Bristol's New Gorillla » Bristol Zoo

20-09-2008

Thats what I think me and Zoogiraffe were on about moving a male.

20-09-2008

This new young female at Bristol(Kera) is one of twins born at Barcelona in 2004- the other twin is a male. Both were handraised in the Stuttgart Nursery.

Their mother Kena, was also a twin, and her father was Snowflake, the white Gorilla. Kena is currently at Blackpool Zoo.

20-09-2008

I still think Dublin's 'Kesho' (10 years) would be a good choice for Twycross- he's a little on the young side really to take on a group but they have said they only want a male that will be safe with 5 year old 'Matadi'- well, Kesho has grown up in the Dublin group with younger brother 'Alf'- exactly Matadi's age, also Kesho was mother-raised and he's not related at all to Twycross group.

20-09-2008

True, well they never know unless they try like chessington did.

20-09-2008

thanks, must be cautious to watch

20-09-2008

Zaire is 34. Juju, one of the oldest females at Howletts was over 40 when she had her last baby in 2003. The difference being that Juju had been breeding regularly throughout her adult life.

Bristol's Salome is only one year younger than Zaire and had a similarly long interval of non-breeding as her before being sent to Bristol.

20-09-2008

Chessington really wanted a new male- I'm not sure Twycross does...

20-09-2008

But then chessington seem to be serious about breeding endangered animals, twycross just dable here and there

20-09-2008

thats old, fingers crossed then

20-09-2008

I hope that Bristol's group will accept this new young female okay. At Dublin they had problems integrating 'Mayani' a 3 year old female(similarly coming from Stuttgart's nursery) because their silverback 'Harry' initially rejected her. As she was a stranger he regarded her as not his offspring, but nor was she old enough to be sexually interesting to him, so biologically-speaking there was no mileage in having her in his group.. I think it turned out okay eventually as they are all together now I believe.

20-09-2008

Depends whether she still cycles, if Bobby is interested in her and if both are fertile. I don't think Zaire will have any more young in the current situation.