Asian Elephants in Europe 2023
- Thread starter Hyak_II
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This is…a very interesting and unexpected move. Panang has been separated from her mother for nearly 30 years, and was only 6 at the time of her separation. It goes without saying, she’s never met her 18 year old sister, Farah either.
As far as I was aware, she’s also very well integrated socially with the current group structure at Munich.
I’m genuinely curious what their goal with this move is. I doubt it would be breeding, while Panang is likely still reproductively viable, both her past calf survival history and the fact that Thai at Zurich is less genetically valuable than Gajendra at Munich indicate this has little to do with her breeding.
I have a theory or two I could come up with, but I’ll wait to see if anyone else posts with more knowledge than I have.
As far as I was aware, she’s also very well integrated socially with the current group structure at Munich.
I’m genuinely curious what their goal with this move is. I doubt it would be breeding, while Panang is likely still reproductively viable, both her past calf survival history and the fact that Thai at Zurich is less genetically valuable than Gajendra at Munich indicate this has little to do with her breeding.
I have a theory or two I could come up with, but I’ll wait to see if anyone else posts with more knowledge than I have.
I think it`s pretty obvious that Zurich is concerned that Farha could be alone in a few years after the loss of her daugther Ruwani due to EEHV last year. Ceyla is almost 50 and while she could live for another decade, you never know. If Ceyla dies in the next few years, Farha is either all on her own or, if she has another calf, she and her baby are on their own. That`s not a good outlook for the future. I am not that sure that Panang was that well integrated in Munich either, I heard Temi and Mangala were friends and Panang more of an outsider. I am not sure that is correct though.
I am not so sure if Panang is still a viable breeding female; she never got pregnant again after the birth of her last calf in 2011 even though Gajendra did mate her (I`ve seen that in person). 12 years is a long gap and could result in infertility. It would be fantastic if she had another calf in Zurich, but I`m not sure if that`s realistic to expect.
I am not so sure if Panang is still a viable breeding female; she never got pregnant again after the birth of her last calf in 2011 even though Gajendra did mate her (I`ve seen that in person). 12 years is a long gap and could result in infertility. It would be fantastic if she had another calf in Zurich, but I`m not sure if that`s realistic to expect.
Mr.Ivory
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Panang has safely arrived at the Zurich zoo
Servus Panang! Elefantenkuh gut im Zoo Zürich angekommen
Servus Panang! Elefantenkuh gut im Zoo Zürich angekommen
It is now known which bulls will move to Zoo Augsburg next spring. They are Chamundi and Ta Wan from Pairi Daiza, and Assam from Zoo Antwerp.
Source: Elefantenbullen aus Belgien ziehen in Augsburger Zoo
At Tierpark Hagenbeck, 4-year-old male Santosh has died. Elephant herpes virus is most likely the cause of the sudden death.
Source: Facebook Tierpark Hagenbeck
Source: Facebook Tierpark Hagenbeck
Mr.Ivory
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Panang has been successfully introduced to her mother and sister though there was a bit of conflict between Farha and Panang
Panang‘s older sister Komali (born 1984) attacked and injured serveral elephant keepers when she reached teenage age. Because it was not possible at that time to keep female elephants in protected contact in Zurich and there were no other zoos that used pc for females, Komali was euthanized. Panang was sent away after that because they feared she could become aggressive too if she stayed in Zurich - they feared with the support of her mother and aunties, she would become too self confident and would not accept the dominance of the keepers. So she was sent to Munich….
Besides what Yassa wrote, Panang was moved to Munich in 1995. Back then it was common practice to rip matrilines apart due to lacking knowledge about elephant structures. Even ten years later this was still done, or a random bunch of cows imported and kept together. With Panang they finally give it a try to merge matrilines.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
Its great that the line could be reunited, from what I understand Panang wasn't exactly a socially savvy cow at her previous facility. Maybe she will have better chances of having another calf now that she's back with family and likely will be more comfortable going forward?
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
The said truth is that Panang hasn't had a calf since 2011 so I would don't think she could have anymore calves plus that she hasn't been able to convince in Munich with a proven breeding bull I don't have much hope, but if the zoo deems her fit enough to breed then perhaps she can have at least four more calves
The move was made under recommendation from the EEP. They have recommended that various family structures that were separated in the past should be restored; and so some facilities now are undertaking this such move.
Obviously if Panang was an 'outsider' at Munich and no longer has any chance to breed, she would be an obvious candidate for this.
Remember that breeding was and is limited. I don't think Panang had a breeding recommendation in Munich. In Zurich it might be a desperation try with her to maintain this matriline with Ceyla approaching her 50s and Farha losing all her three attempts. However, I think the future of this line will most likely be decided by Farha succeeding to bring up a daughter.
Considering its now been twelve years since her last calf I don't really hold much hope for her successfully conceiving again. If she never received a recommendation in Munich, that makes me believe this move back to Zurich is purely for social purposes and providing matrilineal stability there long term.
I still think there's way more hope with Farha. She's only eighteen and has lost all three calves in unfortunate circumstances.
As Panang is over 25 years old, she is no longer allowed to have calves under the current EEP rules.
Does this rule apply to all cows? Or is there a specific set of guidelines regarding this.
I am not sure. A quote from an article by the EAZA Elephant TAG:
"This effect is already very much apparent in the Asian elephant EEP and led to the decision to deliberately reduce birth rates by aiming for eight years as the first age of reproduction for females, a last age of reproduction of 25 years and an interbirth interval of seven years."
Source: EAZA Zooquaria #117
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