dcpandafan
Well-Known Member
I didn't think it was recent either as I just found it while searching for stuff and I didn't know that about quolls.
Also I think the zoo itself last had quolls in the late 1990s or early 2000s
Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2015
- Thread starter Milwaukee Man
- Start date
I didn't think it was recent either as I just found it while searching for stuff and I didn't know that about quolls.
Also I think the zoo itself last had quolls in the late 1990s or early 2000s
Up-date about the Panda-cub :
UPDATE: Latest on Giant Panda Cub at National Zoo - ZooBorns
UPDATE: Latest on Giant Panda Cub at National Zoo - ZooBorns
dcpandafan
Well-Known Member
The Panda cub now ways nearly 3 pounds.
Video and article about the cub:
National Zoo Releases New Video of Baby Panda - The Atlantic
Also Michelle Obama and the first lady of China Peng Liyuan will visit the zoo Friday to see the cub.
Michelle Obama, first lady of China will see pandas at zoo | TheHill
Video and article about the cub:
National Zoo Releases New Video of Baby Panda - The Atlantic
Also Michelle Obama and the first lady of China Peng Liyuan will visit the zoo Friday to see the cub.
Michelle Obama, first lady of China will see pandas at zoo | TheHill
dcpandafan
Well-Known Member
A chapter is coming to an end.
Kandula will be having his farewell celebration October, 10 beginning at 8 am.
BIG news! Kandula is participating in the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' breeding program. This means he'll be leaving the Smithsonian's National Zoo this fall for his new home at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
As a valued FONZ member, we invite you to join us at Elephant Outpost on Saturday, October 10, beginning at 8 a.m. You'll have an opportunity to watch a special keeper-led training session and enjoy special members-only activities celebrating Kandula's great success story.
This is the email I was sent.
Kandula will be having his farewell celebration October, 10 beginning at 8 am.
BIG news! Kandula is participating in the Species Survival Plan for Asian elephants, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' breeding program. This means he'll be leaving the Smithsonian's National Zoo this fall for his new home at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
As a valued FONZ member, we invite you to join us at Elephant Outpost on Saturday, October 10, beginning at 8 a.m. You'll have an opportunity to watch a special keeper-led training session and enjoy special members-only activities celebrating Kandula's great success story.
This is the email I was sent.
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
Does Kandula have any tusks yet? In all the pictures I've seen of him he hasn't got any. Could it just be that the pictures I have see of him are all old?
Sri Lankan Elephants don't grow tusks?
~Thylo
It's extremely rare for Sri Lankan Bulls to be tuskers. Tusklesness is an inherited trait on the island and 90% of bulls are tuskless. Calvin, Kandula's father is tuskless.
Well then, I did not know that. Thanks for the info
Where does Calvin live, by the way? Until now I'd never even heard who Kandula's father was.
~Thylo
Calvin now lives in Ostrava and has sired calves there, as well as his prior home in Hannover! So you are correct!
Bandara, Chanda(Calvin's) father, and therefore Kandula's grandfather, did have tusks.
As well, Kandula has 4 other maturing male half siblings from his father in North America, all with varying degrees of tusks.
George and Johnson at African Lion Safari both have noticeable tusks, and Albert and Samson at ABQ Biopark have small but growing tusks as well. All 4 have produced offspring, however all of the calves have been female thus far.
It will be interesting to see how their future offspring will turn out and how the tusker gene carries on.
As well, Kandula has 4 other maturing male half siblings from his father in North America, all with varying degrees of tusks.
George and Johnson at African Lion Safari both have noticeable tusks, and Albert and Samson at ABQ Biopark have small but growing tusks as well. All 4 have produced offspring, however all of the calves have been female thus far.
It will be interesting to see how their future offspring will turn out and how the tusker gene carries on.
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
I also never knew that. Fascinating. Is tusklessness a recessive trait or something? I don't know much about Elephant genetics.
cmrButton5
Well-Known Member
According to an article in the Washington Post on Aug 25 -
The zoo wants to get an unrelated breeding male to replace Kandula — and has a potential candidate, officials said.
The full article is here - https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...5c9900-4b3c-11e5-bfb9-9736d04fc8e4_story.html
cmrButton5
Well-Known Member
As part of her visit to the National Zoo, First Lady Obama has just announced the panda cub will be named Bei Bei. His name means precious treasure.
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In the case of the elephants of Sri Lanka, if 90% truly are tuskless, then I'd say tusklessness is the dominant trait on the island and tusks are the recessive. I'd imagine tusklessness is either a recessive or absent gene in all other Asian Elephant populations.
~Thylo
wensleydale
Well-Known Member
In the case of the elephants of Sri Lanka, if 90% truly are tuskless, then I'd say tusklessness is the dominant trait on the island and tusks are the recessive. I'd imagine tusklessness is either a recessive or absent gene in all other Asian Elephant populations.
~Thylo
Actually, a trait can be dominant and still be relatively rare, for example did you know that polydactylism (having more than the typical number of fingers on each hand) is actually dominant in humans?
That's true I suppose, didn't think of it like that. I suppose it can recessive but then still have the majority of the population with it.
And interesting, didn't know that.
~Thylo
dcpandafan
Well-Known Member
Actually Kandula does have some tusks I believe, They just aren't visible unless he lifts his trunk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSI4YZJLnlA
Skip to 2:49