Amazing news for Chester’s breeding program!
Reading the article it sounds like a permanent move, and one that was initially prompted by the situation of the elephants at Whipsnade rather than that at Chester. I did fear that this move was splitting up Whipsnade's herd for sake of the unfortunate scenario Chester have found their herd in (although that would still have been justified to improve the welfare of Indali and Maya), but I'm glad this is a solution that seems to be very beneficial for both zoos.
This scenario is the perfect way to eventually build up the Hi Way family again imo! Indali gets the oppertunity to watch what will hopefully be the birth of multiple calves before she begins breeding, which is setting her up for success. I imagine down the line, providing Indali has multiple daughters of her own, they would move Karishma and Elizabeth to a new facility and focus on the single matriline again.
Yeah I think two matrilines is the right way for now, but if it comes down to it, I'm sure they'll choose to continue with the Hi Ways and perhaps in the mid to long term Karishma and Elizabeth and their bloodline will end up somewhere else. As was mentioned in the Chester thread there is not really room to keep Anjan if he can't be kept with both the females and any new bull that may arrive, so I think the mostly likely scenario is he probably won't be at the zoo much longer, especially as Maya had to be separated from Aung Bo (each had their own time with the Hi Ways) towards the end of his time at Chester.
The zoo confirmed it yesterday. She had leg problems like her father had.
