Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo News 2012

I just got this email from Zoos Victoria:

"Melbourne Zoo's Asian Elephant Num-Oi has given birth overnight.

Her 22-month pregnancy concluded at 2:50am with the birth of a little boy.

Num-Oi was outdoors in the company of Kulab and her two-year-old calf Ongard. Mali, Dokkoon, and Mek Kapah were nearby and able to see the event taking place.

The newborn is the first calf for Num-Oi, and he is the fourth baby for the Zoo’s fertile bull elephant Bong Su.

According to the keepers and vets, Num-Oi is being a very attentive and supportive first time Mum.

As a valued Zoos Victoria Member, we wanted you to be one of the first to know. We'll be able to show you photos soon and we can't wait to welcome you to Melbourne Zoo to see the new arrival!

Please keep your eye on our website for updates."


Damn how did you beat me? I wanted to be first for once...
 
It's a boy.

Where are they all going to go?

Could somewhere in Oz -e.g. one of the 'open range' zoos like Melbourne's own Weribee, start a 'bull group' of young males in the future? This is where they go to in Europe.
 
Could somewhere in Oz -e.g. one of the 'open range' zoos like Melbourne's own Weribee, start a 'bull group' of young males in the future? This is where they go to in Europe.

I heard on the news that the two young males from Taronga will move to Dubbo when they mature so it seems likely that Melbourne's two might follow suit. They definitely have the space with three big yards but I think they might still have three non-compatible females taking up all of the room (1 African and 2 Asian (someone else will probably be more up to date on this though)).
 
Is there any reason why they may not be sent to an overseas zoo, Europe, Asia or the US? All these young guys represent totally unrepresented lines in any other zoo.
 
There is now a video up on youtube, showing Num-Oi in labour, giving birth and swimming with her calf:

I'm surprised how close her keepers were before and after the birth, very much FC.
 
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