Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
No! I am praying for Omysha, she just has to survive! 
Asian Elephants in Europe 2022
- Thread starter Hyak_II
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Omysha has succumbed to the virus: Elefantenkuh Omysha ist tot
My heart goes to out to her caretakers and family, it’s so terrible to lose two calves within weeks of one another. Omysha was such a valuable breeding cow and losing her is truly very tragic
My heart goes to out to her caretakers and family, it’s so terrible to lose two calves within weeks of one another. Omysha was such a valuable breeding cow and losing her is truly very tragic
Very bad, bad, bad news. Omysha has unfortunately succumbed to the virus
This is truly a devastating blow for both Zürich itself, and the European population on the whole. She was a proven breeding cow, fairly genetically valuable, and just a happy, playful, all around cute and pleasant little cow in general. Generally a terrible loss, with absolutely no bright side at all to it one can only hope young Ruwani can manage to stay strong and avoid being stricken with the virus as well now.
Edit: same info was posted while I was typing. I’ll keep this up though, since my reply would’ve been fairly similar one way or the other.
This is truly a devastating blow for both Zürich itself, and the European population on the whole. She was a proven breeding cow, fairly genetically valuable, and just a happy, playful, all around cute and pleasant little cow in general. Generally a terrible loss, with absolutely no bright side at all to it
one can only hope young Ruwani can manage to stay strong and avoid being stricken with the virus as well now.Edit: same info was posted while I was typing. I’ll keep this up though, since my reply would’ve been fairly similar one way or the other.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Oh no! I was hoping he would pull through, this is a truly devastating loss.
I have a question, could there be some connection between the many EEHV calf deaths in recent weeks or is it just a coincidence? Could it be the temperature, year seasons, etc.? (of course I know calves die at any time of the year)
I have a question, could there be some connection between the many EEHV calf deaths in recent weeks or is it just a coincidence? Could it be the temperature, year seasons, etc.? (of course I know calves die at any time of the year)
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I'm deeply sad... I've seen Omysha growing, as I'm visiting Zurich Zoo every year since 2014. It is really tragic, I really would have thought she would be old enough to be safe, but EEHV is a real threat. Now, we can only hope Ruwani will stay away from the virus...
All my thoughts go to the zoo team, who has, for sure, done its best to save both Umesh and Omysha. It must be very difficult. I also hope that Indi and Chandra after those two terrible losses...
All my thoughts go to the zoo team, who has, for sure, done its best to save both Umesh and Omysha. It must be very difficult. I also hope that Indi and Chandra after those two terrible losses...
Oh no! I was hoping he would pull through, this is a truly devastating loss.
I have a question, could there be some connection between the many EEHV calf deaths in recent weeks or is it just a coincidence? Could it be the temperature, year seasons, etc.? (of course I know calves die at any time of the year)
It’s not uncommon to see deaths from EEHV at the same facility within a short space of time. I’ve actually heard colder temperatures can put them at risk, which contradicts this recent wave of deaths over the summer.
This is very sad news for her mother, given her eldest daughter is a behavioural non breeder and unlikely to carry on her matrilineal line.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
Thank you for answer. It's really weird, the sheer number of deaths in zoos around the world in the last month is disturbing.
Thai is still there so undoubtedly they will keep trying.
I’d say there’s an excellent chance Farha is pregnant again given her last calf (unsurviving) was born in 2020. She’s 17 and has a long reproductive life ahead of her.
Indi may be pregnant also given her last calf was in 2020. At 36, she still has time to produce another daughter to continue her line - assuming Chandra never breeds.
They could always AI Chandra with fresh semen from Thai. Personally I am not a fan of AI but it is certainly an option. If the zoo is willing to absorb the costs.
I agree they'd be wise to undertake this (assuming they haven't already). There's no guarantee Indi's next calf will be a female (or survive to reproduce), so it'd be wise to have a contingency vi Chandra. Given her age (20 years), this needs to happen sooner rather than later. They've left it long enough to rule out her breeding naturally with Thai.
I don't think it makes sense to breed again in Zurich unless they do changes, which includes the herd structure. Ceyla-Himali and Indi don't get along with another, which can be a stress factor benefiting the virus. The zoo director indicated that there will be talks with the EEP coordinator about how to go on in the future.
Independent of Zurich there is a pretty big number of small matrilines of two cows (I think over 15) where it would make sense to breed given the individual herd situation, but still the breeding is very restricted due to the excess of young bulls.
Independent of Zurich there is a pretty big number of small matrilines of two cows (I think over 15) where it would make sense to breed given the individual herd situation, but still the breeding is very restricted due to the excess of young bulls.
I don’t think Ceyla-Himali is breeding anymore so it’s the question if Farha will get along with others. Ceyla-Himali is the oldest elephant there. Farha can mingle with others.
I doubt Ceyla is reproductively viable given she's in her late 40's and hasn't produced a calf in 17 years.
It'd be a shame to break up a matrilineal line, but for the sake of a cohesive herd, it could be worth sending her elsewhere and merging Farha with Indi and Chandra (if possible).
I'm confident this isn't the end for Zurich breeding. Many European zoos have had set backs on this scale and worse and persisted
For now, I don't think there's anything Zurich can do. I'd at least keep Indi, allowing her to breed once more (and have preferably a girl) before sending her and Chandra to another institution, leaving Zurich with mother and daughter (Ceyla and Farha), and possible future female calves of Indi and Farha. Of course though, this will still be a decade down the line.
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