Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Sumatran rhino returning to LA Zoo

gerenuk said:
So yes, Sumatran rhinos have had limited success and only in the last 10 years. But its not over, unlike what you seem to be suggesting. I understand what the limitations and realities are for captive breeding - you just don't seem to want to accept it yet.
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I hope that it's not over. I want a world with Sumatran rhinos.

Watching the Sumatran rhino program launched with much fanfare and then fizzle over the course of decades, from the perspective of the attempt to establish an American zoo population, has been very painful. Combined with what seems like unending grim news from the field about rapidly contracting population numbers (improved census techniques or not, the trend is downwards). I don't see how an inbred population of a few Sumatran rhinos in zoos would be helpful for their conservation, but you are correct that this was the starting point for condors, black-footed ferrets, etc.
 
David, watching most of these captive breeding programs is painful in many aspects.

Elephants, Okapi, Palm cockatoo, Southern black rhino, Pygmy hippo, Florida panther, White-throated Capuchin, Galapagos Tortoise, Orangutans, Giant Panda, Jackson's Hartebeest, Sichuan Takin, Mountain Tapir, and many more have had their share of challenges and failures too.

Its amazing that most zoo people don't quit their jobs because of the heartbrake.
 
Dicerorhinus said:
Unknown at the time Sumatran Rhino are induced ovulators and suffer irreversible damage if copulation doesn't occur.

There are still a few animals from the original program in captivity as well as their offspring and these animals have been bolstered by newly acquired animals so all is not lost.
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How will these two factors affect the lone female 'Suci' at Cincinnati? With no natural mating how can she be induced to ovulate? Is the AI process itself sufficient to simulate mating?

Isn't the only animal left now from the original programme the non-breeding 'Bina' at Way Kambas? I would class all the others as more recent recruits- Rosa, Ratu, Andalas (+ their calf) and the male in Borneo.... and Suci & Harapan in the US. That makes just 8 (4.4) captive animals in total at present.:(
 
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Pertinax said:
How will these two factors affect the lone female 'Suci' at Cincinnati? With no natural mating how can she be induced to ovulate? Is the AI process itself sufficient to simulate mating?

Isn't the only animal left now from the original programme the non-breeding 'Bina' at Way Kambas? I would class all the others as more recent recruits- Rosa, Ratu, Andalas (+ their calf) and the male in Borneo.... and Suci & Harapan in the US. That makes just 8 (4.4) captive animals in total at present.:(
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I believe there's a third female at the center where Andalas is and there are two female Bornean Rhinoceros in the Bornean center though one is non-breeding as she's too old.

In other news, according to Moebelle (he said he heard from another member), Harapan is returning to the Cincinnati Zoo in the fall.

~Thylo:cool:
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I believe there's a third female at the center where Andalas is and there are two female Bornean Rhinoceros in the Bornean center though one is non-breeding as she's too old.

In other news, according to Moebelle (he said he heard from another member), Harapan is returning to the Cincinnati Zoo in the fall.

~Thylo:cool:
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Sabah / Tabin: 1.2 (0.1 post repro)
Sumatera / Way Kambas 2.3 (0.1 post repro, 1.0 calf)
US / LAZ: 1.0 (as said to be returned to Cincinnati in the fall 2013)
 
So to recap there are only 4.6 Sumatran Rhinoceros left in captivity- Suci, Andalas' mate, Andalas, Harapan, Andalas' male calf, an elderly infertile Bornean female, the Bornean male, the three-legged Bornean female, and two additional females at the center Andalas and his family are at.

~Thylo:cool:
 
So is Harapan still at the L.A Zoo ?? I take it he is, but just want to be sure.

I'm headed south for San Diego this summer, so would love to see Harapan before he heads back to Cincinnati.
 
FWC said:
So is Harapan still at the L.A Zoo ?? I take it he is, but just want to be sure.

I'm headed south for San Diego this summer, so would love to see Harapan before he heads back to Cincinnati.
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Harapan is at the LA Zoo, but not on exhibit.
 
Urg. I wonder if it would perhaps be possible to arrange a behind the scenes views or something...
 
Since he is off display, everyone who would like to see him can't. When the other Sumatrans were on display, most folks had no idea how special these animals are and probably felt its just another rhino. If you wish to, pm me and I'll see what I can do.
 
It seems that Harapan is now at the Cincinnati Zoo in attempt to breed him with his sister, Suci, as they are the last sumatrans in North America.
 
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