Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
Connie and Hank have arrived in Tulsa!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8sWGArqgMj/?igsh=MTNtMHR3ZDlpYnZiZQ==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8sWGArqgMj/?igsh=MTNtMHR3ZDlpYnZiZQ==
North American Asian Elephant Population 2024
- Thread starter E Maximus
- Start date
Jonathan Petersson
Well-Known Member
There is much more to the situation then that single sentence. By no means is Charlie Gray a fool and in the industry for the wrong reason. He is one of the people that pioneered the elephant management field and practices some of the best free contact training in the world. Some of his views are definitely controversial and I'm not going to defend them in the slightest. Gray is one of the founders of the International Elephant Foundation however and has done quite a lot of work for the species both in the wild and in human care
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
Sabu has returned to Cincinnati afted two years at the Columbus Zoo!
Beloved Bull Elephant Returns to Cincinnati Zoo - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Beloved Bull Elephant Returns to Cincinnati Zoo - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Jonathan Petersson
Well-Known Member
1.0 Johnson has arrived at the Columbus Zoo from the African Lion Safari
do you have a source for that?
A lot of movement involving Columbus!
Source for Johnson?
So first Hank and Connie to Tulsa and a few days later, Sabu back to Cincinnati! I actually wouldn't be surprised if these three were actually transferred out together.
This leaves Columbus with four elephants and in the perfect situation to receive Johnson from ALS (which may have occurred already). Raja will likely also follow soon.
Fingers crossed Sabu got the job done with some or all of Columbus's girls before his departure!
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
While I certianly didn't expect Johnson to arrive before Raja, these indeed are very ideal circumstances for his transfer.
There's enough room for Johnson to have his own space while also being introduced to the herd. This way Frankie won't be without a mentor bull and, more importantly, if any cows aren't already pregnant he can get the job done.
I believe the intention was to acquire Johnson before Raja. This would make sense as a few of us on here have predicted Johnson will then be re-routed elsewhere once Raja is eventually acquired. Raja's transfer is still at least six months away.
There's no reason why both males can't be retained by Columbus but I find it unlikely two valuable bulls will remain at one facility with potentially only one viable cow
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
It doesn't make a ton of sense for Columbus to retain two breeding bulls, but we also have to keep in mind that no other facilities are in need of a new breeding bulls other than ALS.
It's entirely possible Johnson is coming to Columbus for a period of time on a pause from breeding or as a backup if needed. He's very well represented in comparison to other bulls in the region so it wouldn't be too far off for him to take some "time off" so to speak. Especially if ALS will be obtaining a new bull, meaning Johnson's daughters will enter the breeding scene thenselves.
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
While I do agree that Johnson will likely only temporarily be in Columbus, I can definitely see him returning to ALS in a few years. Even if he doesn't return there, It is safe to say that St. Louis is out of the question for Johnson as they are due to receive Samurda from Oregon as their new breeding bull in the coming months and I don't think that they can accommodate two fully mature bulls.
Thanks. I didn’t know about Samundra. So who will replace him at the oregon zoo?
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
I don't think any new bull is coming to Oregon because they already have Samson, who has successfully impregnated Samurda's mother, Rose-Tu (due at the end of this year), so I don't see why they would need to have two breeding bulls. I would expect Samurda to be moved to St. Louis sometime around the time when the baby is born and Raja to Columbus around the same time.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
The only other facility I can think of that might be looking for a new bull soon would be ABQ, but even that seems years away imo given Rozie's pregnancy. Every other breeding facility in the region either has a breeding bull or has one lined up to arrive, with even a few facilities getting a second bull (something the SSP appears to be pushing facilities towards)
Plans a while back leaked by @Frankie_number_1_fan showed that Billy from the Denver zoo was planned to be transferred to the Oregon Zoo. I don’t know if that’s still the plan though
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
SSP plans change consistently (Connie and Hank's move is a great example of this). While it is likely that Oregon may still be planning to receive Billy, its impossible to say for sure until it is officially announced by either facility.
Frankie_number_1_fan
Well-Known Member
Rose-Tu is due spring/summer of next year (I believe you may be mixing her up with Rozie
).I wouldn't be surprised if Billy is indeed still being transferred though, despite lack of confirmation. It's taken Samson the better part of a decade to successfully impregnate Rose-Tu, and his genetic value isn't huge now that his son, Bowie, is also breeding.
The transfers will likely be as follows: Raja to Columbus later this year > Samudra to St Louis early next year > Billy to Oregon shortly after Samudra leaves.
Even if not Billy, I imagine Oregon will still obtain another bull after Samudra's departure. Samson has lived with another bull as company for most if not all of his life and he likely won't be with the girls for a bit after Rose's calf is born.
Johnson won't return to ALS; the whole point of him transferring out is to allow his daughters to breed.
Billy's genetically valuable, hence his planned transfer into a breeding situation. Whether it's Oregon or another facility, we can certainly expect him to move in the coming years.