Chester don't have a proven bull currently
Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2020
- Thread starter rubymurray
- Start date
Chester don't have a proven bull currently
According to a keeper they say Nandi would be a good age to breed so fingers crossed they get on but agree it will be a while before babies but exciting times in the mean time x
Would Gabe (dob January 2016) be used here? As a son from Kifaru (who I believe only produced 6 calves) I'm guessing he's quite important?
Kifaru has also fathered Ike in June 2017
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Forgive me: a 2,75+ year old juvenile black rhino male is hardly any breeding material for now. The female Nandi is way too old and seasoned and will only accept a mature and proven bull around her if and when she is cycling and in oestrus.
Average age at first reproduction is on average 10 years, 1 month for males and 10 years, 4 months for females in captivity. However, youngest age at first reproduction for males ranges from 4-5 years of age and for females between 5-6 years of age.
Source: EEP/EAZA Best Practice Guidelines
I’m not a expert just sharing what a keeper said
I'm a bit perplexed as to why EEP have sanctioned/arranged this pairing- a 20 years+ old female(certainly not at a 'good age' for breeding...though she could still have further calves- possibly) with an immature male. Breedingwise, she has already wasted another year living alone at Twycross. But perhaps they are just intended as an exhibit and there is no intention of breeding from her again- if there is then she obviously needs a better partner, and quickly, than the one that is joining her.
They were supposed to bring the one from port lymph but they had a lot of problems trying to crate him he apparently destroyed one as they attempt to train him, he didn’t want to leave ! Lol Maybe having a young toyboy might tempt her out having been a member for several yrs we still haven’t seen her outside only in pics lol
gabryatfendor
Well-Known Member
It is very likely that another young female will be brought to Twycross and that Nandi does not represent anymore a priority in breeding chance.
Just beat me to it
I think that may be likely in the longerterm.
gabryatfendor
Well-Known Member
Not necessarly in the longer term
Female Nandi is not one of a very important black rhino in Europe from a genetic make-up point of view. Having said this, I would hope she will be transferred to Port Lympne and swapped for a younger female to breed with male Sudan.
New rhino is in with members preview on Friday and sat morning We have a tenant and he's moved in! | Twycross Zoo
It does seem a bit odd - if the purpose of the move is to have rhino babies. Having said this, I agree with @Trudie The more the merrier! Perhaps they will eventually bring another cow in? Either way, I feel it is good news for the zoo and their profile, at was has been a horrific time for them.
I’m getting the feeling both the rhino and tigers move last year was a bit of a knee jurk reaction to what was supposed to be brexit last summer, if you remember nobody knew what was going to happen when we where supposed to leave the eu with animal movements and the cost of them. With twycross having two almost ready enclosures they where moved in just in time of the original eu leaving date. I’m beginning to think the animals they recived where moved in to fill these enclosure and possibly just to get them out of European main land whilst it was still easy and cheap and now with this new rhino we are starting to see the real breeding residents arrive. Not just the rhino but the tigers as well I’m sure a keeper once told me they where not compatible for breeding and I don’t think I’ve ever seen both on the same day yet they have been there over a year now plenty of time for an introduction if they where going to breed
