Indian rhinos in Europe

13-02-2008

Thats strange - so 'Belur' is only aggressive with 'Jahnsi' but will mate ok with her daughter 'Betty'

What is 'Belur's pedigree?

13-02-2008

Their bull 'Jaffna' was supposed to return from Whipsnade last autumn, but the move seems to have been delayed, probably due to the F& M and Blue tongue restrictions.

15-02-2008

Excuse my French! Buth both diseases can been vaccinated against (FMD for ages ...., and bluetongue since the Central Veterinary Lab in Lelystad and Intervet have produced an vaccine last autumn 2007).

15-02-2008

That's not the point, I don't think. The UK put a total ban on the travelling of any hoofstock soon after the outbreak. This meant that domestic hoofstock couldn't be moved around the country or exported and in our case, zoos could not import or export animals.

The ban was lifted recently though...

15-02-2008

During 2008, Warsawa Zoo Poland will receive young Stuttgart born female Shikari. She will be paired up with bull Jacob (born 2004 in Berlin Tierpark). Bull Hugo (born 2002 in Rotterdam) will be shipped out to the UK (I guess final destination must be Whipsnade ... but that is a firm guess).

15-02-2008

Jelle, sounds like Hugo may need a few more years to reach breeding age, with the two females at Whipsnade having bred alreadly there could be a big gap between the next births?

15-02-2008

Hugo will be 6 this year and both females in whipsnade have very young calves, so he won`t be needed as breeding male for the next 2 years (approx.) - don`t male rhinos start breeding at that age? He`ll be 8 then, that`s not that young. If it doesn`t work out, Whipsnade can still get another male, if one should become availible - there are not that many male indian rhinos in breeding age, I think.

15-02-2008

Thanks! When they become mature?

Hugo for Whipsnade?
15-02-2008

I would imagine this would be quite satisfactory- he'll certainly be old and big enough at 8 years to mate though he may need some practise- both cows are experienced now so that shouldn't be a problem. That's of course if he is to be Whipsnade's next bull but as Jelle reports he is destined for the UK, then I think it must be to Whipsnade....

Jelle- can we have the pedigrees of;

1. Hugo.
2. Belur.

'Muchos gracias' as they say somewhere...

16-02-2008

Hugo - born in Rotterdam, Namaste x Nico. Nico was born in Plankendahl and Namaste in Stuttgart.

Belur has been born in the Animal Park Berlin, I am not sure about his parents, but I don`t believe he has many siblings. Maybe one but not sure if that animal is alive.

16-02-2008

Thanks Yassa.

So 'Hugo' has some Basel blood too as I think the original Stuttgart pair were from Basel?

Do you mean 'Belur' was born in 'West' Berlin Zoo or the 'Tierpark' where he is now?

16-02-2008

Belur was born in the Animal Park, and I guess his parents were wild-caught. I am not sure on this, though. I`ll see if I can find more info about the Stuttgart rhino anciestry but I guess jelle will know more for sure!

16-02-2008

Sorry- Which do you mean by the 'Animal Park'- West or East?

Stuttgart's original pair definately came from Basel- possibly closer than half brother and sister ( being from the Basel mother and daughter respectively) I think they may have been called 'Nanda' and 'Puri' but not certain on that (memory...)

16-02-2008

Uups sorry, the "zoo" is West Berlin, the "animal park" (= Tierpark) is East Berlin. These are the names used in Germany to keep both institutions apart (and usually I have to explain to non-zoo-goes that the animal park is a full "zoo" too with actually more elephants and big cats then the zoo).

16-02-2008

Okay, so 'Belur' was born in East Berlin. Unless Jelle tells us otherwise my guess too his parents were w/c and both are long dead. So then they got 'Jahnsi' from San Diego as a mate for him and very luckily she was already pregnant (from a San Diego male) with 'Betty.' Now they have the bull and 2 cows both unrelated to him. It seems strange he's aggressive with Jahnsi (I heard that he bites her very hard during courship/mating!) to the extent she won't mate with him anymore, yet he can still breed okay with Betty.