Planckendael Zoo Planckendael News 2025

Male Asian elephant arrives:

From Le PAL’s socials:

Upali, our male Asian elephant who arrived at the park in 2019, joined Planckendael Park in Belgium this Thursday, where a new group of females awaits him.

The breeding male in our group, Upali is part of a European conservation program: the EEP (EAZA Ex-situ Program), supervised by the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Is this the same Upali that is the father of Sydney Zoo's Kavi and Ashoka?
 
Is this the same Upali that is the father of Sydney Zoo's Kavi and Ashoka?

Yes, that’s correct.

Upali (1994) is the sire of 14 calves born between 2004-2021 (five of which are alive today). His offspring include Sundara (2004-2024), who is the mother of Upali’s only living grandchild, Indali (2016) at Chester Zoo; and of course Kavi (2014) and Ashoka (2014) at Sydney Zoo.

Of Upali’s nine deceased offspring, eight died of EEHV (including five at Chester Zoo).
 
Sorry, who is Kanvar? The other lioness?
I've not followed this thread in a really long time, and saw the news on their fb today. So was wondering where the other lioness will be? (The one that had the previous litter)
 
Sorry, who is Kanvar? The other lioness?
I've not followed this thread in a really long time, and saw the news on their fb today. So was wondering where the other lioness will be? (The one that had the previous litter)
Kanvar is one of the elaphant bulls at Planckendael. The Lioness Lorena has passed away and Jari as well the father of the previous litter. So the male of the litter Yarzar stayed and will form the new breeding group with Laya. Laya should have come from Cologne if I'm not mistaken.
 
Kanvar is one of the elaphant bulls at Planckendael. The Lioness Lorena has passed away and Jari as well the father of the previous litter. So the male of the litter Yarzar stayed and will form the new breeding group with Laya. Laya should have come from Cologne if I'm not mistaken.

Ah, thanks! I completely missed this about the lions :(
 
Asiatic lion Yarzar underwent CT and MRI scans at the University of Ghent, due to his sister Yade having to be euthanized at an early age due to progressive ataxia. Her skull was found to have a thickening putting pressure on the brain.

The scans of Yarzar also showed a slight thickening of the skull, but he is so far asymptomatic and healthy, and is now much older than his sister was at the time of first symptoms. They also scanned the skull of Lorena, the mother of Yade and Yarzar, after her death, and she was also found to have a slight thickening, but lived a long life with good quality.

Yarzar is an important animal for the Asiatic lion breeding program, so with no symptoms and good health he will be given the green light to breed.

The results of this research will be shared with other zoos and the breeding program, as ataxi

ZOO Planckendael on Instagram: "Wil jij eens binnenkijken in het hoofd van een Indische leeuw? Dat kan! Onze jonge leeuw Yarzar kreeg onlangs een uitgebreid medisch onderzoek, inclusief een CT- en MRI-scan. Een leeuw onder de scanner, dat gebeurt niet elke dag! Het onderzoek werd uitgevoerd omdat zijn zus Yade een neurologische aandoening had, ataxie, en we er zeker van wilden zijn dat bij Yarzar alles in orde is. Hij vertoonde geen symptomen, maar de gezondheid van onze dieren staat altijd voorop. Dit onderzoek is niet alleen belangrijk voor Yarzar zelf, maar ook voor de toekomst van de Indische leeuw. Van deze zeldzame soort leven er nog maar ongeveer 350 in de natuur, allemaal in het Gir Forest in India. Elke leeuw telt dus voor het het behoud van de soort. Omdat Yarzar zo belangrijk is voor het soortbehoudsprogramma, kreeg hij recent gezelschap van leeuwin Laya. Hun kennismaking verloopt goed, wat hoop brengt voor de toekomst! Meer weten? Lees het volledige verhaal op ZOOscience.be. #ZOOplanckendael #ZOOscience #wetenschapstiendaagse #Indischeleeuw"


Binnenkijken in het hoofd van een Indische leeuw: Yarzar onder de scanner
 
As reported in the recent Harpij and as also documented at the Laafsekikkers, there have been some interesting recent bird arrivals at Planckendael:
  • 1.0. Visayan hornbill, with 0.1. expected soon. If the introduction is successful this species will be added to the aviary in the orangutan greenhouse.
  • 1.1. Grey-winged trumpeter
  • 6.4. Grosbeak starling
 
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