ZSL Whipsnade Zoo Indian Rhinos at Whipsnade.

[Pertinax]

True, however he is not inbred as he is close to the F1 generation and even half F2 generation.

Its pretty difficult to find GI Rhinos in Europe that don't stem from Basel's breeding... Nanda & Puri are half-brother and sister, and presumably Zutuma is the full sister of one or other of them(and half sister of the other)

If Hugo goes to Whipsnade, at least the two Nepali females there are entirely unrelated to him. Presumably the female calf will move elsewhere...

 

[Pertinax]

Whipsnade New Rhino House.

The new Indian Rhino house is really very good. Roomier than I thought it would be- three stalls and half of each area is a given over to a pool, with a public viewing area in front of the three areas.

The odd thing is the only rhino using it is the new bull 'Hugo' who arrived in early April(see above) after Jaffna returned to Basel. The three cows and two calves are still living in the old accomodation, presumably to let him get used to things before they are moved. There won't be room in the new house for the old female 'Roopa' though...

 

[CZJimmy]

There won't be room in the new house for the old female 'Roopa' though...

Pertinax, is there any indication as to what will happen?

I can't see ZSL putting a cow of that age through the stress of moving her to another collection, but I can't see them moving on one of the breeding females to accomodate her in the new house. I guess this means Roopa will live in the old house on her own...

 

[Pertinax]

Pertinax, is there any indication as to what will happen?

I can't see ZSL putting a cow of that age through the stress of moving her to another collection, but I can't see them moving on one of the breeding females to accomodate her in the new house. I guess this means Roopa will live in the old house on her own...

I forgot to ask... my guess is she will stay in the old house- I'm sure she'll never leave Whipsnade. She was using the old paddock. One cow and calf was in each of the large paddocks. The new bull was in the new house(all three stalls) plus a small yard at the rear. Later after the cows and calves were back in their(old)yards, he was out in the bigger paddock.

The new house connects only to the bigger(main paddock) but all the accomodation both new and old can be accessed via gates. Apart from Roppa, I'm wondering if they want to keep the young female. There isn't really room for three breeding females plus the male in the new house.

 

[MARK]

They could always up grade the old house

 

[Pertinax]

They may have to if they want to keep any more rhinos.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Currently, Whipsnade Zoo holds 1.3 + 1.1 calves. Both calves are likely to remain for another 2-3 years before both being moved on to other collections.

The way I figured it: Whipsnade will retain the breeding group in the new stalls. You said 3 stalls - which should be sufficient to keep the bull separate from both females with their attendant calf. The old now non-reproductive female Roopa will be allowed to live out the remainder of her lifetime at the Old Rhino paddocks.

Once, both calves are weaned from their respective mothers is when the real challenge comes around. Obviously, Whipsnade will have to provide further accomodation to separate the calves from the rest. Another stall to be built onto the new House or a separate bull House on the site of the Old Rhino paddock (where sufficient space is available to maintain several individuals)?

We must wait and see, I guess. I hope to visit Whipsnade some time later in the year and look at the facilities myself in more detail.

 

[MARK]

Currently, Whipsnade Zoo holds 1.3 + 1.1 calves. Both calves are likely to remain for another 2-3 years before both being moved on to other collections.

The way I figured it: Whipsnade will retain the breeding group in the new stalls. You said 3 stalls - which should be sufficient to keep the bull separate from both females with their attendant calf. The old now non-reproductive female Roopa will be allowed to live out the remainder of her lifetime at the Old Rhino paddocks.

Once, both calves are weaned from their respective mothers is when the real challenge comes around. Obviously, Whipsnade will have to provide further accomodation to separate the calves from the rest. Another stall to be built onto the new House or a separate bull House on the site of the Old Rhino paddock (where sufficient space is available to maintain several individuals)?

We must wait and see, I guess. I hope to visit Whipsnade some time later in the year and look at the facilities myself in more detail.

Whipsnade is now in a position (If they wanted) to become one of the main breeding centres for Indian rhinos in Europe, If they did build another rhino house or expand on what they have now, holding multiple females (Like the SD WAP) is a good way to produce babies on a regular basis. Now Chester zoo has a young pair thing are looking much better for the species in the UK than they have ever looked before

 

[kiang]

Edinburgh will open their new Indian rhino enclosure within the next couple of years at the top of the hill and by that time one of the 2 bulls will be sent away and replaced by a female.

 

[MARK]

Edinburgh will open their new Indian rhino enclosure within the next couple of years at the top of the hill and by that time one of the 2 bulls will be sent away and replaced by a female.

Any idea where the other bull maybe sent too, maybe Port Lympne? or where the new female may come from, maybe Whipsnade?

 

[Pertinax]

Obviously, Whipsnade will have to provide further accomodation to separate the calves from the rest. Another stall to be built onto the new House or a separate bull House on the site of the Old Rhino paddock (where sufficient space is available to maintain several individuals)?

yes, both are options. If I was designing that house I would have made it four or even five compartments(too much cost?)- but they could add additional ones later if required. Or as you say, they could build another smaller house for the bull where the old sheds are. They have the space to keep more rhinos, but good inside accomodation (i.e. indoor bathing) will still be at a premium.

 

[Pertinax]

The way I figured it: Whipsnade will retain the breeding group in the new stalls. You said 3 stalls - which should be sufficient to keep the bull separate from both females with their attendant calf. The old now non-reproductive female Roopa will be allowed to live out the remainder of her lifetime at the Old Rhino paddocks.

Yes, that's how I see it too. I think they are allowing 'Hugo' to settle in before moving the two mothers and calves into the other two vacant stalls. My guess is they will do it before the winter comes so they can use the indoor bathing and have nice comfortable house. I think perhaps though they will stay at 1.2 breeding animals and not keep the current female calf?

 

[Pertinax]

Once, both calves are weaned from their respective mothers is when the real challenge comes around. Obviously, Whipsnade will have to provide further accomodation to separate the calves from the rest.

I suspect at that stage the two calves would be moved back temporarily (before transferring elsewhere) to the old sheds and yards(where they still are at present) as these will be empty then. And my guess is these will stay unchanged during the interim period.

 

[MARK]

Edinburgh will open their new Indian rhino enclosure within the next couple of years at the top of the hill and by that time one of the 2 bulls will be sent away and replaced by a female.

Kiang maybe you could take a few photos of the new house when its built for the gallery

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Yes, that's how I see it too. I think they are allowing 'Hugo' to settle in before moving the two mothers and calves into the other two vacant stalls. My guess is they will do it before the winter comes so they can use the indoor bathing and have nice comfortable house. I think perhaps though they will stay at 1.2 breeding animals and not keep the current female calf?

It seems logical that the female calf will be sent on breeding loan elsewhere as she is integral to the development of the GOHR EEP. For options sake, I would speculate she would be sent contintent-wise and be relocated inside the UK. She is so valuable as she has those wildborn Nepali genes in her. Besides she has the bloodline from Guwahati and Hyderabad Zoos in her plus a third representation from the direct wildcaught Basel line (the latter is Jaffna's genetic breakdown).

I suspect that she will replace any one of the cows from the Basel line as a breeding female on the continent. The most likely candidates - if we look from today's perspective (taking in the present breeding combination and inbreeding coefficient of their resultant offspring) - would be Muenchen Zoo and surprisingly Basel Zoo itself (and give up both Basel line females and transfer these intercontinent-wise; one each to Dubbo and Indian zoos would be fine).

Re speculation: let us hope that Hugo will do "the business" though unexpectedly early with both Nepali females and that one or both calves will be female. However, if you look closely at the available breeding data for the GOHR EEP that is highly unlikely. All current breeding bulls did not start to breed successfully before they were at least 10-14 years old! Hugo is only 5 right now! Potentially, he could sire calves as early as 7 years of age (he will reach that ripe age by December 2009), but again it is highly unlikely. Perhaps a form of social dominance does not become apparent in GOHR before they are at least in their early teen's. I will check with my records on the ecology of wild GOHR and get back to you all.

 

[Pertinax]

All current breeding bulls did not start to breed successfully before they were at least 10-14 years old! Hugo is only 5 right now! Potentially, he could sire calves as early as 7 years of age (he will reach that ripe age by December 2009), but again it is highly unlikely.

I thought Hugo was six years old now? He is taller than the females but fairly short in the body length.

Presumably the calves will not be weaned until they are two or three years old so next breedings at Whipsnade will not be for a similar period, by which time he will be about nine. (he was already exhibiting full erection during my visit)