Black rhinos in Europe

Gigit said:
So he has contact with them all the time? If I remember correctly, while at Paignton he and Sita were usually kept apart. You didn't happen to ask the keeper why Kingo and Sita had different skin textures, did you?:)
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Kingo is living out in a grass paddock with both females. Their rhinos are outside all day(probably night too) in huge grass paddocks. Its exactly like a racehorse 'stud'. (I guess they must be seperated if they are brought into the small indoor houses and yards though) At a zoo like PAignton this sort of regime wouldn't be possible with the small paddock/ security etc. All the rhino paddocks at PL connect with each other via 'kissing' gates across the service roads, so they can move any rhino to any paddock over the whole area.

I didn't ask about skin types, but as I said before, no PL rhinos look like Sita- they are all 'smoothies' there.
 
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Pertinax said:
I think he mentioned the names but there are so many I can't remember. It can be any of those which are related to their only other mature bull 'Kingo', who was born there, so there's a choice of several. I think they want to give him more time to settle in though as they are a bit concerned about how nervous he is and what he might do if he suddenly panicked (like smash the fence down!)
He looked rather sorry for himself, wandering around giving pathetic little squeaks. A keeper was 'baby minding' with him to make sure he was okay.
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All rhinos need to settle and generally cows have it easier than the bulls. In particular, black rhinos are sensitive to any intrusion by definition of their somewhat solitary bushveld lifestyle. Thus, it is NOT surprising that some rhinos not adjusted to the vast spaces of PL need TIME to settle fully. This process may even take months rather than weeks.

At PL the regime is rather fluid and keepers will mind their rhinos personally (as has happened since the early Aspinall days). At this time, bull Quinto - having never had any experience of vast enclosures - needs all the encouragement he needs to explore his own exhibit. Only after he has completely calmed down can he be introduced to his prospective mates at PL.

Kingo will probably have been introduced to Nakuru (Vuyu) (no relation sire or dam)and Jaga (Dvur born and bred). Other possible candidates are: Vuyu, Etna and Salome.

Quinto could be introduced to Arusha (shares sire with Kingo) and Vuyu (Nakuru).
Both Ruaha and Nyasa share (some) genes with Kingo and are therefore unlikely candidates for breeding to him.

Cows with attendant calves: Etna (Grumeti) and Ruaha (Monduli). Quite possibly even Vuyu (Damara), allthough I suppose that one will have been weaned off her by now.

Cows now of an suitable age for first breeding are Salome (b. 2000) and Nyasa (b.2003).

I have similarly posted this one on the PL black rhino thread.
 
jelle said:
Thus, it is NOT surprising that some rhinos not adjusted to the vast spaces of PL need TIME to settle fully. At this time, bull Quinto - having never had any experience of vast enclosures - needs all the encouragement he needs to explore his own exhibit. Only after he has completely calmed down can he be introduced to his prospective mates at PL.
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Quinto did have a pretty big grass paddock during the several years he was at Whipsnade. His current paddock is probably no bigger than the one at Chester he was using. He's just nervous because its all new...

However, the management regime at Chester is very different to PL. The rhinos at Chester are orientated more toward their indoor quarters- being fed indoors and shut in nights. Also at Chester Quinto was kept mostly alone and only mixed with a female for mating attempts. At PL bull and cows live together full time and its much more the 'outdoor life' for them. No doubt he'll adjust to all this gradually.

They told me he hasn't started to scent mark or show other territorial behaviour yet- unusual in their experience of new incoming bulls. However, I'm sure he will settle okay in due course.

Apparently the C.O.D of several of the other bulls which died at Port Lympne(Jos, Jasper, Mwakini etc) was in each case- Iron Storage Disease, it is stress related apparently.
 
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An unsexed calf has been born at Chester Zoo to Mother Ema Elsa but i am unaware of who the father is. Also four year old bull Asani has left Chester zoo and gone to Port lympne.

GB
 
A Female Calf was born at Chester Zoo on March 7th to Mother Malindi and Father Magadi, and she has been named 'Dakima' meaning 'joy of living' in Swahili.

GB
 
Rosie – the grumpy rhino who doesn’t really think she’s a rhino – has been mixed with male Zambezi and another female. Although she is not interested in mating with Zambezi at all, this mixing is a positive sign as she doesn’t really mind the interaction with other rhino’s - which she has rarely accepted before!

We are currently waiting on male Vungu who is at Howletts to be transferred to his new home in Rotterdam. It is then that we will start movements between Howletts and Port Lympne to make way for a new breeding male called Sammy. He will make his way from Chester zoo and be introduced to females at both parks. He is a very large breeding male and we really look forward to giving him a new home here in Kent.
 
GorillaBoy said:
We are currently waiting on male Vungu who is at Howletts to be transferred to his new home in Rotterdam.
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Am I right in suggesting the trio at Howletts have still not bred? (they hadn't by this time last year). That could well be the reason they are moving this male on and will bring in another from Port Lympne.
 
Pertinax said:
Am I right in suggesting the trio at Howletts have still not bred? (they hadn't by this time last year). That could well be the reason they are moving this male on and will bring in another from Port Lympne.
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Considering the number of black rhinos they hold between Port Lympne and Howletts , there have been very few births for quite a few years now . Quite a few males have arrived it seems without bringing success .
 
A response of this nature is more a reflection of the lack of understanding of the challenges involved in breeding black rhinos in captivity than an reality check on the last few years of breeding management at both zoos concerned. Moreover, it is also just a wee bit disrespectful of the achievements of the very committed management and keeping staff at both establishments over the (and also the last few) years.
 
Bele said:
Considering the number of black rhinos they hold between Port Lympne and Howletts , there have been very few births for quite a few years now . Quite a few males have arrived it seems without bringing success .
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According to Jola's very useful 'Rhinos in Europe' website, between them Howletts and Port Lympne currently tally only three mature bulls, as follows;

Howletts; Vungu. born 2001. Evidently not breeding there and being transferred to Rotterdam (see above).

Port Lympne; Kingo. born 1983.
Zambezi 2nd. born 2002.

There is a fourth male currently on loan to Paignton. The only other males currently at PL are still too young; Asani(2008 from Chester) and N'kosi 2011.

My guess would be either 'Kingo' or 'Zambezi' will go over to replace 'Vungu' at Howletts, while Sammy would go to Port Lympne- which has the bigger selection of possible partners for him.
 
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A few updates on The European population of Black rhinos:
Deaths:
Flamingo land: Bull Magadi ll passed away 30/04/22
Port Lympne: Cow Arusha passed away 21/06/22
Howletts: Cow Salome passed away 12/08/22
Krefeld: Cow Nane passed away 25/02/22
Hanover: Cow Sany passed away 28/02/22

Births:
Bioparc Doue-La-Fontaine: female calf born 04/03/22 to mother Tisa and father Djaoul.
Dvur Kralove: Male calf born 04/03/22 to mother Eva and Father Davu.

Transfers:
Cow Kibeta transferred from Tallinn Zoo, Estonia to Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic.
Bull Vungu transferred from Rotterdam Zoo, Netherlands to Leipzig Zoo, Germany.
Bulls Joe and Elias both transferred from Dvur Kralove Zoo, Czech Republic to Poznan Zoo, Poland.
Cow Mara transferred from Rotterdam Zoo, Netherlands to Krefeld Zoo, Germany.
Cow Rukuru transferred from Port Lympne to Howletts, both in UK.
 
I had no idea that Salome(Howletts), Arusha (PL) or especially Magadi(Flamingo Land) had died. Especially a proven, well used bull.

Are there any plans in place for new blood to the UK, there appears to be a lack of bulls sadly
 
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