výroční zpráva 2009 ( 4,12 MB ) - Zoo Ostrava

The elephant updatesPavel ZvolánekThe previous year was filled with new developments not only for elephant friends and supporters, but alsofor the team of keepers.Jumbo the female transportedThe elephant team was not fortunate enough to include the female Jumbo into the female group in 2008.After Johti attacked Jumbo in summer 2008 (which could have yielded tragic consequences), it was decidedthat any further attempts to put the two females together should be given up and Jumbo placed in anotherzoo due to space issues. An interest was shown by Givskud Zoo, where they had kept elephant cows only ina display situation, which was an ideal option for Jumbo.As the female was never used to tying with chains, training started immediately upon the decision to transferJumbo. Within some three months of daily exercise, the female was able to withstand carrying the chains onall four legs even over longer periods almost without showing unhappy feelings. The transport took place on13 and 14 May 2009, when the elephant was loaded in the morning; unfortunately, Jumbo fell twice on theground during the loading operation. The situation was handled namely thanks to the professionalism ofErnst Jan Kip of EKIPA - the transport company, as well as Jurgen Kruse and Christopher Wollner, elephantkeepers of Hannover Zoo, who had accompanied the male Calvin transported to Ostrava from Leipzig Zoo. Allthose persons have a long-term experience with transports like this and were essential for this one to succeed.Jumbo is now a member of Givskud herd of four Indian elephant cows with no troubles reported.Calvin arrived, managing the elephant bullThe Indian elephant bull Calvin was born at Calgary Zoo, Canada, in 1986. By the time of recommending Calvinby the breeding programme coordinator as a suitable male to join the Ostrava cows Johti and Vishesh, thiselephant had become father to 11 calves. In addition, Calvin is a bull from whom semen had been collectedon a routine basis, and the high rate of sperm motility, nearing 90%, was another factor contributing tothe decision. As the elephant house needed some arrangements before the bull could arrive, like erectinga restraint box and converting the gate connecting the outside enclosures from hand-operated to a powercontrolledmechanism, Calvin stayed in Leipzig from September 2008 to May 2009 to attempt to mate femalesfrom their prospective breeding group, and the date of transfer was eventually set to 12 May 2009. Spendingten days prior the operation as an intern at Leipzig Zoo, I had the opportunity of becoming familiar with theway Calvin works and experiencing what this involved, as managing this male is different than with Ostravafemales - Calvin is responsive to verbal commands without a need for a device called target.A single keeper working with an elephant bull is a common practice in other zoos; however, there are bydefault two trainers in Ostrava to avoid any failure to ensure Calvin's daily routine in the case of day-off,holiday or sick leave in a single person situation, although this is more complicated and the training progressis rather slow unlike with the standard one employing a single keeper. Nonetheless, this approach is believedto be the right one in terms of multi-year perspective.62