Indian rhinos in Europe

01-03-2008

So what is happening in India? sounds like some big plans for rhinos there, any idea

01-03-2008

Jaffna was the only mature bull in the UK and(presumably) has just been returned to Basel Zoo. So the UK currently has nine Indian rhinos in the three locations(Whipsnade, Chester and Edinburgh) but we don't need a breeding bull at the present time as the only two breeding-aged females(at Whipsnade) both have Jaffna's calves. According to Jelle, the next bull to come to Whipsnade at some time in the future will be 'Hugo'(born Rotterdam 2000)

It would perhaps be better if any new male(s),coming either from India or the American zoo population, were to go to Europe, for breeding there.. He/one could later be transferred to UK if needed.

02-03-2008

I hear what you say but I was thinking more about a young bull for the next generation of young cows and not the current adult cows in the UK, because things tend to happen slowly, just thinking a head a bit. Nine Indian rhinos in the UK, unreal, Whipsnade must have the largest group in Europe now, it will be interesting to see if any other zoos there come in on this, maybe Port Lympne?

19-03-2008

Went to Planckendael (Mechelen, Belgium) last monday. Photo's are on my site (see sig). (btw, on the bus with us were an english couple, 50+ i think, anyone from the forums?)

Apparantly, we just missed the birth of a baby Indian Rhino! Last night female Johanna gave birth to a healthy female calve! Good news for the breeding programme!

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My Zoo-Photo's (soon more to be added): http://jwer.fotopic.net

20-03-2008

[QUOTE

Apparantly, we just missed the birth of a baby Indian Rhino! Last night female Johanna gave birth to a healthy female calve! Good news for the breeding programme![/quote]

That is Great news

31-03-2008

It seems as if Vienna's two Indian rhino are at the heart of a scandal involving the Nepalese royal family and missing monies from a conservation fund.
Nepal's royal family is accused of stealing from wildlife fund - Asia, World - The Independent

31-03-2008

It is not the rhino import that is under scrutiny (these were orphans for whose reintroduction to the wild was impossible for various reasons related to behaviour) here. It is the abject behaviour of the current king and his entourage who using funds destined for rhino protection instead misused these for private international trips, gifts and personal gratification.

The damage done, the institution to whom the funds were entrusted - the King Mahendra Conservation Trust - has really lost credibility among Nepalese conservationists! But Nepal is a democracy now (and not an absolute royal fiefdom the last king made it into with the end result of a broadly supported communist revolt) and the truth has finally come out.

On a happier note, a recent rhino survey in Chitwan has put the number of rhinos over 400 (an increase of at least 35 over the last count 2 years back). Rhino Protection Units have been reinstated, most guard posts have been re-established, a local volunteer force is involved in rhino protection and sustainable development projects and the army is back policing for illegal trade and poaching activities.

28-04-2008

Great news from Berlin - female Betty has given birth to a healthy female calf in the Animal Park (east Berlin). It`s her fourth (first not reared, second Patna in 2004 who was handreared and is now living in Chester, third Saathi in 2005 who is still with her in Berlin, and now anothe female from 2008).

29-04-2008

Good news. Father is... Belur or Yodha? And the 2005 calf was female also?

29-04-2008

Yup, Saathi (born 12/2005) is a female too. Yassa just passed me through the post ... first!

It is good news allaround for the Indian rhino EEP as the Berlin Tierpark line is not well represented at all.

Anyhow, both Rotterdam and Stuttgart are to follow with births later this year. And perhaps the transport of Nico to TerraNatura and Ropen to Nuernberg have already borne fruit.

I am a bit more sceptical as to Amersfoort (just starting in the 2nd year), Lisieux (precarious relationship?), Lisboa (3 calves, none surviving more than 80 days) and Muenchen (no news since 2004). And obviously, Basel and Dvur being without a breeding bull does not help anything to grow.

30-04-2008

So in that case her father is Belur ?

30-04-2008

yes. Betty is breeding with him fine, Jhansi is the one who can`t stand Belur (or the other way around) so she needs to be moved to the Zoo to breed with Yhoda. I wish they would move her to the Zoo permanently, maybe in exchange to Narayani.

30-04-2008

Yassa,

1. Belur continuously bites Jhansi when together. So, he is no longer let in with her. Instead, she is moved every other year to Zoo Berlin to be bred by Yohda. I wish though that Jhansi would be left at Zoo Berlin permanently and that Berlin Tierpark would acquire an another unrelated female for Belur.

Do not get your hopes up regarding Narayani (at Berlin Tierpark that is). She was in fact moved to Berlin Tierpark before and to no effect. Thankfully, since she has been re-united with Yohda at Zoo Berlin in 2006 (and Yohda being slightly sedated) they have started to get on! Cow Narayani had a her first - alas a stillbirth - late last year and chances are way better now for her to contribute her valuable genes to the EEP population. I am confident that she may have at least 2 live calves before 2012.

03-05-2008

Jelle is there any updates on the EEP front?

14-06-2008

In Basle, Jaffna has mated Ellora in the new enclosure, here is a picture:
webjournal.ch - Wenn Nashörner «Näseln»…

In Berlin, Jhansi is back in the zoo to be mated by their bull Jodha, because the bull at the Tierpark is agressive against her.