Chester Zoo Departures

Stripes said:
I don't suppose Taronga would be willing to move him to Europe? Has he got a mate over their?
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well he is actually fairly small in komodo terms and has killed all previous mates so i cant imagine you would want him :p
 
I went to Chester Zoo today and Asha was really noisy you could hear her from most parts of the zoo and she was constatly going back into her sleeping den then back out into the enclosure as if she was looking for something. The keepers seemed to be trying to distract her with toys and boxes as I have never seen the enclosure with that many toys in before.

Does anybody have any pictures of the new male or any idea when he is due to be arriving and on show?
 
Poor Asha I hope Asoka isn't pining for her too. Hopefully Iblis will cheer her up a bit. He is supposed to be on show by late feb so should be coming in the next week or two.
 
miss_piggy said:
I went to Chester Zoo today and Asha was really noisy you could hear her from most parts of the zoo and she was constatly going back into her sleeping den then back out into the enclosure as if she was looking for something. The keepers seemed to be trying to distract her with toys and boxes as I have never seen the enclosure with that many toys in before.
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Poor Asha I cant understand why the studbook moved Asoka if they wanted to move them they should have been moved as a pair.
 
LeeMac13 said:
Poor Asha I cant understand why the studbook moved Asoka if they wanted to move them they should have been moved as a pair.
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But the whole point of moving Asoka is probably to make up new pairs (Asha and Asoka having been not exactly a massive success in the breeding department!). Moving the two together would gain nothing.
 
LeeMac13 said:
Poor Asha I cant understand why the studbook moved Asoka if they wanted to move them they should have been moved as a pair.
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So far every litter born to this pair has had health problems,keeping together may not have been an option,the studbook holder was prepared to do,if he wanted to breed from these 2.
 
Maguari said:
But the whole point of moving Asoka is probably to make up new pairs (Asha and Asoka having been not exactly a massive success in the breeding department!). Moving the two together would gain nothing.
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With Asha being 11 and Iblis being 2 I think by the time Iblis is of breeding age Asha will be too old to breed. I also think it will be unlikely if Asoka breeds again.
 
LeeMac13 said:
With Asha being 11 and Iblis being 2 I think by the time Iblis is of breeding age Asha will be too old to breed. I also think it will be unlikely if Asoka breeds again.
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But at the moment those two animals have only one surviving young (if I'm right), and he has a health problem that may preclude his use in the breeding programme.

And a quick web-check suggests male lions are mature at around 3 years old, so it's not that long to wait.

Given all this - maybe the studbook holders think it worth giving it a chance?
 
Maguari said:
But at the moment those two animals have only one surviving young (if I'm right), and he has a health problem that may preclude his use in the breeding programme.

And a quick web-check suggests male lions are mature at around 3 years old, so it's not that long to wait.

Given all this - maybe the studbook holders think it worth giving it a chance?
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What is the health problem? I suppose it is worth taking a chance but i think bringing in a new breeding pair and retiring Asha and Asoka would have made more sense.
 
LeeMac13 said:
What is the health problem? I suppose it is worth taking a chance but i think bringing in a new breeding pair and retiring Asha and Asoka would have made more sense.
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Asha and Asoka's surviving offspring is Tejas - the first Chester series of Zoo Days chronicled his health problems in some detail (and then some more detail, and some more, every week!). He had congenital problems with his front leg development.

The studbook is unlikely to value keeping together two potential breeding animals with only one surviving offspring between them when there's a chance of getting them more representation by splitting them up and repairing.

Studbook decisions tend not to be taken for sentimental reasons!
 
LeeMac13 said:
I thought this problem was resolved?
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Unless I've misunderstood badly, the problem is believed to be congenital (i.e. genetic in origin).

The symptoms in Tejas have been largely resolved but he still carries the genetic 'flaw' that caused it, and may pass this on to any offspring.
 
Didn't wanna start a new thread with this info, but Ishar (the sister of Itar, and Chester's forthcoming male Iblis) moved to Parken Zoo in October 2009 to be the new breeding female there, as Sarla (Chester born 1997) and Kaya (Dudley born 2000/01) hadn't produced any cubs for a few years.
 
ISIS reports that 3 more cubs have been born at Plankendael. Genders unknown at this time.
 
Website states cubs where born september 2009, but died december 2009 shortly after reintroduction with the mother. The website is hard to desipher, but refers to 'boy' alot, so whether the father had a cause in the cubs demise...?
 
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