at Houston in the near future.
Morrow explicitly stated that their habitat will be the next project in the pipeline after Gorillas opens this fall. I presume they'll break ground on the facility sometime in 2026 and releass more information on it. Given how most the of zoo exhibit construction projects take about a year 1/2 to 2 1/2 years on the average these days, a safe bet would be mid-late 2027 to 2028
 
They'll likely breed Joy and Tilly just to ensure they're proven (per AZA reccomendation) and likely another calf from Tupelo since it's around 5ish years since she last conceived. If the timing lines up, they could have two calves in 2027 and then a 2028 calf out of Tilly. They have the ability to have a few more calves on the ground before they're at capacity iirc.

I thought it was confirmed Joy did have a brewing recommendation with Chuck? I remember someone posting some source saying that was official?
 
I thought it was confirmed Joy did have a brewing recommendation with Chuck? I remember someone posting some source saying that was official?
Yes it was confirmed in the leaked SSP doccument a few years back and, if I'm remembering correctly, a news article or two after his arrival to the zoo.

I think we can relatively safely assume to see at least a calf from Joy. When Chuck arrived I believe he didn't have a breeding reccomendation with anyone but Joy, but this easily could have changed within the last few years.
 
Yes it was confirmed in the leaked SSP doccument a few years back and, if I'm remembering correctly, a news article or two after his arrival to the zoo.

I think we can relatively safely assume to see at least a calf from Joy. When Chuck arrived I believe he didn't have a breeding reccomendation with anyone but Joy, but this easily could have changed within the last few years.
I thought Tucker had the recommendation with Joy from the document.

And I don't believe it was explicitly stated he had a recommendation with Joy, but the first two cows he did meet were Shanti and Joy. Shanti of whom was pregnant at the time.
 
I thought Tucker had the recommendation with Joy from the document.

And I don't believe it was explicitly stated he had a recommendation with Joy, but the first two cows he did meet were Shanti and Joy. Shanti of whom was pregnant at the time.
No, it was Chuck. Tucker had a specific "Do not breed" reccomendation at Houston. The doccument also reccomended Chuck only breed with Joy at the time, Tupelo having only AI reccomendations and the other viable cows still being reccomended to Thai.
I went ahead and checked it again to confirm, but of course this doesn't mean it is still the case
 
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No, it was Chuck. Tucker had a specific "Do not breed" reccomendation at Houston. The doccument also reccomended Chuck only breed with Joy at the time, Tupelo having only AI reccomendations and the other viable cows still being reccomended to Thai.
I went ahead and checked it again to confirm, but of course this doesn't mean it is still the case
Ah I see, I'm sure I remember reading somewhere on here that Tucker and a recommendation with Joy, but obviously that was from somewhere else.

Thai still only has six surviving offspring, so I can absolutely see him getting at least one more recommendation with Tess. If Chuck hasn't got the job done already that is!
 
No, it was Chuck. Tucker had a specific "Do not breed" reccomendation at Houston. The doccument also reccomended Chuck only breed with Joy at the time, Tupelo having only AI reccomendations and the other viable cows still being reccomended to Thai.
I went ahead and checked it again to confirm, but of course this doesn't mean it is still the case
I think the reasons behind Tucker initally having a recommendation with Joy as the only viable cow at Houston and Chuck coming as a plausible replacement are pertinent to the other breedable girls being Tucker’s half sisters as they're Tess's daughters and he's her son. Chuck should have less restrictions and more flexibilty on which cows to mate as i'm quite sure he's not related to any of his roommates.
 
Success in EEHV vaccine trial:

A very encouraging step in the vaccine trial:

https://cincinnatizoo.org/groundbreaking-vaccine-helps-young-elephants-at-cincinnati-zoo-overcome-deadly-virus/

We are happy to share that the world’s first mRNA vaccine against Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) appears to be effective. Sanjay and Kabir, two young male elephants at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden who were vaccinated in 2024 and later tested positive for EEHV, are now testing negative.

See link for full article.
 
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