That's really sad news. I wonder if there will be only two elephant cows in Opel Zoo. Lilak is also old and Kariba has no offspring yet.Sad news, the beautiful old cow Zimba has passed away at the age of 40 the the Opel Zoo in Germany
African Elephants in Europe 2021
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Elephantelephant
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No, no, no! Zimba no.Sad news, the beautiful old cow Zimba has passed away at the age of 40 the the Opel Zoo in Germany
It was one of my favorite elephants. I loved her beautiful tusks. She wasn't that old. It surprised me. Rest in peace dear Zimba.Bull Tamo (born 2008) at Opel Zoo and how is he doing?
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
He is doing well. It has relatively long tusks for its age. He will certainly be a beautiful bull. Let's hope to see a calf from Kariba in a few years. However, due to the age of Lilak, they are not in a very favorable situation, they could try to get some two more breeding cows (for example from Valencia).
Hopefully Lilak will live for a long time. Kariba will need an experienced elephant cow to help her take care of her potential offspring. However, new elephant cows from Valencia could be also a solution.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
I also hope Lilak will live for a long time. She is my favorite cow and so far she looks very good for her age. By those other breeding cows, I meant mainly some cows from Valencia.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Video of Akili in Beauval. Let's hope everything goes well and they will have calves.
Wuppertal plans to build a savannah for elephants. It will be great. Let's hope that it doesn't limit their breeding program, but due to Tika's pregnancy, it doesn't look like that.
150 Jahre Grüner Zoo Wuppertal: Eine neue Savanne für die Elefanten
Wuppertal plans to build a savannah for elephants. It will be great. Let's hope that it doesn't limit their breeding program, but due to Tika's pregnancy, it doesn't look like that.
150 Jahre Grüner Zoo Wuppertal: Eine neue Savanne für die Elefanten
A very interesting move has just taken place.
16 year old bull Bou Bou has moved from La Fleche in France to Gyor Zoo in Hungary. Here he will soon be joined by two other animals, one from Zoo African Safari in France, and the other from Sosto Zoo in Hungary.
A post in the zoo's subform on here indicates it is two bulls to arrive, however I can't find anything specifying the gender of the new animals that will be arriving in the news sources. If it is indeed bulls, it would be 20 year old Pembe, and 6 year old Kito. However, there is also a slight chance it could be the two older non-breeding cows from each facility, Sabi and Buba, arriving instead.
Regardless, this one has me scratching my head for a few different reasons. Bou Bou is one of the most genetically valuable bulls in Europe (he has one full sister, and his parents are both wild caught founders with only the two offspring together). So at 15, to move him out of bachelor holding....just to another non-breeding zoo, is somewhat strange to me. The same goes for Zoo African Safari, if it is indeed Pembe, as he is currently the zoos breeding bull, and his only offspring there is only 4 years, still a good few years off from needing to worry about her breeding with her father.
I have a few theories about the reasons for moving these particular animals, however this post is getting long enough already. I suppose all we can do it sit back and watch how things unfold, for now! If nothing else, it is a space upgrade for Bou Bou, the new exhibit in Gyor has close to two acres of outdoor space, around double the size of La Fleche's exhibit!
16 year old bull Bou Bou has moved from La Fleche in France to Gyor Zoo in Hungary. Here he will soon be joined by two other animals, one from Zoo African Safari in France, and the other from Sosto Zoo in Hungary.
A post in the zoo's subform on here indicates it is two bulls to arrive, however I can't find anything specifying the gender of the new animals that will be arriving in the news sources. If it is indeed bulls, it would be 20 year old Pembe, and 6 year old Kito. However, there is also a slight chance it could be the two older non-breeding cows from each facility, Sabi and Buba, arriving instead.
Regardless, this one has me scratching my head for a few different reasons. Bou Bou is one of the most genetically valuable bulls in Europe (he has one full sister, and his parents are both wild caught founders with only the two offspring together). So at 15, to move him out of bachelor holding....just to another non-breeding zoo, is somewhat strange to me. The same goes for Zoo African Safari, if it is indeed Pembe, as he is currently the zoos breeding bull, and his only offspring there is only 4 years, still a good few years off from needing to worry about her breeding with her father.
I have a few theories about the reasons for moving these particular animals, however this post is getting long enough already. I suppose all we can do it sit back and watch how things unfold, for now! If nothing else, it is a space upgrade for Bou Bou, the new exhibit in Gyor has close to two acres of outdoor space, around double the size of La Fleche's exhibit!
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I would prefer the Toulouse Zoo African Safari bull Pembe to stay for another few years, just so the chances of another calf by him at this location is secured.
I fully agree!
The Safari Africain - Toulouse breeding cow would be Matibi with calf Makeba, would it not?
The other 2 older cows Sabi (she had a miscarriage in 2016) and Buba are what ages now?
The other 2 older cows Sabi (she had a miscarriage in 2016) and Buba are what ages now?
Both cows are around the 35-36 year old mark.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
With the birth of this new bull calf Europe one has one of the most gentcily valuable calf's in the world and since he is sired by a semen from a wild bull I believe.
Absolutely wonderful news! Of course, a cow would have been nice, but still, this is a promising start for the zoo all the same. With both Zola and Kali having their reproductive timers "reset" (Zolas resulted in a full term stillbirth, but it serves the function all the same), I'm cautiously optimistic about the future for Zlin, especially since they have expressed interest in acquiring a breeding bull down the road, and have been very proactive with AI'ing their girls until then.
Great news! The fact that the 27-year-old elephant cow gave birth to a healthy calf is not only a huge benefit for the Zoo Zlín, but also for the entire elephant breeding. Fingers crossed that the calf will do well and grow into a new genetically valuable bull.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Absolutely great news! At this age, the calf could no longer be expected to be born healthy. She should be the oldest cow to give birth to a healthy first calf in Europe. That's incredible!
Among other things, the zoo also said that it will no longer conduct further attempts at AI, it's expensive. They will wait until they get the bull. It should be in two years at the latest, due to the pandemic, everything has been delayed. The zoo's director also announced that they plan to get a successful bull from Germany, which could be Abu. The last AI took place last autumn with Zola, unfortunately unsuccessful. I don't believe Ulu will still have a calf. She is very scared and it took her a long time to get used to the new exhibit. I haven't even heard of AI with her.
Among other things, the zoo also said that it will no longer conduct further attempts at AI, it's expensive. They will wait until they get the bull. It should be in two years at the latest, due to the pandemic, everything has been delayed. The zoo's director also announced that they plan to get a successful bull from Germany, which could be Abu. The last AI took place last autumn with Zola, unfortunately unsuccessful. I don't believe Ulu will still have a calf. She is very scared and it took her a long time to get used to the new exhibit. I haven't even heard of AI with her.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
With this birth I have high hopes that at least one of the cows at basel will become pregnant, and deliver a healthy calf.
@Javier: you are making a logical mistake. Kalis sucess is the big exeption, not the norm. It doesnt make it any more likely that other 25+ year old females will breed. Basle waited too long and the potenial of their females is lost. There might have been a small chance when Jack arrived, but not anymore. Its over and Basle and the EEP should acknowlegde it and stop waisting Tuskers time.
I will second Yassa on that one. Kali was a very lucky exception to the norm. Considering how many proven bulls have been housed with Basel's cows at this point, it's just not going to happen.