Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2016

We’re officially in Batang’s birthing window and on baby watch! Our curator, keepers and veterinarians are watching for signs she’s in labor, such as water breaking, restless movements and contractions. If staff were to stay in the Great Ape House overnight, that could be disruptive to Batang’s rest. Instead, keepers are monitoring her via closed-circuit cams. In this photo, Batang is comfortably snoozing in one of her elaborate hay nests. #OrangutanStory
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I think they should just keep it an all female herd. I think there's only one, and she may be reaching up their in age, who can actually still breed. Plus, since the male Kandula left, the yards have been more opened for the elephants to explore. Sometimes they still separate them, but it always seemed the male was in the big exhibit and now the females can enjoy it.
 
blospz said:
I think they should just keep it an all female herd. I think there's only one, and she may be reaching up their in age, who can actually still breed. Plus, since the male Kandula left, the yards have been more opened for the elephants to explore. Sometimes they still separate them, but it always seemed the male was in the big exhibit and now the females can enjoy it.
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I agree, though if a female can breed, it should be given the opportunity to do so (preferably moved to a zoo where natural breeding is possible). If a bull were to be brought in I think they should renovate and/or expand (the latter, preferably) the three smaller yards. Although space is limited there it could totally be done, if they think it through.
 
blospz said:
I think they should just keep it an all female herd. I think there's only one, and she may be reaching up their in age, who can actually still breed. Plus, since the male Kandula left, the yards have been more opened for the elephants to explore. Sometimes they still separate them, but it always seemed the male was in the big exhibit and now the females can enjoy it.
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Maharani is hardly peaking in her reproductive life, and is not "up there" in age at all. She is only 26 years old, and has three pregnancies under her belt. She has AT LEAST 10, if not 15-20 more years of reproductive life left.

However, I agree that the zoo should not acquire Indy. I believe they should go with AI from or bring in a more genetically valuable bull. Indy already has 3 surviving adult offspring and 4 grandoffspring in america, plus a son and a further 7 grandoffspring in europe.
 
I say go for AI. If they wanted to bring in a bull, they could expand elephant trails MAYBE, because there were some parts in the original plan that I think were cut. They can just add those cut parts of the plan and then they might have enough space. But I think the best bet is to do AI. I love SNZ's elephant program so much, they have had success with Ambika living so long, and with discovering EEHV, and they are having success with making shanty feel a little better. And I love the elephant community center and all the stuff on the back wall that is interactive and educational, and the elephants are so active, theres so much amazing stuff in their elephant program, and I feel like it is very underrated. having a calf born there would be so good for the herd dynamic.
 
ZooElephantsMan said:
I say go for AI. If they wanted to bring in a bull, they could expand elephant trails MAYBE, because there were some parts in the original plan that I think were cut. They can just add those cut parts of the plan and then they might have enough space. But I think the best bet is to do AI. I love SNZ's elephant program so much, they have had success with Ambika living so long, and with discovering EEHV, and they are having success with making shanty feel a little better. And I love the elephant community center and all the stuff on the back wall that is interactive and educational, and the elephants are so active, theres so much amazing stuff in their elephant program, and I feel like it is very underrated. having a calf born there would be so good for the herd dynamic.
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they do have great elephant programs right up there will san diego and Oregon. I do hope they breed in the future, however I think it will be more like a retirement home similer to san diego
 
pachyderm pro said:
they do have great elephant programs right up there will san diego and Oregon. I do hope they breed in the future, however I think it will be more like a retirement home similer to san diego
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I doubt they will become a retirement home for elderly animals. One of the big selling points for elephant trails was that they will have the room to create a multi-generational herd.

Now as far as I know the resources to do that aren't currently available, however I could be wrong.

Saying that there program is up there with San Diego and Oregon is an understatement (in my opinion). The National zoo doesn't just have a good elephant program. They have one of if not the best programs in the country.
 
jayjds2 said:
I think they should renovate and/or expand (the latter, preferably) the three smaller yards. Although space is limited there it could totally be done, if they think it through.
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The exhibit wasn't even finished because they ran out of money since they went above their budget.

Now I don't know what their future plans are but if they can come up with the money they should have the room to expand the older yards.

http://www.zoochat.com/612/national-zoo-elephant-trails-43507/
 
Andrew_NZP said:
The exhibit wasn't even finished because they ran out of money since they went above their budget.

Now I don't know what their future plans are but if they can come up with the money they should have the room to expand the older yards.
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I figured that was the case. They should have finished this instead of doing the Bird House.

We can only hope.
 
Hyak_II said:
Maharani is hardly peaking in her reproductive life, and is not "up there" in age at all. She is only 26 years old, and has three pregnancies under her belt. She has AT LEAST 10, if not 15-20 more years of reproductive life left.
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I should have done some research before posting that opinion. Thank you for the information on her age and the normal breeding range for Asian elephants.

In other news, here's some tidbits I learned from enrichment day today:
  • The male red river hog, Roscoe, is from Disney's Animal Kingdom and is 10 years old. The two females are sisters, ages 8 & 9. They are come from bloodlines well represented in US zoos and aren't recommended to breed.
  • Speaking of the red river hogs, the two sisters no longer get along and must be put on exhibit separate from each other. Either one can be with the male though. The juvenile male sitatunga, who says their exhibit, usually has to go on exhibit alone too. He's been known to try to mate with both female red river hogs! The zookeeper said the exhibit is a bit of a soap opera.
  • Billie Jean, the female Andean bear, has been showing her normal signs of pregnancy and one of her zookeepers is hopeful she will have cubs in the next couple of months. This would be the second litter, with male Cisco.
 
The great ape house will reopen tomorrow (9/20, 20/9) and visitors can now see Batang and her new baby "Redd".

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https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/smithsonians-national-zoos-great-ape-house-reopens
 
One of the SCBI booths had a bit of info on Experience Migration. The Prairie Pothole exhibit will have ~50 ducks of 15-20 species, probably (hopefully) something other than ducks too. Shorebirds exhibit will have 12 species, as well as aquatic life (think the Monterey Bay Aquarium's aviary, or the one in Aquarium of the Pacific. The water portion will have underwater viewing for fish, and probably horseshoe crabs). The Bird Friendly Coffee Farm (or whatever it's going to be called) will have the most animals: ~150 birds of 42 species. There will also be live plant species, like (gasp) coffee :eek:! They didn't have any info on outdoor exhibits.
 
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