No, Lucha is the cow with the retained foetus.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo ZSL Whipsnade Zoo News 2022
- Thread starter Lafone
- Start date
No, Lucha is the cow with the retained foetus.
It didn’t stop the Aspinalls from trying, or attempting to pass them off as such!
There are recognised subspecies of African lion, but I commend anyone who attempts to sort out the purity in the global “zoo lion” population. More problematic than finding a purebred Bengal tiger in a zoo population I’d imagine.
Benevolent madman that’s all i have to say on the matter. Honestly this is one of the most accurate posts I’ve ever seen.It didn’t stop the Aspinalls from trying, or attempting to pass them off as such!
There are recognised subspecies of African lion, but I commend anyone who attempts to sort out the purity in the global “zoo lion” population. More problematic than finding a purebred Bengal tiger in a zoo population I’d imagine.
i think someone was pulling your leg …
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Lucha has had this retained foetus since the calf died in February 2002. It’s staggering to think she’s retained this calf for 20 years and sad that her reproductive life was ended by this event when she was just 20 years old.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Zoofan15 how has Lucha survived for 20 years with a dead Calf inside her? Logic tells me that a narcotic Calf should kill Lucha. Could Whipsnade's Elephant team enlist the Vests expertise and get the Calf pulled out by rope or Ceserian? Doing this would be beneficial for the Whipsnade Hurd as they'd have an extra breeding Cowe. If the same occurrence has happened to Karishma, could she have a Ceserian or her Calf removed by rope. Who was the Sire of Lucha's deceased Calf? Lucha must have at most been impregnated in 1996 so the Sire cannot be Emmet. Emmet was imported from America in 1997. This deceased Calf is potentially very monumental,as I believe it would have been the last too have been conceived in the original Elephant House that now houses Lemurs.
Although I’ve heard of elephants retaining a deceased foetus for around 12 months, I’ll admit I’ve never heard of a cow retaining one for 20 years.
Caesarean isn’t an option in this species and she’s therefore retained it on advice of vets. At a minimum, antibiotics would have been needed to preempt any infection; though I understand the foetus can enter a mummified state where it remains largely intact.
The sire was Emmett. The calf died full term in February 2002, so factoring in an approx 22 month gestation, was conceived April 2000.
I thought I read something more recent about Karishma also, but maybe I'm wrong, I hope so...
Thanks both. That must have been a tight squeeze! Do you have any photos?
Wasn’t there an instance once at London of a Gaur jumping the enclosure moat and escaping?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Very bright sunny day at Whipsnade today and it had definitely got the visitors out! Bit chilly but all round one of those great days to be outside on the top of the downs.
Saw 3 out of 5 of the lion visitors, clearly all still getting used to their new surroundings. They were out and about though with one of them spending all day outside in the area near the fallen tree at the far end of the enclosure. There were lots of keeper visits going around the fence and also checking on the bush bound pride member, clearly checking up on them lots which was good to see. Was so nice to have lions back in the enclosure, although only temporarily.
There are two lots of new signage at the enclosure. One explaining the visit from Africa Alive and the reason the lions are there. And then the standard animal summary in the whipsnade format (date arrived, name, age, photo and then short keeper notes on personality), each lion getting one of those at the back of the glass viewing area.
The new meerkat / porcupine area looks very near completion. It appears massive compared to other similar enclosures so guessing they will bring some more meerkats along when it opens.
Saw the zebra outside for the first time in a couple of months.
Saw 3 out of 5 of the lion visitors, clearly all still getting used to their new surroundings. They were out and about though with one of them spending all day outside in the area near the fallen tree at the far end of the enclosure. There were lots of keeper visits going around the fence and also checking on the bush bound pride member, clearly checking up on them lots which was good to see. Was so nice to have lions back in the enclosure, although only temporarily.
There are two lots of new signage at the enclosure. One explaining the visit from Africa Alive and the reason the lions are there. And then the standard animal summary in the whipsnade format (date arrived, name, age, photo and then short keeper notes on personality), each lion getting one of those at the back of the glass viewing area.
The new meerkat / porcupine area looks very near completion. It appears massive compared to other similar enclosures so guessing they will bring some more meerkats along when it opens.
Saw the zebra outside for the first time in a couple of months.
Really looking forward to seeing the lions! I wasn’t aware porcupines were also going to be in with the meerkats, that’s exciting
Haven't seen anywhere before saying about porcupines?
Would certainly add to that area.
Would certainly add to that area.
Somewhere I've some old slides of the gaur on the Cotton Terraces but, unfortunately, I have mislaid them.
If you Google Gaur at London Zoo, you should find 1 photo
They can’t bring in more meerkats when it opens because they are expecting the two current to breed endlessly.. so to fill the enclosure.. as they can’t have more than 1 breeding pair .. as meerkats live in a hierarchical structure and only the original parents breed!! The rest are babysitters and care for the parents offspring ..
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Was told by a keeper and someone in the membership place but they may have been having me on!
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Not much evidence so far of their prowess! But let’s see.