African Elephants in Europe 2020

Why less hope for N'Dala? Her last calf was 8 years ago but she's only 30 years old, she should still be fairly viable.

Also only somewhat related, but I find it odd they would choose Akili as their new bull (assuming he wasn't the only one available to the park).I know he was an easy transfer since he was in France to begin with, but even then. Why not Niko, who is a full brother and a proven natural breeder, or Pembe, who is a half brother and also a proven natural breeder. Both are in France as well.

Beauval's female population isn't exactly one to gamble away years with an unproven bull on, so I hope Akili proves to be a good match, but still, I can't help but worry.
 
@Hyak_II I don't know more for the cows but the keepers believed more in Ashanti than in N'Dala.

For the bull, from what I know Beauval's owner asked for Niko but Amneville said no and Akili has problem with one of the cows in Peaugres (and the situation can't stay like this).

Regarding Peaugres it seems that they just want to keep a ladies group for the future.
 
Antoine said:
@Hyak_II I don't know more for the cows but the keepers believed more in Ashanti than in N'Dala.

For the bull, from what I know Beauval's owner asked for Niko but Amneville said no and Akili has problem with one of the cows in Peaugres (and the situation can't stay like this).

Regarding Peaugres it seems that they just want to keep a ladies group for the future.
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It's a pity Amneville didn't let go of Niko. Instead, they could certainly get more cows from elsewhere for Inga.
In any case, Ashanti is a great hope for the calf. But that should also be Ndala. Tana might still would have a calf, but since she hasn't had a calf in 13 years, of course, zookeepers don't give much hope.
 
Exactly! Beauval even, could had sent Majorie and Juba (both definite non-breeders) in exchange for Niko, with a promise of offspring down the road, if needed.

Also in more transfer related news, Tonga has arrived safe and sound in Dresden. He's a more dominant and commandeering bull, so fingers he can work some magic compared to the more quiet and mild Tembo.
 
Hyak_II said:
Exactly! Beauval even, could had sent Majorie and Juba (both definite non-breeders) in exchange for Niko, with a promise of offspring down the road, if needed.

Also in more transfer related news, Tonga has arrived safe and sound in Dresden. He's a more dominant and commandeering bull, so fingers he can work some magic compared to the more quiet and mild Tembo.
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We - over this side of the pond - all believe the failure to breed is down to the cows being too old and the opportunity lost.

Same goes for Basel and Colchester Zoos and if we are not careful enough might happen at a few other collections as well. Further we have some collections with proven breeders that have been not happening over the last 5-8 years (Lisboa and Valencia Bioparc). The TAG needs to be far more active on getting these collections to let go of some of their breeding age animals to zoos that have the capacity and a breeding bull.

It seems still the old adagium reigns where some zoos hold onto elephants as display animals for dear life and forget that they are part of a consortium of regional zoos to have a working ex situ conservation breeding program where the goal is to create a sustainable African elephant population.

Compare the figures for the European program with the Asiatic elephant ..., it seems somewhat disconcerting that the at the outset favourable sex/age ratios in Africans has till date never been used to do so and now the Asiatic elephant program is like almost 2 decades ahead (where at the outset in 1980's the outlook was within 60 years the Asiatic elephant is a dead end and the species might disappear completely from zoos).
 
African cows Maya and Gula in Zoo Bojnice (Slovakia) have moved to their new enclosure. It was made for four cows and one adult bull. The zoo said, that they want to get other elephants in the near future, so it's interesting, which elephants it will be. Theoretical they are able to have breeding herd, but it will be hard to get young cows.
 
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