Indian rhinos in Europe

20-02-2008

Sorry guys .... Roopa is now 36 and definitely post-reproductive. She has had her fill of calves (2 survivors in the population). It is fair to assume she may have come down with age-related disabilities (pure conjecture on my part though). Thus she must and will remain for the rest of her remaining lifespan at Whipsnade. She will be allowed the dignity of a good retirement home at Whipsnade.

The female Baatschii coming in from Basel is - the logical option - only on temporary holding at Whipsnade. I guess she is due to be moved later on up north. Probably, this has something to do with readying the exhibit at Chester to accomodate a cow rhino. Separation is initially called for and letting both individuals become acquainted through the bars of their enclosure. Baatschii is way too young to introduce her now to a bull (and as I observed before it is not wise to let a same age bull in with a cow on heat).

20-02-2008

I guess that means Roopa and Baatschi (until she presumably moves on) will stay in the old house then whilst the mothers, calves and Jaffna (until he moves back) will move into the new one...?

20-02-2008

A contradiction here- you say this then in the next post you say that she should stay at Whipsnade... I imagine she'll stay where she is but who knows if space is needed?

20-02-2008

Jaffna is currently(or was last autumn) in the house and paddock which used to contain the Gaur.(nearest the 'Tiger Falls' enclosure) My guess is he will return to Basel without going into the new house.

The three compartments(from what I saw of the building) will presumably house 3 animals(+ calves) I do think the old houses are substandard and feel sorry for any rhino that has to stay in them- (perhaps 'Roopa' as she's post-breeding)

20-02-2008

Quite right your observation. But I am yet to piece together the entire puzzle from the current info set.

The cow Baatschii move to Whipsnade is confirmed ex Basel Zoo The bull Hugo move from Warsawa Zoo to the UK is also final. It is current practice to let the bulls socialise and mature with individuals of their own sex.

Baatschii has some years yet to mature and I find it highly unlikely that she will be maintained within the same exhibit as her prospective mate. I am not aware that Chester Zoo has already provided for separate cow and bull facilities. Unless that is so, she will not move there soon. I guess first things first she will sit out her quarantaine period in Whipsnade and then move north.

Hugo has been with another adolescent bull for almost 3 years and slowly reaching reproductive age. It is therefore reasonable to assume that he will be have been given an immediate "breed" recommendation. Since, the ONLY mature cows are at Whipsnade and his combi with them would suit fine from a genetic perspective, he will most likely become the new Whipsnade breeding bull in 2009/2010.

20-02-2008

Chester already have an off-show paddock were one of them could be given access too, so it most be down to quarantaine as whipsnade could house her in their old rhino enclosure. As at chester they could easily interact with each other with how the enclosure is set up.

20-02-2008

1. Yes, same for me. Each time a possible new option becomes apparent.

2. I'm interested to hear about the recommendation of keeping young bulls together 'single sex'- perhaps to ensure they get plenty of 'male' company and become 'real' bulls at maturity? (I believe there's some evidence that in elephants, male calves that never have contact with another bull don't develop full male character and are sexless- Chester's 'Jubilee' was a classic example)

3. In that case, perhaps Chester's 'Patna' will be given a male companion first, and then at maturity, a female?

4. Summary; It seems 'Hugo' will definately be the next breeding bull at Whipsnade- while cow Batchi will go first to Whipsnade but could later be transferred to either Chester or Edinburgh.

21-02-2008

Just a note: the move of Stuttgart's cow Shikari (born only in late 2006) is in contrast to the current established policy. Bull Jacob (born 2004) is not mature yet. However, since bulls by and large mature 2 years after the cows.

It is fair to assume in this case the breeding combination is a set and match. From a genetics point of view it is a good combo with as little old Basel lineage as possible (WhipsnadexSD-WAP) x (StuttgartxNepal).


The combo Patna (Berlin TPxSD-WAP) with Baatschii (SD-WAPxBasel) would be fine too from a genetics point of view. Thus a desired breeding combo .... The only downside is that at the cow's maturity the bull Patna is not nearly half way there ...........


Since, the Chester staff so vehemently assure us that Baatschii is coming in March most definitely. Perhaps she is staying shortstay at Whipsnade while her off-exhibit is being readied and she enjoys her short quarantaine at Whipsnade. When the exhibit is ready to receive her, she is sent on to Chester ......... after all.

Whipsnade Rhino accomodation.
21-02-2008

Here's my guess as to what will happen now....

1.When the new house opens, the three existing cows(includes Roopa) plus the two calves will move into it.(it has three compartments)

2 Bull 'Jaffna' remains seperately in the old Gaur's shed/paddock area until he (soon) returns to Basel (unless he's already gone..).

3.The young female Batschi from Basel arrives and lives in one of the old sheds/yards vacated by the 3 females. With the others in the new house, she can be quarantined here without coming into contact with other rhinos.

4.Afterward she either stays at Whipsnade or moves to Chester.

5. A new bull, 'Hugo' arrives. He has to live in one of the older enclosures,(at least while there are 3 cows)

Will I be right?

21-02-2008

I think ZooGiraffe was talking about another Black Rhino here, not Indian?

Batschi.
22-02-2008

it seems Batschi from Basel has defied all our speculations and arrived at Chester this evening.... (see 'Patna's woman' thread)

22-02-2008

There seems lots of interesting news with the Indian rhinos in the UK at this time, two new babies born to new female imports, a breeding bull being exported out and two more coming in along with two other UK zoos joining the program, cool stuff

Baatschi in, Jaffna out?
23-02-2008

Just a guess but... its possible the lorry transporter and crate that delivered 'Baatchi' to Chester from Basel, could stop off on the return journey at Whipsnade and pick up the breeding bull 'Jaffna' and take him home to Basel?

new rhino house at Whipsnade.
24-02-2008

The new rhino house at Whipsnade is now open. It leads into the same paddocks as they had previously, though their layout may have been changed.

25-02-2008

The Basel Zoo news mentioned the in and out transport of both rhinos. Bull Jaffna will now go by return transport to Basel on the weekend. I expect him out with the females at Basel in late March or early April and that sooner rather than later he is planned to re-breed with either cow on heat. First births awaited by late 2009 or early 2010.