cheetahgirl
Well-Known Member
colchester zoo news about opal the elephant:
Colchester Zoo is very sad to announce that they are no longer expecting a successful outcome to the pregnancy of twenty seven year old African elephant “Opal”.
Opal became pregnant for the first time after using specialist artificial insemination techniques. Despite being a little older than most female elephants to have a first pregnancy the consensus between the zoo and veterinary experts was that there was every chance of a successful birth particularly as she has demonstrated a strong maternal instinct as an “aunt” to the zoo’s previous calves Kito and Jambo.
Keepers had been keeping a 24 hour watch to assist her if she went into labour and ensure that all care possible for her could be provided.
Opals pregnancy has been monitored throughout and all data showed that the pregnancy was progressing normally and the birth was expected anywhere between 630 and 660 days. Opals's waters broke during the night of the 24th February. Whilst more than 70% of births usually occur within two hours of this occurring; it can however, be anytime in the first 24hrs and some elephants have been known to have given birth to healthy calves after this time.
Elephants more typically give birth under the cover of darkness and it was expected, that during the daylight hours of the 25th February that any labour activity would be suppressed by Opal. As we approached midnight on that day we expected to see signs of increased labour activity, however, this did not occur and as the night drew on Opal’s behaviour was noted to be restful with little evidence of imminent birth. The following 24 hours still showed little change to this behaviour and veterinary experts were forced to accept that the pregnancy had failed at the last moment.
During the previous two weeks leading up to the expected birth, keepers had been observing Opal’s activity levels and behaviour around the clock and nothing led us to believe that anything other than a normal pregnancy was taking place. The zoo was also in constant contact with vets from the International Zoo Veterinary Group and wildlife reproduction experts from the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin who have pioneered artificial insemination techniques for elephants. In their respective opinions the pregnancy appeared normal. Their advice and comments will continue to be sought to ensure that we provide the best care and health monitoring for Opal over the coming weeks and months, via general observations and routine blood profiles to provide a picture of Opal’s health and well being.
Thomas Hildebrandt, from the Leibniz Institute commented that, “based on our intensive discussions with Colchester Zoo, it is very likely that the full-term calf in the African elephant Opal died during the birthing process. It is very sad that Opal’s pregnancy ended with a dead calf; however, approximately 30% of pregnancies of first-time elephant mothers do have this fate. It will be important to make sure that Opal's general health will be not affected by the retained fetus so that she can conceive again in the future and she will be closely monitored. The success rate for follow-up pregnancies is nearly 100%, so we are still hopeful of a successful birth in the future. In the view of the veterinary supervisors of the African Elephant European Breeding Programme, it was very important that the Colchester Zoo made the decision to breed Opal.
Zoological Director, Anthony Tropeano stated, “We are devastated that after such a long wait that we have had to presume that Opal has retained her calf. It is very hard to come to terms with this and we can only hope that at some stage in the future there may be a successful outcome for her.”
I am so upset, Zola did the same thing exept she is scared of elephant calves. i am relying on Tanya to have a calf now as she is the only Colchester Zoo elephant (still alive today) to have had a calf that is still alive.
Colchester Zoo is very sad to announce that they are no longer expecting a successful outcome to the pregnancy of twenty seven year old African elephant “Opal”.
Opal became pregnant for the first time after using specialist artificial insemination techniques. Despite being a little older than most female elephants to have a first pregnancy the consensus between the zoo and veterinary experts was that there was every chance of a successful birth particularly as she has demonstrated a strong maternal instinct as an “aunt” to the zoo’s previous calves Kito and Jambo.
Keepers had been keeping a 24 hour watch to assist her if she went into labour and ensure that all care possible for her could be provided.
Opals pregnancy has been monitored throughout and all data showed that the pregnancy was progressing normally and the birth was expected anywhere between 630 and 660 days. Opals's waters broke during the night of the 24th February. Whilst more than 70% of births usually occur within two hours of this occurring; it can however, be anytime in the first 24hrs and some elephants have been known to have given birth to healthy calves after this time.
Elephants more typically give birth under the cover of darkness and it was expected, that during the daylight hours of the 25th February that any labour activity would be suppressed by Opal. As we approached midnight on that day we expected to see signs of increased labour activity, however, this did not occur and as the night drew on Opal’s behaviour was noted to be restful with little evidence of imminent birth. The following 24 hours still showed little change to this behaviour and veterinary experts were forced to accept that the pregnancy had failed at the last moment.
During the previous two weeks leading up to the expected birth, keepers had been observing Opal’s activity levels and behaviour around the clock and nothing led us to believe that anything other than a normal pregnancy was taking place. The zoo was also in constant contact with vets from the International Zoo Veterinary Group and wildlife reproduction experts from the Leibniz Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin who have pioneered artificial insemination techniques for elephants. In their respective opinions the pregnancy appeared normal. Their advice and comments will continue to be sought to ensure that we provide the best care and health monitoring for Opal over the coming weeks and months, via general observations and routine blood profiles to provide a picture of Opal’s health and well being.
Thomas Hildebrandt, from the Leibniz Institute commented that, “based on our intensive discussions with Colchester Zoo, it is very likely that the full-term calf in the African elephant Opal died during the birthing process. It is very sad that Opal’s pregnancy ended with a dead calf; however, approximately 30% of pregnancies of first-time elephant mothers do have this fate. It will be important to make sure that Opal's general health will be not affected by the retained fetus so that she can conceive again in the future and she will be closely monitored. The success rate for follow-up pregnancies is nearly 100%, so we are still hopeful of a successful birth in the future. In the view of the veterinary supervisors of the African Elephant European Breeding Programme, it was very important that the Colchester Zoo made the decision to breed Opal.
Zoological Director, Anthony Tropeano stated, “We are devastated that after such a long wait that we have had to presume that Opal has retained her calf. It is very hard to come to terms with this and we can only hope that at some stage in the future there may be a successful outcome for her.”
I am so upset, Zola did the same thing exept she is scared of elephant calves. i am relying on Tanya to have a calf now as she is the only Colchester Zoo elephant (still alive today) to have had a calf that is still alive.
