I would like to see that too.





I agree it’s likely only one of Sydney Zoo’s will breed considering they’re half brothers.
Werribee’s need is definitely greater versus Dubbo, who have a genetically diverse population:
Gung is unrelated to 4/4 cows
Pathi Harn is unrelated to 2/4 cows
Sabai is unrelated to 3/4 cows
It doesn’t seem likely they’ll be breeding with Porntip now (if they were I’d have expected to have seen her conceive around the same time as Anjalee), so a second calf from Anjalee around seven years from now would tie in with Kanlaya producing her first calf at 14 years of age.
I think it's a highly stupid decision not to breed from Thong Dee and at least Porntip again. This is almost like saying in 2017-2018 that Pak Boon didn’t need to breed again because she had Tukta and Jai Dee. Now she’s unrepresented and may never conceive again.
There’s no guarantee Kanlaya will survive to produce her own calf, and I think our zoos are too optimistic when it comes to assuming all calves will reach adulthood. The heartbreaking reality is that we’re likely to lose some along the way. Putting so much pressure on Kanlaya to carry TWPZ’s future herd is a risky strategy.
Likewise, I don’t think interbreeding in elephants is as big an issue as some make it out to be. They’re a low-density species due to their resource needs, so low-level interbreeding naturally occurs in the wild. The Wrangel Island mammoth population of 200 survived in isolation for over 6,000 years, and it’s now suggested that their eventual extinction wasn’t even due to genetic meltdown.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t be too concerned if Pathi Harn bred with one of Mali’s descendants—there’s enough genetic distance to make it a negligible issue. It also seems hypocritical that our zoos continue to allow interbreeding in low-profile species like Blackbuck and Meerkats, yet it suddenly becomes taboo when it comes to high-profile species like great apes and elephants.
I agree with you I can see the Taronga/Dubbo herd falling away a bit at a time due to some poor management decisionsI think it's a highly stupid decision not to breed from Thong Dee and at least Porntip again. This is almost like saying in 2017-2018 that Pak Boon didn’t need to breed again because she had Tukta and Jai Dee. Now she’s unrepresented and may never conceive again.
There’s no guarantee Kanlaya will survive to produce her own calf, and I think our zoos are too optimistic when it comes to assuming all calves will reach adulthood. The heartbreaking reality is that we’re likely to lose some along the way. Putting so much pressure on Kanlaya to carry TWPZ’s future herd is a risky strategy.
Likewise, I don’t think interbreeding in elephants is as big an issue as some make it out to be. They’re a low-density species due to their resource needs, so low-level interbreeding naturally occurs in the wild. The Wrangel Island mammoth population of 200 survived in isolation for over 6,000 years, and it’s now suggested that their eventual extinction wasn’t even due to genetic meltdown.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t be too concerned if Pathi Harn bred with one of Mali’s descendants—there’s enough genetic distance to make it a negligible issue. It also seems hypocritical that our zoos continue to allow interbreeding in low-profile species like Blackbuck and Meerkats, yet it suddenly becomes taboo when it comes to high-profile species like great apes and elephants.
I always thought that Pathi Harn was related to Thong Dee as I've heard many zookeepers say that he and Luk Chai are cousins through which makes Thong Dee the aunt of Pathi Harn and Porntip (Pathi Harn's mother) Luk Chai's aunt.I agree it’s likely only one of Sydney Zoo’s will breed considering they’re half brothers.
Werribee’s need is definitely greater versus Dubbo, who have a genetically diverse population:
Gung is unrelated to 4/4 cows
Pathi Harn is unrelated to 2/4 cows
Sabai is unrelated to 3/4 cows
It doesn’t seem likely they’ll be breeding with Porntip now (if they were I’d have expected to have seen her conceive around the same time as Anjalee), so a second calf from Anjalee around seven years from now would tie in with Kanlaya producing her first calf at 14 years of age.
I always thought that Pathi Harn was related to Thong Dee as I've heard many zookeepers say that he and Luk Chai are cousins through which makes Thong Dee the aunt of Pathi Harn and Porntip (Pathi Harn's mother) Luk Chai's aunt.
They're not related; both Thong Dee and Porntip came from different locations in Thailand.I always thought that Pathi Harn was related to Thong Dee as I've heard many zookeepers say that he and Luk Chai are cousins through which makes Thong Dee the aunt of Pathi Harn and Porntip (Pathi Harn's mother) Luk Chai's aunt.
I thoroughly agree although I think it may be an issue the of space. As I've previously mentioned on here, Dubbo only have nine barn stalls I believe so that would obviously limit them to just nine adult elephants (correct me if I'm wrong).I think it's a highly stupid decision not to breed from Thong Dee and at least Porntip again. This is almost like saying in 2017-2018 that Pak Boon didn’t need to breed again because she had Tukta and Jai Dee. Now she’s unrepresented and may never conceive again.
I thoroughly agree although I think it may be an issue the of space. As I've previously mentioned on here, Dubbo only have nine barn stalls I believe so that would obviously limit them to just nine adult elephants (correct me if I'm wrong).
Dubbo already have seven elephants (and will be eight by the end of the year). So they're pushing capacity. This is mainly the reason why Pak Boon and Tang Mo are going to Monarto instead, there just isn't enough space for them at Dubbo without further exemplifying the issue of space that they're already facing. The newly planned barn couldn't come sooner imo.
In all seriousness the best we can hope for here is Thong Dee is already pregnant. It's now been over nine years since she last gave birth so if she isn't, she's really pushing reproductive limitations. It's really rare you see cows birthing after more than a decade in between calves, so even for Porntip who's approaching seven years since she last birthed is also at the critical stage.
Back in 2020, Melbourne understand the significance on bringing Luk Chai in to breed Dokkoon especially as it had been seven years for her since she last gave birth. His move was timed well in that all cows cycled just weeks after his arrival and therefore were given the best opportunity to conceive without time being against them.
I think it's a highly stupid decision not to breed from Thong Dee and at least Porntip again. This is almost like saying in 2017-2018 that Pak Boon didn’t need to breed again because she had Tukta and Jai Dee. Now she’s unrepresented and may never conceive again.
There’s no guarantee Kanlaya will survive to produce her own calf, and I think our zoos are too optimistic when it comes to assuming all calves will reach adulthood. The heartbreaking reality is that we’re likely to lose some along the way. Putting so much pressure on Kanlaya to carry TWPZ’s future herd is a risky strategy.
Likewise, I don’t think interbreeding in elephants is as big an issue as some make it out to be. They’re a low-density species due to their resource needs, so low-level interbreeding naturally occurs in the wild. The Wrangel Island mammoth population of 200 survived in isolation for over 6,000 years, and it’s now suggested that their eventual extinction wasn’t even due to genetic meltdown.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t be too concerned if Pathi Harn bred with one of Mali’s descendants—there’s enough genetic distance to make it a negligible issue. It also seems hypocritical that our zoos continue to allow interbreeding in low-profile species like Blackbuck and Meerkats, yet it suddenly becomes taboo when it comes to high-profile species like great apes and elephants.
I believe you can add Gorillas to the badly managed species list!Not to mention most african hoof stock, which can now be imported. Genetically viable usually means distantly related at best.
We do worry more about lines on paper here on the forum then the actuality of inbreeding. Common lines from one side don't negate the valuable lines from the other. Especially from the same parents. While Gung and Thong dee have produced luk chai another male offspring could of memory have as low as 25% shared genetics with luk chai. Not all full siblings will inheret the same genes, chances are that full siblings average around 50% the same genes. The sperm or egg of a parent only carries 50% combined of the genetic make up of that animals grand parents. Our genes go through recombination for this purpose.
There is absolutely no reason that thong dee should not be having at least 1 more calf. It seems our elephant population is becoming another example of badly managed breeding like hippos etc.
I thoroughly agree although I think it may be an issue the of space. As I've previously mentioned on here, Dubbo only have nine barn stalls I believe so that would obviously limit them to just nine adult elephants (correct me if I'm wrong).
Dubbo already have seven elephants (and will be eight by the end of the year). So they're pushing capacity. This is mainly the reason why Pak Boon and Tang Mo are going to Monarto instead, there just isn't enough space for them at Dubbo without further exemplifying the issue of space that they're already facing. The newly planned barn couldn't come sooner imo.
In all seriousness the best we can hope for here is Thong Dee is already pregnant. It's now been over nine years since she last gave birth so if she isn't, she's really pushing reproductive limitations. It's really rare you see cows birthing after more than a decade in between calves, so even for Porntip who's approaching seven years since she last birthed is also at the critical stage.
Back in 2020, Melbourne understand the significance on bringing Luk Chai in to breed Dokkoon especially as it had been seven years for her since she last gave birth. His move was timed well in that all cows cycled just weeks after his arrival and therefore were given the best opportunity to conceive without time being against them.
In saying that, why waste an elephant enclosure at Taronga for a rhino, when you could offload two bulls from western plains over to Taronga in the girls place. The new Barn is a good move, but it is such a stupid decision to make one that can accommodate the matriarchal herd inside for periods of time, there is no reason for it. Monarto's climate is colder, so is werribees. My guess is they are trying to add a Cafe or experiance attached to it. Which wastes money and space instead of accomodation a larger herd.
Taronga are using, the old bull yards for non animal puposes, there is no excuse they dont have the space to expand the enclosure to accomodate two bulls.
In saying that, why waste an elephant enclosure at Taronga for a rhino, when you could offload two bulls from western plains over to Taronga in the girls place. The new Barn is a good move, but it is such a stupid decision to make one that can accommodate the matriarchal herd inside for periods of time, there is no reason for it. Monarto's climate is colder, so is werribees. My guess is they are trying to add a Cafe or experiance attached to it. Which wastes money and space instead of accomodation a larger herd.
Taronga are using, the old bull yards for non animal puposes, there is no excuse they dont have the space to expand the enclosure to accomodate two bulls.
Not to mention the incident that took place with Pathi Harn back in 2012 had (and still has) a profound effect on how Taronga (and the rest of the regions zoos) manage their elephants. Protected contact was implemented not long after for both Taronga and Melbourne.I could be mistaken, but I don’t believe the cow paddock at Taronga is equipped to hold bulls as per modern containment standards (unlike Gung’s paddock, which was purpose built in 2008).
That’s not to say it couldn’t be done (fencing could be upgraded etc), but having all the bulls on site at Dubbo allows for breeding opportunities (Anjalee reportedly had the opportunity to breed with both Gung and Pathi Harn); as well as following the natural social order where young bulls are mentored by older bulls.
It has also become a prominent animal rights issue, with the Dubbo site reportedly receiving a fraction of the complaints Taronga received regarding housing of elephants in a city environment.
Thought I'd share these elephant profiles for Werribee's new elephants that seem to have recently been posted apart of their website.
Really interesting to learn more about each elephant individually, and how to distinguish them too.
I do also note they get Luk Chai's dam wrong (being Thong Dee not Porntip).
Meet The Herd