Very exciting news, and hopefully a female. I'm guessing Yuska is now too old to breed, but are there any plans to breed with Julia and G-Anne at this stage?
Its a girl! Update on the new Gorilla arrival today: It's thought to be a female no name yet, But the house will be open for limited viewing later in the week It is only a few days old, but the latest star at Melbourne Zoo already has a knack for putting on a show. Mum Kimya and her baby made their media debut on Wednesday just four days after the birth in the Gorilla House on Sunday night. Zookeepers have not been able to get a close look at the baby, but their observations so far point to it being a girl. Zoo spokeswoman Judith Henke said keepers do not interrupt mother-and-baby bonding, and will wait to confirm the gender. Ms Henke said keepers were thrilled with how Kimya had adapted to her new role, saying she is doing everything "100 per cent right". "She's doing everything right, she's an exemplary mother." As for the four-day old, it looks "happy and relaxed", Ms Henke said. The baby's birth broke a 15-year drought at the zoo. The last western lowland gorilla born was in 2000. Dad Otana witnessed Sunday's birth and has been able to get a look at his new offspring. The rest of the gorilla family has embraced its newest member, with three of the females, Julia, Yuska and G-Ann also witnesses to the birth. Keepers had kept a vigil over Kimya 24 hours a day in the past few months of her pregnancy to ensure the health and safety of mother and baby. Kimya and her baby will make their debut in front of zoo members on Thursday, with the public able to get their first peek of the new family on Friday. Viewing will be limited to between 11am and 3pm New baby gorilla: A star is born, and is now presented, at Melbourne Zoo
A vote has been opened to choose the name of the Gorilla baby, The choices are: Kya — Diamond in sky Kamari - Moonlight Kanzi - A treasure Kibibi — Little lady No Cookies | Herald Sun
Seven of the phillipine crocodiles bred at the zoo were flown to a release centre in their native range this week. Full article here - Flying Crocodiles | Zoos Victoria
Melbourne Zoo’s 100-year-old tortoise Little John gets his shell oiled down No Cookies | Herald Sun Ashley Argoon Herald Sun April 24, 2015 12:10AM IT’s a shell-ebration down at Melbourne Zoo for not-so Little John on his 100th birthday. There’ll be no party going on for the giant tortoise, but he’s gonna have a good time celebrating his ton with a few veggies and a shell oil-down to stop those nasty cracks. A nice scratch under the neck is also on the cards for the 200kg tortoise, who reacts to a pat in much the same way as a dog to a tummy rub. “He’s got a few more birthdays to go — in captivity giant tortoises can live to 200,” keeper Kristie Lawrence said. “He’s just a beautiful, gentle giant.”
This article basically says that the female Philippines Crocodile has been moved into her new, larger enclosure that also features underwater viewing. This completes the new Predator exhibit at the Zoo, which already contains African Wild Dogs and Lions. The new enclosure has been visible for a while, and looks to be much better than the one in the Reptile House. Hopefully she is able to breed here too.
The government has commited funding to allow free entry for kids to continue along with $9 million that will allow the second stage of the Predator Precinct to be constructed. Full article below
Melbourne Zoo along with Taronga Zoo are releasing a combined total of 1,130 Southern corroboree frog eggs into Kosciusko National Park today: Endangered eggs excitement | Zoos Victoria
Female Sumatran prangutan Maimunah has celebrated her 29th birthday (albeit slightly early): Maimunah celebrates birthday | Zoos Victoria
That is very sad news . I guess they need to take precautions now seriously so that Kanzi (and the other troop members) is safe.
Jumatano is now known as Johari... and is the spitting image of her mother. Vale Julia! Things like this must be completely heartbreaking for keepers and carers... my deepest sympathies go out to them. T.
Jumatano is in fact her original 'public' name if I remember correctly, while Johari is actually her initial 'keeper' name (correct me if I am wrong). Hopefully Johari can breed (being the only offspring of a wild born animal) to pass on her mother's valuable genetics (unfortunately her father Motaba is very well represented as a son of the famous gorilla Jambo).
She answers to Johari... and is not referred to by her other name by keepers... I wouldn't hold your breath for any offspring from Johari just yet, as she's not all that fond of Kibali so far. I'm tipping she's going to be an awesome Aunty to the other little ones though - you can see that she wants to be a mummy so bad... if it didn't mean certain interactions with Kibali, she'd probably have been first cab off the rank... lol! Luckily the other 2 girls are plenty happy to keep Kibali satisfied for now... T.
Very sad news about Julia. I remember her at Jersey and have seen her at Melbourne also. I wonder how well she really got along with Otana before this happened? Having been handraised in Africa, she had not seen any other Gorillas until she went to Jersey as a young animal. Along with G Anne (also handraised, in the USA) she was always rather a social isolate in Jersey's group, the main reason she and G.Anne were finally sent to Melbourne, after new male Ya Kwanza (from Melbourne) would not accept them and eventually broke Julia's arm in a fracas. Perhaps all these years later she had similar difficulties with Otana also?