Comparison on Asian elephants giving birth
- Thread starter Elly
- Start date
MARK
Well-Known Member
Do you know how many other European zoos do this?, maybe if it works they should do it that way, I guess the keepers at each zoo know what their animals are like in temperment so maybe it should be their call
My "home zoo" is Rotterdam, who's director is EEP coordinator of the Asian elephants. They built the enclosure to support this. Since 2000 allmost all baby elephants have been born in the group (with the exception of Throng Nhi - but that was because Donna needed medical support at the delivery).
Other zoos where this also is done (which I know for sure):
- Emmen zoo
- Amsterdam zoo
- Amersfoort (where a baby was killed by the grandmother)
- Dublin (who have part of the Rotterdam group as this was becoming way to big for the enclose)
- Hagenbeck (they stated this on their website last weekend)
I'm sure there are other zoos in Europe, but I don't know for sure - I'm just an interested amateur.
Anyway, seeing a birth like that (Rotterdam has footage on this and I believe Dublin also put something online) is very special. Every individual in the group is involved (some very actively - the current matriach of Dublin, Dina, used to push the new mother away to protect the baby untill the mother calmed down) and the newborn is greeted loudly by the whole group.
But I guess you are right that this is the keepers' call and much depending on the group dynamics.
Other zoos where this also is done (which I know for sure):
- Emmen zoo
- Amsterdam zoo
- Amersfoort (where a baby was killed by the grandmother)
- Dublin (who have part of the Rotterdam group as this was becoming way to big for the enclose)
- Hagenbeck (they stated this on their website last weekend)
I'm sure there are other zoos in Europe, but I don't know for sure - I'm just an interested amateur.
Anyway, seeing a birth like that (Rotterdam has footage on this and I believe Dublin also put something online) is very special. Every individual in the group is involved (some very actively - the current matriach of Dublin, Dina, used to push the new mother away to protect the baby untill the mother calmed down) and the newborn is greeted loudly by the whole group.
But I guess you are right that this is the keepers' call and much depending on the group dynamics.
dragon(ele)nerd
Well-Known Member
Well I think it depends on the actual individual, ok example first time mothers have 33.3% chance of having a stillborn , perhaps monitoring the mothers closely will help a successful delivery. However you might want to replicate a wild birth, where all the herd takes part. But that usually consists of experinced mothers who know what to do, take example the emmen herd.
Where as a group of juviniles might panick and react badly, e.g trample then baby, or even kill it intentionaly.
Where as a group of juviniles might panick and react badly, e.g trample then baby, or even kill it intentionaly.