Comments on: Introducing Elephants

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:24:07 +0000

According to Elephant Odyssey page, all of the elephants are middle-aged. Has the zoo ever wanted to acquire some younger elephants? Also, is there any particular reason why there are no plans to breed the Asian elephants?

Moderator’s note: At this point, we are fine (and busy!) with our breeding herd of African elephants at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park and are busy ensuring our Asian herd is well cared for. We had an African elephant born yesterday!

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:15:01 +0000

I’m wondering why the San Diego Zoo asian herd hasn’t had any babies? Are there any plans for any? I mean the Elephant Odyssey herd, not the Park herd.

Moderator’s note: There are no breeding plans for our Asian elephants.

By: Chari Mercier

Chari Mercier — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:40:25 +0000

Hi! I had the most enjoyable time for about 30 minutes watching some of the elephants at WAP playing in the big pool just splashing around, dunking each other, sort of swimming, and just having fun getting wet! It was mostly the calves that were in the pool–Khosi, Kamile, Punga, Ingadze, and Moose. One of the adult elephants was in there with them, but she got out after a good cool down. Then the younger kids came out, and that left Punga in the pool splashing around all by himself! Then, I think it was Moose that got in the pool to play with Punga for a little bit. Then, it all ended, everyone was out and walking to other spots in the yard. The rest of the adults were busy eating grass while all of that was going on. I finally got a great chance to watch these guys in the pool! Loved it!! Will check the ellie cam tomorrow to see if these ellies are back in that pool again.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:33:37 +0000

Sounds like the Mule Deer are great enrichment for the young elephants.

By: Rose N.

Rose N. — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:00:57 +0000

Hi Becky #50 – Jewel and Tina are doing very well. Check out the article in today’s San Diego Union Tribune. Just goggle: rescued elephants make great gains in San Diego by Diane Bell. Also, on the SDZ Elephant Cam page click on videos “Elephants Are Weighed”. The two elephants look very happy.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:12:23 +0000

#36, ele-lover, thanks for the explanation of how Ranchipur had an offspring. When Ron told me that he came to SDZ from a private place in Washington, that meant he had not been to another zoo. Ranchipur’s only offspring, Rozana, came from Alice who was with Ranchipur at SDZ at one point, all makes sense now.

By: Becky of San Diego

Becky of San Diego — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:32:16 +0000

I am also watching for an update on Jewel and Tina. Hope they are doing well. Love watching the elephants in the water.

By: Chari Mercier

Chari Mercier — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:52:04 +0000

Hi! Got on the ellie cam and saw 3 deers on the cam–looked like one mother with 2 fawns–grazing on the grass in the elephant yard. What kind of deer are they? I think I read on some other comments that the deer could be mule deer, but I would like for someone to let me know if I’m correct, ok? I was looking for ellies on the cam, but it was nice to see a mother deer and her fawns on the cam.
Checked the National Zoo elephant page to find out about the progress on Shanthi, their Asian elephant, after her AI procedure in early June. Sad to report that there will be no progress at all because the ultrasound that was done just recently showed no signs of pregnancy in Shanthi. That is not very good news for the NZ elephant keepers because they are really trying to build an Asian elephant herd at the zoo, especially since they have been expanding their elephant yards on their Elephant Trails project that’s due to open in 2011. Hopefully, they will be able to find a male Asian elephant that can come to the zoo soon thru the SSP program that can be able to mate with Shanthi. The only time she was successful in getting pregnant thru AI was when Kandula was born in November, 2001. He will be 8 years old this November, and since he is related to his mom, he can’t breed with her. Ambika, the oldest Asian elephant at NZ at 60 years old, is too old to have baby elephants now. I was really hoping that Shanthi could be pregnant and have her baby calf at the time of the Elephant Trails opening in 2011, but that won’t happen now. I think this is the third time in a row that Shanthi failed to get pregnant thru AI since 2007. I’m sure that the vets will try again later on this year or wait until spring of 2010 to do another AI on Shanthi.
Gonna get back to the ellie cam to see if there are any ellies roaming around the yard before it gets dark.
Chari Mercier
St. Pete, FL
PS: Can you please get in contact to the NZ elephant keepers and give them some ideas on why your female elephants are so successful in getting pregnant and having healthy elephant calves? I’m sure that they are really looking for answers right now, and I felt that your information could be useful for them to have since they have been working very hard to establish an Asian elephant herd there. Three years of disappointments with Shanthi cannot be good for morale at this point for them. They need alot of good encouragement from other elephant keepers right about now!

Moderator’s note: Those are indeed native mule deer that often hop into and out of the elephant yard at the Wild Animal Park.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:41:49 +0000

You probably have heard that Ranchipur’s only offspring, Rozana, gave birth to a 318 lb female calf in Albuquerque on Sept 2, 2009. So, he is a grandfather!

By: Jodi C

Jodi C — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:30:49 +0000

Sounds like the elephants are keeping everyone busy. I was reading about male elephants that are in musth…didnt realize they can be so aggressive and dig their tusks into the ground…very interesting. Thank you all for the wonderful work you do. Also great that you rescued the two girls.