Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025

Zoofan15 said:
So much hinges on his ability to sire calves naturally as if he’s able to successfully breed at Monarto (siring 2-3 calves over the next decade), he could then be loaned to Werribee Open Range Zoo, where’s he unrelated to all of their cows.

Otherwise, I hope consideration will be given to undertaking AI as a backup at Monarto. Pak Boon is an unrepresented founder and it would be a great shame to lose her from the breeding programme.

The alternative is that a son of Putra Mas and Pak Boon could one day be sent to Werribee - possibly for the third cohort of calves if one is born within the next five years.
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This is just my own view but I believe Putra Mas is very unlikely to sire a calf naturally "I hope I am wrong about that" also just my own view if he does make it to Monarto I don't believe he will ever leave because of his aversion to the crate let alone traveling in it. As I mentioned once before when I saw him off exhibit in 1999 in Perth zoo the head elephant manager told me that they were attempting to train him to enter the crate to send him to Fort Worth in the USA, so I don't like the chances of moving him around if he does get to Monarto. I know AI is expensive but if it means getting a calf or two from him so be it!
 
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Zorro said:
This is just my own view but I believe Putra Mas is very unlikely to sire a calf naturally "I hope I am wrong about that" also just my own view if he does make it to Monarto I don't believe he will ever leave because of his aversion to the crate let alone traveling in it. As I mentioned once before when I saw him off exhibit in 1999 in Perth zoo the head elephant manager told me that they were attempting to train him to enter the crate to send him to Fort Worth in the USA, so I don't like the chances of moving him around if he does get to Monarto. I know AI is expensive but if it means getting a calf or two from him so be it!
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Yes, unfortunately there’s no guarantee Putra Mas will breed naturally. Considering Pak Boon last calved in 2017, I hope they don’t wait too long to undertake AI if natural breeding doesn’t work. Two cycles should be sufficient to assess his capabilities, with a failure by Putra Mas to mount the cows indicating success probably won’t come with time.

Melbourne’s keepers didn’t think AI would be undertaken at Werribee in the future, with plans to replace Luk Chai with an equally competent natural breeder in time; but otherwise, AI could have been a good way to enhance genetic diversity in Werribee’s herd without bringing an additional bull on site.
 
Zorro said:
This is just my own view but I believe Putra Mas is very unlikely to sire a calf naturally "I hope I am wrong about that" also just my own view if he does make it to Monarto I don't believe he will ever leave because of his aversion to the crate let alone traveling in it. As I mentioned once before when I saw him off exhibit in 1999 in Perth zoo the head elephant manager told me that they were attempting to train him to enter the crate to send him to Fort Worth in the USA, so I don't like the chances of moving him around if he does get to Monarto. I know AI is expensive but if it means getting a calf or two from him so be it!
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Was it 1999 or 2000 you saw that, you've mentioned the story a fair few times and couldn't remember which year you meant, thought maybe you'd visited PZ a couple of times around that time period maybe.
 
steveroberts said:
Oh right you've visited PZ the once. I could be getting mixed up but thought from memory too you saw the crates the two female white rhinos Katala & Sabie had arrived in just before so thought was late 1999 but I could be making a big mixup and you could of been talking about other rhinos at another zoo.
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The crates I had mentioned in the past were the ones I saw at the Auckland zoo after the White rhinos arrived
 
Zoofan15 said:
The Werribee complex features two paddocks which long term are planned to accomodate an adult bull in each. There will be a tree line to shield their line of sight to reduce stress; with their awareness of the presence of the other bull intended to be stimulating rather than threatening.

With that in mind, I don’t anticipate Werribee will hold a bachelor herd for any length of time. Luk Chai will remain on site after the birth of the next cohort of calves (possibly for life) and serve as a mentor to Roi-Yim, who will begin his transition out of the matriarchal herd around the age of 6-8 years.

For now, Luk Chai has the run of both bull paddocks, but I’d expect the other to accomodate first Roi-Yim (allowing for regular contact sessions with his father); and long term (a decade from now), the new breeding bull.
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I meant for Zoo Victoria.
 
ZCChip said:
I meant for Zoo Victoria.
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Zoos Victoria encompasses Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo. The latter has no intentions of going back into elephants, with the space set to be redeveloped in the coming years. Once that’s been done, there’s feasibly nowhere on site they could build an elephant exhibit.

Sydney Zoo is currently the only bachelor facility in the region. Many of us are predicting they’ll undertake a swap with Werribee down the line of bulls.

There’s a lesser chance long term that Monarto could become a bachelor facility if they fail to generate succession within their herd; but we all very much hope to see them propagate a multigenerational herd from Pak Boon.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Zoos Victoria encompasses Werribee Open Range Zoo and Melbourne Zoo. The latter has no intentions of going back into elephants, with the space set to be redeveloped in the coming years. Once that’s been done, there’s feasibly nowhere on site they could build an elephant exhibit.

Sydney Zoo is currently the only bachelor facility in the region. Many of us are predicting they’ll undertake a swap with Werribee down the line of bulls.

There’s a lesser chance long term that Monarto could become a bachelor facility if they fail to generate succession within their herd; but we all very much hope to see them propagate a multigenerational herd from Pak Boon.
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Thank you for the explanation. I did not know that Zoos Victora encompasses of both zoos. That explains why Werribee is only 45 minutes away. That is similar to Columbus Zoo and Wildlands in Ohio, USA.
 
ZCChip said:
Thank you for the explanation. I did not know that Zoos Victora encompasses of both zoos. That explains why Werribee is only 45 minutes away. That is similar to Columbus Zoo and Wildlands in Ohio, USA.
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I probably should have mentioned Zoos Victoria encompasses four zoos all up - the other two being Healesville and Kyabram. Healesville is native species; and Kyabram is a very small/start-up zoo. Neither of those two will ever hold elephants for obvious reasons.

The 45 minute distant you note mean the phase out of elephants from Melbourne has been unique compared to other zoos phasing out in that there’s the opportunity for locals to see the herd within reasonable driving distance. Arguably the same could be said for Taronga with regards to seeing different elephants at Sydney Zoo; and historically, Adelaide/Monarto.
 
@Jambo I was wondering if the zoo had or are going to included a browse plantation for such a large elephant herd they certainly have enough room to have one. Another thing I am looking forward to seeing is when all the new trees and plantings are in a few years old and much more established than they are currently!
 
Zorro said:
@Jambo I was wondering if the zoo had or are going to included a browse plantation for such a large elephant herd they certainly have enough room to have one. Another thing I am looking forward to seeing is when all the new trees and plantings are in a few years old and much more established than they are currently!
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They would have one - but not specifically one that the elephants will have direct access too. I do remember it was mentioned the plan was to add a few browsing area's across the complex, but I believe these are simply artificial areas where browse is placed by keepers.

Trees would hopefully be a welcome addition in the future to improve the exhibits and provide a more 'naturalistic' look, although it would likely take a while before we start to see any noticeable results.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The 45 minute distant you note mean the phase out of elephants from Melbourne has been unique compared to other zoos phasing out in that there’s the opportunity for locals to see the herd within reasonable driving distance. Arguably the same could be said for Taronga with regards to seeing different elephants at Sydney Zoo; and historically, Adelaide/Monarto.
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Not dissimilar to the move of the Elephants from London to Whipsnade in UK in the 90's. Though in that case it was non-breeding females only and the breeding group started later after the move.
 
Pertinax said:
Not dissimilar to the move of the Elephants from London to Whipsnade in UK in the 90's. Though in that case it was non-breeding females only and the breeding group started later after the move.
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Very true. London Zoo’s Casson Pavilion opened in 1965 and so by the time the elephants were transferred to Whipsnade in 2001, it had become cramped by modern exhibit standards.

In the 1980’s, Taronga expanded their elephant exhibit; while Wellington phased out that same decade.

In the 1990’s, Auckland built a new elephant exhibit; while Adelaide phased out that same decade.

In the 2000’s, Melbourne and Taronga built new exhibits; and Perth expanded their exhibit. These were ultimately stop gap solutions to phasing out in the 2020’s - with Auckland joining them.
 
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