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| About
African Elephants [more
info] |
| •
African or Asian? [more info] |
| •
Anatomy of an African Elephant [more
info] |
| Elephant
Conservation [more
info] |
| •
What is causing the dramatic decline in the African Elephant
population range? [more info] |
| •
Is captive breeding the solution? [more
info] |
| •
What can you do to save the Elephants [more
info] |
| Breeding
[more info] |
| •
African Elephant breeding basics [more
info] |
| •
Risk reduction [more info] |
| •
One giant step toward breeding success as The Toledo Zoo [more
info] |
Captive
Breeding
With so many elephants in zoos all over the world, captive breeding
should be the perfect solution to the declining elephant population,
right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Why not?
| • |
On
average, female elephants in the wild become pregnant for
the first time around age 13. The captive female population
is aging, which means there are more complications associated
with breeding. At ages 20 and 23, our own elephants, Renee
and Rafiki, are even somewhat old to be first-time moms. |
| • |
Captive
elephant births are complicated affairs at best. Without experienced
herdmates to guide them and set an example, captive females
typically are unacquainted with the birthing process and often
reject or even attack their calves. |
| • |
The
number of reproductively viable, captive male elephants available
for natural breeding attempts or artificial insemination is
limited. |
Why
Breed Elephants?
We are breeding elephants in captivity to serve as ambassadors for
their species. To save the elephant, we must also save its natural
habitat. Elephants born in captivity will remain in captivity to
help get this message across to people. They will not be released
into the wild.
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