Asian & African elephants in the United states 2013 (Zoos only)

[ThylacineAlive]

- The elephants are only viewable for 30 seconds and for 7 months a year. The exhibit may look nice but it has only a very small barn for the winter months. There is no logical way to connect it to the zoo as the area is far removed from the rest of the zoo. Also the monorail is an aging ride and I am not sure the zoo wants to replace it. I personally like the exhibit but it is not ideal viewing conditions for the elephants. My idea would be to replace the current himalayan tahr exhibit and wild asia parking with a new exhibit whcih is a 8 acre area.

They can be viewed for more than 30 seconds though I agree they have a small window for observation. I'm not sure how it would work out making the monorail a regular walking trail as the river would cause a problem as well as the fact that the exhibits are all designed to be viewed from the monorail viewpoint, not the ground. And during the Run for the Wild you run past the tahr exhibit and I think it'd be a huge wast of money to turn it into a parking lot as it's just a little ways up an non-public trail right by the main parking lot off the Bronx River Parkway. If the zoo wanted to turn the monorail into a trail they'd simply have to open a small portion of this non-public path and make an entrance into the Asia trail.

~Thylo

 

[uszoo]

They can be viewed for more than 30 seconds though I agree they have a small window for observation. I'm not sure how it would work out making the monorail a regular walking trail as the river would cause a problem as well as the fact that the exhibits are all designed to be viewed from the monorail viewpoint, not the ground. And during the Run for the Wild you run past the tahr exhibit and I think it'd be a huge wast of money to turn it into a parking lot as it's just a little ways up an non-public trail right by the main parking lot off the Bronx River Parkway. If the zoo wanted to turn the monorail into a trail they'd simply have to open a small portion of this non-public path and make an entrance into the Asia trail.

~Thylo

- The walking trail would be too long at 2 miles long. I meant turning the asia parking lot and tahr exhibit into a new elephant exhibit that is closer to the other exhibits.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

- The walking trail would be too long at 2 miles long. I meant turning the asia parking lot and tahr exhibit into a new elephant exhibit that is closer to the other exhibits.

Three things-

1) The tahr exhibit and Asian Parking Lot aren't neighboring and are separated by the zoo's whole Asia complex.

2) What would you do with the old elephant exhibit?

3) What would become of the monorail?

~Thylo

 

[uszoo]

Three things-

1) The tahr exhibit and Asian Parking Lot aren't neighboring and are separated by the zoo's whole Asia complex.

2) What would you do with the old elephant exhibit?

3) What would become of the monorail?

~Thylo

1. If you take a look at the map they are directly adjacant to each other as they are both on the west side of the river.

2. Personally with the zoo having at least 5 rhinos I would add another rhino exhibit.

3. I think turning it into a ride through tram such as the one at northwest trek would be good. It would go through the hoofstock exhibits and ride alongside other animals. There would be a midpoint station where you could go on a walking trail and see species such as rhino and tiger.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

1. If you take a look at the map they are directly adjacant to each other as they are both on the west side of the river.

Huh, seems you're right. I've never seen that parking lot before the run so I thought that that was staff parking and the Asian Parking Lot was by where the Asia Gate entrance is. My apologies. Yeah that'd make a great elephant exhibit. As I'm sure you know, by the tahr exhibit is a Chinese Tufted Deer enclosure so that'd have to be taken in to account if a new exhibit was to be constructed. I do have a problem with your idea, though. The tahr exhibit is where it is because it's rocky and hilly- not the most ideal elephant enclosure. The zoo would have to blast out all the rocks and dig up all the large hills, not to mention cut down countless towering trees in the exhibit and I doubt the zoo would be willing to do that.

~Thylo

 

[uszoo]

Huh, seems you're right. I've never seen that parking lot before the run so I thought that that was staff parking and the Asian Parking Lot was by where the Asia Gate entrance is. My apologies. Yeah that'd make a great elephant exhibit. As I'm sure you know, by the tahr exhibit is a Chinese Tufted Deer enclosure so that'd have to be taken in to account if a new exhibit was to be constructed. I do have a problem with your idea, though. The tahr exhibit is where it is because it's rocky and hilly- not the most ideal elephant enclosure. The zoo would have to blast out all the rocks and dig up all the large hills, not to mention cut down countless towering trees in the exhibit and I doubt the zoo would be willing to do that.

~Thylo

- Actually the tufted deer are on the other side of the river. The tahr exhibit is rocky but knowing the zoo they would blast it out to build the exhibit. Minor hills are actually good for elephants as it helps with there joints and arthritis. Just look at the national zoo where they have a uphill trail for there elephants that they have said has improved there health.There are many trees but this area is already developed as opposed to many other undeveloped areas of the zoo. The bronx zoo does great with landscaping so they would preserve many and replant new ones.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

- Actually the tufted deer are on the other side of the river. The tahr exhibit is rocky but knowing the zoo they would blast it out to build the exhibit. Minor hills are actually good for elephants as it helps with there joints and arthritis. Just look at the national zoo where they have a uphill trail for there elephants that they have said has improved there health.There are many trees but this area is already developed as opposed to many other undeveloped areas of the zoo. The bronx zoo does great with landscaping so they would preserve many and replant new ones.

You might be right with the deer, I don't think it's on the map so I'm going to take your word for it. I'm not sure if the zoo would be willing to blast out the rocks and build a new exhibit but we'll just have to see where things go. For all we know, they could be planning to do exactly what you've proposed or they very well could phase-out elephants for good. Who knows!

~Thylo

 

[uszoo]

You might be right with the deer, I don't think it's on the map so I'm going to take your word for it. I'm not sure if the zoo would be willing to blast out the rocks and build a new exhibit but we'll just have to see where things go. For all we know, they could be planning to do exactly what you've proposed or they very well could phase-out elephants for good. Who knows!

~Thylo

-here just an old map showing there location
http://www.kwaree.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/bronx_zoo_map.gif

 

[Spixii]

The first elephants have arrived at the National elephant center from Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Thandi (0.1)
Moyo (0.1) and Tsavo (1.0 son of Moyo)
Moyo is also supposedly expecting her third calf. Although I have not received first hand confirmation. If true it will be a great starting point for the NEC.

 

[uszoo]

The first elephants have arrived at the National elephant center from Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Thandi (0.1)
Moyo (0.1) and Tsavo (1.0 son of Moyo)
Moyo is also supposedly expecting her third calf. Although I have not received first hand confirmation. If true it will be a great starting point for the NEC.

- That is great news as i hope that we in north america can start breeding elephants better. I hope that eventually the national elephant center turns into something like ringling bros consevation center which breeds elephants eveey year and has something like 3 elephants pregnant right now.

 

[Upali]

Tufani born 2003 (Maclean x Moyo) was also moved to the NEC.

Any news on what is happening with some of the unrepresented bulls such as Osh (Oakland) Msholo (SDWAP) Maximus, Toby (Riddles) which could be used for breeding?

 

[Spixii]

Any news on what is happening with some of the unrepresented bulls such as Osh (Oakland) Msholo (SDWAP) Maximus, Toby (Riddles) which could be used for breeding?

Osh is picked on by the two cows he is slated to breed with. I think the zoo said it was just a matter of time for him to develop, and grow into a mature bull. But he is viable.

Msholo has been reported to have bred with both Umgani, and Ndulamitsi. But I do not know if he was successful.

Toby has low testosterone, and is not viable. Perhaps hormonal supplement will alter that.

I know nothing of Maximus- other than the Riddles are seeking to retire, and the elephants will be rehomed in the coming years.

 

[uszoo]

Tufani born 2003 (Maclean x Moyo) was also moved to the NEC.

Any news on what is happening with some of the unrepresented bulls such as Osh (Oakland) Msholo (SDWAP) Maximus, Toby (Riddles) which could be used for breeding?

- Does riddles still have its 2 male elephants Toby and Max as they are no longer listed on riddles website?

 

[Spixii]

- Does riddles still have its 2 male elephants Toby and Max as they are no longer listed on riddles website?

I think Max may be going to DAK. Purely speculation at this point. Kianga and Nadirah are quickly maturing and Max is the perfect fit for them genetically speaking.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I would love to follow the discussion here more fleetingly yet I have a distinct feeling of being talked in riddles over as I must read myself into where which individual elephant's history lies or where it may have come from (see the current STARTING UP developments with the NEC).

I think .. - yet cannot postulate reliably - that the US African Elephant SSP is in a much better shape than the European one, and that conversely the European Asian Elephant EEP is in much better shape than the US Asian Elephant one (allthough with the planned addition of several young family raised bulls from Europe that may alter sooner than we might expect).

One question to this:
How large are the current populations of both Loxodonta and Elephas in the US? And what percentage of the captive wild founders is represented in the current stock in SSP zoos?

 

[uszoo]

I would love to follow the discussion here more fleetingly yet I have a distinct feeling of being talked in riddles over as I must read myself into where which individual elephant's history lies or where it may have come from (see the current STARTING UP developments with the NEC).

I think .. - yet cannot postulate reliably - that the US African Elephant SSP is in a much better shape than the European one, and that conversely the European Asian Elephant EEP is in much better shape than the US Asian Elephant one (allthough with the planned addition of several young family raised bulls from Europe that may alter sooner than we might expect).

One question to this:
How large are the current populations of both Loxodonta and Elephas in the US? And what percentage of the captive wild founders is represented in the current stock in SSP zoos?

- There are about 300 SSP elephants split 50/50 between Asian and African. Im not exactly sure about the 2nd question but at least half of the elephants in North America are wild born so there are plenty of founders. The issue is there are so few breeding bulls with most calfs being fathered by the same 5 bulls. The recent changes in AZA policy can save the SSP but zoos must consalidate there herds to fewer zoos and pursue a agressive breeding program. Older females should be sent to other zoos to make way for breeding females. This mainly applies for asian elephants as the african elephant program is years ahead on these issues. Zoos should look at places like ringling which pumps out 1 or 2 elephants a year. The national elephant center is the first step but it must be expanded to be sucessful. Indiviual zoos such as Pittsburgh and Oregon (opening around 2016-2017 and can hold a dozen elephants) are also good. So the SSP may be having trouble but the future looks bright, all we need is about a dozen new breeding animals from Asia and Europe.

 

[jbnbsn99]

I know that the Fort Worth Zoo has a new male Asian. I cannot remember the name, but he's 11 years old I think.

 

[uszoo]

I know that the Fort Worth Zoo has a new male Asian. I cannot remember the name, but he's 11 years old I think.

- That sounds like good news as they have 2 potentiial breeding elephants one who is 15 and another who is 25.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

The female Sri Lankan Elephant, Bozie, from the Baton Rouge Zoo is now at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

~Thylo

 

[Upali]

I know that the Fort Worth Zoo has a new male Asian. I cannot remember the name, but he's 11 years old I think.

I has to be either Gunther or P.T at Ringling as they're the only 11 year old bulls in the country, except Kandula and seems like hes staying at the National zoo. Good news though!!