Melbourne Zoo It's a girl!

[mstickmanp]

Here is a link which has some photos and a video: ZooBorns: Australia's First Ever Female Asian Elephant Birth

 

[Jarkari]

it absolutely inevitable that a second elephant facility will be built at werribee with the next 5 or 6 years. there simply isn't enough room at melbourne and i don't see victoria giving up any of it female elephants to another interstate zoo anytime soon.

logic should prevail and we will most likely see the growing female herd remain intact at the open range campus. i think there will be some pressure both internally and from the public not to split the elephants. that would leave melbourne free to accommodate up to three adult bulls. however, an alternative may be that there is no permanent arrangement at either zoo. instead animals are frequently moved between the zoos for breeding, stimulation and for display. though its certainly not my preference - the idea that a pregnant cow from werribee be moved to the city to take advantage of the display potential of her and her calf at melbourne may not be that far fetched. and elephants, not being stupid animals could become quite easily conditioned to being frequently moved and placed in different combinations of the one greater family. the zoo could easily fit out an vehicle for safe, cheap and effective elephant transport.

i think what the keepers are going to want is flexibility to manage the elephants in a way that takes into account changing dynamics of the group due to breeding, sex ratios, age etc..

perth absolutely needs to have some sort of success soon. if they can start breeding their younger female then eventually they will be free able to build up a herd by keeping the female calfs.

taronga has the option of dubbo assuming that the africans will have died in 10 years. with dubbo so far away from sydney i think they are very likely to split their herd and have breeding groups at both zoos.

australia zoo will likely be loaned surplus bulls at first until the regional population becomes so big that females become less of a value to the individual zoos. still, its highly likely that they will be elephantless for a period of time.

auckland will build up their own herd with an import.

thats my speculative theory.

Assuming the individual zoos have any say in where animals are sent. Ofcourse decisions will be made depending on what is available at the time transfers take place, not now while guessing what may be available in the future.

Taronga and Melbourne will always want the babies. Just the way it is. If we ever see babies at our open range zoos it will be a long long time away.

Dubbo's Africans are from memory in their early 40's. With more enrichment, great excercise routine etc than in previous years these girls could have 20 years or more left in them. If Dubbo houses breeding program elephants it would most likely be bulls. This makes sense however.

A calf born at Melbourne or Werribee is likely to boost numbers anywhere up to 100,000 visitors. A birth at the open range counterparts maybe 10 - 20,000 (especially Dubbo) The open range zoos need to think of ways to have an incredibly different way of viewing elephants.

 

[phoenix]

Assuming the individual zoos have any say in where animals are sent.

zoos always have a say in where they are sent. the TAG just makes recommendations. its up to the zoos to co-ordinate that into a reality.

Taronga and Melbourne will always want the babies. Just the way it is. If we ever see babies at our open range zoos it will be a long long time away.

i disagree. you have to remember that werribee zoo is not in a rural area. its not dubbo. its no harder for a city dweller to get to werribee than a suburbanite to melbourne zoo. its far closer for people who live in victoria second largest city - geelong.

after a few births the glory surrounding baby elephants will diminish somewhat. just as it has for gorillas and other animals. i doubt we will make such a big deal out of it in 10 years time.

 

[dragon(ele)nerd]

Your theory seems sound but who can say if Perth will ever have any luck breeding wise?

Perth zoo's pair Putra Mas and Permai from I think about 5 or 6 years ago had already been seen mating. I think its unfortunate for them being that they'd been trying very hard but to no luck. The death of teduh unfortunately got rid of a potential mother.

I was recently at Singapore zoo and the keeper told me that Perth zoo had an interest in purchasing Chawang's sperm for A.I. Though it has not been confirmed. Who knows.

We don't have to wait too long for the next birth Pornthip is due around next month!

 

[LOU]

I was recently at Singapore zoo and the keeper told me that Perth zoo had an interest in purchasing Chawang's sperm for A.I.

Perth Zoo hope to import Chaweng's and Wira's semen from Singapore Zoo sometime this year to re-attempt artificial insemination.

 

[MARK]

Perth Zoo hope to import Chaweng's and Wira's semen from Singapore Zoo sometime this year to re-attempt artificial insemination.

So do I take it that Perth zoos bull is not ok in breeding terms?

 

[dragon(ele)nerd]

neat thanks lou.

@ Mark: Putra has mounted Permai several times but to no luck. So he doesn't have a problem initiating the act. I have no confirmation of why,
but my theory is this:
Adolescent males have been documented in the wild to mount herd members but not actually ejaculate. Somewhat as "practice" emmen zoo has had many males born at the zoo and they have been captured trying to mount their "aunties"
Putra might see Permai as more of a sister being that he, Permai and Teduh came to the zoo at 3 and 2 years of age.

 

[Jarkari]

zoos always have a say in where they are sent. the TAG just makes recommendations. its up to the zoos to co-ordinate that into a reality.



i disagree. you have to remember that werribee zoo is not in a rural area. its not dubbo. its no harder for a city dweller to get to werribee than a suburbanite to melbourne zoo. its far closer for people who live in victoria second largest city - geelong.

after a few births the glory surrounding baby elephants will diminish somewhat. just as it has for gorillas and other animals. i doubt we will make such a big deal out of it in 10 years time.

Sorry to Argue but it is simple. Babies will always be at our bigger zoos if they can accommodate them. The majority of people that visit a zoo are not locals. they are tourists. Dubbo actually is having trouble attracting locals to the zoo. It is easier to attract tourists to a city zoo than a regional one. This does make sense and you can't blame the zoos. Werribee may be different but still in comparison it is easier to get to melbourne than Werribee

 

[Jesse]

it has been revealed in the herald sun today that dokoon stood on her baby. most likley one of the reasons why the slings are used to move the baby.

 

[phoenix]

there is a vid @ the age online today of the calf for anyone interested..

 

[m575]

Hey guys, something to keep in mind.

There are plans to build an Elephant enclosure at Werribee. It's no problem in regards to Asia.. Werribee is slowly merging into a "world" zoo. "It's part of the plan".. But this will take time. First step, decide HOW they can be incorporated, second step raise the money, and then build. This will take quite a few years, so no time soon, but it IS happening.

There WAS a time when it was a simple "no" but as things stand, they are going to be split between the two.

 

[Jesse]

it would be excellent if the government would give some more funding to werribee zoo.

 

[Jalur_Tiger_Cub]

Hopefully once Auckland Zoo gets sorted with the elephant enclosure expanded one of the male calves and maybe some females (once/if the herds are split) will come join Burma and kick-start our breeding program.

 

[m575]

It would be nice if Werribee could get some funding. They are in dire need of it. If they do get enough (they ARE getting some there way) you will see some MAJOR MAJOR changes to the zoo.

 

[Jesse]

It would be nice if Werribee could get some funding. They are in dire need of it. If they do get enough (they ARE getting some there way) you will see some MAJOR MAJOR changes to the zoo.

i think the government splurged quite a bit on the wild sea precinct at melbourne zoo.

 

[m575]

I might have the figures nearby, will check later. But they would've. Why? Because it's Melbourne.. would be nicer to get more people out to Werribee, where the animals have a lot more room to wonder

 

[Jesse]

if you ask me, i didn't really like melbourne zoos wild sea anyway. very tacky and reminded me of the melbourne aquarium's penguin exhibit and i hated that. what really ticks me off about the fiddler ray and little penguin exhibit is that anyone could lust walk up and snatch a penguin or harm a ray.

 

[m575]

I haven't gone to see it yet. Had no time. Might organise a vist while I have some time off.

 

[normaeinstein]

if you ask me, i didn't really like melbourne zoos wild sea anyway. very tacky and reminded me of the melbourne aquarium's penguin exhibit and i hated that. what really ticks me off about the fiddler ray and little penguin exhibit is that anyone could lust walk up and snatch a penguin or harm a ray.

I really hate how easy it is for people (ie idiots like teenagers and unsupervised kids) to touch the rays and the penguins. Much to close to the public. I really don't trust people at all!

 

[Jesse]

I really hate how easy it is for people (ie idiots like teenagers and unsupervised kids) to touch the rays and the penguins. Much to close to the public. I really don't trust people at all!

that was the main thing that ticked me off. and when i was there some "unsupervised kids" were walking right across the sand to try and reach the seals.

i hope your not calling all teenagers idiots