Indian rhinos in Europe

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So what is happening in India? sounds like some big plans for rhinos there, any idea
 
MARK said:
I would Imagine that the Trio of UK zoos now holding Indian rhinos would look at importing a young male from an Indian zoo for furture breeding between these zoos, could be a big bonus for them in a few years time
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Jaffna was the only mature bull in the UK and(presumably) has just been returned to Basel Zoo. So the UK currently has nine Indian rhinos in the three locations(Whipsnade, Chester and Edinburgh) but we don't need a breeding bull at the present time as the only two breeding-aged females(at Whipsnade) both have Jaffna's calves. According to Jelle, the next bull to come to Whipsnade at some time in the future will be 'Hugo'(born Rotterdam 2000)

It would perhaps be better if any new male(s),coming either from India or the American zoo population, were to go to Europe, for breeding there.. He/one could later be transferred to UK if needed.
 
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I hear what you say but I was thinking more about a young bull for the next generation of young cows and not the current adult cows in the UK, because things tend to happen slowly, just thinking a head a bit. Nine Indian rhinos in the UK, unreal, Whipsnade must have the largest group in Europe now, it will be interesting to see if any other zoos there come in on this, maybe Port Lympne?
 
Went to Planckendael (Mechelen, Belgium) last monday. Photo's are on my site (see sig). (btw, on the bus with us were an english couple, 50+ i think, anyone from the forums?)

Apparantly, we just missed the birth of a baby Indian Rhino! Last night female Johanna gave birth to a healthy female calve! Good news for the breeding programme!
 
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Apparantly, we just missed the birth of a baby Indian Rhino! Last night female Johanna gave birth to a healthy female calve! Good news for the breeding programme![/QUOTE]

That is Great news :D
 
kiang said:
It seems as if Vienna's two Indian rhino are at the heart of a scandal involving the Nepalese royal family and missing monies from a conservation fund.
Nepal's royal family is accused of stealing from wildlife fund - Asia, World - The Independent
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It is not the rhino import that is under scrutiny (these were orphans for whose reintroduction to the wild was impossible for various reasons related to behaviour) here. It is the abject behaviour of the current king and his entourage who using funds destined for rhino protection instead misused these for private international trips, gifts and personal gratification.

The damage done, the institution to whom the funds were entrusted - the King Mahendra Conservation Trust - has really lost credibility among Nepalese conservationists! But Nepal is a democracy now (and not an absolute royal fiefdom the last king made it into with the end result of a broadly supported communist revolt) and the truth has finally come out.

On a happier note, a recent rhino survey in Chitwan has put the number of rhinos over 400 (an increase of at least 35 over the last count 2 years back). Rhino Protection Units have been reinstated, most guard posts have been re-established, a local volunteer force is involved in rhino protection and sustainable development projects and the army is back policing for illegal trade and poaching activities.
 
Great news from Berlin - female Betty has given birth to a healthy female calf in the Animal Park (east Berlin). It`s her fourth (first not reared, second Patna in 2004 who was handreared and is now living in Chester, third Saathi in 2005 who is still with her in Berlin, and now anothe female from 2008).
 
Pertinax said:
Good news. Father is... Belur or Yodha? And the 2005 calf was female also?
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Yup, Saathi (born 12/2005) is a female too. Yassa just passed me through the post ... first! :p

It is good news allaround for the Indian rhino EEP as the Berlin Tierpark line is not well represented at all.

Anyhow, both Rotterdam and Stuttgart are to follow with births later this year. And perhaps the transport of Nico to TerraNatura and Ropen to Nuernberg have already borne fruit.

I am a bit more sceptical as to Amersfoort (just starting in the 2nd year), Lisieux (precarious relationship?), Lisboa (3 calves, none surviving more than 80 days) and Muenchen (no news since 2004). And obviously, Basel and Dvur being without a breeding bull does not help anything to grow. :(
 
yes. Betty is breeding with him fine, Jhansi is the one who can`t stand Belur (or the other way around) so she needs to be moved to the Zoo to breed with Yhoda. I wish they would move her to the Zoo permanently, maybe in exchange to Narayani.
 
Yassa said:
yes. Betty is breeding with him fine, Jhansi is the one who can`t stand Belur (or the other way around) so she needs to be moved to the Zoo to breed with Yhoda. I wish they would move her to the Zoo permanently, maybe in exchange to Narayani.
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Yassa,

1. Belur continuously bites Jhansi when together. So, he is no longer let in with her. Instead, she is moved every other year to Zoo Berlin to be bred by Yohda. I wish though that Jhansi would be left at Zoo Berlin permanently and that Berlin Tierpark would acquire an another unrelated female for Belur.

Do not get your hopes up regarding Narayani (at Berlin Tierpark that is). She was in fact moved to Berlin Tierpark before and to no effect. Thankfully, since she has been re-united with Yohda at Zoo Berlin in 2006 (and Yohda being slightly sedated) they have started to get on! Cow Narayani had a her first - alas a stillbirth - late last year and chances are way better now for her to contribute her valuable genes to the EEP population. I am confident that she may have at least 2 live calves before 2012. :D
 
Basel Zoo
Bull Jaffna has been back in Basel Zoo end of May 2008. The mating with Ellora as sequenced has been his first attempt at that! It is now a waiting game whether or not Ellora will come into oestrus next month or not. If not, she is more than definitely pregnant. It is likely that Jaffna will now be moved in with her daughter Quetta.


Berlin Zoo
Female Jhansi is oh her second mission to Berlin Zoo (she was there in October 2007 too) on temp breeding loan to mate with Yodha. I am somewhat suprised that the first mission did not result in a new pregnancy. Berlin Zoo has a high capacity for vet tech assistance in in hormone assays and imaging services. Well lets keep fingers crossed ... that this time round she will fall pregnant (and that she will not leave before her pregnancy has been confirmed by hormonal test results) :)

Even more important is knowing how Narayani is doing right now. Has she been in with Yodha at all? :confused:
 
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Whipsnade Indian rhinos.

Jaffna returned to Basel end of March apparently. The new bull 'Hugo' is already at Whipsnade since early April. He is the sole occupant of the new house at present. HE can see and touch- contact the cows and calves through the bars in the paddocks and yards(I saw him doing this). He is already bigger than the mature females.

See Whipsnade for description of new house...;)
 
What is the situation with the 2 female Indian rhino at Terra Natura, will a male be brought in, or is there one there already?
What is the origin of the 2 females?
 
kiang said:
What is the situation with the 2 female Indian rhino at Terra Natura, will a male be brought in, or is there one there already?
What is the origin of the 2 females?
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A male came in last year, if I recall. I don't know about their origin's though...
 
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