Gorillas Haven

Gorilla Haven on Atlanta TV
24-07-2008

Video

The local CBS station in Atlanta ran a piece on GH this morning, found online at the above link.

I wish it had been a bit warmer (it was only 95 degrees that day) and that I had been a bit sweatier or more dishelved**, but try not to look at those parts and enjoy the gorillas, which is, after all, what it's all about!

**read deep sarcasm here, I had hoped they'd have left me out of the clips altogether!

Jane Dewar

24-07-2008

Great story, hopefully it will get some donations rolling in and some long term sponsors.

24-07-2008

Rigo- as far as I know he's living with all the females(Yuska, G.anne, Julia & Jumato- Betsi died last year) since around July last year. I'm not sure there has been any mating though... g.Anne is a strange lady but very individual.

I've seen Rigo about three times. He used to be a superb male but he's turned into something of an 'old man' now- still, he's in a much better situation now than he was previously. The best hope for continuing his line may lie with his grandson Mapema (born Jersey, then Paignton) now with females in Duisburg, Germany.

Ya Kwanza had a testicular operation last year. Sadly his daughter 'Ya Pili' died last year too.

I forgot two other 'male' situations in Europe- La Palmyre, France & Fasano, Italy- each has two males living together(La Palmyre has a small breeding group also).

Two of the younger Sydney males went to join groups in Japan- I can't remember where off the top of my head.

I wasn't aware of the other Gorilla forums. Do you have the addresses?

24-07-2008

They are yahoo groups, so you get email. One is gorillakeepers and the other is gorillagroupies.

Gorilla info
25-07-2008

Jo was right - both the keeper and the groupies groups are on yahoo and can be joined that way.

I'm also publisher of the Gorilla Gazette, which is available online by subscription ... to subscribe send the following:

1. Your full name
2. Mailing address
3. Email address
4. Affiliation (ie: zoo keeper, student, fan, etc)

Email me directly, please (instead of to this newsgroup) at jdewar@gorilla-haven.org

Jane

Gorilla Forums.
27-07-2008

Are you a member and do you think they are worth joining? Does it cost anything? Presumably it doesn't work like this forum? Is one better than the other for updates, news etc?

27-07-2008

It is free, and you basically start a yahoo account and then join the groups, very simple. I am on a lot of lists, probably about 40, and it is a good way to ask questions and keep up with things.

How it works is you join, then you decide if you want to have each email that is posted to the list sent to you, or one daily digest (all emails in one) or no mail and read the posts on the site. People announce events, news, or ask questions. What you get out of it depends on your level of interest, if you aren't that fussed on gorillas (go see a doctor!) then you might not get much. There are plenty of specific groups, and general ones, for example, zoo biology is a great resource for me too.

You can also get news alerts through google, I have the keywords, chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, bonobo and capuchin in my settings, and I get any news reports from across the world on those subjects. Very handy, just start a google account and do some digging to news alerts.

06-08-2008

HI Jane, did you hear about this?

VOA News - Large Gorilla Population Discovered in Congo

I personally don't understan why this thread is not overflowing with questions to you Jane???

__________________
Stuart R Webster
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

Gorilla Populations - really good news??
06-08-2008

Nearly half world's primates face extinction
(CNN, August 5, 2008)
Report: Nearly half world's primates face extinction - CNN.com

Of course, the same time the new numbers for wild gorillas came out, so did the news that most of the primates on the planet are facing extinction, which is sobering ... Some people contacting me exclaiming how happy they were that "gorillas are saved" ... ahh, if it were only that simple!!

At least it's a good start! j

10-10-2008

Deadly Gorilla Attack at the Henry Doorly Zoo
FEATURED VIDEO

Female Gorilla Killed in Gorilla Attack

Omaha, NE - A male gorilla attacks a young female gorilla and kills her. It happened Thursday afternoon at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

The zoo's director, Dr. Lee Simmons, describes the situation as a fluke and says nothing like this has ever happened at the zoo before.

The 13-year-0ld Silverback gorilla was in a room being reintroduced to a group of gorillas as a way to ease him back to the exhibit. That's when the male hit the female gorilla and she hit the ground. Staffers tried to save her, but had no luck.

Officials will decide what to do with the male gorilla. The zoo and the exhibit will remain open.

Reported by Chriss Knight, cknight@action3news.com

10-10-2008

From what I could gather it was a fluke accident and was probably what normally would have been just a standard gorilla thump with no lasting consequences. Sometimes angles are wrong or something just happens to make a normal strength whack fatal. I hope so anyway. I hope the keepers are doing ok, such an awful thing to happen for the group and the keepers.

11-10-2008

I'm sure you are right in this. I've heard of a Silverback hitting a female a passing blow and knocking her out- this is just an unfortunate stage further. It seems he hit/swiped the young female (his daughter) and she then hit her head against something, which is what killed her.

A not unsimilar incident happened at Jersey many years ago- the male 'Jambo' accidentally got in with female 'Npongo' and her six month baby- during the excitement of this unplanned 'reintroduction' there was a violent scuffle between the two adults, during which the baby was thrown clear of its mother and unfortunately quickly died from concussion from landing on a hard surface.

23-11-2008

Hey Jane, this has come up in another thread.

Whats this about. Is it a good soloution? Seems to have worked really well with the management of a silverback.

"Casteration" I bet a woman thought of this first ;]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by zooman
Thats interesting, they ignore him. Because he his no longer a threat to there reproduction. Or and because he is docile?
Does the Gorilla know he is casterated do you think pertinax? go on ask him

Quote Pertinax
I haven't seen Belfast's gorillas but I know people who have, and have seen a number of photos of Kukuma. In this case, castration at an early age has resulted in him lacking typical male characteristics(crest, thick arm hair, silverback, size(?)) and he looks more like a female....

I reckon the others know he isn't a 'normal' male, or do they count him as a female- I don't know... Any information from Belfast would be interesting to hear about his relationships.
Quote Pertinax

__________________
Stuart R Webster
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

23-11-2008

It’s probably best to post comments on Gorilla Castration in its own thread that l have started. My first experience with chat rooms! Trying to keep up with etiquette. Thanks people

__________________
Stuart R Webster
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

23-01-2009

I'm a new member of this nice forum and as a (big) gorilla fan Iwould like to say to Bwindi: I admire your work at GH. l love your website and all the news about Oliver and Joe. Good luck with everything!

About the list of male groups in Europe I can add one more: in Safaripark Beekse Bergen (The Netherlands) there's an all male group, with 4 beautiful Bongo sons: M'Kono. Kidogo, M'Bewe and Uzuri.