An elephant play session.
This is a very exciting time for the elephants and for their keepers, and it is a true example of the relationship we have with them and just how well they work with their keepers. It’s a lot of work to move 13 elephants around more than 6 acres, 4 barns, 4 holding yards, and 2 big yards, so it’s a good thing they like us!
For the most part, the elephants are usually pretty quiet during moves. However, there is some noise if the youngsters get separated from their mothers; Mom usually stays with the keeper and just rumbles back to her calf to let him or her know where she is. There may be some trumpets or rumbles if a dominant elephant comes up behind a subdominant one and startles them.
I’m glad you all enjoy watching the excitement on Elephant Cam!
Mindy Albright is a lead keeper at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Read her previous post, Elephant Calf Learns the Ropes.
I simply want to say that I so much enjoy reading the comments of those folks who are lucky enough to closely interact and provide loving care to these magnificent elephants.
Thank you Mindy for answering my question. When I watch elephant chow time from now on, I will have a better understanding of the fun that goes on.
thanks. I imagine voices for the elephants and think they are saying, “I would like some treats,” to the keepers. the other fun thing is that when the pellets come out (or when they go through the gate), the elephants look like they are running (even though I’ve read that elephants don’t run). does Qinisa mouth the pellets or is she able to eat them yet?
Thank you Mindy. Watching the ellies interact with the keepers is my 2nd fave thing to watch them do. Swimming and playing in the pool is the first.
A few days ago I caught a training session. it was between the two yards, in between the gates. I couldn’t tell who the ellie was, but it was enjoyable. They are extremely intelligent animals.
a great mudbath time for Umngani’s family. can’t wait for the summer when Qinisa can join her first pool party. watch out Neepo.
perhaps someon could explain to some who aren’t aware where the 4 holding yards are situated as well as the 4 barns, since to most it would appear the barn is one large unit.
Moderator’s note: The two main yards each have a large barn at their north end. There is also a smaller barn attached to the holding yard that’s at the north end of the east yard. Hope this helps.
thank you but that’s only 3 barns not four lol
How does one see a previous blog? There have been lots of blogs, but this is the first time I haven’t been able to get any blog but this current one. Am disappointed with this new technique, done with no explanation.
Don
I had to go to blogs then pick the Elephants to see all of their blogs
try http://blognew.sandiegozoo.org/category/animals-and-plants/elephants/
(or from a SD Safari Park page, click Blogs – upper right – , click Elephants) I guess that on some of the other blogs, there are related blog histories on the right side of the page. that does seem easier to navigate.
THANKS! This works and all I did was click on the address you showed in green!
Hi Don,
I noticed this too. I discovered that I could get to the other elephant blogs by clicking on the green italicized word “elephants” at the top in “posted in.” I hope they fix this problem.
Oops! It’s not italicized, just green.
I would be in absolute heaven if these cameras/screens were interactive. Then I could use my finger or mouse to move the picture where I wanted, to see what I want to see. The volunteer operators do an outstanding job and are GREATLY appreciated!!…..however it seems that sometimes when I am really enjoying something, the camera moves to an empty field or a lone elephant grazing. I do know that there are good reasons for this……just dreaming about how much fun it would be if I could move the picture around myself..
Become a volunteer. chrvatin@sandiegozoo.org is the e-mail of the head volunteer.
We volunteers now have a Koala bear webcam to control. How does a non-volunteer get to see the Koalas?
Moderator’s note: There are a few koalas in a temporary exhibit across from the Zoo’s 4-D Theater. Our Koala Cam is scheduled to go live on January 25.
how lucky, the volunteer cam operators had a preview. but that means we will get to watch the koalas today!
Qinisa is loving the mudbath today. nice that the weather has been warming up a little. Kami had early babysitting duties, standing between Qinisa in the mudbath and a rambunctious youngster (?Neepo) nearby. then Kami had herself a mudbath too (more of a dirt rub).
when Kami had the mudbath to herself, she got pretty excited splashing mud (kicking one leg back and forth). Qinisa came running up to see what was so exciting. Kami stopped splashing though. maybe she felt it might be dangerous to possibly kick Qinisa. Kami gave a couple demonstrations of the helicopter trunk twirl. she was in a good mood.
“Elephant Treat Time” to Qinisa means poo… too funny
I believe it was on Sunday morning I saw that Moose was having a time out in the other yard all by himself. Looks like he is getting another one this morning.
oh, thanks. I was wondering what Musi has been up to. well, hopefully he has not been too naughty.
I have to wonder if the keepers aren’t trying to prepare Musi for the time when in the wild he would be booted out of the herd by his mother and/or the matriarch. He is nearing that age for it.
So perhaps some of his time outs, as we have been calling them, are for this reason besides bugging Umngani and others too much. He has had one in the smaller yard too besides the other big yard. Mom Dula and Luti can still trunk touch with him there.
Is there a special or tastier food in the boxes or balls that motivates the elephants to eat that first? It seems to me that is what they do even when other food is availbe in the same location.
I wish I had been watching when Kami was having such a good time. Are there specific video clips available, for example on YouTube, like DoxieMom provides for the giant pandas?
Thanks for you answers in advance.
Moderator’s note: Your treats question has been forwarded to our Elephant Team. As for video clips, be sure to visit the Park’s video page and scroll through the clips on the right-hand side for those of elephants. Other Elephant Cam viewers often post links to their videos, too, so keep checking back.
It’s just alfalfa pellet, and they really love it.
sorry Gram but we don’t seem to have a DoxieMom for elephant videos. she’s crazy-good and must be recording 24/7. you’ve probably observed but Don is a regular poster and volunteer cam operator. he sometimes shares text highlights. sorry it doesn’t help but I guess it’s more challenging to cover the elephants on video. there are more animals in the exhibit and they can move around quite a lot.
mornings (before the park opens) are often a good time to watch b/c there is usually someone manning the volunteer cam and the elephants are usually active.
Some time back on YouTube you could find videos of the ellies under Trunk Talk , though I’m not sure if Deb is still doing them now. I know there are old videos of youngsters playing in the mud,etc.
I found some older videos under Trunk Talk, before the herd was split. One showed Neepo as a newborn and that was most interesting to compare with how I know him today. I wasn’t well able to distinguish among them if not labeled because I began watching on only August 27 last year.
Thank you for sharing that info for a relative newbie to the Elephant Cam at Safari Park.
not sure this is ok to link here but I stumbled on this vacation video from Jimmy Kimmel when he was on an African safari and was approached by a baby elephant.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/444217
(there’s an intro and the elephant is on until about 2min 45sec, after that he starts dancing, unrelated to the trip video, and just gets pretty silly)
Mindy: I LOVE to watch you keepers interact with the elephants — they are so responsive and you all look like you’re having a pretty good time with them. I like the show you do at 1:30 at Safari Park (aren’t you involved with that yourself?). It’s always a fun learning session — you guys do a great job down there.
Do you check out the health of the wild herd of deers? How many are living around the elle’s? They seem to all get along just fine, once in a while the babies chase them but they don’t mind each other. Do coyotes or mountain lions ever get into the exhibit? Thank you
Safari Park responds: At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, we manage about 1,000 acres of native habitat, working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to monitor the health and well-being of the wildlife populations. We are delighted that we have a wide variety of species in this area including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Exotic species enclosures are maintained in a way to preclude injurious wildlife.
Patti… just a guess but after last season’s new deer arrivals it looks to be around 7-10 deer depending on the time of day and what food there is left over from the ellies to be eaten .
Hi! I need to let you all know that the elephant HD cam is very blurred and dirty! I got on the elliecam to check on the ellies, especially Qinisa, but could not make out a thing on the cam at all! Please let your webmaster and IT guys know about this problem, ok? I will appreciate it and should see good quality pictures from the cam by tomorrow!
Thanks,
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Moderator’s note: Chari, it looks fine to us. Are others having problems viewing?
There was a long period yesterday when the camera was focused close-up to the lens cover rather than to the distant elephant yards. I wondered if a new camera operator volunteer was learning how to manage the system. It finally went back to the yard focus.
BTW, I have left messages to be a cam volunteer when I read in one these blogs that we could do it from our own computers. No one has returned my calls and I haven’t found the right time to call when a person is available to answer the telephone. I guessed you have enough volunteers for now. I thought you would want to know as you seem to be encouraging more people to volunteer than are actually needed.
Moderator’s note: I must apologize, Gram. Although our cam volunteers can man them from their home computers, I have learned that ALL volunteers must be trained here in San Diego before they are allowed access to control the cams. I’m sorry I got your hopes up.
Thank you for the clarifcation because now it makes more sense. Perhaps one day the technology will evolve to allow for far-away volunteers.
Such a sad news story today about the pygmy elephants found poisoned in Malaysia. I so hope it wasn’t a malicious act by uncaring humans and that the surviving infant finds a caring surrogate mother…
Moderator’s note: The technology is there, but I’ve learned that the special cam assignments go to volunteers who have been part of the “team” for an extended period of time in other capacities.
Any elephant pregnancy developments/breeding behaviour?
I would also like to know how often do the females come into estrus.?. I’ve read every 4 months but not sure if that depends on whether they are nursing a calf still or not.. (Considering Dula mated with Msholo in September of 2012 and she still nurses Luti from time to time)
If so then she should have been in estrus in January again and if she didn’t could this mean a calf may be coming in 2014? .. .
sometimes the cam is moving too fast, makes me dizzy!
Last night, NBC News, Ch 7, reported that a 2 1/2 year old baby elephant had had tooth surgery. This would have to be one of the 3 born in 2010. Lutsundvor was born on Valentines Day, 2-14-2010, Macembay was born on 4-10-2010, and Emanti was born on 5-10-2010. Could you tell me which of the 3 had the tooth surgery yesterday, 1-31-2013?
Safari Park responds: Emanti underwent a dental procedure Thursday morning as part of the follow up to a recent tusk injury. He had broken his tusk eight weeks ago. On January 10, veterinarians performed a pulpotomy (similar to a root canal) on Emanti’s tusk and surgically removed inflamed pulp tissue that had become infected. The infected area was treated by cleaning the tissue with antibiotics and disinfectant. A plug was placed in the root canal opening to avoid further exposure to the tissue. Thursday’s procedure was performed by Jim Oosterhuis, DVM, principal veterinarian for the Safari Park. Oosterhuis is a recognized expert on immobilization techniques and dental care in elephants. During the hour-long procedure, Dr. Oosterhuis found the infection still existed. To avoid further health risks, it was decided removal of the tusk will be necessary. Until then, the calf will remain on a fruit-flavored antibiotic, which he seems to enjoy, according to keepers.
Dental check-ups are a regular part of elephant care at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Over the past two years, Park veterinary staff has performed more than 10 dental care procedures. Keepers also regularly care for the elephants’ feet, ears and trunks.
To Gram in St. Louis: You once asked me how you could tell which one of the boys was Emanti. When the team gets through with its procedures, as described by them, you should be able to easily tell Emanti from the others.
Thanks, Don. I have been watching for that as a clue. Do you know which young male Swazi kept pushing away yesterday during the time she was laying in the mud hole with Nisa? She did not want him there with them!
Sorry, I wasn’t watching at that time.
apparently it was Emanti’s right tusk from the video on YouTube…short video about a minute long
http://youtu.be/PS-pnw8VrHY
hope the link works
Thank you for that link. I wonder if he was recovering yesterday morning, making vocalizations that caused the herd outside to react in such an anxious way. I don’t think I saw him in the mix while that behavior was occurring. I appreciate all the updates as those who know have time to post.
Glad to hear Emanti is responding well to treatment.
Is it possible to get some updated weights on the ellie calves?
A good rule of thumb is a 50 pound weight gain per month per elephant during their lifetime. If the weight given with their picture was for October 2012, their current weight (3 months later) should be about 150 pounds heavier for an average weight gain of 600 pounds per year. Write down their weights now and the next time new weights are posted for them, check and I think you will find this is quite accurate.
Just checked out one of the boys, Mac. He was born 4-12-2010 at 268 pounds. He weighed 1967 in Nov 2012. Gain 1700 pounds in 31 months. 50 pounds per month would have been 1550 pounds. Actually shows gain of 55 pounds per month.
Interesting side note. Ingadze and Luti are almost exactly the same weight, yet Ingadze is 11 months older than Luti. Wonder if Umngani feeds her kids skim milk?
Don
Wouldn’t Mac be expected to be a bit heavier since he had the largest weight of all the calves at birth. Perhaps he’s just going to continue to be a big boy throughout his life. It’s Ingazde’s weight that concerns me with him weighing the same as Luti yet being a year older. Makes you wonder why he’s not heavier.
Let’s do the same comparison on Luti as I did with Mac. Luti weighed about 225 at birth and 2065 in September 2012. This is a gain of 1860 pounds from 2-14-2010. 1860 in 31 months is actually 60 pounds per month.
I think you missed my point, however. Ingadze is Umngani’s boy and perhaps her boys have not grown as fast as Mac or Luti. That’s why I said maybe she feeds them SKIM MILK. Neepo isn’t old enough to show much of a trend, but I think he was the second largest boy born at the park, tipping the scales at 250 pounds.
Perhaps being born on Friday the 13th has had an unusual reaction for him!
Neepo now weighs 1000 pounds for a gain of 53 pounds per month compared to 60 or 65 for Mac and Luti. Seems to show a trend that Umngani’s boys gain weight more slowly than the others.
I’ve watched this herd of elephants ever since they arrived at the Park. There was a statement that Ingadze and Luti played together and that was when I noticed the similarity in their weights. Ingadze was the first boy born after Punga. Was Umngani disappointed that she delivered a boy after delivering the first girl (Khosi) at the Park? I remember no happenings at the Park (other than the construction that connected the two sides with the walkway and gates) and I used to go many times and take videos until gas prices began to skyrocket. I don’t remember any comments about his lack of weight increase.
in the morning it looked like Musi had a time out (?) in the space between exhibits. (although it could have been a training and I just saw him afterward)
sorry to hear about Emanti’s dental issues. hope it will be ok w/ his affected trunk area. dental surgeries are literally a pain. hope he’s able to get over the infection. that is sensitive to flavor the antibiotic.
also in the morning, 2 calves were wrestling (?Neepo and Macembe, possibly). Qinisa picked up on their excitement and went over to see. Khosi got between Qinisa and the wrestling calves. Qinisa picks up quickly on the energy of other elephants.
Don.
Perhaps Umngani’s offspring have inherited a gene from her ancestors making them smaller in size and weight.. She is appears to be the smallest in height from comparing her next or near to the other adult females. As wekk as being the lightest in weight of them too, I believe. Though their weights don’t appear to be current in date. Example:Swazi’s weight is the same as before, during and after her pregnancy.of Qinisa
Since Emanti’s tusk was removed, will this pose problems for him is he has only one tusk?
Something appears to be causing the elephants to be agitated this morning–running around with no direction, throwing open gates, etc. Can someone explain this behavior that is something I have not seen before? Thanks.
Early this morning it looks like Umngani was the instigator of elephant hijinks. All the elephants were in a state of perpetual motion. Running to and fro, kicking, sticking their faces in the dirt and pulling their trunk up with that expression of what? If that wasn’t exciting enough to watch, Swazi is a powerhouse. She got hold of the gate door at the end of the main yard and swung it open and closed like it was a 5 pound weight for her. Truly amazing.
Maybe Swazi considered the gate to be a like a new toy since most of the gates slide and are remotely controlled and the elephants can’t move those ones
Has anyone else noticed (or my eyes playing tricks on me) that Umngani’s right tusk looks a bit shorter then the left one.. They have always appeared the same length to me till seeing her at different angles this morning (8:37 PST)
Umngani has a very tiny chip in one of her tusks, I believe the left one, but it is behind the tip so it is not easily seen.
Umngani does have one tusk shorter than the other now. She used to have a symmetrical face which may have been one of the reasons the Safari Park said she was beautiful. Moose, Emanti and now Umngani have chipped their tusk. Things do happen in threes.
yes, I forgot to ask about it but noticed the shorter tusk a little earlier in the week.
Well, one person asked the same question I was going to ask you all–any momma elephants pregnant right now? Curiosity is growing and would like to know as soon as the keepers and vets know! Saw little Qinisa late yesterday afternoon on the elliecam, and she was showing her muscle towards one of the boys despite her small size! Pretty aggressive little lady, isn’t she?
Gonna check the elliecam later on to catch the herd!
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
Visited the Park today. Umngani, Khosi, Ingadze, and Neepo were left in the West yard when the other 9 were brought back to the East yard. Qinisa was with Mom most of the time.
Ingadze looked fine, and after talking to a couple of keepers, with no one seeming to show any concern for his rate of growth, I reviewed my calculations. Having made a blanket statement that all elephants gain an average of about 50 pounds per month during their lifetimes, which had triggered my concern in the first place, it seems that Ingadze has only gained an average of 45 pounds per month, compared to the 50 to 60 pounds of growth of all the other boys born between Valentine’s Day 2010 and now. To calculate the increase of weight of an elephant from the last date given in any elephant’s writeup to the present, the 50 pound per month added to the given weight will give you a very accurate estimate of current weight. This easily covers a span of 3 or 4 months.
Last time I was at the Park, some of the ellies including Kami and Emanti were over by the rock structure near the pool, and a keeper standing near me at the overlook called Kami and Emanti over by shouting out their names. Kami and Emanti came running over into the little enlosed area by the barn. It was so cute.
Anyway, I was wondering, if I called the various elephants’ names really loudly, would they recognize their names and come over? Or would they be too smart, and know that I’m not a keeper and thus ignore me? I don’t think I would have the nerve to shout their names out loud, but I do talk softly to them and address them by name. I’m not sure if they can hear me though … although Swazi stood there a long time staring at me.
Moderator’s note: The elephants respond to the people they know well, which are usually the keepers who often have a treat to offer!
Interesting! I hope that everyone has a great and safe weekend! I’ll check in on Elephant Cam from time to time to watch the Elephants get fed.
I was just on Facebook and visited the site for the Reid Park Zoo. They had a picture posted from February 2nd saying it was official as Mabu had picked the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. It looked like he had a little flag grasped in his trunk. Next year before I bet a coffee on the game, I am going to have to see what Mabu thinks about the big game.
hahaha, that was pretty funny. I would never have thought of that but it would have been fun to watch b/c Mabu is so magnificent.
When did Umngani break her tusk??? And where was the piece found? She has been so careful up to now.
Waitjustaminnit… I swear it was broken yesterday. Did it already get fixed or am I needing a visual realignment?
Often in the early mornings and sometimes during the day.. the elephants can be see eating the grass in the yards. I can understand the early morning need to find food since they haven’t been given their food yet and are hungry. But I wonder why some choose to eat it during the day when there is food available. Is it personal preference of each ellie or just need a change in diet from time to time? If so is the grass a particular kind that ellies find tasty?
Elephants are usu. associated with peanuts, whether its from cartoons or just tv in general. Do your ele’s get peanuts?
Moderator’s note: No. Their snacks are special pellets made for larger herbivores. They love ‘em!
Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday sweet Luti. Happy Birthday to you.
This morning there were some more elephant hijinks. All those ears flared out, spinning, kicking, running, face in the dirt and a whole lot of other events take place. Other than it looks like a great aerobic workout for an elephant, is there any theories at the Safari Park why they tend to do this workout on some mornings and not on others? Elephant treat time is still my favourite, but mornings like today are a close second to view the elecam.
in the morning before the park opened, Ndula looked a bit agitated. she was walking fast and sort of kicking the air with her back leg. I was wondering if female elephants communicate their estrus behaviorally (or is it only communicated by scent). it didn’t look like estrus behavior (I believe Msholo wasn’t nearby).
I’d been watching the polar bears and their guy is very clear when he’s in his breeding cycle so it made me wonder about the female elephants.
It is not likely that the early morning antics of Ndlula were reproduction related but rather play.
How many elephants does SDZ own? How many africans and how many asians and hown many males and females? Do african and asian elephants get along?