Indian rhinos in Europe

Thanks for the news and the pic

Basel Zoo
Bull Jaffna has been back in Basel Zoo end of May 2008. The mating with Ellora as sequenced has been his first attempt at that! It is now a waiting game whether or not Ellora will come into oestrus next month or not. If not, she is more than definitely pregnant. It is likely that Jaffna will now be moved in with her daughter Quetta.


Berlin Zoo
Female Jhansi is oh her second mission to Berlin Zoo (she was there in October 2007 too) on temp breeding loan to mate with Yodha. I am somewhat suprised that the first mission did not result in a new pregnancy. Berlin Zoo has a high capacity for vet tech assistance in in hormone assays and imaging services. Well lets keep fingers crossed ... that this time round she will fall pregnant (and that she will not leave before her pregnancy has been confirmed by hormonal test results)

Even more important is knowing how Narayani is doing right now. Has she been in with Yodha at all?

Jaffna returned to Basel end of March apparently. The new bull 'Hugo' is already at Whipsnade since early April. He is the sole occupant of the new house at present. HE can see and touch- contact the cows and calves through the bars in the paddocks and yards(I saw him doing this). He is already bigger than the mature females.

See Whipsnade for description of new house...

What is the situation with the 2 female Indian rhino at Terra Natura, will a male be brought in, or is there one there already?
What is the origin of the 2 females?

A male came in last year, if I recall. I don't know about their origin's though...

kiang+CZJimmy,

It has been discussed before on this forum.

The male is the erstwhile Blijdorp Rotterdam breeding bull. Fingers crossed that both cows with him will be pregnant before the year is out and 2009 will see 2 furhter calves.

Jelle, thanks again for the info, in your considered opinion, what will be the next European zoos to take on Indian rhino?
And do you think we could spare a female for Western Plains zoo in Australia?

P.S and thank you Jimmy

1a. Well, it was always going to be Warsawa Zoo, Poland after the first bull Hugo (b. 2002 Blijdorp) was shifted out to Whipsnade. Female Shikari (b. 2006 Wilhelmina) from Stuttgart arrived on June 26, 2008. She will eventually be paired up with second bull Jacob (b. 2004 Berlin Tierpark). Please note the age difference between both as Jacob is 2,5 years the elder to Shikari. It means that when Shikari is sexually mature in 2-3 years time, she can be immediately paired up Jacob for breeding. Also the breeding combination is to level out the Basel representation in this pairing.

1b. The same also goes for the Hugo Whipsnade move. He has some rep from the Basel line (not much thanks to Planckendael born sire). When he is sexually mature no problem can he be reintroduced to both wildborn Nepali cows for breeding. This is envisaged for late 2009/start 2010.

2. I would hope one of proven Basel line females can be exported out (no need to increase their representation). The only real candidates are either the younger Basel female or the young Basel born cow at Muenchen.

Any idea where a female could be exported to? "Hint"

I would suggest - I think I said this before - 1 female to Indian zoos (either Guwahati Zoo, preferred, or Patna Zoo) for restoring a good male/female ratio in their captive breeding programme and 1 female to Dubbo zoo (Dora the male is born in Japan).

Are there any negotiations afoot to try and replace the female in Australia? I should have thought San Diego was again still the most likely source.

I think - but not sure - that Western Plains Zoo is actually an non-continent SSP participant. The SSP seems to also hold a close association with the Japanese GHOR programme - to what extent I do not know yet.

Realistically, you could be right on the likelihood of a San Diego female transfer to Dubbo (but then I suppose they also need to replace the female at Delhi Zoo that was transferred out and died due to transport related complications). It is however a very sensitive subject.

I'll bet....