Some very interesting news!
Tembo, after nearly two years at Dresden, will be moving to the Vienna in the near future, and Tonga at Hodenhagen will be moving to Dresden to replace him.
This a somewhat risque move, but has the potential for great impact if it succeeds. Tonga is very valuable, wild caught with only two offspring (and he's a natural breeder to boot), so if he is able to get the cows at Dresden (all wild caught with no living offspring) pregnant, the resulting calves would be INCREDIBLY genetically valuable, and arguably spectacular looking, given that all animals involved have very nice tusks.
Of course Tembo seems to be infertile right now, but perhaps a change of pace with a new facility and new cows could change that? If he is indeed able to become fertile again, Vienna has a stellar group of cows, with proven, valuable cows Tonga and Numbi, along with three young females, Mongu, Iqhwa, and Kibali, all of whom are also very genetically valuable. Iqhwa just entering her prime age to get pregnant for the first time at 7 years old, and Mongu, at 17, is in desperate need of getting pregnant to ensure her reproductive success as she continues to age. Once again, should it succeed, the animals born of this transfer should also be amazing looking, as Tembo and the Vienna cows all have very nice tusks and structure as well.
Overall, this is a very exciting time for African Elephants in Europe, a number of transfers and developments over the past five years will likely serve to greatly strengthen the population for years to come! Notable ones showing success or promise include:
Exchange of Jums and Junmar to Cabarceno, and Coco to Howletts. 8 calves have been born between the two facilities in the past 3 years as the result of this transfer. Some of these calves are fourth generation captive bred as well, which is very unique for African Elephants.
Transfer of Kibo from Vienna to Erfurt in 2015. Just this year a calf was finally born as the result of this transfer, the mother is incredibly genetically valuable, and this is a full second generation birth, which is cool.
Transfer of Jack from Sosto to Basel in 2017. Sadly it would seem the Basel cows are unable to concieve, however the effort behind the move was well intentioned out
Exchange of Tusker to Rhenen and Tooth to Wuppertal in 2019. Duna at Rhenen is now pregnant and due in 2021, and Tooth, although still figuring out the exact motions, is very interested in the cows, and I have no doubt he will get them pregnant soon enough.
Transfer of Panya and Ayo to Hodenhagen to reunite with Bibi in 2020 (who was sent there in 2017). There is a reasonable chance to believe that Bibi, and maybe even Panya, will be pregnant (or are already pregnant) from Tonga before he leaves later this year.
Transfer of Pori to Halle in 2020. This reunites Bibi with her daughter and grandaughters, and although unlikely, will perhaps allow Bibi to breed again now that she is in a different environment.
Transfer of Lilak and Kariba to Kronberg in 2020. This allows the potential for Kronberg to establish a breeding herd.
And happening in the near future, the transfer of Akili from Peaugres to Beauval, which will give Beauval the chance to start breeding naturally if things go well.
