kifaru
Well-Known Member
At Cincinnati, the rhino paddocks actually face a very steep cliff with trees on top, so that effectively blocks the light from that direction. To view the rhinos you have to walk to the bottom of a steep canyon incline. It is pretty dark down there at the bottom. The edge of the sunshade is very close to the face of the cliff. Only the narrow public walkway divides cliff from paddock. There is blue sky to be seen behind the night houses, but the enormous, very tall sunshade and the rock facing of the indoor area helps to effectively block the light. Ipuh's enclosure, however, is a bit higher on the incline (encountered first on your left as you go down the slope)-- and that enclosure seems to receive a bit more ambient light.
Most of the time, I need a 2.8 lens to take a fast-shutter speed action shot of a rhino in motion under the sunshade. If there are any clouds in the sky at all, it is as I said quite dark down there at the bottom of the canyon. Certainly as dark as the lighting situation that I've observed in photos taken of Andalas at Way Kambas. No doubt a great deal of damage had been done to the rhinos' eyes prior to the zoo becoming aware of the need for the protection of the sheltering canopy. I intend to find out more about the current situation re their eye problem.
Terri Roth and the staff at Cincinnati Zoo are doing an incredible job of taking care of the rhinos at Cincinnati--and have worked very hard to adapt to the Sumatran's special needs. Unfortunately, so little was known about those needs when the first 40 animals were brought into captivity. That was indeed a huge failing on the part of the zoo community--to understand that deep rainforest rhinos had very different needs from black/white/Indian rhinos--a failing that cost the lives of almost all of the founding stock. But they were covering new ground. As with most pioneering efforts, tragic mistakes were made. Thank goodness Terri and staff were so thorough and determined to keep their rhinos alive.
For example, Sumatran rhinos must have ficus browse. One of the keepers told me that at one point Ipuh was down and was not expected to survive. In desperation, a keeper brought in some ficus. Ipuh ate it-- and got back on his feet. Since that time, ficus has been flown in for the rhinos several times a week. This simple fact was not understood when the rhinos were first brought in from the wild. Ficus now comprises most of their diet at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Sumatran rhinos must also have a daily mud bath. If they go without it, their skin will crack, become inflamed, and the rhinos will die...
At the time of Andalas' conception, the actual gestation of the Sumatran rhino was unknown. Emi had miscarried 5 times prior to giving birth to Andalas. But she had been conditioned to accept blood being drawn from a vein at the back of her ear (as well as rectal exams). Blood samples allowed hormone levels to be regularly monitored. At one point Emi was briefly introduced to Ipuh while he was in his pool. Mating took place-- and an ultrasound revealed that she had begun ovulating after her introduction to the male, making Sumatran rhinos induced ovulators. The actual stimulus remained a mystery, though it was thought that seminal plasma may have done the trick. To prevent miscarriage, Emi was given a progesterone supplement daily (delivered by her keepers in a loaf of her favorite Wonder Bread), then was weaned off of the hormone starting at day 450, with supplementation ending at day 465. Andalas was born after a 475 day gestation. Progesterone supplementation was not administered during the pregnancies that produced Suci in 2004 and Harapan in 2007.
None of this was known/thought possible prior to Terri Roth and her team's work at Cincinnati. Theirs was a pioneering effort.
Most of the time, I need a 2.8 lens to take a fast-shutter speed action shot of a rhino in motion under the sunshade. If there are any clouds in the sky at all, it is as I said quite dark down there at the bottom of the canyon. Certainly as dark as the lighting situation that I've observed in photos taken of Andalas at Way Kambas. No doubt a great deal of damage had been done to the rhinos' eyes prior to the zoo becoming aware of the need for the protection of the sheltering canopy. I intend to find out more about the current situation re their eye problem.
Terri Roth and the staff at Cincinnati Zoo are doing an incredible job of taking care of the rhinos at Cincinnati--and have worked very hard to adapt to the Sumatran's special needs. Unfortunately, so little was known about those needs when the first 40 animals were brought into captivity. That was indeed a huge failing on the part of the zoo community--to understand that deep rainforest rhinos had very different needs from black/white/Indian rhinos--a failing that cost the lives of almost all of the founding stock. But they were covering new ground. As with most pioneering efforts, tragic mistakes were made. Thank goodness Terri and staff were so thorough and determined to keep their rhinos alive.
For example, Sumatran rhinos must have ficus browse. One of the keepers told me that at one point Ipuh was down and was not expected to survive. In desperation, a keeper brought in some ficus. Ipuh ate it-- and got back on his feet. Since that time, ficus has been flown in for the rhinos several times a week. This simple fact was not understood when the rhinos were first brought in from the wild. Ficus now comprises most of their diet at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Sumatran rhinos must also have a daily mud bath. If they go without it, their skin will crack, become inflamed, and the rhinos will die...
At the time of Andalas' conception, the actual gestation of the Sumatran rhino was unknown. Emi had miscarried 5 times prior to giving birth to Andalas. But she had been conditioned to accept blood being drawn from a vein at the back of her ear (as well as rectal exams). Blood samples allowed hormone levels to be regularly monitored. At one point Emi was briefly introduced to Ipuh while he was in his pool. Mating took place-- and an ultrasound revealed that she had begun ovulating after her introduction to the male, making Sumatran rhinos induced ovulators. The actual stimulus remained a mystery, though it was thought that seminal plasma may have done the trick. To prevent miscarriage, Emi was given a progesterone supplement daily (delivered by her keepers in a loaf of her favorite Wonder Bread), then was weaned off of the hormone starting at day 450, with supplementation ending at day 465. Andalas was born after a 475 day gestation. Progesterone supplementation was not administered during the pregnancies that produced Suci in 2004 and Harapan in 2007.
None of this was known/thought possible prior to Terri Roth and her team's work at Cincinnati. Theirs was a pioneering effort.
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