Taronga Zoo The next elephant birth

  • Thread starter Thread starter jay
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Pertinax said:
I don't think there are. Elephants haven't been bred in sufficient numbers in zoos until recently for the need for 'bachelor' groups' to arise-so the ones that have been set up are young bulls mostly still in the immature phase.

Fully mature bulls in the wild sometimes form 'pairs' rather than larger groups. Even when they associate/move around together in the wild, they can choose their own 'space' from each other, when to be together and when to go their seperate ways.

BTW. I hope this 'miracle calf' survives, it certainly deserves to.:)
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Thank you Pertinax.

Do you know if there would be different dynamics with Africans?
 
Steve,
Unfortunately I can't provide verification. The info I provided is based on my experience with captive and wild Asians and knowledge of wild Africans. It is common in the wild to see small herds of young males between about 8 and 25, they often practice mounting eachother. There is only usually one or two mature bulls in this group so I'm not sure if there ever has been a group of mature Africans. This is only something I've Been told so if anyone knows otherwise please tell me but I was told that often male calves of similar ages from the same herd will stay together for extended periods. I heard of a pair of bulls together for fifty years. When I have access to a computer I'll see if I can find any verification on this.
 
torie said:
I think there were still members of the team keeping an eye on mum so their were prob ppl there at the time of the birth but I'll find out for you!
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They must have been watching/monitoring her as they know the exact time of birth- unless it was on a monitor. As they were expecting a dead calf presumably they didn't intervene. They must have had a real shock when he moved!!
 
Just to get back on track a little, Is there any updated news about the new Sydney calf?
 
Jarkari said:
Steve,
Unfortunately I can't provide verification. The info I provided is based on my experience with captive and wild Asians and knowledge of wild Africans. It is common in the wild to see small herds of young males between about 8 and 25, they often practice mounting eachother. There is only usually one or two mature bulls in this group so I'm not sure if there ever has been a group of mature Africans. This is only something I've Been told so if anyone knows otherwise please tell me but I was told that often male calves of similar ages from the same herd will stay together for extended periods. I heard of a pair of bulls together for fifty years. When I have access to a computer I'll see if I can find any verification on this.
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Correct. We are yet to reach that level of management for captive elephants. Too complex by half for now.

Back to the thread: an elephant birth is never straight-forward and usually the cow knows her business. even if she be a primiparuous cow. Glad the calf came out OK and the mother seems in good health and standing ... :D
 
Steve Robinson said:
Well jay, that's the best scoop that you have ever had!


"I wonder what the old time elephant men like Chic Cody would be saying about the experts right now?"

I suspect he wouldn't have a clue as there would be no way elephants would have bred under his control! It's always better to mention old time staff in a flattering light only if you know how they really looked after animals.

Three cheers to all the staff involved in the care of the elephant herd :)
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I just saw this in the UK news. I'm very excited for Taronga Zoo! I hope the calf continues to thrive. All the news on the zoo's website is encouraging so far, so I'll keep fingers crossed that it continues to be good news :)
 
Well pongogirl, some of us DO know how the old-time elephant men looked after their animals. Don't knock what you don't understand.

Guys like Graham Button, Brian Adamson, Peter Newman and Chic and Dave Cody were instinctual animal men; they had a "green thumb" with animals, if you like. Dave was a particularly valuable keeper for Taronga - he looked after both African and Asiatic elephants there and rarely took a day off because his presence was more or less essential.

I have no idea why breeding of elephants wasn't attempted - I assume that it was regarded as too dangerous to both the cows and the keepers (no protected contact in those days) - but it wasn't the keepers' decision to make.
 
There's a good video clip of 'Mr shuffles' being held up in a sling while Pornthip seems more interested in the sawdust on the floor. I wonder how long the keepers kept him up like that?
 
I heard a keeper interviewed on the radio today who said when she arived in the morning and saw the calf on the ground she was relieved that the mother had got the dead calf out, "Then It Lifted Its Head".

By that discription there was no one there when it was born and it was completly natural.
 
MARK said:
Who is the next cow to give birth?
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Mark we get a bit of a break now, which after all the excitement of Mr Shuffles birth we probably need. Kulab at Melbourne is the next due, in August or September of this year. Pak Boon at taronga is then due earlt 2011.
I would like to know if there are any plans to get tang Mo and Num-Oi pregnant soon.
 
Monty said:
By that discription there was no one there when it was born and it was completly natural.
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It sounds from the Keeper's description as if it was found outside(?) while the mother was some distance away (inside the barn?) But in that case how do they know the exact moment of birth (as was publicised?):confused:

This calf has made news in the UK now as well. If it is suckling unaided then I would rate its survival chances as good.
 
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