Giraffes in European zoos

04-05-2008

That would be seem sensible as the rothschildi EEP is quite considerable. Another point, I wish Whipsnade and the UK for that matter would concentrate on rothschildi and leave the reticulata to the European continent.

Whipsnade maintain 3.1 and South Lakes have a lone 1.0 and can not survive without further imports. From both a transport and veterinary perspective it is both quite difficult and time consuming to acquire new individuals from the Continent. A change over to rothschildi and let the mainland zoos take in the 4.1 individuals is so much more sensible (to me).

What do you all think?

25-06-2008

On a recent visit to London Zoo I remember seeing 4 individual giraffes. Some looked evidently rothschildi, some I was not so sure about (no keeper to ask whilst knowing that they have had a tradition of hybridisation).

I checked ISIS data and found 0.1 hybrid and 0.2 rothschildi. So, I am also lost for one further (I know ISIS is not always up-to-date and lately has not been updated since early May 2008).

Can someone tell us the current breeding stock at London Zoo (names, sex and dates of birth)?

25-06-2008

Antwerpen received 0.2 rothschildi (mother and daughter) ex Belfast (thanx Al for that magmanimous gesture).

Planckendael will simply house the current 1.4 antiquorum stock. I sincerely hope that Paris Zoo will sent some of its surplussed females (now also considered antiquorum) to Planckendael for conservation breeding.

Anyone know where the 0.9 antiquorum (previously termed peralta) + 1.0 antiquorum hybrid (a pure antiquorum now!) from Paris Vincennes Zoo are to be relocated?

Other antiquorum (previously peralta holders) are:
Cabosse 0.1
Fontaine 2.6
La Fleche 1.2
Les Sables 0.2
Lisieux 1.0
Touroparc 1.1

So, I guess the destination is la douce France. But which zoo is able to absorb 10 giraffes in one go (or even 2 zoos 5 each)?

25-06-2008

Sorry I can't. When I visited last week I thought I saw only three Giraffes. London have a long history of hybrid Giraffe but if ISIS are correct, maybe they are moving over to purebred Rothschilds now.

Whipsnade now have only 2.1. Reticulated. A male 'Bruno' imported from somewhere like Warsaw(?) the breeding female 'Savanah'- born at Whipsnade approx 2003(?) and her male calf- (forget his name). This group started out as 2.3 but losses and several male births mean its really struggling now. I would like to see Reticulateds stay at Whipsnade(a selfish reason) but they need to bring in say 0.2. to strengthen this group.

26-06-2008

A male giraffe from South Lakes Wild Animal Park, called Walda, is moving/ has moved to Longleat. North West Evening Mail
And a young Rothschild giraffe called Century has moved to Colchester Evening Star - Young giraffe comes to Colchester Zoo

26-06-2008

1. Anyone else has any info on the current London giraffe (genetics, origins, taxon/subspecies and/or hybrids)?

2. As I observed before, I sincerely hope Whipsnade will transfer ALL their reticulata to the continent (even we at Artis zoo would really crave an unrelated female giraffe for our herd). The 2 reticulate bulls could go to bachelor groups on the continent or to fill in for several bull demises at several continental zoos.

Please move away from reticulatas and join the rothschildi JMSP that is currently sweeping across the UK/Ireland (viz Dudley, Lympne, Paignton, Marwell, Chester, Dublin ..... +++ "others").