Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo Elephant Program

Rajang-GOAT said:
Again good idea but I think the people of Colchester zoo (me included) hold our current elephants close to our heart. Although I know it would be difficult breed without that happening. I think maybe Colchester could just get a new female or two to go with the elephants we already have.
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@Rajang-GOAT there are many sexually viable African Elephant Bulls in Europe, that are being wasted. I can think of Janu,Sutton,Shaka,Jambo,Machuba,Impy some of the ex Emmen residents that are in bachelor herds.

In my opinion Jambo and a couple of the young Elephant Cowes at Bioparc Valencia should move to Colchester. Jambo is genetically important being biologically half wild. It pains me to know that Jambo has been held in solitary confinement for at least 6 years. As Colchester were considering importing his sperm,I think that Jambo himself should return. The reason hindering Jambo's breeding opportunities, is that Bioparc's Matriarch Matla has never gelled with him. In fact I believe that Matla ousted Jambo from the Herd. As Jambo is the sole offspring of Rosa and the second living progeny of Tembo, I think it is vital that Jambo is transferred to a breeding Herd or a bachelor herd where he can mingle with other Bulls.

If the EEP went down the route of moving Jambo to a bachelor herd,I think Elephant Eden at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm would be the most likely and sensible destination. Janu the young Bull at Noah's is only a year younger than Jambo. Jambo and Janu could become playmates and learn how to be Bulls. If this were too happen I would move Shaka to Colchester. Like Zola Shaka is an aggressive and unpredictable Elephant. Too date Shaka's aggression has caused many transfers. Tragically earlier this year Shaka fatally injuried M'Changa the youngest Elephant at Noah's Ark.

I think a pairing of Zola and Shaka would be a match made in heaven. Not only do both Elephants have a hostile personally but they are both around the same age.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Rajang-GOAT there are many sexually viable African Elephant Bulls in Europe, that are being wasted. I can think of Janu,Sutton,Shaka,Jambo,Machuba,Impy some of the ex Emmen residents that are in bachelor herds.

In my opinion Jambo and a couple of the young Elephant Cowes at Bioparc Valencia should move to Colchester. Jambo is genetically important being biologically half wild. It pains me to know that Jambo has been held in solitary confinement for at least 6 years. As Colchester were considering importing his sperm,I think that Jambo himself should return. The reason hindering Jambo's breeding opportunities, is that Bioparc's Matriarch Matla has never gelled with him. In fact I believe that Matla ousted Jambo from the Herd. As Jambo is the sole offspring of Rosa and the second living progeny of Tembo, I think it is vital that Jambo is transferred to a breeding Herd or a bachelor herd where he can mingle with other Bulls.

If the EEP went down the route of moving Jambo to a bachelor herd,I think Elephant Eden at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm would be the most likely and sensible destination. Janu the young Bull at Noah's is only a year younger than Jambo. Jambo and Janu could become playmates and learn how to be Bulls. If this were too happen I would move Shaka to Colchester. Like Zola Shaka is an aggressive and unpredictable Elephant. Too date Shaka's aggression has caused many transfers. Tragically earlier this year Shaka fatally injuried M'Changa the youngest Elephant at Noah's Ark.

I think a pairing of Zola and Shaka would be a match made in heaven. Not only do both Elephants have a hostile personally but they are both around the same age.
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Has Shaka ever shown breeding behavior, and what I've heard of Shaka is that he is a very relaxed and clam bull
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Rajang-GOAT there are many sexually viable African Elephant Bulls in Europe, that are being wasted. I can think of Janu,Sutton,Shaka,Jambo,Machuba,Impy some of the ex Emmen residents that are in bachelor herds.

In my opinion Jambo and a couple of the young Elephant Cowes at Bioparc Valencia should move to Colchester. Jambo is genetically important being biologically half wild. It pains me to know that Jambo has been held in solitary confinement for at least 6 years. As Colchester were considering importing his sperm,I think that Jambo himself should return. The reason hindering Jambo's breeding opportunities, is that Bioparc's Matriarch Matla has never gelled with him. In fact I believe that Matla ousted Jambo from the Herd. As Jambo is the sole offspring of Rosa and the second living progeny of Tembo, I think it is vital that Jambo is transferred to a breeding Herd or a bachelor herd where he can mingle with other Bulls.

If the EEP went down the route of moving Jambo to a bachelor herd,I think Elephant Eden at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm would be the most likely and sensible destination. Janu the young Bull at Noah's is only a year younger than Jambo. Jambo and Janu could become playmates and learn how to be Bulls. If this were too happen I would move Shaka to Colchester. Like Zola Shaka is an aggressive and unpredictable Elephant. Too date Shaka's aggression has caused many transfers. Tragically earlier this year Shaka fatally injuried M'Changa the youngest Elephant at Noah's Ark.

I think a pairing of Zola and Shaka would be a match made in heaven. Not only do both Elephants have a hostile personally but they are both around the same age.
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You would think Jambo would move somewhere if he can't even be kept with the females at Bioparc, not even mentioning other reasons listed by you.
 
Guys hold your horses here, Colchester haven't had a pregnancy since 2010ish? Opal hasn't since conceived and the other females either haven't bred or haven't conceived for even longer. Unless you pray for a miracle I doubt you will see any calves from this group but as has already been pointed out, these will be much loved albeit wasted breeding potential individuals that any keepers would be heartbroken to see just shipped off to another collection.
For all we know there could be medical issues that are preventing the females from breeding, there is/was a female that was still carrying around a foetus from years prior possibly Whipsnade?
Facts remain that this herd will probably be left to die out naturally before a new herd is brought in to replace.
 
Embu said:
Guys hold your horses here, Colchester haven't had a pregnancy since 2010ish? Opal hasn't since conceived and the other females either haven't bred or haven't conceived for even longer. Unless you pray for a miracle I doubt you will see any calves from this group but as has already been pointed out, these will be much loved albeit wasted breeding potential individuals that any keepers would be heartbroken to see just shipped off to another collection.
For all we know there could be medical issues that are preventing the females from breeding, there is/was a female that was still carrying around a foetus from years prior possibly Whipsnade?
Facts remain that this herd will probably be left to die out naturally before a new herd is brought in to replace.
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The female herd consists of:

Opal (39 years) - last birth in 2010 (stillborn)
Zola (39 years) - last birth in 2011 (stillborn)
Tanya (40 years) - last birth in 2001 (live calf)

Given none of these cows haven’t bred in at least 10 years (and one in 20 years), I’d agree combined with their age they’d likely be functionally infertile.

Any future breeding at Colchester will require new (young) cows and whether it’s an option to integrate them with these older cows or wait for them to die off remains for the zoo to decide.

Personally I think it’s a shame no attempts were made to breed again with Tanya back in the mid to late 2000’s. Zola had a succession of stillbirths; surely Tanya (who had already produced a live calf) would have been more successful.
 
Embu said:
Guys hold your horses here, Colchester haven't had a pregnancy since 2010ish? Opal hasn't since conceived and the other females either haven't bred or haven't conceived for even longer. Unless you pray for a miracle I doubt you will see any calves from this group but as has already been pointed out, these will be much loved albeit wasted breeding potential individuals that any keepers would be heartbroken to see just shipped off to another collection.
For all we know there could be medical issues that are preventing the females from breeding, there is/was a female that was still carrying around a foetus from years prior possibly Whipsnade?
Facts remain that this herd will probably be left to die out naturally before a new herd is brought in to replace.
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I do know this and I have said that some new females would be required as the success rate of breeding with our current females would be non existent or quite low. (Coming to zoochat I was quite surprised with how young of an age people expect elephant cows to stop breeding- late 20s.) I have been used to Thi at Chester zoo still breeding om her latest 30s, while I have been hoping for things to progress with Colchesters group and knowing they could live to 70. I am likewise confused why no further attempts were made to breed the well loved matriarch Tanya after Kito was born on the 6th of December 2002.
 
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Rajang-GOAT said:
Coming to zoochat I was quite surprised with how young of an age people expect elephant cows to stop breeding- late 20s. I have been used to Thi at Chester zoo still breeding om her latest 30s
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It’s well known that cows that are breeding regularly can continue producing calves well into their late 30’s - few zoos would choose to breed them beyond that.

I think you might be confusing that assumption with the fact that cows that haven’t bred before their early to mid 20’s have a low success rate in conceiving - as well as difficulties in giving birth.
 
Embu said:
Guys hold your horses here, Colchester haven't had a pregnancy since 2010ish? Opal hasn't since conceived and the other females either haven't bred or haven't conceived for even longer. Unless you pray for a miracle I doubt you will see any calves from this group but as has already been pointed out, these will be much loved albeit wasted breeding potential individuals that any keepers would be heartbroken to see just shipped off to another collection.
For all we know there could be medical issues that are preventing the females from breeding, there is/was a female that was still carrying around a foetus from years prior possibly Whipsnade?
Facts remain that this herd will probably be left to die out naturally before a new herd is brought in to replace.
Click to expand...
Although I understand things are looking bleak, I have asked and was told that they do plan do get things underway at Elephant Kingdom but I think the person mentioned that they might need to get new elephants. When Zola had her first stillborn her waters broke in early December 2003 but the body was not passed for 2 years however I doubt that is currently a problem at Colchester.
 
Though I am worried that we could just end up having a bachelor herd which I would rather not to happen as Elephant Kingdom was built for breeding and deserves only the best.
 
The Hedgehog said:
@Rajang-GOAT from your trip to Colchester Zoo today,are there any updates on the Elephants?
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I never ended up talking to any elephant keepers but I might get the feeding experience and ask then. When we got to the African area first my family went through the Kingdom Of The Wild building and walked south of the paddock on the Africa Plateau walk. While my companions were queuing for ice cream at the shop to the west of the cow elephant paddock, an individual who I later discovered to be Opal was standing adjacent to the shop throwing sand over herself . After we had got our ice creams we followed her to the North of the paddock but either us or her could go any further as the Elephant Bush Wall is currently closed for Halloween events. We then followed Opal as she walked to the east side of the paddock to join Tanya waiting to be let in. Sorry I know this isn't very informative.
 
I wasn't sure at first but we worked out from a website that Opal has a ripped ear slightly. Similar to the individual we had been following
 
Actually you know what maybe you're right, thought I was pretty sure the one with a small bit taken out of its ear was this one.
 
@Rajang21 this is definitely the closest you can get to an African Elephant in England. Without doing an Elephant experience. @Rajang-GOAT you could have touched Opal, by simply putting your arm out. I would love to visit Colchester Zoo. When I was younger I used to watch the ZooDays series. Ever since watching the series I have had a desire to visit the Zoo. I used to live in Surrey about half an hour to an hour away from Colchester Zoo. Despite this I never visited. I guess I was a bit young too appreciate it. I was 7 when we left Surrey.
 
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