Tooth arrived at Ouwehands Dierenpark yesterday.
African Elephants in Europe 2023
- Thread starter Hyak_II
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*Extremely* exciting news, bull Abu has moved from Halle back to his place of birth, Vienna.
This is absolutely excellent news, as at 22 years old and decidedly well proven, Abu will no doubt serve as a perfect match for the four cows at Vienna. Time is especially of the essence for Tonga and Mongu, and I have no doubt the zoo will prioritize him breeding them as soon as possible. Plus poor Numbi is a social outsider with no close companions since the tragic death of her last calf, Kabali, so another calf for her, while beneficial to the population overall, will be of extra special benefit for the poor girl herself.
This is also interesting (and overall good) news for Halle, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they bred Tana with him once last time before he departed, and regardless of if they have or not, considering young Elani is 6 years old, I'm certain a new bull will be in their future sooner rather than later.
Read more at the link here.
This is absolutely excellent news, as at 22 years old and decidedly well proven, Abu will no doubt serve as a perfect match for the four cows at Vienna. Time is especially of the essence for Tonga and Mongu, and I have no doubt the zoo will prioritize him breeding them as soon as possible. Plus poor Numbi is a social outsider with no close companions since the tragic death of her last calf, Kabali, so another calf for her, while beneficial to the population overall, will be of extra special benefit for the poor girl herself.
This is also interesting (and overall good) news for Halle, as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they bred Tana with him once last time before he departed, and regardless of if they have or not, considering young Elani is 6 years old, I'm certain a new bull will be in their future sooner rather than later.
Read more at the link here.
Halle reports that he has indeed successfully bred Tana. The calf is expected next year.
Source: Facebook Zoo Halle
Huh, well fancy that, haha!
Also interestingly enough, their post also seems to reveal the paternity of another elephant in Europe, too. They indicate that he has *two* offspring sired by AI. Considering the only recent AI births without publicly known sires have been at Zlin, I think it’s reasonably safe to assume that Zaquarri was sired by Abu as well (which I’ve heard mutterings of, but nothing definitive).
Also interestingly enough, their post also seems to reveal the paternity of another elephant in Europe, too. They indicate that he has *two* offspring sired by AI. Considering the only recent AI births without publicly known sires have been at Zlin, I think it’s reasonably safe to assume that Zaquarri was sired by Abu as well (which I’ve heard mutterings of, but nothing definitive).
Tooth's move to Ouwehands also had to do with the fact that they will be renovating and expanding the enclosure in Wuppertal. Part of that renovation has to do with switching to the protected contact system, something that will be mandatory in Europe from 2030.
Tooth already seems to be doing pretty well at Ouwehands Dierenpark. According to posts on a Dutch zoo forum and visitors on social media, Tooth shared an enclosure with Aja on Thursday. Tembo, Duna and Bumi were in the other enclosure. He has also mated Aja (a 52-year-old cow who no longer has a cycle) several times. From the other enclosure, Tembo was also interested in Tooth. Tembo also no longer has a cycle, however when Tusker arrived in Ouwehands in 2019, she briefly did have a cycle again.
Tooth already seems to be doing pretty well at Ouwehands Dierenpark. According to posts on a Dutch zoo forum and visitors on social media, Tooth shared an enclosure with Aja on Thursday. Tembo, Duna and Bumi were in the other enclosure. He has also mated Aja (a 52-year-old cow who no longer has a cycle) several times. From the other enclosure, Tembo was also interested in Tooth. Tembo also no longer has a cycle, however when Tusker arrived in Ouwehands in 2019, she briefly did have a cycle again.
African elephant Christina and her 2-year-old son Neco moved from Cabarceno to the Opel-Zoo in Germany today.
Source: Facebook PARQUE DE LA NATURALEZA DE CABARCENO
Source: Facebook PARQUE DE LA NATURALEZA DE CABARCENO
This is a rather interesting move. While I’m not upset about it by any means, this is definitely highlighting something I’ve noticed has been a bit of a trend lately. There seems to be a big push to merge the Wuppertal and Cabarceno lines of animals. First it was Tusker going to breed with Duna at Rhenen, then Yambo headed over to Beekse Bergen to breed with the three Tusker daughters there, and now Christina going to go breed with a Tusker son at Opel. I say this in jest, but only half jokingly, watch a Tusker son end up going to be the new breeding bull at Cabarceno at some point in the next 10 years, hah.
I am pretty sure that there is no ‚push‘ to merge the Cabarceno and Wuppertal animals, its more coincidence. Both zoos have produced many offspring, the older ones are now in the right age for breeding, and so it happens that a Cabarceno born bull (Yambo) was the best candidate for the females from Wuppertal who are now in Beekse Bergen and the other way around with Cristina going to Kronberg.
Which is great news! Cristina could never be integrated into the female groups in Cabarceno. She has spent most if not all of her life in small seperation paddocks. The big problem is that Cabarceno only has one decent paddock for seperation, the other paddocks are extremely small with concrete flooring and absolutely nothing in it. Since Cabarceno had not only Cristina and her calf seperately from the big herd but also another handraised female (Luena), one always had to spend the day in the tiny concrete paddock. It was horrible to watch. Tries to introduce Cristina/Neco with Luena apparently failed and the park never made the effort to fence off a second paddock (there is more then enough space but it seems they just dont care that much).
I am really happy that Cristina and Neco get out now and Luena no longer has to spend time in these concrete paddocks. The problem that Luena is mostly alone is unsolved though. I guess Cabarceno keeps the handraised calves away from the other elephants for way too long and efforts to socialize them with the others start way too late (thats my speculation though).
Which is great news! Cristina could never be integrated into the female groups in Cabarceno. She has spent most if not all of her life in small seperation paddocks. The big problem is that Cabarceno only has one decent paddock for seperation, the other paddocks are extremely small with concrete flooring and absolutely nothing in it. Since Cabarceno had not only Cristina and her calf seperately from the big herd but also another handraised female (Luena), one always had to spend the day in the tiny concrete paddock. It was horrible to watch. Tries to introduce Cristina/Neco with Luena apparently failed and the park never made the effort to fence off a second paddock (there is more then enough space but it seems they just dont care that much).
I am really happy that Cristina and Neco get out now and Luena no longer has to spend time in these concrete paddocks. The problem that Luena is mostly alone is unsolved though. I guess Cabarceno keeps the handraised calves away from the other elephants for way too long and efforts to socialize them with the others start way too late (thats my speculation though).
Extremely sad news. Cow Sabie at Wuppertal has given birth, however the calf was found dead in the outdoor yard. From the currently released info it’s unclear to me if it was born alive or stillborn, however I’m sure more info will be forthcoming. Regardless, given how experienced the collective herd is at Wuppertal, I have no doubt that not much could’ve been done for the calf either way.
Hopefully Sabie recovers well from the birth and has a chance to breed again in the future.
Hopefully Sabie recovers well from the birth and has a chance to breed again in the future.
While it's certainly sad that the baby didn't survive, I think that the good part of the bad incident is that this happened to Sabie. Another Wuppertal bull would be unnecessary, and Sabie's matriline already consists of five animals with all others being young and having plenty of time to breed. It's a safe and stable line for the next decades.
Further news has been released. The little calf was a COW, which makes this sad birthing event even more tragic. Of course given Tooth's overall genetic value, a calf of either gender would have been valuable to the population, but a little cow all the more so.
Regardless, as per the zoo, Sabie is in good shape after the birth, and it sounds like, although an unfavourable outcome, the birth went smoothly and without complications, so it should be a bright future for Sabie and her family all the same.
Also @Pongo , I beg to differ! Although Sabie does have five calves and two grand calves, yes, she herself is unrelated to Tusker and all his other progeny, and it’s also unlikely any of her sons with Tusker will enter the breeding population any time soon. A calf of either gender from her and Tooth would have been a valuable asset to the EEP, and while her matriline is safe purely in terms of living daughters/granddaughters, that’s no reason to put it on the back burner, so to speak, if an option such as Tooth is available! While Sabies lineage is safe, Tooth’s genetic legacy is in quite the opposite position at the moment, and will likely remain that way for some time, sadly.
Regardless, as per the zoo, Sabie is in good shape after the birth, and it sounds like, although an unfavourable outcome, the birth went smoothly and without complications, so it should be a bright future for Sabie and her family all the same.
Also @Pongo , I beg to differ! Although Sabie does have five calves and two grand calves, yes, she herself is unrelated to Tusker and all his other progeny, and it’s also unlikely any of her sons with Tusker will enter the breeding population any time soon. A calf of either gender from her and Tooth would have been a valuable asset to the EEP, and while her matriline is safe purely in terms of living daughters/granddaughters, that’s no reason to put it on the back burner, so to speak, if an option such as Tooth is available! While Sabies lineage is safe, Tooth’s genetic legacy is in quite the opposite position at the moment, and will likely remain that way for some time, sadly.
Found this on the German zoo forum ZooFreunde:
In the latest EEG (European Elephant Group) magazine, there is an article about recent DNA tests on the elephants at Cabarceno. This was done to determine who sired the calves born in recent years. This year's calves have not yet been included. The results are as follows:
0.1 Saja 06-08-2017 (Jums x Hilda)
0.1 Luena 24-08-2017 (Jums x Kenya)
1.0 Toranzo 26-7-2018 (? x Infinita) Sire still unclear both Jums and Junmar are possible.
1.0 Toribio 29-08-2018 (Jums x Brisa)
0.1 Maruca 22-02-2020 (Yambo x Hilda)
1.0 Stillborn? 05-04-2020 (Yambo x Pamba)
1.0 Neco 08-01-2021 (Yambo x Cristina)
In the latest EEG (European Elephant Group) magazine, there is an article about recent DNA tests on the elephants at Cabarceno. This was done to determine who sired the calves born in recent years. This year's calves have not yet been included. The results are as follows:
0.1 Saja 06-08-2017 (Jums x Hilda)
0.1 Luena 24-08-2017 (Jums x Kenya)
1.0 Toranzo 26-7-2018 (? x Infinita) Sire still unclear both Jums and Junmar are possible.
1.0 Toribio 29-08-2018 (Jums x Brisa)
0.1 Maruca 22-02-2020 (Yambo x Hilda)
1.0 Stillborn? 05-04-2020 (Yambo x Pamba)
1.0 Neco 08-01-2021 (Yambo x Cristina)
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Visited 05/06/23, the cows could not get enough of him. He seemed to be very gentle with them as well. My photos are not particularly good but show them all together.
I believe the original post is referring to the video being recorded prior to introduction.
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Ouwehands Dierenpark recently provided an update on how elephant bull Tooth is now doing in Rhenen. He has since met all the elephants again exploring all the enclosures. It took some getting used to for the other elephants, but by now peace has returned. It alternates who Tooth is in the enclosure with.
Source: Facebook Ouwehands Dierenpark
Source: Facebook Ouwehands Dierenpark
Extremely sad news, the great producer Tusker has been euthanized at Basel, due to a decrease in quality of life from Tuberculosis.
He was a super bull, good with the cows and calves, and of course siring many, many offspring. In hindsight, it also makes a lot of sense why he wasn’t transferred to Spain some time ago, likely specifically because of the TB.
Of course he leaves behind a massive legacy of many calves, and grand calves, through his offspring Kibo, Tika, Bongi, and Pina Nessie, with many more to come down the road, I am certain.
Rest in peace, Tusker
He was a super bull, good with the cows and calves, and of course siring many, many offspring. In hindsight, it also makes a lot of sense why he wasn’t transferred to Spain some time ago, likely specifically because of the TB.
Of course he leaves behind a massive legacy of many calves, and grand calves, through his offspring Kibo, Tika, Bongi, and Pina Nessie, with many more to come down the road, I am certain.
Rest in peace, Tusker