U.S. elephants 2013

Spixii

Well-Known Member
10+ year member
A spot for news regarding elephants in the United States (deaths, births, transfers and imports).

This year we can expect the following (others can feel free to add):

Births (current pregnancies):
LA
-Moyo, Disney Animal Kingdom
-?, International Conservation Center
-?, Lowry Park zoo

EM
-Ellie, St. Louis zoo
-Karnaudi, Busch Gardens
-Rozie, ABQ bio park

Openings
-phase I of the national elephant center should be completed by the end of this month.
-phase II of encounter Africa (Cheyenne mountain zoo)

transfers

1,3 EM Calgary----> undetermined
1,0 LA Disney's animal kingdom----> NEC
1,0 EM Antwerp----> Denver
2,0 EM Emmen----> Denver
0,3 LA Toronto---> PAWS (legal battles may result in the NEC as the destination)
 
Smithsonian's final phase of their elephant exhibit will be opened sometime this year.
 
I'm pretty sure that the Calgary Zoo's elephants aren't moving for a few years. The elephants in Toronto are almost 100% not going to the NEC (even though I wish they were). After over a year of arguing, the elephants should be moving to PAWS in April.
 
I dont know that the Calgary elephants will be a few years. Since the expected calf was stillborn the plan could be sped up provided they can find a good home for the girls as a herd.
 
When is the final phase of the National Elephant Center supposed to be? It seems that this has been in the news for a long time.
 
When is the final phase of the National Elephant Center supposed to be? It seems that this has been in the news for a long time.

Supposedly the African phase will be complete in the coming months. With elephants arriving this summer.

Construction of the Asian side and subsequent visitor amenities should commence soon after.
 
I dont know that the Calgary elephants will be a few years. Since the expected calf was stillborn the plan could be sped up provided they can find a good home for the girls as a herd.

Yes, at this point their potential destination could be:
-Los Angeles (currently houses 1.2 a unrepresented bull and two gerriatric cows)
-National (Upon completion of the final phase of elephant trails 1.2 mother and maturing son and a elderly cow)
-Portland (opening new exhibit sometime in 2014, like National it is seeking to replicate a cohesive matriarchal group)
-Columbus (Has a massive amount of space and two other breeding cows)

I feel as if the cows will be sent to Los Angeles, for climatic reasons. As it would not make sense to transfer them to a Northern zoo considering the claimed reason for their departure in the first place. Spike could be going anywhere at this point. African Lion Safari may need a breeding bull, but their maturing male, George may take the role. If Hank doesn't prove capable of impregnating the Columbus cows, I would imagine that would be a good destination for Spike

time will tell.
 
He wouldn't. Haha.....................

On a side note, Mahrani could be pregnant AGAIN in Calgary. I saw footage of Spike mating her on January ninth.
 
Well my mistake. I've heard that several african Bulls in that situation could be moved so to try a different breeder. I assumed wrongly that Hank was an african based on I guess LAs name. But yeah there are several dry bulls that could join the bachelor herd so a new.bull could.be brought in to breed.
 
Well my mistake. I've heard that several african Bulls in that situation could be moved so to try a different breeder. I assumed wrongly that Hank was an african based on I guess LAs name. But yeah there are several dry bulls that could join the bachelor herd so a new.bull could.be brought in to breed.

Sorry for throwing you off ;) I've heard the same. Regarding Tuffy, Artie, and Tonka finding new homes... With Ajani and Callie going to Maryland and North Carolina. However these are only rumor at this point from a docent in Birmingham.
 
At what age do Ajani and Callee (both are 12-13ish) become viable breeders? Because I've heard that they could be leaving relatively soon and if new teenagers aren't found then they would look for older dry bulls to open up new breeding spaces at other facilities that only work with one bull.

I've also seen several bigger zoos send keepers to learn how to handle a multi-bull situation so hopefully we will see more zoos try the concept now that many things have been learned in Birmingham. Both good and bad (Ajani's meniscus tear).
 
Males usually mature around 12-14. Based on photographs Ajani looks a lot more mature than Callee physically at least. I believe Ajani's semen was used in the AI of Renee in Toledo, but Jackson ended up being the father.
 
Ajani is my favorite of the four. hard to believe that they have been there this long already and that he may leave soon.
 
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