We had a total of 5 births at the zoo(3rd in US). Radha(wildcaught orphan) had 2 live calves. Meetha, a female and Chandra a male. Meetha died at the SDWAP and Chandra went to OKC where he has sired several offspring. Randa had 2 stillbirths and she aborted a fetus about halfway thru gestation. She was born in Basel and lived for a time at Busch Gardens in Houston and then to Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. She currently is the oldest Indian Rhino in the US.
I remember the zoos original male named Herman. I also remember when Radha arrived, I was at the special screening of Bill Burrads television program documenting her arrival, held in the theme building. I believe around 1971.
Herman was the original male, he arrived at the old zoo prior to the new zoo being built. I believe it was 1966. Nepali 2 arrived in 1968 and was a proven breeder. Radha arrived in 1969 as a 2-3 year old. She came into heat for the first time in 1970. In January of 71, Nepali died due to injuries she received from Herman during courtship. The exhibit was then modified so they could be seperated if he got rough with her.Herman and Radha were put together when she came into heat in mid 1976. They bred, but no offspring. Over the next several years, they were together for her heat periods, but he was not interested. Randa arrived in 1975 and she too was put with Herman, but he was not interested in her either. Finally he figured out what he was supposed to do and Radha had her first calf in Feb. of 1982. Burrud filmed Assistant Zoo Director Dr. Nathan Gale and a GLAZA staff member Charles Poe going to Assam and bringing her to Los Angeles.
I'm just wondering if going forward that rhinos or hippos will continue to be displayed in the current exhibit complex. It seems unlikely that hippos would come back in what was intended as a temporary exhibit for a replacement modern exhibit that was cancelled.
Is the existing Indian rhino exhibit adequate for continuing rhino exhibition? I don't know enough about modern rhino husbandry and exhibit conditions to have an informed opinion.
