Unfortunately, I doubt Christie will have another calf as it’s been 13 years since she had her last calf. However, I’ve heard that Hogle is working on AI with her daughter Zuri.
North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation
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really? Now that’s interesting as I haven’t heard that one yet.
I heard potentially from somebody too Reid Park is getting a new bull in the not so distant future. I think most likely if the zoo were to get a new bull it wouldn’t be till once Litsemba has her calf as while Litsemba isn’t confirmed to be pregnant, she and Mabu did mate before he transferred to Fresno and I think it’s very likely Litsemba is pregnant again. For one thing Nandi is now old enough to breed and the breeding bull would be for Litsemba, Nandi, and eventually Mapenzi to breed with at some point.
I just realized I made a mistake on this post. I just remembered in September 2022 about Zola @Kudu21 observed Tendaji breeding or attempting to breed Zola. That was my mistake and I just wanted to clarify if Zola is pregnant, she’s most likely not due in 2023. Not posting this for the sake of posting but I just wanted to clarify so others wouldn’t get the wrong impression of something I previously stated.
After careful consideration, and with recent African Elephant news that has come out in regards to African Elephants, here’s an updated list on confirmed elephant pregnancies in addition to speculatory pregnancies are and I have personally carefully thought about this and want to note I am NOT posting this for the sake of speculating.
confirmed African Elephant pregnancies
1.) Jayei at the Omaha Zoo is due in 2023
2.) Zahara at the Indianapolis Zoo is due in 2023
3.) Nadirah at Disneys Animal Kingdom is due either 2023 or 2024.
4.) Renee at the Toledo Zoo is due in 2024.
possible pregnant females due in 2023.
1.) Mbali and Matjeka at ZooTampa
2.) the Swaziland females at the Sedgwick County Zoo
3.) Vasha, Donna and or Kianga at Disneys Animal Kingdom.
4.) Mikki at the Louisville Zoo…?
Possible Pregnant females due in 2024
1.) Omma at the Omaha Zoo
2.) Amahle and Nolwazi at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo
3.) Zola and or Mililo at the Dallas Zoo
4.) Litsemba at the Reid Park Zoo
Unlikely pregnant
1.) any of the females at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
2.) Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium females.
3.) Batir at the North Carolina Zoo
4.) Zuri and Christie at the Hogle Zoo.
confirmed African Elephant pregnancies
1.) Jayei at the Omaha Zoo is due in 2023
2.) Zahara at the Indianapolis Zoo is due in 2023
3.) Nadirah at Disneys Animal Kingdom is due either 2023 or 2024.
4.) Renee at the Toledo Zoo is due in 2024.
possible pregnant females due in 2023.
1.) Mbali and Matjeka at ZooTampa
2.) the Swaziland females at the Sedgwick County Zoo
3.) Vasha, Donna and or Kianga at Disneys Animal Kingdom.
4.) Mikki at the Louisville Zoo…?
Possible Pregnant females due in 2024
1.) Omma at the Omaha Zoo
2.) Amahle and Nolwazi at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo
3.) Zola and or Mililo at the Dallas Zoo
4.) Litsemba at the Reid Park Zoo
Unlikely pregnant
1.) any of the females at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
2.) Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium females.
3.) Batir at the North Carolina Zoo
4.) Zuri and Christie at the Hogle Zoo.
Nile Hippo Expert
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Zahara was artificially inseminated! This is the first time an African Elephant born to AI will give birth through AI!
indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/03/06/indianapolis-zoo-elephant-is-pregnant-and-making-history-ivf/69975834007/
You can rule out the Fresno Chaffee girls, they aren’t pregnant, but could very well fall pregnant soon.
Louisville would need to use AI to get Mikki pregnant again too. Doubt they’d do that until Fitz is moved on.
Vasha, Donna and Kianga might be pregnant, but would be due in 2024. Don’t see why DAK would reveal Nadirah’s pregnant and not any of the others too (if they were at the time).
So it’s out of the girls at Zoo Tampa, the Sedgwick girls or possibly Zola and Milo at Dallas. It’ll be interesting, but I think we’ll see a few more announcements over the coming months.
Good to know Fresno Chaffee the girls there aren’t pregnant. Not surprising considering I saw Mabu breeding with Amahle in December 2022.
As for Mikki it’s been nearly 4 years since she last had a calf and while I’m aware they did use artificial insemination in regards to her pregnancy, I left a question mark by her name for that reason.
Regarding Disneys Animal Kingdom, keep in mind with Nadirah Disney didn’t just put it out there in a press release, it was mentioned for a brief moment in a show. There was never any formal announcement in regards to Nadirahs pregnancy which is why I thought maybe it was a much stronger likelihood in regards to the status of the other 3 females that they too could be due to have a calf.
I don’t think Zola is pregnant because @Kudu21 stated on a visit to Dallas he saw Tendaji breeding with Zola in fall 2022 or had heard they were. One of those two. We might now see announcements too as some zoos wait until after the calves are born. It’s a wait and see though from here.
there are no known Asian Elephant pregnancies currently but I did not see the purpose on speculating there cause I didn’t think it added any necessity or conversation to this thread.
Rudy was artificially inseminated in 2022 according to the Columbus Zoo but I think the attempt was unsuccessful. All the girls at Columbus though have a breeding recommendation with Sabu.
historically Columbus has always announced their pregnancies a few months before their due dates so I imagine if Sunny and Rudy are pregnant if ever, the zoo will announce their due dates hopefully a few months before they’re due.
Colombus girls aren’t pregnant. Hopefully Phoebe, Rudy and Sunny conceive soon though; Sabu’s arrival is temporary and will hopefully give him a chance to breed before he returns to Cincinnati in a few years time.
Rozana at ABQ and Rose at Oregon are the only other potential options for births this year.
Shanti at the Houston Zoo could also be pregnant and due this year. Saint Louis while highly unlikely Rani, Maliha, Jade, and Priya could all also too be pregnant. And Sabu I’m pretty sure is returning to Cincinnati in 2024 for the opening of their new elephant exhibit. Personally though for now I won’t be speculating on Asian Elephant pregnancies just cause there’s so much possibility there and we don’t have a whole lot to go off of in my opinion.
Don’t think Shanti’s pregnant based off some recent info from visitors - but yes, won’t go to the lengths of saying she’s not. She could very well be, especially as Houston’s gaps are usually only 3-4 years, so she should hopefully give birth this year or next year.
Ok @Jambo you said all of this.
“That's why i'm suggesting there could've been other AI procedures involving Callee as well, which is why Pate has that knowledge. That's just a thought though.
Management has been improving. We've seen a lot of births at Ohama, and we have a lot more pregnancies on the way too.
I'm not saying Jackson's the only option for AI; but he at one point, he was one of the only options, which is probably why he was used for AI a lot.
Re. Pittsburgh, they've relied on AI in the past, so there's no reason why they might not undertake such procedure again. Of course, it would be rather difficult and expensive to do such a procedure on all of their cows; so it would be best if they imported a bull; but obviously there's no options right now within the region. I can assure you that if there was, Pittsburgh would have a bull.
Whilst we can widely agree that the whole population isn't in the right position, most of the facilities have improved and there are some good decisions being made. It is something to hold hope for.”
There is NO evidence as to suggest the 5 remaining current pregnant African Elephant females this year due with calves were all artificially inseminated. There is NO point in speculating on something that’s such a big possibility and we should wait like zoos such as Indianapolis themselves to confirm the pregnancies and how that animal got pregnant.
Pittsburgh relied on Artificial Insemination in the past but you know it helps to have natural breeding also. I’m not saying artificial insemination hasn’t helped but it’s of course better for elephants to naturally breed. I wish Pittsburgh and Hogle would’ve gotten bulls for that reason or send their girls elsewhere to breed with other bulls but they haven’t. Ali is an option at the Jacksonville for example to go to Pittsburgh, he’s not in a breeding situation currently. There are African Elephants that need to be in breeding situations when they’re not time and time again and we’ve already discussed this well hashed out several times.
We still have a LONG ways to go before we see actually significant improvements with the African Elephant population and while some facilities have taken strides in that direction, more needs to happen. We need every cow possible breeding, especially ones that have never had a calf yet and we don’t. And I’m certainly not holding my breath until more happens breeding and population growth wise.
Yes, management has improved but it’s still not enough as it has been previously discussed. We need new genetics and we can’t just rely on one
Zoo like Omaha to carry the entire African Elephant Population.
“That's why i'm suggesting there could've been other AI procedures involving Callee as well, which is why Pate has that knowledge. That's just a thought though.
Management has been improving. We've seen a lot of births at Ohama, and we have a lot more pregnancies on the way too.
I'm not saying Jackson's the only option for AI; but he at one point, he was one of the only options, which is probably why he was used for AI a lot.
Re. Pittsburgh, they've relied on AI in the past, so there's no reason why they might not undertake such procedure again. Of course, it would be rather difficult and expensive to do such a procedure on all of their cows; so it would be best if they imported a bull; but obviously there's no options right now within the region. I can assure you that if there was, Pittsburgh would have a bull.
Whilst we can widely agree that the whole population isn't in the right position, most of the facilities have improved and there are some good decisions being made. It is something to hold hope for.”
There is NO evidence as to suggest the 5 remaining current pregnant African Elephant females this year due with calves were all artificially inseminated. There is NO point in speculating on something that’s such a big possibility and we should wait like zoos such as Indianapolis themselves to confirm the pregnancies and how that animal got pregnant.
Pittsburgh relied on Artificial Insemination in the past but you know it helps to have natural breeding also. I’m not saying artificial insemination hasn’t helped but it’s of course better for elephants to naturally breed. I wish Pittsburgh and Hogle would’ve gotten bulls for that reason or send their girls elsewhere to breed with other bulls but they haven’t. Ali is an option at the Jacksonville for example to go to Pittsburgh, he’s not in a breeding situation currently. There are African Elephants that need to be in breeding situations when they’re not time and time again and we’ve already discussed this well hashed out several times.
We still have a LONG ways to go before we see actually significant improvements with the African Elephant population and while some facilities have taken strides in that direction, more needs to happen. We need every cow possible breeding, especially ones that have never had a calf yet and we don’t. And I’m certainly not holding my breath until more happens breeding and population growth wise.
Yes, management has improved but it’s still not enough as it has been previously discussed. We need new genetics and we can’t just rely on one
Zoo like Omaha to carry the entire African Elephant Population.
It’s a reach, but more so just a thought of mine. And it’s not really a big possibility; there’s a fair chance other females could’ve undergone such procedure too.
Jacksonville will have there reasons for why they haven’t transferred Ali. I’m not going to speculate on why, but they’ll have their reasons.
Again though, we don’t know how nor which females got pregnant other than Zahara and Jayei. We don’t know the father for all of them is Callee or not. As for Ali I was just using him as an example as a genetically valuable bull that hasn’t been used for breeding more when he should be.