zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Not a clue but would say its over 12 months
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo Black Rhinos.
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
I'd imagine it was Sammy because he was moved off-show recently...
zoogiraffe
Well-Known Member
Correct Sammy is going to be a dad.
That is certainly welcome news. Its been a long time since Chester had a rhino calf- it was either Kitani or Mayani and how old are they now?
Now 'Sammy' is proven he will hopefully successfully sire a calf with 'Mayani' too- lets hope the other pairings also produce some success too- only Rosie seems very unlikely to breed in the future.
Now 'Sammy' is proven he will hopefully successfully sire a calf with 'Mayani' too- lets hope the other pairings also produce some success too- only Rosie seems very unlikely to breed in the future.
Excellent news that Kitani is now confirmed pregnant.
I really hope that Sammy will be kept on with Manyari till she becomes pregnant too. Are they still together (as I am confused that someone wrote Sammy was taken out of the exhibit).
I really hope that Sammy will be kept on with Manyari till she becomes pregnant too. Are they still together (as I am confused that someone wrote Sammy was taken out of the exhibit).
taun
Well-Known Member
Excellent news that Kitani is now confirmed pregnant.
I really hope that Sammy will be kept on with Manyari till she becomes pregnant too. Are they still together (as I am confused that someone wrote Sammy was taken out of the exhibit).
Sammy has been moved out, to the new house that was built a few years back now. Apparently to give the Kitani a rest but manyari is still living with kitani
Why have they had to move the bull? Don't they have the facility to keep Sammy & Manyari together with Kitani seperated? Manyari won't get pregnant without access to Sammy obviously. I seem to remember 'Tsavo' has two adjacent show dens and they could alternate in the outside paddock if there is only one, so I don't quite understand this..
taun
Well-Known Member
I dnt get it either
THe only thing a could put it down too is that manyari might be pregnant aswell and they are not sure, because its a strange decision to seperate them!I dnt get it either
I am in with you guys on this.
Obviously, Chester Zoo should have a good reason.
I do not subscribe to the opinion myself that it is healthy to maintain 2compatible FF individuals together in order not to create unnecessary stress (with 1 pregnant and 1 other not). Also, I do not think it is wise to separate the bull from the cows untill both females are confirmed pregnant (this is common practice at Port Lympne where the bull is only taken out if his FF companions are confirmed pregnant.
Will write to Mark on this!
From memory I'm pretty sure there are two inside areas in the 'Tsavo ' exhibit so the two females can still see/hear each other even if they were separated (either alone or one still with the bull). I'm hoping maybe the reason for Sammy's removal from this area altogether is perhaps that both females are pregnant?
taun
Well-Known Member
From memory I'm pretty sure there are two inside areas in the 'Tsavo ' exhibit so the two females can still see/hear each other even if they were separated (either alone or one still with the bull). I'm hoping maybe the reason for Sammy's removal from this area altogether is perhaps that both females are pregnant?
Your quite right their indoor area's is split in two with a gate to close both area's off but keeping one in could be stressful with he way its set up for the public to view as their is only one paddock adjoining the house
Yes, my guess is because the two females have always been together, they're worried about causing stress to the pregnant Kitani by now splitting them up. If only one could go outside at a time, the other would probably be very stressed by losing contact as they're always close together.. It would be better if they had 'trained' them to be apart before they grew up! Now they have more of a problem. Of course they'll have to be seperated anyway before Kitani has her calf.... If this is the reason Sammy was removed, the 2nd female may well not be pregnant.
I more or less hope the curator for rhino management at Chester will opt for the management regime tried and tested at Port Lympne. 2 familiar and companion females are put in with a proven male and bred till both have been confirmed pregnant. I thus do not understand this whole stress level thingy (even separating a bull from his females can be termed stressful 
).
Management regime as per Port Lympne at Chester please.
).Management regime as per Port Lympne at Chester please.
Its ten years or so since Chester last bred a black rhino. Maybe there have been keeper and management changes since then which have resulted in this decision (to take Sammy out) as they don't want to take any chances. I don't really understand it though...
One change is the team leader of the rhino section was the team leader of the giraffe section when the last rhino calf was born. It could that be Pertinax is right, each person has their own way of doing things.
Also a year or two ago a keeper who had worked on the rhino section for about 20 years retired, and another keeper transferred from rhinos to giraffes.
There have also been some curatorial changes.
New staff and new ideas perhaps?
Also a year or two ago a keeper who had worked on the rhino section for about 20 years retired, and another keeper transferred from rhinos to giraffes.
There have also been some curatorial changes.
New staff and new ideas perhaps?