elephants are in » Taronga Zoo

04-08-2006

I also find it interesting that Perth zoo is attempting AI. Perhaps the zoos are starting to feel pressure from RSPCA etc to prove that elephants can be bred in Australia?

07-08-2006

i too feel that if the zoos focus on meeting the welfare needs of the individual elephants & integrate the elephants with breeding potential (such as melbourne zoo's Bong-Su) into a more normal group scenario than breeding could occur.
a lot of information would have been learnt about the elephants at perth through this procedure. likewise, taronga zoo had quite a long running ai program with its giraffe herd which never produced any calves but they did discover a lot of biological/reproductive data than at some point in the future could prove important for either the in-situ or ex-situ management of this species.
anyone who would like to read an interesting article on breeding giant pandas in american zoos and how those efforts are being linked to china should pick up the august edition of nat. geo. its a good read & supplies some eye-opening financial statistics regarding american zoo involvement too!!!

10-08-2006

Are you sure this is correct Michelle? My understanding is that these animals are a gift from the people of Thailand to the people of Australia. There isn't anything about this on the official permits either.

Certainly, the regional breeding plan for the species includes specific recommendations for any potential offspring to be moved and paired within Australasia, and this document was produced specifically as part of the import conditions.

10-08-2006

nah zoopro, michelle i am sure is right, they are from thailand as a gift, but somehow they remain property, but this is what the zoos are saying, i have read there was alot of money excahnged

11-08-2006

In the contract it states that Thailands elephants remain the property of the Kingdom of Thailand. The elephants were not a gift. That is just what the zoos like to say. Because they want to be seen to buying endangered species.