Chester Zoo Zebras

[EvilKittie]

There is 4 male zebras at chester? correct? but why dont they bring in a female or 2 for breeding?

Also i counted 11 Scimitar-Horned Oryxs how many babies did they have last year...and a preswalksi horse seemed fatter is that fat or foal?

 

[Nisha]

Chester hold a batchelor group of grevey's zebra and will send the males out once they are required for breeding. Somewhere in the UK has to do it but I feel Chester would do well with a couple of mares.

 

[EvilKittie]

so they are surplus?

 

[Nisha]

They are too old to live with there "Birth herd" but not old enough to lead mares and foals. Chester will transfer them elsewhere once they reach maturity. They can't/won't keep them for good.

 

[EvilKittie]

Ok, thank you could you guess how long they will be staying?

 

[Nisha]

I think it depends on the individiual zebra. But around 7-8 would be average I would think. It's just a guess though.

 

[Indlovu]

They can't/won't keep them for good.

Why can't they keep one or two to breed at Chester?

 

[Nisha]

There's no reason why they can't keep one and bring in some mares. Prehaps they just don't have room for mares and foals

 

[Indlovu]

They could keep one male and bring in two females- there would still be plenty of space for a couple of foals, who would then be sent to other collections themselves.

 

[Nisha]

You are right Haz_Cat there is no reason why they couldn't bring in a couple of mares and keep one of there boys and begin breeding. As I said in my first post somewhere in the UK has to hold a batchelor group and prehaps in this case the job has fallen to Chester.

 

[Indlovu]

I will email Chester and ask what their plans are with the species.

 

[Nisha]

Good idea Haz-Cat

 

[Indlovu]

I will update you when I get a reply.

 

[Nisha]

Thank you Haz_cat

 

[zoogiraffe]

I believe the current plan is to reduce the number of males held and then bring in a female when they have only 1 male left,and then hold a breeding herd so another collection needs to take on the roll of holding batchelor herd.

 

[Nisha]

Knowsley has no zebra at present. Prehaps they could take on the roll as it was said they wanted to bring them back.

 

[EvilKittie]

Space isn't a probelm, they've got 3 enclosure! but they are sharing with the oryxs, so they could have more than 2 females :O

 

[Bele]

I would like Chester to continue to exhibit a batchelor herd only of Grevy's . Their signs explain the reason and need for these groups . To me it is fair to spread non-breeding groups between the major collections and those smaller ones who seem to be expected to hold more non-breeders . I know the question of experience with a species comes into the equation , and there is less to be lost by sending surplus males or females to a collection new to the animal type , but Chester has plenty of breeding groups of other species .