Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
The zoo does plan to keep them in the collection for the forseeable future.
Africa Alive! Wild Asses in UK.
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
No I wasn't. Nearly trapmled By a shire horse at Cotebrook Shire horse centre though!!!
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
It was the day out on wednesday. We had a great time. I was sad that there were no hornbills 
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
I don't know about the Wild ass.
Birma was mated, but she may not have been in season. I don't know anything about Rhinos, Sorry.
Birma was mated, but she may not have been in season. I don't know anything about Rhinos, Sorry.
Chester onager foal
Press release from 2004:
Quote: "THE Chester Zoo summer baby boom is continuing with the arrival of a very special baby Onager – the first one born at Chester Zoo in seven years and the 21st since Onagers first arrived at the Zoo in 1964.
The as yet unnamed male made his entrance on July 25 and is doing well. The baby was born to mum Jask and was up and about within half an hour. The four Onagers currently at Chester Zoo can be found in the giraffe section to the east side of the Zoo". unquote
Curator Mike Jordan also mentioned that in the next year a male from the US would be introduced to infuse new blood in the European population.
Anyone can check up on whether this US male was sourced?
Press release from 2004:
Quote: "THE Chester Zoo summer baby boom is continuing with the arrival of a very special baby Onager – the first one born at Chester Zoo in seven years and the 21st since Onagers first arrived at the Zoo in 1964.
The as yet unnamed male made his entrance on July 25 and is doing well. The baby was born to mum Jask and was up and about within half an hour. The four Onagers currently at Chester Zoo can be found in the giraffe section to the east side of the Zoo". unquote
Curator Mike Jordan also mentioned that in the next year a male from the US would be introduced to infuse new blood in the European population.
Anyone can check up on whether this US male was sourced?
Yes, I've just looked at that too. It seems they will be mixed with Grevy Zebra- I'm not sure how well this will work- I imagine the stallions could well start fighting each other..
Anyway, it looks like they are definately coming/have arrived. From where?
Jelle?......
Writhedhornbill
Well-Known Member
Woburn will probably not have breeding groups of either. There could, or would be Hybrids if there were two groups.
I doubt that. Asses and zebras can hybridise but its pretty rare. I suppose the Asses could be 'males only' I believe they already breed Grevy Zebras. I'd be more concerned about the fighting.
The signposts indicate the two species could be living in the same enclosure. Maybe it will be split and house a group on each side. Keeping them together would sound like asking for trouble to me.
I believe there's only one 'zeedonk' left nowadays?. THey used to be three sisters- mother- black donkey, father Grevy Zebra. I guess they put the last one in the Africa exhibit so she had company?
Are they in a free-ranging setting or are they in an enclosed exhibit? If free-ranging I doubt that any competition will occur However I feel that these are not suited to being exhibitted together as in the wild both would inhabit quite separate biomes.
Woburn will probably start with a bachelor herd to get themselves acquainted with managing these sturdy asses. As to likely sources of Somali wild ass: I think the 2 young stallions at Marwell will be moved out soon to make way for another batch of lively youngsters to be.
