Orana Park's new gorilla exhibit (the first ever in NZ) was completed last month, and the three male gorillas arrived at the same time, and have since completed quarantine. They go on show Friday! A discussion of the process to get to this point is here: http://www.zoochat.com/17/gorillas-coming-nz-188392/ Full story, photo & video here: Three new gorillas at Orana Park: Futaki, Fuzu and Mahali | Stuff.co.nz
Just saw a short video from Orana Park about some 'wizard' who has been banned for 'winding up' the Gorillas.... Perhaps more interestingly, the oldest male 'Fataki' looks quite heavily plucked on his arms and face- it could be from the stress of him recently being moved maybe.
I just saw some photos of Fataki on Orana's Facebook page and he appears to be heavily plucked, as you said on his arms and face as well as his legs. Could still be lingering stress from the move?
He's even more heavily plucked on the more recent photos. Clearly something is still stressing him- the change of environment perhaps?- but not the other two. I've seen this habit suddenly develop in Gorillas before, and then just as quickly cease when they are calm again, so hopefully its only temporary.
Here are some recent photos of Fataki from May, and his coat looks to be in terrible condition: https://www.facebook.com/oranawildl...80454454689/10154880450934689/?type=3&theater
With a totally plucked body like that he has evidently still got some problem- maybe with his situation/partners.
That's an interesting point. Her (castrated) son Kukuma (who died at Belfast in 2011) also had a poor coat, as shown in this image: http://gorilkovi.bloger.cz/obrazky/gorilkovi.bloger.cz/4_4.jpg.tn.jpg
Kukuma was castrated so its possible that may have affected him in some way too, although equally it could be because he was living in a group with a silverback as well.
