Some good Sumatran rhino news

But possibly not for Cincinnati...:(

This news may well reduce or delay further the prospect of sending the Bornean male to Cincinnati, as they will now want to keep him in Borneo to try and breed him with this new female(unless she proves to be too old).
 
Last edited:
vogelcommando said:
IF they breed them, it doesn't matter if it happens in Borneo or in Cincinnati IMO.
Click to expand...

It needs to happen at both! But the Bornean male can't be in two places at once, that is the problem.

Cincinatti may now have to fall back on their previous plan of mating the two siblings which they said they would do if the Bornean male wasn't made available. Ironically Malaysia had finally approved his transfer, unless a new female was caught, which has now happened. I suspect it will depend rather on whether this new wildcaught female is reproductively healthy.
 
Pertinax said:
It needs to happen at both! But the Bornean male can't be in two places at once, that is the problem.

Cincinatti may now have to fall back on their previous plan of mating the two siblings which they said they would do if the Bornean male wasn't made available. Ironically Malaysia had finally approved his transfer, unless a new female was caught, which has now happened. I suspect it will depend rather on whether this new wildcaught female is reproductively healthy.
Click to expand...

Given the failure of setting up a sustainable ex-situ Sumatran rhino population, it seems like the ethical thing to do would be to send the Cincinnati rhinos back to Sumatra as was done with Andalas.

Trying to desperately keep a zoo group of rhinos going through inbreeding just seems ethically wrong when there is no obvious conservation or scientific value for doing it.
 
DavidBrown said:
Given the failure of setting up a sustainable ex-situ Sumatran rhino population, it seems like the ethical thing to do would be to send the Cincinnati rhinos back to Sumatra as was done with Andalas.
Click to expand...

But at present the only male available in Sumatra is the older brother (Andalas), so they would still be inbreeding. Unless she was sent to Borneo of course.

But should anything happen to either of the Cincinatti pair, then I think what you suggest would definately be the thing to do.
 
DavidBrown said:
Trying to desperately keep a zoo group of rhinos going through inbreeding just seems ethically wrong when there is no obvious conservation or scientific value for doing it.
Click to expand...

You honestly think the staff at Cincinnati (and beyond) are putting the display of the species in the US above the needs of the species? and after all the time, effort and resources those involved have invested that is their motivation?

There's still an awful lot to learn about Sumatran rhino reproductive biology and who better to do it than the pioneering team at Cincinnati? Achieving successful artificial insemination in this species would be a huge accomplishment and could prove invaluable.

Pertinax, I agree. There would be little point in sending either of the Cincinnati siblings to Way Kambas at the moment. However an exchange between Tabin and Cincinnati should be beneficial. If the Danum female has been isolated a long time she may be suffering from the reproductive pathologies which result from long periods without reproductive activty (which I'm told is the case with Puntung).

I've just noticed you're no longer a moderator? I hope everything is okay!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dicerorhinus said:
I've just noticed you're no longer a moderator? I hope everything is okay!
Click to expand...

He stepped down at the back end of October 2013 :) myself and Nisha are his successors to the trials and tribulations of being a Zoochat moderator!
 
Dicerorhinus said:
You honestly think the staff at Cincinnati (and beyond) are putting the display of the species in the US above the needs of the species? and after all the time, effort and resources those involved have invested that is their motivation?
Click to expand...



I think that the Cincy Zoo has good motives to help the rhinos. I disagree that taking the rhinos out of the wild is the way to do it. You are free to disagree, and clearly do, but turning to personal insults shuts down this discussion, so please stop.
 
Dicerorhinus said:
Achieving successful artificial insemination in this species would be a huge accomplishment and could prove invaluable.

If the Danum female has been isolated a long time she may be suffering from the reproductive pathologies which result from long periods without reproductive activty (which I'm told is the case with Puntung).

I've just noticed you're no longer a moderator? I hope everything is okay!
Click to expand...

1. It would indeed. Precluding the need to even think about transporting these animals anymore.

2. Danum female. Hadn't thought of that, its not just her age then, but whether isolation has affected her reproductive pathology too. Lets hope neither is the case.

3. Just thought it was time for a rest...;)
 
Bad news indeed- its been a bad week for the species all told, with Suci's death at Cincinnati. And it mentions the other Bornean female 'Puntung' also has cysts, so may be neither of them are suitable for breeding?

Can anything be done about these females or are they now a lost cause? It doesn't say.

From this news, the future for this species looks very bleak indeed now.
 
As recently as late last year they were still trying to mate Tam and Puntung naturally, with the help of a 'crush' (metal crate)to allow her more support/protection with her missing foot, into which Puntung would be lured when in oestrus. But Tam, though interested, was confused and would not mount her in this situation. He began butting her from behind, probably out of frustration, so they had to let her out again. It indicates she does still cycle, though its irregular, which is why the Leibnitz team couldn't plan when to be present to assist. I don't know if they are still pursuing this type of attempt, or have given it up.

Regarding a possible surrogate, I'd prefer to see the Way Kambas female rhinos continue to breed naturally, though only one (of the three), 'Ratu' has actually done so, so the other 'Rosa' might be a candidate if she continues not to breed by natural means. I would have thought the third female 'Bina' was now too old to be suitable though?
 
Last edited:
I would take a chance with Puntung AND also try a white rhino as surrogate species. I hope they consider both as the best options, as I cannot see that introducing these into the Way Kambas grouping is the best solution.

If they use the technique at W.K., use the 2nd captive-born Cincin male for AI with the second Way Kambas female Rosa (the one not yet mated). Female Bina might be too old yes, but it certainly would be worth a long shot / just not the first candidate.
 
Gelogob was a lost cause but it does raise questions about how well the existing captive Rhinos are being cared for.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top