Lisbon Gorillas. I heard somewhere that Gorilla Anguka's 2nd baby died also. Is she pregnant again or had another one yet?
Quick Update Visited Lisbon Zoo this week for the second time - my first visit was in 2005. As noted in this thread and elsewhere, the zoo has changed almost out of all recognition since my last visit. Most of the old outdated houses are now gone, with only the old tiger house, 'monkey village' and 'cell block chimp' remaining. The old tiger house and cage now holds Hamadryas baboon. Looked like their old barred (but very large) cage has also now gone. The 'monkey village' now holds quite a large group of Japanese macaque (pretty sure it held Rhesus macaque in 2005), but the enclosure looks pretty much the same. The old chimp house and cages (by the reptile house and cattle enclosures) were screened off but some monkeys could be seen in one or two of the cages (Debrazza guenon and Capuchins). Other bits and pieces: Feline hill (also new since 2005, replacing old cat cage row) now houses Northern Lynx (2 enclosures), Snow Leopard, Puma, Persian Leopard and Fishing Cat. No Jaguars, Ocelot or Clouded Leopard. The hoofstock enclosures next to the bears now hold Addax and Nyala. The extreme upper part of the zoo remains closed and can only be viewed from the cable car. The lower (viewable by foot) enclosures (by the cheetahs) held Sable, Roan, Eland and Sitatunga (not labelled). More Sitatunga could be seen in a separate enclosure just past the 'no access' barrier. Much of the post 2005 development is very impressive, most notably the ape house and enclosure. I wonder if any individuals of gorilla or chimp remain from the previous enclosures? Overall, Lisbon now represents a really attractive zoo. In terms of species, most are those seen often by the seasoned zoo visitor but black cheeked white nose guenon are a relative rarity and the parrot collection is superb (if held in cages that make photography quite difficult!).
'Palace' it was not - I will try and find my photos from 2005, but brace yourself! I'm not sure if any of the chimps that lived in there made it to the new enclosure, but if they did, it must have been like being released from a 30 year sentence!
I have seen photos of the old cages.. The oldest female Gorilla may have been in there but the others are more recent. I take it there was no baby- died?
I have uploaded a couple of recent photos of the Lisbon gorillas . I think they were shut out in the paddock . Whilst 3 of them , including Nasibu , all looking rather overweight , wandered about , the 3rd female remained lying down on one of the platforms . From what I could see she had lost a lot of weight - I wonder if this was Anguka .
Now there are 2 iberian lynx on show at the zoo http://www.zoo.pt/site/novidades_detalhe.php?novidade=80
Dont know if posted already on another place in ZooChat, but a baby male Gorilla was born at Lisbon June, of Anuguka and I supose Nasibu. Pics and video here http://www.zoo.pt/site/novidades_detalhe.php?novidade=97
Slightly late news, but... in October, Lisbon bred the Southern Hawk-headed Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons); also known as the Southern Red-fan Parrot. Lisbon Zoo is probably the only zoo on the European mainland to hold this subspecies, so the breeding is quite significant - but since it's not a cute & cuddly mammal, the media presumably wasn't interested...
Also a little late news (yet, better late than never): In October, 5 (1.4) cheethas born at Lisbon zoo from Dakartas and Aska.
@CindelP, do you have a little more background info on the rhino and giraffe breeding at Zoo de Lisboa? What is the status for both species now?
I visited on Saturday and really enjoyed it, once I got over the lack of vegetation/grass in some enclosures. I headed straight for the Iberian Lynx, but they were locked in for a while, which frustrated the hell out of me as it took me ages to work out the simple map (I just needed to calm down and look at it properly really). Luckily the Bears were just below them and I was so happy to find a couple of youngsters amongst them (HOW OLD ARE THE CUBS?), but I felt the enclosure was totally inadequate for such a large group. I popped up to see the Iberian Lynx and found the female settling in the shade and the male checking the boundary, spraying the viewing window I was stood at and generally looking less chilled than any other Lynx I've seen. He soon settled down with his friend, blending into the shade and I accepted I might not see them again. The Lions and Tigers barely stirred throughout the day, apart from the Sumatran, but the seeing the young chimps, gorilla and orangs made up for their inactivity. Seeing the young Hamadryas baboons managing to pop through the cage was a bit of a worry though. I probably wouldn't manage to answer any questions, as I spent most of my visit with the Bears, who were actually locked out for most of it.
Yes I'll sort a couple of photos later Added Gorilla, Lynx and Bear Cub to gallery .... rough edits, so sorry about exposure on them.
It would really interest me what will happen in Zoologico do Lisboa with the chimp group (at the moment it is haphazard bunch of 2 purebred verus, 1 troglodytes, quite a few unknowns (offspring from wildborn parents whose lineage is partially unknown) and a good few hybrids including the most recent baby (one born in 2011 was in fact a true verus). They held 2 former wildborn (unknown lineage) breeders: one born Zaïre and shipped off to Sao Paulo (and still alive) and one now deceased. Most offspring though look to have been hybrids, but it would be interesting to get both males tested genetically (even though one posthumously ... it would make sense). Perhaps it would be even worthwhile to get the Sao Paulo male integrated back somewhere amongst the European zoo stock)
Something that didn't sit well with me at the time, amongst the educational diplays for the Iberian Lynx was this paragraph: