Smithsonian National Zoo Smithsonian National Zoo News 2020

NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
From my understanding, the zoo has already negotiated an extension on their panda loan. Political situations have virtually no impact on their Panda negotiations. I've heard from keepers who work at SDZ that their situation in San Diego was also not quite political either. I actually think I touched on this in a previous post.
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As has been discussed at length multiple times across the forum, yes they do. Panda politics are politics, and it's the Chinese diplomats who have a major say in which US zoos get the pandas.

I think you'll find San Diego itself disagrees with what this keeper told you...

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
As has been discussed at length multiple times across the forum, yes they do. Panda politics are politics, and it's the Chinese diplomats who have a major say in which US zoos get the pandas.

I think you'll find San Diego itself disagrees with what this keeper told you...

~Thylo
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I again reiterate my above comment. My source for my SDZ comment wasn't just your average keeper. But I can't share much more publicly. Feel free to private message me if you'd like me to go further into detail.


PSO said:
@NOVAElephantEnthusiast one of the two most successful breeding Asian elephant programs in the western hemisphere, non- AZA
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Ahhhh, I see. I feel there are a couple other options you may be overlooking. The option for the previous circus elephants was there once and was turned down for a multitude of reasons. So I feel they won't be going for that again even with the change in facilities. The other option outside of the US was also an option at one point, however, two of the three available females are now going to Fort Worth instead.
 
NOVAElephantEnthusiast said:
From my understanding, the zoo has already negotiated an extension on their panda loan. Political situations have virtually no impact on their Panda negotiations. I've heard from keepers who work at SDZ that their situation in San Diego was also not quite political either. I actually think I touched on this in a previous post.




Might I ask where you heard this information, out of curiosity of course? This is the first I am hearing of this and I'm there quite a bit. I must say its exciting to hear though. But Intros have been going on for years now, however, are happening more frequently now from what I've seen on my visits. I have only seen 4 of the 5 together at a time though, with Swarna typically in yard 4 while the others have yard 2 and the ECC.
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similar to what you said I cant disclose who told me but very credible. Again this is in no way down pat but it sounds like it is very serious. From what I heard it sounded like a Canadian or European zoo. Thus complicating it even further even without a global pandemic.
 
Jaxton said:
It could possibly be Tess and her daughters Tupelo and Tilly from the Houston Zoo. Recently the Houston Zoo has had Shanti giving birth one year and Tess the next. So she could definitely be pregnant.
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I don't believe Houston will be letting go of any of their elephants. Maybe some bulls eventually, rotating them with other zoos, but the cows are there to stay, I believe. Houston wants a multi generational elephant herd and has plenty of space for more.

If they were to move any cows from Houston to NZP, Shanti (plus Joy and Nelson) should go since Bozie is her mother. I doubt it'll happen though and it's for the best. Shanti and the gang are on cloud nine in Houston. To take it from them would be a wrong move, IMO, as much as I'd love to see Bozie and Shanti reunited.
 
Bozie's Friend said:
I don't believe Houston will be letting go of any of their elephants. Maybe some bulls eventually, rotating them with other zoos, but the cows are there to stay, I believe. Houston wants a multi generational elephant herd and has plenty of space for more.

If they were to move any cows from Houston to NZP, Shanti (plus Joy and Nelson) should go since Bozie is her mother. I doubt it'll happen though and it's for the best. Shanti and the gang are on cloud nine in Houston. To take it from them would be a wrong move, IMO, as much as I'd love to see Bozie and Shanti reunited.
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In keeping with multi-generational matriarchal lines it would be a no brainer to have Shanti with offspring leave with cow Bozie being the most senior of her female line.

I would much rather they would let another matriarchal line leave. Plus personally, I would not consider Washington NZP a breeding institution - more a halfway house and end station for elderly non-breeding cow elephants.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I would much rather they would let another matriarchal line leave. Plus personally, I would not consider Washington NZP a breeding institution - more a halfway house and end station for elderly non-breeding cow elephants.
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Why? They have one of the better Asian Elephant exhibits in the US and are entirely set up for future breeding purposes. There are plenty of other zoos to fill the "retirement home" role, such as Bronx.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Why? They have one of the better Asian Elephant exhibits in the US and are entirely set up for future breeding purposes. There are plenty of other zoos to fill the "retirement home" role, such as Bronx.

~Thylo
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Agreed. Although I understand their point, NZP generally has more elder elephants. This is why it would be so exciting if they could get some younger females
 
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