North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation

Animals R AMAZING! said:
Check the other Asian elephant threads for more discussion and information on this but I will say Tucker hasn't been used to breeding since he's related to two of Houston's breeding cows Tess and Tupelo. While he is unrelated to Shanti, Houston's other mature bull Thai is more valuable and much older and they want him breeding her. Tucker will likely breed Shanti and her daughter Joy in the future while his mom Tess and their female relatives (Tupelo, Tilly, Winnie) may be sent out.
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I think though it might work the other way around. The reason I think this is because with Tesses bloodline they already have a multigenerational herd and I think the Houston Zoo will want to prioritize sending the bachelors out first (possibly some of them for breeding or for their elephants to join a bachelor herd) and then maybe in the near future send Shanti and her daughter Joy I think to the Smithsonian National Zoo which would be the perfect logical choice because A.) Shanti will be reunited with her mother and B.) Spike will finally have more girls to breed with
 
John Marchwick said:
I think though it might work the other way around. The reason I think this is because with Tesses bloodline they already have a multigenerational herd and I think the Houston Zoo will want to prioritize sending the bachelors out first (possibly some of them for breeding or for their elephants to join a bachelor herd) and then maybe in the near future send Shanti and her daughter Joy I think to the Smithsonian National Zoo which would be the perfect logical choice because A.) Shanti will be reunited with her mother and B.) Spike will finally have more girls to breed with
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You may be right but I doubt Smithsonian is where the girls will go as they are already planning on aquiring a pair of cows from Rotterdam. Tulsa might be a likely contender as they are home to Sneezy, a very genetically valuable wildborn bull with no surviving offspring and they will be expanding their habitat in the next few years and will probably want to house a breeding herd.
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
You may be right but I doubt Smithsonian is where the girls will go as they are already planning on aquiring a pair of cows from Rotterdam. Tulsa might be a likely contender as they are home to Sneezy, a very genetically valuable wildborn bull with no surviving offspring and they will be expanding their habitat in the next few years and will probably want to house a breeding herd.
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I forgot Tulsas is breeding their elephants in the near future. At least that’s what I last herd that they were significantly growing their elephant exhibit and their herd. That would not be a bad option for Joy or Shanti. Maybe Shanti’s mother could even reunite with the girls there?

Also this is the year whether or not we see all these Asian Elephant births according to @NOVAElephantEnthusiast . All those rumored pregnancies we were told are potentially going to happen this year. I know Ashas pregnant and due very soon. Rose Tu I’ve herd time and time again she’s pregnant (yet the zoo still has NOT come forward about it). I’ve heard Rosanna is possibly pregnant again along with Rudy and Sunny at Columbus. I’m really hoping Rudy has a calf soon as she’s turning 20 this year and still hasn’t had a calf.
 
John Marchwick said:
Maybe Shanti’s mother could even reunite with the girls there?
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Eh I doubt it, Bozie's probably staying at Smithsonian for the rest of her life. Even if she and Shanti are reunited they probably won't even be that closely bonded as they have been seperated for well over one (maybe two) decades.
John Marchwick said:
Rose Tu I’ve herd time and time again she’s pregnant (yet the zoo still has NOT come forward about it). I’ve heard Rosanna is possibly pregnant again along with Rudy and Sunny at Columbus. I’m really hoping Rudy has a calf soon as she’s turning 20 this year and still hasn’t had a calf.
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I dont blame Oregon for not announcing anything as when they announced Chendra's pregnancy she experienced a miscarriage shortly after. I will add Belle to that list, I doubt she's due this year but I'm starting to have a strong feeling she's pregnant and due 2023. I recently saw a video of her being introduced to Brazos and she is definitely showing some mammary development and she has been with Romeo a lot lately so I definitely wouldn't be surprised if she has a calf next year.
 
@Animals R AMAZING! that honestly don’t not surprise me with Belle though I do find that a very interesting observation. If she is pregnant she’s definitely due in 2023. I heard she was actively breeding with Romeo especially when their Elephant Springs opened. She turned 8 in 2021 and I’m not too worried about her at this point as far as breeding goes. (Now Saint Louis and Columbus that’s a different story with some of their girls).

I’m noticed lately that females that are just hitting sexual maturity have been breeding at a very young age. (Belle with Romeo at the Fort Worth Zoo) (Tupelo being artificially inseminated in 2019 with Bodhi as the father of her calf). I honestly don’t understand why Hank hasn’t been allowed to mate with Rudy or Sunny. And Saint Louis they need to get a new bull.
 
John Marchwick said:
@Animals R AMAZING! that honestly don’t not surprise me with Belle though I do find that a very interesting observation. If she is pregnant she’s definitely due in 2023. I heard she was actively breeding with Romeo especially when their Elephant Springs opened. She turned 8 in 2021 and I’m not too worried about her at this point as far as breeding goes. (Now Saint Louis and Columbus that’s a different story with some of their girls).

I’m noticed lately that females that are just hitting sexual maturity have been breeding at a very young age. (Belle with Romeo at the Fort Worth Zoo) (Tupelo being artificially inseminated in 2019 with Bodhi as the father of her calf). I honestly don’t understand why Hank hasn’t been allowed to mate with Rudy or Sunny. And Saint Louis they need to get a new bull.
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Hank is a behavioral non breeder so AI is the only way for him to sire offspring, although I would prefer St. Louis to receive a new bull AI is much more likely
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Hank is a behavioral non breeder so AI is the only way for him to sire offspring, although I would prefer St. Louis to receive a new bull AI is much more likely
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oh. Well the good news is Rudy and Sunny I heard had been showing Mammary development so that’s a good sign… the one I’m really hoping has a calf again is Rosanna
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Rozana may already be pregnant and due late this year or into early 2023
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so I’ve heard. I really hope Jasmine makes it through her battle with EEHV. (Regarding Albert I really hope he isn’t used to breed with Rosanna because he does NOT have any genetic diversity).

Rudy and Sunny I’m hoping have calves too this year. Does anyone know the exact number of how many are believed to be pregnant regarding Asian Elephants currently in the US?
 
John Marchwick said:
I’m noticed lately that females that are just hitting sexual maturity have been breeding at a very young age. (Belle with Romeo at the Fort Worth Zoo) (Tupelo being artificially inseminated in 2019 with Bodhi as the father of her calf).
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I'm very glad zoos are breeding their cows at younger ages, it's definitely something that many of us have been wanting them to do. Let's hope other zoos begin to do so as well as the SSP wants all cows to give birth for the first time around age 10. Europe has tons of cows that have actually calved at much younger ages, the youngest age I've heard of is 6! :eek:
John Marchwick said:
I honestly don’t understand why Hank hasn’t been allowed to mate with Rudy or Sunny. And Saint Louis they need to get a new bull.
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Oh Hank has been allowed to breed with Sunny, Rudy, and Phoebe. The problem is he wont breed them as he is a behavioural non-breeder, unfortunately. Beco has also been allowed to breed the sisters and I've seen video of him doing so but I'm confused and a bit frustrated why neither of the girls have calved yet. As for Saint Louis, I dont think they will send their prized posession ( :p ) Raja away, instead I wonder if they have the room for a second bull. Like it has been stated, AI is also likely but I'm hoping they dont rely entirely on AI.

EDIT:
John Marchwick said:
Does anyone know the exact number of how many are believed to be pregnant regarding Asian Elephants currently in the US?
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See post #1, I've listed everything out there! :)
 
@Animals R AMAZING! I agree. If they have room for another bull than they should acquire another bull regarding Saint Louis. Actually this sounds crazy but maybe they could have 2 Asian Elephant herds? One could consist of the girls and they could also start a bachelor herd. Or maybe have Ellie, Rani, Jade, Maliha, Priya and a new bull become their one herd of their own?

With Asian Elephants I’ve just noticed more some zoos at least have been doing better in getting these females to breed very quickly such as with the Houston Zoo and the Fort Worth Zoo. I have a feeling Albuquerque is gonna go that direction with Jasmine once she and if she recovers from EEHV.
 
John Marchwick said:
@Animals R AMAZING! I agree. If they have room for another bull than they should acquire another bull regarding Saint Louis. Actually this sounds crazy but maybe they could have 2 Asian Elephant herds? One could consist of the girls and they could also start a bachelor herd. Or maybe have Ellie, Rani, Jade, Maliha, Priya and a new bull become their one herd of their own?
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They only way for them to have enough room for two herd is if the move Donna, Pearl, and Sri off to another facility, while keeping Raja to mate with Rani, and a new bull to mate with Jade, Maliha, and Priya. As for the bachelor bulls Hugo at Dickerson park zoo could head to St. Louis, as well as Beco if he doesn't become successful with Rudy and Sunny
 
Mr.Ivory said:
They only way for them to have enough room for two herd is if the move Donna, Pearl, and Sri off to another facility, while keeping Raja to mate with Rani, and a new bull to mate with Jade, Maliha, and Priya
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That I would like better. And Ellie would have to stay at Saint Louis as well. Frankly that’s what should happen
 
John Marchwick said:
That I would like better. And Ellie would have to stay at Saint Louis as well. Frankly that’s what should happen
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Ellie is the head to her small matriarchal herd to move her mother to three of the herds members would have dire consequences on her three daughters and only grandchild, plus St. Louis would have no real reason to even move Ellie anyway.
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Ellie is the head to her small matriarchal herd to move her mother to three of the herds members would have dire consequences on her three daughters and only grandchild
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Im confused what you’re trying to say here? I agree Ellie shouldn’t be separated from her daughters nor granddaughter.
 
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