North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation

Yes, only last year.

If Sdulha is mating again that's great news as he's a proven bull, and Lowry Park's program has been quite a failure in recent years.

Irregular cycles can make it much harder (Especially for AI), but a bull should be able to mate with a cow no matter what.

It's been a decade now since Mbali conceived so it'll be ideal for her to conceive soon, especially considering her age. Matjeka too.

it is confirmed. Somebody on zoochat said this is true. You know I wonder if that’s why they chose to breed them again over the fact they haven’t had a calf either of them in a decade. But if Jeyai did it hopefully they can too.
 
Jayei: We can assume her last calf is Omma; but that is not with certainty. It is possible she had another calf sometime between Omma and transfer to the US (stillborn, didn't survive, or some other outcome). As noted in the video, Pate says she had "at least one calf" before.
 
Jayei: We can assume her last calf is Omma; but that is not with certainty. It is possible she had another calf sometime between Omma and transfer to the US (stillborn, didn't survive, or some other outcome). As noted in the video, Pate says she had "at least one calf" before.

that’s a very good point and the same could be said for Nolwazi and Simuye as well.
 
Omaha Breeding Plan:

This is my ideal plan for Omaha's girls over the next fifteen years. All cows will be bred at intervals of six or so years, which will help space wise.

2023- Jayei and Lolly
2025- Omma
2028- Kiki and Claire
2030- Jayei and Lolly
2034- Omma and Eugenia
2036- Kiki and Claire
2038- Lolly (and possible 2023 female calves)

It's pointless to speculate beyond 2036 as the calves born in 2023 will soon be included in the breeding rotation if female.

This rotation allows Jayei to have two further calves before being retired. Her daughter, Omma will be bred twice during this time, at much longer artificial individuals, due to her young age. Kiki will be also further bred twice, alongside Claire. Lolly will be bred from three times, and likely one further time after this.

The ideal situation is to breed each female four times.
 
Jayei: We can assume her last calf is Omma; but that is not with certainty. It is possible she had another calf sometime between Omma and transfer to the US (stillborn, didn't survive, or some other outcome). As noted in the video, Pate says she had "at least one calf" before.

That calf could've very well been older (and hence left in Africa), if it did survive. Jayei had Omma at 19 which is a rather old age for a first time mother. She could've had a calf for the first time as early as just less than a decade before.
 
Omaha Breeding Plan:

This is my ideal plan for Omaha's girls over the next fifteen years. All cows will be bred at intervals of six or so years, which will help space wise.

2023- Jayei and Lolly
2025- Omma
2028- Kiki and Claire
2030- Jayei and Lolly
2034- Omma and Eugenia
2036- Kiki and Claire
2038- Lolly (and possible 2023 female calves)

It's pointless to speculate beyond 2036 as the calves born in 2023 will soon be included in the breeding rotation if female.

This rotation allows Jayei to have two further calves before being retired. Her daughter, Omma will be bred twice during this time, at much longer artificial individuals, due to her young age. Kiki will be also further bred twice, alongside Claire. Lolly will be bred from three times, and likely one further time after this.

The ideal situation is to breed each female four times.

I think 2024 wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Omma to have a calf though either. Additionally I don’t think they’ll wait to breed Jayei again before 2030 given the fact how old she’ll be by then but maybe she could reproduce then as well I suppose. I personally see the breeding pattern as Claire and Kiki, Lolly and Jayei, then Omma. Frankly I’m not gonna speculate no later than 2030.
 
I think 2024 wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Omma to have a calf though either. Additionally I don’t think they’ll wait to breed Jayei again before 2030 given the fact how old she’ll be by then but maybe she could reproduce then as well I suppose. I personally see the breeding pattern as Claire and Kiki, Lolly and Jayei, then Omma. Frankly I’m not gonna speculate no later than 2030.

Omma could have a calf as early as 2024. Then again, her next breeding rotation will be with Eugenia. Omma could have a calf in between, but it would be preferable for Omma to only have four calves space wise.

By 2030, Jayei will only be 38 so could still breed. Females can bred into their 40's. By then Jayei, will have her fourth calf (Around the same time as Lolly); and she would still be represented through Omma and her offspring.
 
Ok I wrote an email to ZooTampa to get confirmation for myself (I’ve heard though from others already that this true) in regards of them breeding their elephants again. But considering ZooTampa themselves confirmed this in their reality tv show they have or whatever, I have a feeling that remains unchanged.

Also somebody on zoochat just reached out to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG aquarium. Neither there or the International Conservation Center according to @PSO do NOT have any confirmed pregnancies currently with any of their African Elephants so that narrows it down sort of.
 
who do you think the other 4 are out of the 6 African Elephants we know that are pregnant and due within the next year or so? Also wouldn’t it make sense though for the zoo to have Simunye breed with Ajani considering she hasn’t had a calf in over a decade?
First to Simynue, it is not certain that she did not have a calf, she may have had a dead calf a few years before moving from Africa. So I believe she will get pregnant.

In my opinion, the most likely candidates for pregnancy are:
Litsemba (Reid Park)
Any of the cows in Sedgwick County (maybe more)
Nolwazi, Amahle (Fresno)
Mlilo, Zola (Dallas)
maybe some cows in DAK (Kianga, Donna, ?)

Most of it has already been said here so I'm just repeating myself.

But what was not yet written here was Salt Lake. I think Zuri or Christie should also be between options. I know there was an attempt to AI Christie in the past, but she never had a second calf. In any case, she and her daughter are still of breeding age, and another calf would certainly benefit the zoo as a visitor attraction, but it would also meet the zoo's limit of three elephants. However, I don't know if the AI are still going on in Salt Lake or not, I have no information about that.
 
@Elephantelephant that’s true about Simunye. Hopefully she does get pregnant again and maybe even already is!

I personally find Disney Animal Kingdom and the Hogle Zoo unlikely options as far as having any of their elephants pregnant but again, we won’t know for sure until these other zoos announce it themselves.
 
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I officially can confirm ZooTampa IS breeding their elephants again. Someone from the zoos African Elephant Care Team wrote back to me to confirm this which does mean indeed ZooTampa has resumed their breeding program for African Elephants. However based off of their response I don’t think either Matjeka or Mbali are currently pregnant but at least they’re with Sdula again which means a potential of calves for the both of them. But with this new information I suspect this means at the moment none of ZooTampas females are pregnant. So with Pittsburgh and ZooTampa out, and Omma also most likely out at the Omaha Zoo, that leaves us with Disneys Animal Kingdom, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the Dallas Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Reid Park Zoo, the North Carolina Zoo, I know @Elephantelephant mentioned the Hogle Zoo as a potential possibility for pregnant females there and the Indianapolis Zoo.

Frankly, I’m counting out the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Hogle Zoo just because they don’t have a bull, but something I just thought of about Zahara. The Indianapolis Zoos elephant calves were all born through artificial insemination, is it possible they could artificially inseminate Zahara or maybe they potentially have already? Disney Animals Kingdom I think it’s unlikely that any of their girls are pregnant at the moment given the fact last I heard the bull Maclean was being kept separate from the females. Louie was a non behavioral breeding bull from what I understood although I’m hoping he learned something from Callee considering Louie was at Omaha at the time Callee had mated with Claire, Kiki, and I think even Lolly maybe. Granite I’m not holding my breath though with Louie and Batir but I’d like to think I’m wrong in this case. And the other zoos that could potentially be where some of these pregnant elephants are Its pretty much a wildcard from here.
 
I officially can confirm ZooTampa IS breeding their elephants again. Someone from the zoos African Elephant Care Team wrote back to me to confirm this which does mean indeed ZooTampa has resumed their breeding program for African Elephants. However based off of their response I don’t think either Matjeka or Mbali are currently pregnant but at least they’re with Sdula again which means a potential of calves for the both of them. But with this new information I suspect this means at the moment none of ZooTampas females are pregnant. So with Pittsburgh and ZooTampa out, and Omma also most likely out at the Omaha Zoo, that leaves us with Disneys Animal Kingdom, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the Dallas Zoo, Sedgwick County Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Reid Park Zoo, the North Carolina Zoo, I know @Elephantelephant mentioned the Hogle Zoo as a potential possibility for pregnant females there and the Indianapolis Zoo.

Frankly, I’m counting out the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Hogle Zoo just because they don’t have a bull, but something I just thought of about Zahara. The Indianapolis Zoos elephant calves were all born through artificial insemination, is it possible they could artificially inseminate Zahara or maybe they potentially have already? Disney Animals Kingdom I think it’s unlikely that any of their girls are pregnant at the moment given the fact last I heard the bull Maclean was being kept separate from the females. Louie was a non behavioral breeding bull from what I understood although I’m hoping he learned something from Callee considering Louie was at Omaha at the time Callee had mated with Claire, Kiki, and I think even Lolly maybe. Granite I’m not holding my breath though with Louie and Batir but I’d like to think I’m wrong in this case. And the other zoos that could potentially be where some of these pregnant elephants are Its pretty much a wildcard from here.

Thanks for taking the initiative to contact them @John Marchwick. It’s good you got a response so quickly!

Given she’s 16 years of age and has never bred, I would say it’s highly likely Indianapolis Zoo are looking at a plan to get Zahara pregnant (if she isn’t already).
 
Baby boom at Omaha zoo continues with announcement of fourth elephant pregnancy | Local News | omaha.com

You guys… I think everyone such as myself when it comes to the African Elephant Pregnancies, they’re all I think actually due in 2023. Read what the director of Omahas Henry Doorly said here in the article I shared that “The good news is that they’re projecting six to be born next year,” Pate said. “This means that in the course of two years, Omaha will be the birthplace of half of the elephants born in the United States.” The director of the Omaha Zoo is taking about African Elephants projected to be born but what he meant by Omaha making up half of those births was in total between 2022-2023 there will be 8 African Elephants born in the United States and the Omaha Zoo will makes up half of those births with the birth of Claire and Kiki’s calves born in 2022 and Lolly and Jayeis calves born in 2023 cause half of 8 is 4. This also means I don’t think Litsemba is one of the females who has a calf is projected to be born next year because Litsemba was mating with Mabu in February 2022 when she was cycling and the Reid Park Zoo confirmed this on their Facebook account. I know I definitely sound repetitive in me bringing up this issue but the more we know the more that helps our knowledge and maybe everyone else’s knowledge I think. Hopefully 3rd time is the charm with this pregnancy list of projected African Elephant females who are due within the next year or two in the United States.

Confirmed Pregnancies
Lolly at the Omaha Zoo - due in February/March 2023.
Jayei at the Omaha Zoo - due in August 2023.

African Elephants potentially due in 2023.
Zola - Dallas Zoo
Mlilo - Dallas Zoo
Amahle - Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Nolwazi - Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo African Elephants with the exception of Stephanie.
Zahara? - Indianapolis Zoo

African Elephants Potentially due in 2024.
Omma - Omaha Zoo
Litsemba - Reid Park Zoo
Mbali - ZooTampa
Matjeka - ZooTampa

Unlikely Pregnant
Batir - North Carolina Zoo
Swazi, Qinisa, Ndula, Phakamile, Umngani and Khosi - San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Disneys Animal Kingdom,
Victoria, Savannah, Angelina, and Zuri - Pittsburgh Zoo.
Hogle Zoo
 
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Baby boom at Omaha zoo continues with announcement of fourth elephant pregnancy | Local News | omaha.com

You guys… I think everyone such as myself when it comes to the African Elephant Pregnancies, they’re all I think actually due in 2023. Read what the director of Omahas Henry Doorly said here in the article I shared that “The good news is that they’re projecting six to be born next year,” Pate said. “This means that in the course of two years, Omaha will be the birthplace of half of the elephants born in the United States.” The director of the Omaha Zoo is taking about African Elephants projected to be born but what he meant by Omaha making up half of those births was in total between 2022-2023 there will be 8 African Elephants born in the United States and the Omaha Zoo will makes up half of those births with the birth of Claire and Kiki’s calves born in 2022 and Lolly and Jayeis calves born in 2023 cause half of 8 is 4. This also means I don’t think Litsemba is one of the females who has a calf is projected to be born next year because Litsemba was mating with Mabu in February 2022 when she was cycling and the Reid Park Zoo confirmed this on their Facebook account. I know I definitely sound repetitive in me bringing up this issue but the more we know the more that helps our knowledge and maybe everyone else’s knowledge I think. Hopefully 3rd time is the charm with this pregnancy list of projected African Elephant females who are due within the next year or two in the United States.

Confirmed Pregnancies
Lolly at the Omaha Zoo - due in February/March 2023.
Jayei at the Omaha Zoo - due in August 2023.

African Elephants potentially due in 2023.
Zola - Dallas Zoo
Mlilo - Dallas Zoo
Amahle - Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Nolwazi - Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Sedgwick County Zoo African Elephants with the exception of Stephanie.
Zahara? - Indianapolis Zoo

African Elephants Potentially due in 2024.
Omma - Omaha Zoo
Litsemba - Reid Park Zoo
Mbali - ZooTampa
Matjeka - ZooTampa

Unlikely Pregnant
Batir - North Carolina Zoo
Swazi, Qinisa, Ndula, Phakamile, Umngani and Khosi - San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
Disneys Animal Kingdom,
Victoria, Savannah, Angelina, and Zuri - Pittsburgh Zoo.

Dallas:

They should definitely be looking to get Milo pregnant again very soon. It's now six years since the birth of her first son, Ajabu. Zola is eighteen, and her chances of ever falling pregnant are diminishing; she needs to get pregnant asap. A worry is that Tendaji hasn't proven himself yet..although he is still young.

Fresno Chaffee:

Nolwazi is about 28 years old now. I don't think she's going to breed again, considering its been 13 years since her last calf. Her daughter, Amhale is 13, and so it's the right time for her to breed for the first time with Vusmusi. She's a chance.

Sedgwick County Zoo:

Simunye is around 25 years of age, and it's now been 12 years since she had Titan, so any chance of her falling pregnant is highly unlikely. All other four girls. Zuberi, Xolani, Arusi and Talia are all about 14 so still have a shot at falling pregnant.

Indianapolis:

Zahara is 16. She still has a chance, but they should be looking to breed her with Kedar asap.

Reid Park:

Litsemba could be due in December 2023, if she conceived in February.

North Carolina:

Batir's 20, so it's unlikely she is or will be pregnant.
 
@Jambo but Simunye and Nolwazi both could’ve had calves between their last one and their rescue from Swaziland. Jayei got pregnant at Omaha remember as well and her supposed last calf was in 2011.

Mlilo has had a calf and regarding Zola she, Mlilo and Tendaji are all the same age meaning they’re all 18. Tendaji also last year could’ve potentially mated with Zola and or Mlilo for all we know and the zoo just hasn’t said anything. Regarding Batir though I do agree her chances are unlikely.
 
@Jambo but Simunye and Nolwazi both could’ve had calves between their last one and their rescue from Swaziland. Jayei got pregnant at Omaha remember as well and her supposed last calf was in 2011.

Mlilo has had a calf and regarding Zola she, Mlilo and Tendaji are all the same age meaning they’re all 18. Tendaji also last year could’ve potentially mated with Zola and or Mlilo for all we know and the zoo just hasn’t said anything. Regarding Batir though I do agree her chances are unlikely.

That's very true. I think there's a chance both females could've had a calf after, although it likely would've died early on. I guess we'll have to see whether they'll fall pregnant again.

Yes, Milo and Zola are the same age. Tendaji's 17, so just a year younger. There's a chance Tendaji could've mated with the girls; i'm hoping so. Zola's a little more unlikely, but Milo has a very good chance.
 
That's very true. I think there's a chance both females could've had a calf after, although it likely would've died early on. I guess we'll have to see whether they'll fall pregnant again.

Yes, Milo and Zola are the same age. Tendaji's 17, so just a year younger. There's a chance Tendaji could've mated with the girls; i'm hoping so. Zola's a little more unlikely, but Milo has a very good chance.

Tendaji is actually the same age as Mlilo and Zola. They were all estimated to be born in 2004.

North American African Elephant Population (06/2022).pdf
 
Tendaji is actually the same age as Mlilo and Zola. They were all estimated to be born in 2004.

North American African Elephant Population (06/2022).pdf

Petra Prager lists him as being born in 2005:

Tendaji -> Petra Prager – zooelefanten.de

This article though states Tendaji and Zola are born in 2003:

#WorldElephantDay: Meet the ‘Golden Girls’ and Learn How You Can Help These Elephants – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Obviously their exact birth dates are up in the air, but they're between 17-19 years of age.
 
True. What matters most is if they’re breeding.

At least Milo is a proven breeder. It's just up to Tendaji whether he can get Milo (and Zola) pregnant. The cows are getting older, and the chances of them falling pregnant are getting slimer and slimer as the years go on.
 
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