North American Asian Elephant Population 2021

ZCChip said:
What would you suggest that they do? If I remember correctly, the elephant barn is actually a multi-species barn, sharing with at least the rhino(s). So they may not tear all that down, but they could renovate the space. They are already set up for protected contact.
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So it is a massive building that houses elephants, rhinos, and tigers with some additional space for hoofstock I believe. But the rest of the barn is like half the height of the elephant section, so any expansion wouldn’t be able to use this area. Over time some small renovations have been made for protected contact as you said, as well as 2 of the stalls having sand, and converting one stall into a restraint device.

Renovation of the building to create a new elephant exhibit though would mean renovating a 45 year old building. Its functional lifespan just like the rest of the complex and the monorail itself is probably not long. So my plan would be let Patti and Happy live out there lives here. After that just have a second rhino exhibit and allow an expansion to the breeding program for them. I mean the monorail may be able to make it to 2030, but beyond that probably not. After that the zoo will be faced with a decision about what to do with the asian complex. Thats a bit down the road hopefully though.

I honestly think the WCS and Bronx Zoo should focus on there other plans (which are largely not public and only been hinted at), once they are back on there feet post covid. I don’t think elephants should be at the top of there bucket list imo. I know many disagree with that though.
 
nczoofan said:
So it is a massive building that houses elephants, rhinos, and tigers with some additional space for hoofstock I believe. But the rest of the barn is like half the height of the elephant section, so any expansion wouldn’t be able to use this area. Over time some small renovations have been made for protected contact as you said, as well as 2 of the stalls having sand, and converting one stall into a restraint device.

Renovation of the building to create a new elephant exhibit though would mean renovating a 45 year old building. Its functional lifespan just like the rest of the complex and the monorail itself is probably not long. So my plan would be let Patti and Happy live out there lives here. After that just have a second rhino exhibit and allow an expansion to the breeding program for them. I mean the monorail may be able to make it to 2030, but beyond that probably not. After that the zoo will be faced with a decision about what to do with the asian complex. Thats a bit down the road hopefully though.

I honestly think the WCS and Bronx Zoo should focus on there other plans (which are largely not public and only been hinted at), once they are back on there feet post covid. I don’t think elephants should be at the top of there bucket list imo. I know many disagree with that though.
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Thank you for the elaboration! It would make sense to expand to the rhinos if they decided to no longer keep the elephants.
 
Bingo!

To be completely honest (as I indicated in my prior post), Bodhi was *not* a bull I was expecting at all! He's on the younger side, has a full brother, and is from a fairly well represented lineage overall on his mothers side. I was almost certain Houston would have gone for an older, more valuable bull instead. But alas, he might have been the only bull able to produce a suitable sample when needed, or they potentially could have gotten a "sperm cocktail" from Denver from multiple bulls, and Bodhi just happened to win out. Either way, a healthy female calf, regardless of the sire, is nothing to complain about, especially in the states :)
 
Hyak_II said:
Bingo!

To be completely honest (as I indicated in my prior post), Bodhi was *not* a bull I was expecting at all! He's on the younger side, has a full brother, and is from a fairly well represented lineage overall on his mothers side. I was almost certain Houston would have gone for an older, more valuable bull instead. But alas, he might have been the only bull able to produce a suitable sample when needed, or they potentially could have gotten a "sperm cocktail" from Denver from multiple bulls, and Bodhi just happened to win out. Either way, a healthy female calf, regardless of the sire, is nothing to complain about, especially in the states :)
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Is Bohdi’s mothers line well represented in North America though? I know it is across the ocean though.
 
nczoofan said:
Is Bohdi’s mothers line well represented in North America though? I know it is across the ocean though.
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Well we have Phoebe (Bodhi's mother), her other sons Beco and George, and Gigi (George's daughter). And then of course, Phoebe is pregnant again with a calf due this month!

Phoebe also has a full sister at African Lion Safari, Lilly and she has 4 daughters who all live with her (Piccolina, Hannah, Luna and Imke) and then her only surviving son, Albert is at ABQ.

Besides Bodhi, Denver is also home to Billy, who is Phoebe and Lilly's full brother Alexander's son. And also now we know, Winnie at Houston is Bodhi's daughter.

So, in total there are 13 elephants of the Motek x Warda line in North America with another one on the way. Of the 13, several are in breeding situations so this number will likely grow in the coming years. So I would say this line is well represented in both Europe and North America.
 
Also, I forgot that if Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are indeed imported to Smithsonian, which I really hope they are, these two girls would also be descendants of the Motek x Warda line in NA since Trong Nhi is Alexander’s daughter and Nhi Linh is Trong Nhi’s daughter. Speaking of this import, does anyone know of any updates regarding this?
 
Animals R AMAZING! said:
Also, I forgot that if Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are indeed imported to Smithsonian, which I really hope they are, these two girls would also be descendants of the Motek x Warda line in NA since Trong Nhi is Alexander’s daughter and Nhi Linh is Trong Nhi’s daughter. Speaking of this import, does anyone know of any updates regarding this?
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TBH: very soon as Rotterdam - Blijdorp has been desperately looking for a solution to their societal elephant management issues. Personally, I am really sad to see these 2 go overseas for that particular reason. I would much rather have a more on the level policy to cooperate internationally. It is all in the works - I keep hearing - as moves have been made since 2019 to work more closely on Asiatic elephants with AZA/SSP.
 
According to the CEO of the Tulsa Zoo will early next year break ground on its new elephant exhibit. It will feature 10 acres of yards and a 35,000 sq foot barn. Those statistics would make it basically the largest complex in the nation on both fronts. I wonder what there plan is for new elephants as in the past they mentioned wanting to hold bachelor elephants, which would be great.

At the top of an animal kingdom – Lindsay Hutchison, Tulsa Zoo President/CEO
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
What is Bodhi's relationship in terms of North American Asiatic elephants and how unrelated is he to the Houston herd?
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He's unremarkable, unfortunately. Refer to @Animals R AMAZING! post #493 for a layout of his relations.

I'm pleased to see I was also correct in that a "sperm cocktail" was in fact used for her insemination. I figured they wouldn't have gone for "just" Bodhi. He just happens to be the one who won out ;)
 
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Animals R AMAZING! said:
Houston has officially announced that Bodhi is Winnie's father!

Father’s Day From Afar, The Houston Zoo
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I didn't think Houston would announce it or I would have waited to say something. Good to see them confirm it!

Lol, to be fair, I've been all over the place (traveling) and I thought Father's day was last Sunday, was off a week.

Bodhi was not my hopeful pick, but Winnie is a great young elephant calf regardless. Got to see her and Tupelo take naps together this week while Methai stood guard. So happy for Houston!
 
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