Morioka zoo news

[Elephantelephant]

Elephant goes on diet with help from Morioka Zoo visitors | The Japan Times
Morioka Zoo plans to make the first attempt at AI with an African elephant in Japan. This is a cow Mao born in 2002. But first she must lose weight to have a better chance of success.

 

[PossumRoach]

The zoo, which now goes by the name Zoomo, attempted to artificially inseminate Mao last year without any desired results. Another attempt is being made this year with sperm from South Afriy. If successful this will be first case of AI breeding African elephants. Thomas Hildebrandt will be visiting Zoomo during the process.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I would love to see some regular zoo news from Zoo Morioka! If I look at their website and species listing they have a mix of Japanese native species with an emphasis on African fauna plus few species from North America/Australia.

BTW: The above is true for other Japanese zoos not currently with their own thread!
(Our Japan Zoochatters en local zoo fans .... take note!)

 

[PossumRoach]

The zoo, which now goes by the name Zoomo, attempted to artificially inseminate Mao last year without any desired results. Another attempt is being made this year with sperm from South Afriy. If successful this will be first case of AI breeding African elephants. Thomas Hildebrandt will be visiting Zoomo during the process.

Following some blood tests, Mao’s AI will be performed late at night today. Seeing that it’s already 1 in the morning in Japan, I assume that the procedure has started/is done.

Tweet to the update

 

[PossumRoach]

In April last year, the zoo rescued an albino Japanese squirrel kit found injured by a local. The male squirrel named Ruby was treated by the zoo and due to being found at a young age and possible neurological disorders, the zoo will be keeping Ruby. Ruby is displayed in an enclosure already occupied by his conspecifics. This is because, despite his great social media presence during his treatment, the zoo wants to give the message that he is not any more special than other squirrels. The zoo also wishes to show guests how nature is always changing and that evolution is a never-ending process.

アルビノニホンリスのオス“ルビー”を展示します - 盛岡観光におすすめ！ 盛岡市動物公園 ZOOMO【公式】｜お土産も充実

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

Following some blood tests, Mao’s AI will be performed late at night today. Seeing that it’s already 1 in the morning in Japan, I assume that the procedure has started/is done.

Tweet to the update

Keep my fingers crossed, even though the cow is already 23 years of age....! I guess if the Tierpark Berlin IZW team of Dr. Hildebrandt are involved they must yet see a chance to get the elephant cow to conceive successfully!!?

I do hope they take the time to look at another pachyderm species, the rhinos too .... The current situation with rhinos in Japan is less favourable than ..., say 10 years ago (this particularly so for black rhino and to a tad lesser level also for white rhino!

 

[PossumRoach]

Following some blood tests, Mao’s AI will be performed late at night today. Seeing that it’s already 1 in the morning in Japan, I assume that the procedure has started/is done.

Tweet to the update

Unfortunately, it has been confirmed through hormone testing that Mao is not pregnant. However ZooMo and other stakeholders such as Dr. Hildebrandt and Tama zoo still plan on a third attempt at artificially inseminating Mao.

Blog update on Mao’s AI results.

アフリカゾウの“マオ”をママに ～アフリカゾウの人工授精２回目の報告～ - 盛岡観光におすすめ！ 盛岡市動物公園 ZOOMO【公式】｜お土産も充実

 

[PossumRoach]

The zoo’s puma Nina has given birth to five cubs. That is a lot of pumas to find homes for if they all survive.

https://x.com/moriokazoo/status/1932588600161636750

 

[PossumRoach]

The zoo’s puma Nina has given birth to five cubs. That is a lot of pumas to find homes for if they all survive.

https://x.com/moriokazoo/status/1932588600161636750

The keepers have noticed that the strength of the cubs were on decline and took 2.1 cubs to the vet for treatment, while leaving 2.0 cubs with Nina to raise. Unfortunately the males in the vet have lost their lives. The zoo is artificially raising the female who survived.

 

[PossumRoach]

On July 2, the keepers and vet reunited the female cub with her mother Nina and her two brothers.

 

[PossumRoach]

The zoo’s puma Nina has given birth to five cubs. That is a lot of pumas to find homes for if they all survive.

https://x.com/moriokazoo/status/1932588600161636750

the names of all cubs were already chosen when Nina gave birth. Named after the stars from the Cassiopeia constellation, the surviving cubs are named Caph (0.1), Schedar (1.0), Tsuii/the star that doesn’t seem to have a western name (1.0).