North American Asian Elephant Reproduction

[Jambo]

the zoo confirmed to @Mai Thai that Sneezy did go infertile. That’s all I know and it is why I asked would that mean Tulsa would have to bring in a new breeding bull.

Also, that was the 'same' member that *falsely* stated they were an employee from a zoo, when in reality they weren't...so i'd take that info with a grain of salt.

Maybe you could try emailing themselves. I'm not guaranteeing you'll get an answer, but you could always try.

 

[Jambo]

Just to note, it’s already been well hashed out that Mai Tai was a user in their early teens, who would regularly over embellish and make up lies about various zoo related things. Anything that they posted on the forms should be taken with a tremendous grain of salt.

Pretty much just posted the same thing.

But yes, the info isn't reliable info to say the least.

 

[John Marchwick]

Just to note, it’s already been well hashed out that Mai Tai was a user in their early teens, who would regularly over embellish and make up lies about various zoo related things. Anything that they posted on the forms should be taken with a tremendous grain of salt.

Wait what? I didn’t know that. I’ll admit I haven’t always been… well, perfect but lying about various zoo things? That’s unbelievable. Thank you for telling me.

 

[John Marchwick]

Also, that was the 'same' member that *falsely* stated they were an employee from a zoo, when in reality they weren't...so i'd take that info with a grain of salt.

Maybe you could try emailing themselves. I'm not guaranteeing you'll get an answer, but you could always try.

I guess I could however I think as you and other zoochat members have highlighted, I don’t think the zoo would tell us something like that.

 

[PSO]

I clear this up real quick.....yes, Tulsa plans on bringing in another bull (or 2). The zoo doesn't want to risk, given his age, him being injured trying to mount or put him through the collection process.

 

[IndianRhino]

I clear this up real quick.....yes, Tulsa plans on bringing in another bull (or 2). The zoo doesn't want to risk, given his age, him being injured trying to mount or put him through the collection process.

Thank you for the confirmation! Aren’t both Rex and Thai older than him though? Both of them have sired calves very recently so I don’t see why they can’t try with Sneezy, especially considering how genetically valuable he is.

 

[John Marchwick]

Thank you for the confirmation! Aren’t both Rex and Thai older than him though? Both of them have sired calves very recently so I don’t see why they can’t try with Sneezy, especially considering how genetically valuable he is.

But Thailand and Rex though have had more calves than Sneezy and are both more experienced breeders than he is. That’s not to say the zoo won’t breed Sneezy with the other elephants but maybe the zoo wants more than 1 just in case breeding with Sneezy doesn’t work out. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard of a zoo who has more than 1 potential breeding bull.

 

[PSO]

@John Marchwick you are correct about Rex and Thai which factored in. Also Sneezy is a bit more vertically challenged than those two and would have to put much more effort into mounting.

 

[John Marchwick]

@John Marchwick you are correct about Rex and Thai which factored in. Also Sneezy is a bit more vertically challenged than those two and would have to put much more effort into mounting.

Good to know. And thank you for clarifying!

 

[18943]

Are there any Asian elephants in the US that are excluded from the breeding program due to reproductive/medical issues?

 

[tigris115]

Have there been any studies on the genetic health of captive elephants? With a struggling population, I imagine there would be some bottleneck concerns

 

[Hyak_II]

Are there any Asian elephants in the US that are excluded from the breeding program due to reproductive/medical issues?

Karina would be the only one I’m aware of on actual medical grounds, she has endometriosis which affects her ability to conceive, I believe. Piccolo at ALS cycles, but isn’t able to get pregnant/maintain a pregnancy, although I’m not sure of the reasoning why for her.

Most other cows are nonreproductive simply due to either not being housed with a viable bull, or being too old for a first calf/has been too long since their last calf to safely try for another.

In terms of bulls, while there are a few behavioural non breeders (such as Colonel at Fort Worth), or too fat to naturally breed (Hank at Columbus), the vast majority of bulls in the US are able and capable of breeding, and the only thing limiting them from doing so is management.

 

[Hyak_II]

Have there been any studies on the genetic health of captive elephants? With a struggling population, I imagine there would be some bottleneck concerns

Also the genetic health of the US population is excellent at the moment. There’s a fairly large founder base and quite a few unrepresented or minimally represented founding bulls still alive and capable of contributing to the population. Inbreeding is also virtually nonexistent, and barring a single cow in Canada, all other potential breeding animals are set up with unrelated partners.

 

[John Marchwick]

Fort Worth Zoo celebrates another male Asian elephant birth

Thought this should be worth mentioning here too. 9.5 Asian Elephant Female Belle became a first time mother and gave birth to a healthy male calf on February 23rd, 2023 at the Fort Worth Zoo. The father of her calf is Romeo.

 

[John Marchwick]

This also hasn’t been updated in a while I see too so that being said,

16 year old Jade (Raja X Rani) at the Saint Louis Zoo is pregnant with her first calf and is due in either late 2024 or earlier 2025. The pregnancy occurred via artificial insemination and the father of her calf is 14 year old Jake (Rex X Natasha) at the Denver Zoo.

29 year old Rose Tu (Hugo X Me Tu), at the Oregon Zoo is pregnant with her 3rd calf and the father of her calf is 25 year old Samson (Calvin X Kitty). The pregnancy occurred via natural breeding and she’s due early 2025

Sources

Saint Louis Zoo Elephant News | Saint Louis Zoo

Elephant and critically endangered black rhinoceros expecting babies at Oregon Zoo

 

[Frankie_number_1_fan]

Has there been any update on Tulsa bringing in breeding individuals? Their complex is just about completed I believe.

 

[Jambo]

Has there been any update on Tulsa bringing in breeding individuals? Their complex is just about completed I believe.

Hopefully the plan is to bring in breeding cows asap to breed with Sneezy.

Within the US, there are only two theoretical options; cows from Houston or cows from White Oak. Houston is nearby, so might be a good option, especially as Houston will need to split their matriarchal herd soon if they wish to continue breeding.

Within North America, there's also ALS who have a plentiful supply of cows that could potentially be sent over. And we also can't rule out an overseas import from Europe (like has been done recently by the National Zoo and Cincinnati). With either of these though, they would take a while to plan out and so far we haven't heard anything on that front.

 

[Frankie_number_1_fan]

Hopefully the plan is to bring in breeding cows asap to breed with Sneezy.

Within the US, there are only two theoretical options; cows from Houston or cows from White Oak. Houston is nearby, so might be a good option, especially as Houston will need to split their matriarchal herd soon if they wish to continue breeding.

Within North America, there's also ALS who have a plentiful supply of cows that could potentially be sent over. And we also can't rule out an overseas import from Europe (like has been done recently by the National Zoo and Cincinnati). With either of these though, they would take a while to plan out and so far we haven't heard anything on that front.

Last I'd heard they weren't planning on breeding Sneezy due to his age and size (hes on the smaller side for a bull apparently). Has this changed or was that never confirmed by zoo staff? My hopes is that he's at least given the option to breed, hes one of the most valuable bulls in the region by far!

 

[Jambo]

Last I'd heard they weren't planning on breeding Sneezy due to his age and size (hes on the smaller side for a bull apparently). Has this changed or was that never confirmed by zoo staff? My hopes is that he's at least given the option to breed, hes one of the most valuable bulls in the region by far!

I hadn't heard of that previously, so would be news to me. Even if he did lack the size, he should still theoretically be able to breed the cows. From videos, he still appears to be a fair bit taller than Tulsa's girls; and he has previously naturally bred cows.

I guess his age and physical condition could play a part, but I'd hope they'd give him a chance at the very least.

 

[E Maximus]

I hadn't heard of that previously, so would be news to me. Even if he did lack the size, he should still theoretically be able to breed the cows. From videos, he still appears to be a fair bit taller than Tulsa's girls; and he has previously naturally bred cows.

I guess his age and physical condition could play a part, but I'd hope they'd give him a chance at the very least.

I believe Frankie is right. I briefly recall reading somewhere they didn't wanna risk potential injury during an introduction to new cows.