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| Location: |
Captive - Europe |
| Subject: |
Reproduction |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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Basel Zoo. I could witness the mating of these huge animals. One would imagine that this would be more primtive than in small animals. But that is not the case: these animals show a complex behaviour which, especially during courtship, does not differ from other species in finesse.
The female is only rceeptive for mating during one day. When the animals are not allowed to be together on the correct day, then one has to wait for the nexct oestrous, after about 44 days. On 19 April 1972 it was the right day. The cow show clear evidence of spraying urine and she made loud shrieking noises. Those are the important sign of oestrous in the female. The noise is like exhaling in two phases. It is first like whistling, then prusting. The male was already interested in the female for a few days.
At 07.30 am we brought the female to a small enclosure next to the large meadow where the male was kept. The male could start to run around and loose some of his energy. The first contact between the animals was across the bars. This started the first phase of the courtship, the rivalising, without their great agressivity. This is necessary to avoid accidents. The male is agressive and the female defensive. Around 13.30 pm we could let the animals together. The animals continued their fights. This running and fighting soon reached its summit and made way for a normal togetherness. That is the second phase of the courtship. This can take quite a while. Both phases continue to take place one after the other. Gradually however, the togetherness is more frequent. The female showed licking behaviour towards the male's genitals. This is meant to arouse sexual needs. The male often made loud noises. The animals also stood in front of each other each in turn pointing their horns at each other. The male often smelled the female's urine followed by Flehmen.
The third phase of the mating is more sexual. The female presents herself to the male. An experienced female knows how to stimulate the male further and help him to mount her. When that is succesful, the mating can take place. On that afternoon in April, the male first mounted at 17.00 pm, but the first copulation only took place at 18.30 pm. The copulation lasts about 1 ? hours with an ejaculation about every minute. The next day the animals were tired and quiet.
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Liebesspiel bei Riesentiere
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