Australian Asian Elephant Population 2025

What births has Anjalee has witnessed?

has there been prior births before this group? In history or even at a circus?
 
ZCChip said:
What births has Anjalee has witnessed?

has there been prior births before this group? In history or even at a circus?
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Anjalee came from Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. It houses around 90 elephants and in 2022 reported that 75 births had occurred on site since 1984 (with a record 17 births occurring in 2011). With this in mind, it’s reasonable to assume Anjalee observed a few births; though following her import into New Zealand as a nine year old, she’s had no exposure to neonates.

Upon arriving at Dubbo in 2022, Anjalee formed a strong bond with the then four year old Kanlaya; and she has a good relationship with Porntip and Thong Dee. Hopefully they can provide support to Anjalee in rearing her calf, with Porntip previously proving supportive to Thong Dee in rearing her two calves.

No, there were no elephant births in Australia (or New Zealand) prior to the birth of Luk Chai in 2009. There were concerted efforts to breed at Taronga and Dubbo in the 1980’s; and Perth in the 2000’s prior to this; with discussions of AI being undertaken with Auckland’s cows in the 1990’s and into the early 2000’s.
 
I assume that there is a stud book co-ordinator for elephants in the region between the current holders. I believe perhaps they should look at the possibility of Dubbos Anjalee and Werribee's (born at Melbourne zoo) first calf/female born to be bred to Putra Mas in the future while the chance is available because as I have seen before opportunities can and do get missed especially if an animal dies
 
Zorro said:
I assume that there is a stud book co-ordinator for elephants in the region between the current holders. I believe perhaps they should look at the possibility of Dubbos Anjalee and Werribee's (born at Melbourne zoo) first calf/female born to be bred to Putra Mas in the future while the chance is available because as I have seen before opportunities can and do get missed especially if an animal dies
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The region’s species coordinator for Asian elephant is based at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

I agree it would be good to utilise Putra Mas for AI sooner rather than later. His genetic value should override what’s otherwise solid reasoning for promoting natural breeding.

At this point in time, there’s seven viable adult cows in the region (all unrelated to Putra Mas), two of which may have been retired from breeding due to capacity constraints:

Dubbo:

0.1 Porntip (1992) Retired?
0.1 Thong Dee (1997) Retired?
0.1 Anjalee (2006)

Werribee:

0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Mali (2010)

Monarto:

0.1 Pak Boon (1992)

Pak Boon would be the best option, being unrelated to every elephant in the region; followed by Num-Oi and Anjalee, whose only relatives are their daughter and unborn calf respectively. If any of these cows bred with Putra Mas, the resulting offspring would have numerous applications to the breeding programme.
 
Zoofan15 said:
The region’s species coordinator for Asian elephant is based at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

I agree it would be good to utilise Putra Mas for AI sooner rather than later. His genetic value should override what’s otherwise solid reasoning for promoting natural breeding.

At this point in time, there’s seven viable adult cows in the region (all unrelated to Putra Mas), two of which may have been retired from breeding due to capacity constraints:

Dubbo:

0.1 Porntip (1992) Retired?
0.1 Thong Dee (1997) Retired?
0.1 Anjalee (2006)

Werribee:

0.1 Dokkoon (1993)
0.1 Num-Oi (2001)
0.1 Mali (2010)

Monarto:

0.1 Pak Boon (1992)

Pak Boon would be the best option, being unrelated to every elephant in the region; followed by Num-Oi and Anjalee, whose only relatives are their daughter and unborn calf respectively. If any of these cows bred with Putra Mas, the resulting offspring would have numerous applications to the breeding programme.
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We have already lost Heman to the population so having still a chance to still get more than one living calf from Putra Mas would be wise especially since the two class he has sired to date were both females
 
Zorro said:
We have already lost Heman to the population so having still a chance to still get more than one living calf from Putra Mas would be wise especially since the two class he has sired to date were both females
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Indeed it would. Having a founder represented by a single descendant is rather precarious, especially since said descendent is seven years old and won’t be breeding herself for several years yet.

There’s no indication the expanded herd barn will be built anytime soon at Dubbo; but if Kanlaya remains Putra Mas’ sole surviving offspring by the time it is, then we may at least get to see her produce a number of calves. She’ll be one of the most genetically valuable elephants in the region and Dubbo will finally have the capacity to increase production of calves. Assuming Porntip and Thong Dee don’t breed in the interim, Dubbo’s sole breeding cows will be Anjalee and Kanlaya at that point.
 
If Thong Dee is not to breed at Dubbo, she should be moved to Monarto to breed to Putra Mas and be reunited with her friend, Pak Boon. Monarto would gain another viable breeding female. In turn, Tang Mo can move to Dubbo. If Tang Mo is friendly with Porntip, all would be better.

I know I am repeating myself, but that makes the most sense to me!
 
ZCChip said:
If Thong Dee is not to breed at Dubbo, she should be moved to Monarto to breed to Putra Mas and be reunited with her friend, Pak Boon. Monarto would gain another viable breeding female. In turn, Tang Mo can move to Dubbo. If Tang Mo is friendly with Porntip, all would be better.

I know I am repeating myself, but that makes the most sense to me!
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This transfer should have happened as soon as Monarto decided to take on the Taronga cows. Had this been undertaken, Dubbo would have had room to breed from Anjalee AND Porntip on this breeding rotation.

At a minimum, we could expect Pak Boon, Thong Dee and Tang Mo to have formed a cohesive grouping; with relationships then developed with Burma and Permai. As an added bonus, they could have bred Thong Dee with Pathi Harn prior to her transfer, giving Monarto a calf unrelated to what we hope will be a calf from Putra Mas and Pak Boon.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Indeed it would. Having a founder represented by a single descendant is rather precarious, especially since said descendent is seven years old and won’t be breeding herself for several years yet.

There’s no indication the expanded herd barn will be built anytime soon at Dubbo; but if Kanlaya remains Putra Mas’ sole surviving offspring by the time it is, then we may at least get to see her produce a number of calves. She’ll be one of the most genetically valuable elephants in the region and Dubbo will finally have the capacity to increase production of calves. Assuming Porntip and Thong Dee don’t breed in the interim, Dubbo’s sole breeding cows will be Anjalee and Kanlaya at that point.
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I am beginning to wonder if the barn will ever be built
 
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