RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
I think that Omo can leave next year, considering that Amahle's late brother, Adhama became a dad at age 3.
North American Common Hippopotamus Population
- Thread starter Valentinoamor
- Start date
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
If Adhama was alive as of May 14th, 2019, then he would have had 3 calves at the age of 8 (1 was stillborn).
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
From 1970 to 1989 there were also a few hippo elimination zoos. Here is the list:
Jacksonville Zoo - 1976
Bronx Zoo - 1977 (there was briefly a hippo there for under a month in 1986 or 1987)
Pittsburgh Zoo - 1984
Oakland Zoo - 1985
Columbus Zoo - 1986
Male Hippos can sire calves from the age of 3 at the earliest; whereas females can conceive from the age of 6.
This would mean Amhale wouldn’t be able to conceive until 2026, and Omo wouldn’t need to be sent to San Diego for at least the next three to four years. This would be beneficial as in the meantime, Funani could be sent to another facility to live out her years.
Just because they can sire offspring that young doesn't mean it'll happen. Adhama was not recommended to breed with Mara and she was on birth control when Rosie was conceieved, the pair were only introduced for companionship but obviously the hippos had other plans. I doubt the SSP would recommend a young bull like Omo to breed this early especially with a young female who isn't very genetically valuable. I suspect Amahle and Funani may remain together without a bull for a number of years, none of Funani's other daughters (besides Devi) have been placed in breeding situations and they're much older. The reason the SSP has been so cautious about recommending animals to breed is because of space issues but it's very likely this will change in 10-15 years from now. Perhaps SDZ will acquire a new bull upon the passing of Funani, but probably not anytime soon as I doubt the zoo has even begun thinking about acquiring a new bull quite yet.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
Omo's grandma Binti had Biko at the age of 4. Polita at Granby had her calf Bobo at age 3 in 2000, Karen at Albuquerque had her first baby, Boipelo at age 4 in 2006, and Moxie (2001-2008) at Busch Gardens had baby Kita at age 4, also in 2006.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
We have a problem about the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's hippo, Omo. Zambezi is Biko's aunt. This means that Biko should not be breeding with Zambezi and Kasai, as they are related.
There are numerous examples of captive animals inbreeding and yes it's a little icky but the SSP made these recommendations and they know what they're doing. The hippo population isn't that large and Zambezi, Kasai, and Biko are all descendants of Denver's former, very prolific pair. Inbreeding doesn't seem to affect hippos as much as other species anyways, for example, much of the Australian population is highly inbred and the animals continue to do well and are able to breed.
Besides, if Omo is bred to an unrelated female in the future, their offspring wouldn't be considered inbred (or at least not as inbred as Omo). I'm sure the SSP thought everything out prior to making these recommendations. On that note, I wonder if Biko and Kasai are still recommended to breed since iirc CMZ has always said Biko had a recommendation with either of the sisters (not both) and they haven't posted anything on their social medias recently that indicate the pair have been introduced.
These were all unplanned pregnancies (or more so, when the hippos bred freely). Nowadays birth control is used and pairings aren’t recommended until the hippos are much older.
Amhale is not necessarily genetically valuable and so will not be required to bred from at least any time soon. If she is still getting along well with Funani in the years to come than there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be separated.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
7 hippos, Louise at Honolulu, Zambezi and Kasai at Colorado Springs, Emma at Toledo, Moyo at Busch Gardens, Binti at Memphis, and Mahali at Denver are all FULL SIBLINGS born to Bertie and Samantha at the Denver Zoo. Also, Bertie and his first "wife", Petena are the parents of Sweetie Pie at the Sedgwick County Zoo. That is according to the website hipposworld.de. This isn't really family related, but there are 4 hippos in North America named "Kiboko". It's a good name for a hippo, but it can get confusing, since there's 2 males and 2 females (1 of them is Bubbles of Fort Worth's real name) with the name Kiboko.
Hippos aren’t necessarily affected by inbreeding, compared to other species. Most hoofed mammals aren’t.
The population in Australia is heavily inbred (and has been for decades). The hippos have shown no signs of being different or unhealthy in any way.
Due to the captive population not being everlasting, all individuals would be somehow related eventually. The SSP would’ve carefully considered the decision; and it could’ve been that there was no better option.
Anyhow, I think most of us would rather having inbred hippos is better than having none at all.
As far as I’m aware Kasai was being introduced to a pair of Warthogs for socialisation a few months ago so this seems to indicate she won’t be used for breeding any time soon.
In the past zoos just had a pair of hippos and breed from them as much as possible. This has resulted in the vast amount of regional populations worldwide, being descended from specific pairs.
Kiboko means ‘hippo’ in Swahili and so it is a widely used hippo name. The zoos wouldn’t care, as much as they don’t have another animal at the zoo with the same name. It is very confusing though, that is why the SSP uses numbers rather than names.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
Other than 4 hippos being named "Kiboko", no 2 other hippos share the same name in North America. Also, Kiboko at Gulf Breeze Zoo has the same name as his dad, who lives in Granby.
There are Kiboko’s elsewhere in the world too. There was one at Auckland in New Zealand. It’s a very popular Hippo name.
I’d have assumed that Kiboko at Gulf Valley was named directly after his father.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
It's Gulf Breeze, not Gulf Valley Zoo.
RhinoHippoElephantGiraffe
Well-Known Member
The hippo pairs that had lots of babies between 1900-2000 are:
Rube, and Rubie, Rube and Lotus Blossom. (San Diego)
Venus and Adonis, Julie and Uebi (Memphis)
Puddles and Cuddles (San Francisco)
Jeepers and Peepers. (St. Louis)
Uebi and Abbai, Uebi and Durka. (Houston)
Caliph and Mrs. Murphy. (Central Park)
Bertie and Petena, Bertie and Samantha. (Denver)
Cleopatra and Mark Antony (Kansas City)
Jenny and Barney, Jenny and Jock. (Detroit)
Tony and Maggie (Cheyenne Mountain)
Jimmy and Submarie (Philadelphia)
Rube, and Rubie, Rube and Lotus Blossom. (San Diego)
Venus and Adonis, Julie and Uebi (Memphis)
Puddles and Cuddles (San Francisco)
Jeepers and Peepers. (St. Louis)
Uebi and Abbai, Uebi and Durka. (Houston)
Caliph and Mrs. Murphy. (Central Park)
Bertie and Petena, Bertie and Samantha. (Denver)
Cleopatra and Mark Antony (Kansas City)
Jenny and Barney, Jenny and Jock. (Detroit)
Tony and Maggie (Cheyenne Mountain)
Jimmy and Submarie (Philadelphia)
Karie K
Member
Are you sure Lu’s mother was Lotus and not Rubie? Lotus was Rube’s daughter (or so I thought).
Karie K
Member
Joe Smith and Arusha at the National Zoo had several calves as well.
Sorry, autocorrect.
Lu’s parents were definitely Rube and Rubie. Lotus was one of their daughters.