African Elephants In Europe 2022
- Thread starter Hyak_II
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Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
He has not yet, but the hope is he will sire more calves in Valencia.
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
From what I can tell, this is an A.I. pregnancy that is 20 months in, though they don't mention the names of either the mother or father (presumably Kibo).
Thanks @Mr.Ivory and @Rajang-GOAT I couldn’t translate the YouTube video so I couldn’t follow articulately. So I was confused.
Yazziel
Well-Known Member
The mother is probably Miri and the father is a wild male. They did the AI procedure on their show “Crónicas del zoo”
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Fantastic news! Lately I've been losing hope with the Valencia cows. Let's hope this is a watershed moment that will start breeding elephants in Valencia. Hopefully the calf will be born healthy.
Among the most successful are Howletts, Cabarceno and Wuppertal (birth intervals are probably the shortest there). Cabarceno certainly has the best facilitiy.
Well, Wuppertal is a successful breeder and the inside areas for the cows are good, but you certainly would not call the rest neither good nor modern.
Absolutely wonderful news today, 14 year old cow Tika at Wuppertal has given birth to a healthy calf, in a natural and problem free herd birth! This is the second calf for Tika, the first for 29 year old wild caught sire Tooth, and the 14th calf overall born at Wuppertal. Happily, this calf was also conceived naturally, as mentioned in the thread with Tika’s pregnancy announcement, which is absolutely excellent news for both animals, neither of which had been proven out naturally until this calf. The sex is not yet determined, but fingers crossed it’s a little cow, although considering tooth‘s overall genetic value, a bull would be nothing to complain about either.
Read more at the link here
Read more at the link here
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Indeed. I know the zoo has stated Tooth is now housed alone due to issues with him and the group during a breeding attempt with Sweni in the past few months (specifically he seems to get quite aggressive with the younger males, I would imagine in this situation it was likely Gus), but I genuinely hope they will continue to attempt to breed from him on a one on one basis with the cows until he departs. He’s too valuable of a bull to squander, and Sweni especially needs every chance possible to build her matriline.
That is the one downside to Tooth, although he is a wonderful bull in most other regards (fertile, natural breeder, healthy, genetically valuable, extremely good looking), he has one hell of an attitude on him, at least towards other elephants, and this has proven to be an issue multiple times. He would beat the crap out of Duna at Rhenen, and considering both of them have since gone on to successfully breed with with other animals naturally, it had nothing to do with ability, and everything to do with Tooth being overbearingly aggressive (and likely Duna being a bit on the overly submissive side as well). Of course at Wuppertal he seems to get on fine enough with the cows (considering it’s a cohesive group of socially savvy, well bonded, mature females, they likely just don’t put up with his crap), but he *does* have issues with the youngsters, especially bulls. Jogi, as far as I’m aware, was originally intended to stay for longer at Wuppertal, however aggression directed towards him from Tooth necessitated his transfer in a fairly hasty fashion. Especially during times Jogi showed any signs of interest in any of the girls, that would really set Tooth off AFAIK. And then of course now whatever incident occurred recently that caused them to make the decision to not allow him in with the herd at all now (if I had to guess, he probably punted Gus or Tsavo into the dry moat, or some other similar action, but that’s just conjecture on my part).
Since it stated that he will be leaving at some point in the nearish future, I genuinely hope whichever facility receives him has a cohesive group of more dominant cows that won’t let themselves be pushed around. It would be a shame to have him waste away in either a nonbreeding situation or somewheres where he’s just going to bully the cows and not attempt to breed with them, but I can’t think of too many facilities that would suit his attitude well. I know it’s been speculated that he might be headed to Sosto, but the same time I do worry a bit, it’s a smaller cow group there, and I don’t know how assertive they would be (although Kwanza, at least, should be able to stand up to him). Other potential options where I think he might be able to do well would be Beekse Bergen, Boras, Cabarceno, and Hodenhagen. All have larger, cohesive herds with multiple older, proven cows that could likely put up with Tooth’s at times belligerent personality. Of course the only facility of those listed that really needs a new bull is Hodenhagen, but still.
A lovely tribute to his grandfather 
Also in more calf related news, Wuppertal has released a video of their new calf already out on exhibit. Although I can’t say for sure, from the one or two ok glances I got, it would appear to be a cow calf as well!
EDIT: Further more, I have received conformation now, she is indeed a little cow! Absolutely WONDERFUL news! Tika is building a very strong matriline for herself, I must say.
Also in more calf related news, Wuppertal has released a video of their new calf already out on exhibit. Although I can’t say for sure, from the one or two ok glances I got, it would appear to be a cow calf as well!
EDIT: Further more, I have received conformation now, she is indeed a little cow! Absolutely WONDERFUL news! Tika is building a very strong matriline for herself, I must say.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
It is really remarkable that a fifteen-year-old cow already has two daughters who can continue her line in the future.
Die Geburt von Elefantenkalb Mali | Video der Elefantengeburt Heute blicken wir noch einmal zurück auf den Morgen des 14. Oktober, als das weibliche Elefantenkalb "Mali" im Grünen Zoo... | By Grüner Zoo Wuppertal | Facebook
The birth at Wuppertal.
I believe that’s Tooth at the bottom right at the end. He’s massive.
Interesting on how the young calves followed in a single file.
there was someone (can be seen at the bottom of screen beside Tooth).
The birth at Wuppertal.
I believe that’s Tooth at the bottom right at the end. He’s massive.
Interesting on how the young calves followed in a single file.
there was someone (can be seen at the bottom of screen beside Tooth).
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
Live birth of the first elephant at BIOPARC Valencia
The first African Elephant calf to be born at Bioparc Valencia has now arrived to 22-year-old female Matla, the oldest in the herd. The calf was born at 4:20 am on day 653 of the pregnancy, and so far, seems to have been a fairly problem free birth.
Absolutely WONDERFUL news! A healthy birth from an older, founding cow with semen from a wild male is all one can ask for. Not only is that one more breeding cow in the population, but the resulting calf is extremely genetically valuable as well. Moreover, from the views given, this appears to be a female calf, which is all the better for the European population.
Fingers crossed all continues to go well for the new mum and calf, and Valencia is proactive in continuing to artificially inseminate their other females and recruit them into the breeding population, until such a time that Jambo proves himself out, or Tusker makes his long anticipated arrival.
Fingers crossed all continues to go well for the new mum and calf, and Valencia is proactive in continuing to artificially inseminate their other females and recruit them into the breeding population, until such a time that Jambo proves himself out, or Tusker makes his long anticipated arrival.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Great news! I didn't expect to Matla will give birth. I rather thought Miri. Only Miri was mentioned in the AI announcement. It probably wasn't successful. But it seems that there have been more attempts and I hope that some other cow is also pregnant.
Back to the calf, it is extremely valuable. From the video I'd guess it's a male, but I'm no expert so I'm not sure. Anyway, great succes and congratulations Valencia.
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
Wonderful news to hear that Matla has given birth to a healthy calf, not only does this the mean population now has a new breeding female but the calf is one of the most genetically valuable calves in Europe hopefully this is the first of many calves for Valencia.