North American Asian and African Elephant Populations: Discussion and Speculation

Am I the only one who thinks that this "bold new strategy" and the way they got there is .... underwhelming? We have discussed the problem that the North American population of both elephant species is not sustainable and that the cause for this is a lack of cooperation and simply the egoism of too many zoos for about 15 years here. And the AZA needs until 2019 to start a new initiative, and then they need until 2023 to finish this so-called "bold approach" that does contain lots of words but not a lot of content? Are they seriously proud now? I mean, the EAZA zoos in Europe did this about 25 years ago, and they did archive a self-sustaining population of Asian elephants a decade ago or so. It`s not that difficult. Commit to cooperation, sharing knowledge, information and transparency, and don`t waste so many time writing down "strategies".
 
P.s.: I just checked, the lack of breeding success and lack of cooperation between zoos has been discussed on this website for *more* then 15 years.

And I am very aware and happy that things have gotten better recently.
 
Yassa said:
Am I the only one who thinks that this "bold new strategy" and the way they got there is .... underwhelming? We have discussed the problem that the North American population of both elephant species is not sustainable and that the cause for this is a lack of cooperation and simply the egoism of too many zoos for about 15 years here. And the AZA needs until 2019 to start a new initiative, and then they need until 2023 to finish this so-called "bold approach" that does contain lots of words but not a lot of content? Are they seriously proud now? I mean, the EAZA zoos in Europe did this about 25 years ago, and they did archive a self-sustaining population of Asian elephants a decade ago or so. It`s not that difficult. Commit to cooperation, sharing knowledge, information and transparency, and don`t waste so many time writing down "strategies".
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It is certianly a little underwhelming and almost a little amusing for them to frame the initiative as being something groundbreaking when we've seen virtually no progress as of yet.
My hopes are that there are plans of action in place that we will see rolling out within the next year or two. The Asian population for instance I think is shaping up wonderfully. All AZA facilies have an active bull onsite or are slated to receive one within a year, with several facilities housing/planning to house two or more bulls for their females. I would genuinely expect (especially now that there's an EEHV vaccine in place) for significant progress with that program in the next few years.

The African program is a mess. They may have had more births recently, but those numbers have all been on account of facilities like Omaha that have simply had more breeding age cows get pregnant at once. There are less than 10 proven bulls, a ridiculous amount of breeding facilities with unbred virgin cows and no bull to be seen as well as several facilities with valuable animals relying solely on AI (and even praising that commitment) Unless we start to see more moves like Tsavo's within the next year, 2026 and on is looking like back to square one with birth progress. While I don't claim I could do the job of SSP coordinators, it seems this announcement is almost too soon or simply playing up the lackluster progress thus far. Really hoping they're hyping up a bunch of promising transfers and announcements that are soon to come.
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
It is certianly a little underwhelming and almost a little amusing for them to frame the initiative as being something groundbreaking when we've seen virtually no progress as of yet.
My hopes are that there are plans of action in place that we will see rolling out within the next year or two. The Asian population for instance I think is shaping up wonderfully. All AZA facilies have an active bull onsite or are slated to receive one within a year, with several facilities housing/planning to house two or more bulls for their females. I would genuinely expect (especially now that there's an EEHV vaccine in place) for significant progress with that program in the next few years.

The African program is a mess. They may have had more births recently, but those numbers have all been on account of facilities like Omaha that have simply had more breeding age cows get pregnant at once. There are less than 10 proven bulls, a ridiculous amount of breeding facilities with unbred virgin cows and no bull to be seen as well as several facilities with valuable animals relying solely on AI (and even praising that commitment) Unless we start to see more moves like Tsavo's within the next year, 2026 and on is looking like back to square one with birth progress. While I don't claim I could do the job of SSP coordinators, it seems this announcement is almost too soon or simply playing up the lackluster progress thus far. Really hoping they're hyping up a bunch of promising transfers and announcements that are soon to come.
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I'm gonna sound like a certified nincompoop but why not just shoot them a message?
 
Potential candidates for a bachelor herd at Brookfield considering the exhibit opens sometime in 2034

1.0 Kedar (Bulwagi × Kubwa) 2005.10.18
1.0 Sonny (Callee × Claire) 2022.01.30
1.0 Mopani (Callee X Lolly) 2023.03.02
1.0 Jabari (Titan x Zahara) 2023.09.04
1.0 Hondo (Callee x Omma) 2024.02.18

And any young males born at Sedgwick in 2025
 
Mr.Ivory said:
Potential candidates for a bachelor herd at Brookfield considering the exhibit opens sometime in 2034

1.0 Kedar (Bulwagi × Kubwa) 2005.10.18
1.0 Sonny (Callee × Claire) 2022.01.30
1.0 Mopani (Callee X Lolly) 2023.03.02
1.0 Jabari (Titan x Zahara) 2023.09.04
1.0 Hondo (Callee x Omma) 2024.02.18

And any young males born at Sedgwick in 2025
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Has Brookfield announced they're electing for a bachelor herd rather than a breeding herd?
 
Frankie_number_1_fan said:
Has Brookfield announced they're electing for a bachelor herd rather than a breeding herd?
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Not yet, but considering their is a need for more Bachelor facilities it would be beneficial for the population for Brookfield to have a bachelor herd, but if they where to house a bachelor herd they would most likely come from any facility that needs a herd split
 
Ok, I’m moving the conversation in here about the Asian elephant that just went labor as to who it could be. In terms of known pregnancies, it could either be Rosanna, Jade, or Shanti. HOWEVER it could also be an Asian Elephant that we DON’T know about that went into labor that’s also currently pregnant. And while @Jambo highlighted ALS and white oak would realistically be the other options, it could also be a facility like the Fort Worth Zoo as I think Bluebonnet for example realistically speaking is due for another calf here soon or I should say is at that point where she can again. Just worth noting this elephant who went into labor realistically could be anywhere.
 
John Marchwick said:
Ok, I’m moving the conversation in here about the Asian elephant that just went labor as to who it could be. In terms of known pregnancies, it could either be Rosanna, Jade, or Shanti. HOWEVER it could also be an Asian Elephant that we DON’T know about that went into labor that’s also currently pregnant. And while @Jambo highlighted ALS and white oak would realistically be the other options, it could also be a facility like the Fort Worth Zoo as I think Bluebonnet for example realistically speaking is due for another calf here soon or I should say is at that point where she can again. Just worth noting this elephant who went into labor realistically could be anywhere.
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Fort Worth and Bluebonnet is theoretically the only other realistic option besides the aforementioned candidates.

I did consider her, and to be fair, Fort Worth haven't announced pregnancies in the past until the calf is on the ground. She could be a dark horse in this case!
 
John Marchwick said:
Ok, I’m moving the conversation in here about the Asian elephant that just went labor as to who it could be. In terms of known pregnancies, it could either be Rosanna, Jade, or Shanti. HOWEVER it could also be an Asian Elephant that we DON’T know about that went into labor that’s also currently pregnant. And while @Jambo highlighted ALS and white oak would realistically be the other options, it could also be a facility like the Fort Worth Zoo as I think Bluebonnet for example realistically speaking is due for another calf here soon or I should say is at that point where she can again. Just worth noting this elephant who went into labor realistically could be anywhere.
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It is worth noting that Houston and St Louis both have historically announced calves within a day of the birth unless there were complications with the calf. I think Fort Worth is the only other genuine contender, their last calf's birth was announced weeks after he was born.

I doubt the cow in labor would've been mentioned if it was a facility that announces calves months after birth or never at all (ALS or White Oak)
 
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I doubt this is news, but just in case: a keeper or employee at Omaha talking to other guests last weekend stated they had around five years before the male calves would need to be sent out and indicated the females would probably stay. He claimed the zoo did not have quite enough space for "ten elephants".
 
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