Monarto Safari Park rhino birth
- Thread starter jay
- Start date
No, even in Australia too many male calves. But as it is Monarto just starting at least encouraging that more than 1 birth have been achieved.
Who is the mother to the calf?
Who is the mother to the calf?
well if this male birth re-affirms it, we really do urgently need a bachelor holding facility, unless zoos can mamange there own.
monarto has plenty of space, so i was thinking can a male go out on savannah
or at dubbo, they keep a male i beleive in there rhino facilities at back of savannah
and werribee could also do its masterplan of having rhino on the top of the hill.
but still, if males as they are becoming a problem, wouldnt it be in the best interest to say support with funds say mogo, so they can upgrade and build afcilities to hosue rhino?
monarto has plenty of space, so i was thinking can a male go out on savannah
or at dubbo, they keep a male i beleive in there rhino facilities at back of savannah
and werribee could also do its masterplan of having rhino on the top of the hill.
but still, if males as they are becoming a problem, wouldnt it be in the best interest to say support with funds say mogo, so they can upgrade and build afcilities to hosue rhino?
glyn,
They are (2.3):
F Azizi (born 16/3/2003 - mother Umqali)
F Amira (born 16/1/2005 - mother Intombi) handreared
F Inyeti (born 26/1/2005 - mother Aluka)
M Jabari (born 2006 - mother Intombi)
M Kei (born 2/2006 - mother Umqali)
They are (2.3):
F Azizi (born 16/3/2003 - mother Umqali)
F Amira (born 16/1/2005 - mother Intombi) handreared
F Inyeti (born 26/1/2005 - mother Aluka)
M Jabari (born 2006 - mother Intombi)
M Kei (born 2/2006 - mother Umqali)
i think dubbo has the best structured group, they actually have 2 herds! this is based on when calves leave there mothers after weaning, they often join with other mothers and calves. dubbo replicates this
also dont know whether this is relevant, the only boys born were sired from same male, and the first 2 dubbo impregnated cows were female, do u think there could be link with some bulls having a higher y count?
also dont know whether this is relevant, the only boys born were sired from same male, and the first 2 dubbo impregnated cows were female, do u think there could be link with some bulls having a higher y count?
No,
I read some tentative research that puts the high number of male births on elevated glucose levels in females (somehow impeding female foetus). It has been known to occur in recently translocated rhinos in the wild. They seem to have a increased likelihood of male biased birth. The researchers claim that a female in good condition is predestined for male calves and a female in average or poor condition is predestined for female births. This all on the basis that males are more likely to sire more offspring, whereas in not so healthy females the guarantee that female calves will go on to breed is greater than in males.
But I think there are just to many unknowns on this to draw these conclusions from elevated glucose levels alone (could be diet induced).
I do believe the Dubbo set up more replicates natural rhino behavior than some other rhino holders. Having the captive-bred young females associating with unrelated breeding cow and calf (might this be the way forward to stimulate breeding in F1 females?). Also separating the bulls from the females and letting them join the breeding females alternately .. to eventually mate (the territoriality in the wild has females with calves move through multiple territorial males' habitat). Another factor, I feel, is the age component.
Adult females may breed from age 5-6, however adult bulls will need to acquire some authority and need to be far more experienced in age (more the 15-20 bracket). The latter is, I think, also a factor in whether rhinos do or do not breed. Finally, to confuse things further it has been demonstrated - at least in captivity - that females may exhibit non-cyclicity while otherwise fully developped adult (may be stress-induced, is also seen in newly imported stock where bulls and females have been kept together from first introduction - the infamous sibling platonic affair behavior (a natural inbreeding inhibitor).
Anyhow, feel free to ask .. it is my area of expertise!
I read some tentative research that puts the high number of male births on elevated glucose levels in females (somehow impeding female foetus). It has been known to occur in recently translocated rhinos in the wild. They seem to have a increased likelihood of male biased birth. The researchers claim that a female in good condition is predestined for male calves and a female in average or poor condition is predestined for female births. This all on the basis that males are more likely to sire more offspring, whereas in not so healthy females the guarantee that female calves will go on to breed is greater than in males.
But I think there are just to many unknowns on this to draw these conclusions from elevated glucose levels alone (could be diet induced).
I do believe the Dubbo set up more replicates natural rhino behavior than some other rhino holders. Having the captive-bred young females associating with unrelated breeding cow and calf (might this be the way forward to stimulate breeding in F1 females?). Also separating the bulls from the females and letting them join the breeding females alternately .. to eventually mate (the territoriality in the wild has females with calves move through multiple territorial males' habitat). Another factor, I feel, is the age component.
Adult females may breed from age 5-6, however adult bulls will need to acquire some authority and need to be far more experienced in age (more the 15-20 bracket). The latter is, I think, also a factor in whether rhinos do or do not breed. Finally, to confuse things further it has been demonstrated - at least in captivity - that females may exhibit non-cyclicity while otherwise fully developped adult (may be stress-induced, is also seen in newly imported stock where bulls and females have been kept together from first introduction - the infamous sibling platonic affair behavior (a natural inbreeding inhibitor).
Anyhow, feel free to ask .. it is my area of expertise!
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a keeper at dubbo also explained a similar thing to me
they are now changing the diet of the blacks, to a more natural rougage to reduce sugar content, as they have found a high sugar diet has been the cause of most males produced. so now the sweet potato, furit and carrots etc have been limited mainly as training treats
they are now changing the diet of the blacks, to a more natural rougage to reduce sugar content, as they have found a high sugar diet has been the cause of most males produced. so now the sweet potato, furit and carrots etc have been limited mainly as training treats
look like Auka is due to give birth any time now. She is at Dubbo and this is her second or maybe third calf.
Impending birth has everyone excited - Local News - News - General - Daily Liberal
Impending birth has everyone excited - Local News - News - General - Daily Liberal
The window of opportunity is between August and October for Aluka?
On separate note: any other white or black rhinos pregnant out there in Dubbo?
On separate note: any other white or black rhinos pregnant out there in Dubbo?
MARK
Well-Known Member
Still to find out the age of the new female
In rhino terms that would be any time now. Another article says September.