That is Luka- a very dangerous animal. He killed two keepers in one of his former homes, the Belgrade Zoo. There were warning notices at PL that he would throw stones through the fence but he was usually kept in a paddock away from the pedestrian areas. He was often to be seen standing in one spot and stereotyping by bobbing his head. I hope he is enjoying his new/better life in Spain(?)
He was very scary. On the few times I saw him in the paddock with the females he always looked rather menacing- but then I was aware of his past history.
Before going to Port Lympne he lived for a while (and bred once) at Belfast Zoo. I have a feeling they may have been happy to move him on.
Assam died around 1994 (I think) after never coming round from an anaesthetic for a tusk operation. Bindu (the other Bull imported to Howletts with the original 4 cows and Assam) stayed until 2004 with some matings. I think Bindu was the father of Pugli's second calf (ashoka) which was born around 98/99 and hand-reared but died at maybe only 1-2 years old (several years before the Rotterdam females became pregnant). Luka arrived in 1997, so for the majority of his stay Bindu was also there.
Interestingly, most of the births (albeit stillbirths) were by Bindu, during the time that Assam was alive and sexually active. I wonder if Assam was more aggressive, wheras Bindu was tuskless and I think only had his first full musth after Assam had died.
Bindu went to Koln zoo in Germany in 2004 and has fathered several calves there.
Thanks for that Johnstoni i knew there where two Asian Bulls but didnt know the name or where he went,
Im guessing Assam and Bindu where not kept together when coming into Sexual Maturity so did they rotate them round the females or leave a male out?
Thanks again
