That would be tragic, an almost unexpected matriline. But if the condition really is that bad I wonder why it took them so long to announce the birth.
Asian Elephants in Europe 2025
- Thread starter MennoPebesma
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That would be tragic, an almost unexpected matriline. But if the condition really is that bad I wonder why it took them so long to announce the birth.
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/20...a-rare-baby-elephant-is-born-at-blackpool-zoo
The second picture in this article shows that the calf is not doing well.
The second picture in this article shows that the calf is not doing well.
Do you think they are trying to teach it to suckle by bottle feeding near the teat until she finds it? Depends how close they can get I suppose.
Ryley
Well-Known Member
I visited today, the calf is doing well! She knows when she wants to feed and will call out for the keepers. Tara was joined by Noorjahan and Esha and all 3 females took turns to watch over little Zaiya, truly special to witness.
While it’s a shame she isn’t suckling directly from Tara, we must keep a positive attitude and I’m sure the zoo wouldn’t of announced the birth and public viewing if they felt it wasn’t the right time.
While it’s a shame she isn’t suckling directly from Tara, we must keep a positive attitude and I’m sure the zoo wouldn’t of announced the birth and public viewing if they felt it wasn’t the right time.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
I think it's also important to mention that this is Tara's very first time actually raising a calf, so the fact that Zaiya has made it this long despite her poor condition is a testament to both the keepers and Tara's care. One thing that I noticed is that Tara's breasts are also quite small for a lactating female, so that might also play into Zaiya's size and body condition.
I think that they would have to release the news and open the house at some stage around now as it would be impossible to keep the news quiet indefinately. She does need to start suckling to give a better chance of survival though.
I hope so! But the time is running out, mammals only have limited window to establish sufficient milk production. I hope the keepers are able to milk Tara but the stimulation of the tits is never as good as from calf and usually not enough to gain somewhere close to what the calf needs.
I am sure the situation is stable for now (otherwise they had not opened the house for the public), but the longterm survival of calves that are fed mostly artificial formula is poor. At least half of all handraised asian elephan calves die from broken bones, it seems the lack of maternal milk causes some metabolic problems that effect the bones. Thankfully it‘s been years since the last calf died this way but examples are Karha/Chester, Ashoka/ Port Lympne and Bo Gi/Emmen. There are more..
I remember Karha at Chester. She never looked very strong or healthy and then died after swallowing a stone. I agree that for assured longterm survival they really need to get this calf to suckle the mother, it looks small in the photos so maybe she could not reach the teats?. As you said the mother's milk won't last if it is not stimulated by suckling, it's the same for her as if her calf has died. Difficult time and I am not optimistic after discovering it doesn't feed from the mother.
I very much agree that given the calf has been allowed for so long to "bond" behind the scenes and her issues with suckling and getting essential mother milk supply ..., I am far from in the "hosanna" ranks. I am very much concerned about the long term survival prospects of this calf too. It is far from out of the woods ..., and I think you all need to brace yourselves for some bad news along the way.
NOTA BENE: Don't get us wrong, I wish Tara and her newborn and the keeper staff all the best, just realism commands me to be somewhat of a sceptic here.
Hope the calf does well.
on another note, as of 2024 with the new director Lodz was toying with a breeding herd. It didn’t seem to materialize and rightly so with Alexander being retired and have a hybrid on site. The most genetically valuable bull would be the Radza son.
Nowy dyrektor w Orientarium Zoo Łódź. Jakie wyzwania na niego czekają?
on another note, as of 2024 with the new director Lodz was toying with a breeding herd. It didn’t seem to materialize and rightly so with Alexander being retired and have a hybrid on site. The most genetically valuable bull would be the Radza son.
Nowy dyrektor w Orientarium Zoo Łódź. Jakie wyzwania na niego czekają?
1-year-old Asian elephant female Chin has died of EEHV at Copenhagen Zoo.
Source: Facebook Zoologisk Have
Source: Facebook Zoologisk Have
and only one year old.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
Chester Zoo scientists have developed an EEHV vaccine! It has been in development since 2021 and has since been determined to be safe and effective in building antibodies for EEHV.
Chester Zoo on Instagram
Chester Zoo on Instagram
how to compare these three vaccines? differences in approach, working system, how they have been tested and the results?
the US mrna vaccine, the Chester vaccine, the Utrecht vaccine used in Rotterdam, Copenhagen.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
I would be interested in seeing a study on this! It appears, just looking at examples, that the Utrecht vaccine is the least effective. However with so little released data it's hard to say anything concrete.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
For those interested, the press release on the vaccine can be found here
We’ve developed the world’s first elephant virus vaccine | Chester Zoo
We’ve developed the world’s first elephant virus vaccine | Chester Zoo
well we anyway can say something about the possible working path.
Chester seems to approach T cells
US , messenger RNA if I am right.
Utrecht, no idea.
and we can say something about tested in which elephants. and casualties. and age and background of elephants in these studies.
on the other hand, statistics do work with large numbers.
j
Article on Death of Sithami (1997-2018):
https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3148382/1/animals-12-00349.pdf
I was researching EEHV strains today and came across this article regarding Sithami’s death at Chester Zoo that I thought might be of interest to people.
Points of interest:
Sithami (1997-2018) was approximately five months pregnant when she died.
Her cause of death was a co-infection of EEHV4 and a bacterial infection.
Indali survived after testing positive for EEHV1A.
All calves at Chester Zoo that died of EEHV-HD tested positive for EEHV1:
1.0 Raman (2006) Died 2009
1.0 Nayan (2010) Died 2013
0.1 Jamilah (2011) Died 2013
1.0 Hari (2012) Died 2015
0.1 Bala (2013) Died 2015
0.1 Nandita (2015) Died 2018
1.0 Aayu (2017) Died 2018
https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3148382/1/animals-12-00349.pdf
I was researching EEHV strains today and came across this article regarding Sithami’s death at Chester Zoo that I thought might be of interest to people.
Points of interest:
Sithami (1997-2018) was approximately five months pregnant when she died.
Her cause of death was a co-infection of EEHV4 and a bacterial infection.
Indali survived after testing positive for EEHV1A.
All calves at Chester Zoo that died of EEHV-HD tested positive for EEHV1:
1.0 Raman (2006) Died 2009
1.0 Nayan (2010) Died 2013
0.1 Jamilah (2011) Died 2013
1.0 Hari (2012) Died 2015
0.1 Bala (2013) Died 2015
0.1 Nandita (2015) Died 2018
1.0 Aayu (2017) Died 2018
Ryley
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing this, it’s really unfortunate Sithami died and to now know she was pregnant, even worse…