Elephants in Mexico

Douanita

Douanita

Well-Known Member
Is there somebody who can provide me some information on elephants in Mexican zoos?
According to my information 10 zoos keep elephants.
But I think my numbers aren't right onymore.

And have there been any births?

Thanks in advance.
 
`Hello my friend

I can tell you that i know of 4 zoos in Mexico which keep elephants, Chapultepec zoo and San juan de Aragon which are both in Mexico city and Guadalajara zoo. In all 3 of these zoos the animals belong to the asiatic subspecies. In Chapultepec zoo there are two female elephants which appear quite elderly although i have no information regarding their exact age they have been there for a long time as i remember them in the 80s. In the San Juan de Aragon zoo there is one elephant although i dont remember very well i think it was a cow elephant. In the Guadalajara zoo there were 2 elephants that i saw , also they were asiatic in origin. In the African safari in Puebla i seem to remember there being 3 or 4 elephants including a bull although i dont remember it clearly as i havent been there for years. I hope it helps you this information amiga
 
On the subject of if there have been any births of elephants in captivity in Mexico , i would have to say that i doubt it very much , as most elephants in captivity here seem to be cows.
 
Elephants in Mexico (zoos)
Africam Safari, PUEBLA 1.2.
Zoologico de Guadalajara, GUADALAJARA 0.2
Zoo de Leon, LEON 0.1
Zoologico de San Juan de Aragon, MEXICO CITY 0.1
Zoologico de Chapultepec, MEXICO CITY 0.1
Parque Zoologico La Pastora 2.1
Zoologico de Zacango, ZACANGO 2.1

Several circuses also maintain elephants (total: 2.7)


Further details later ... (re: species, breeding, performance)

K.B.
 
Asian elephants Elephas maximus in Mexican zoos
Africam Safari, PUEBLA 1.2.
Zoofari Cuernavaca, CUERNAVACA 0.1
Parque Zoologico de Leon, LEON 0.1
Zoologico de San Juan de Aragon, MEXICO CITY 0.1
Zoologico de Chapultepec, MEXICO CITY 0.1
Zoologico Benito Juarez, MORELIA 1.1
Zoologico de Zacango, TOLUCA 2.1

African elephants Loxodonta africana in Mexican zoos
Parque Zoologico La Pastora, GUADELUPE 2.1
Zoologico de Guadalajara, GUADALAJARA 0.2


The best listing I can come up with for now. It seems only Africam Safari and perhaps Zoologico Benito Juarez stand any chance of breeding Asian elephants. Most Asians - as reciprocated elsewhere - are elderly non reproductive elephants. Several are ex Circus elephants.

For African elephants, Parque Zoologico La Pastora seems the only institution capable of reporduction in this taxon.

K.B.


Data sources: ISIS, www.asianelephant.net, www.elephant.se
 
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Thanks for the list Kifaru Bwana, and it is interesting that there are 4 Mexican zoos that have only a solitary elephant. I wonder if there are ever complaints or protests in regards to the lack of large social herds.
 
That only mirrors the set out point of most elephant programmes in zoos across the globe. Both the EEP (which in Asian is now well on the way to becoming self-sufficient, the African with a younger reproductive population strangely still aint), the AZA (pretty much unsustainable to maintain numbers in the Asians and a more positive outlook for Africans) and ARAZPA started with rarely, non-reproducing and - in all -ageing stocks of elephants.

In this respect the situation in Mexico is not entirely out of the ordinary. I suspect that with the development of their native species focus, twinning of captive-breeding and in situ projects (I will put up some info on Africam later) this will eventually change for species from other continents. I am as yet not as far been able to analyse the individual statistics, so the outlook for now I cannot even reliably predict.

Will get on to it though!
 
I agree with you kifaru my friend , i think the developments at the 3 main zoos in the nations capital shows that things are steadily moving in a better direction. In reply to Snowleapards comment , i would like to say that ive never heard of any protests about elephants in captivity in my country. However as i have said in previous posts the thing to remember is that Mexico is a developing country and there is much yet to be done for both human rights and animal rights ,several fledgeling animal protection organisations have been founded in recent years and things are slowly getting better. I remember that in the late 80s the Chapultepec and San Juan de aragon came under some intense criticism for the living conditions of the animals and eventually both zoos were remodeled with the animals benefit in mind. I do hope that there will be more progress for Mexican zoos following Western zoological standards though.
 
Currently there are only asian elephants in san juan de aragon zoo, and after many years chapultepec zoo has no elephants. here is the report.
Ranny arrived with 3 other asian elephants to chapultepec zoo in 1958. She arrived as adult from Ringling Bros. Circus. she outlived all her companions and became the oldest animal in Chapultepec. She died after a fatal fall into a deep moat in early 2009. her estimated age at death was 68 to 70 years.
Shiva arrived in 1964 at the age of 25 to san Juan de aragon zoo. She was also a circus elephant. She was renamed Ciba by her keepers. Ciba also died in early 2009.
Chacha was a wild caught elephant who arrived at san juan de aragon in 1974 to keep ciba company. Both elephants got along very well.
maggie was removed by mexican authorities from the mexican circus Hermanos atayde in 2001. maggie suffered brutal cruelty and maltreatment at this place and is a "difficult" elephant.
After the deaths of Ranny and ciba it was considered that Maggie and Chacha should be kept at the same zoo. Chapultepec was considered to be too dangerous for elephants after the tragic death of Ranny. maggie was moved to aragon which has much better instalations. Maggie and chacha live separately however. I have seen Maggie trample pidgeons under feet, does she remember her harsh circus days ?
Currently a large herd of elands live in the old elephant area at chapultepec. the direccion general de zoologicos del distrito federal says there are no plans to return elephants to chapultepec. All the better. there are 2 pictures i took of maggie on the aragon gallery.
 
Your blog does not mention 2 female african elephants in Zoo leon. I placed their picture at the Other gallery in the mexico section.
It is sad to see from your blog that there are still so many elephants in mexican circuses. The mistreatment of elephants in mexican circuses is well known.This year (2010) a bill that would prohibit circuses with performing animals in Mexico City was defeated in the local congress. it is possible that the bullfighting supporters thought they would be next since Barcelona (Cataluyna) has prohibited bullfights (viva los compañeros catalanes) and this bill was defeated. But the matter will come up again, no doubt.
 
Exporting elephants to the U.S. ? Since one 1 elephant has been born in a mexican zoo ( Monty, an african elephant in La Pastora,Monterrey) I do not think it will occur. I do not know if the mexican circuses go into the U.S., considering their bad record for mistreating elephants i hope not.
 
I'm guessing this male calf Monty would offer some form of genetic diversity which could be need for the SSP and his mother if she is still with in breeding age...
 
All well and good, but what about some reciprocity? I also take exception at the let us take ... attitude. It is out of place in the zoo world (as it is in the wider world at large). We should be striving to improve each others' zoos.

I would hope that some attachment to the African elephant SSP would be possible instead.
 
Dallaspachyderm said:
I'm guessing this male calf Monty would offer some form of genetic diversity which could be need for the SSP and his mother if she is still with in breeding age...
Click to expand...

It is highly doubtful the US would acquire any elephants from Mexico. I did learn that La Pastora lost their breeding male last May to a chronic leg injury. The zoo will need to acquire another African bull to continue their breeding program, though I am unsure of the possibilites for such an acquirance. I believe Pancho was the only African bull in the country.
 
I wasn't implying a one way deal at all. But now there is just a lone female and her maturing male calf. Is this really what is best for her? And if she and her calf would be able to contribute to the American SSP, GREAT! There would be some sort of reciporication. (I'm guessing) But I agree about the "all the zoos around the world need to work together." Is there any reason why elephants probably will not be brought to the U.S. other than it is difficult? With so many new enclosures opening around the country, that are trying to mimic natural herd structure, you would think zoos from all over the world would be working together to maximize genetic diversity and help with sourcing elephants to suiting homes.
 
At this moment,the social,political and economic crisis is terrible in Northern Mexico,more than the rest of the country. Nuevo leon state and monterrey city are in a very bad situation. For now,i do not think la Pastora zoo can possibly acquire another male elephant.If Monty or his mother could be sent to a US accredited zoo on breeding loan it would be positive for all.
 
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To those who still believe that the Guadalajara elephants are of the Asian species, they are actually two African females named Kenya and Ashanti; they have never been bred to my knowledge. I'm also told that they are no longer in their old enclosure but in the Masai Mara Safari Ride (which is great news! They have a lot more space (and water) now.

Also, the Yumka wildlife park in Tabasco has one single bull African elephant it seems. I have photos of this park including a rather crappy pic of the elephant, but there's no gallery for it.
 
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