Demolition Man demo! » Paignton Zoo

15-11-2008

You have just used the 3 words that make me see red when i`m at Cadets and they are "over and out" as a comms insturctor the use of those words are in correct is it sending conflicting information as OVER means that you would like a reply to the message you have sent,whilst OUT means you dont want a reply to your message.So to end zoogiraffe OUT.

15-11-2008

you learn something new everyday on this forum. Out

15-11-2008

Fantastic news however it was delivered

Any idea when they are expected? Sorry I dont know anything about the orangs at paignton (we were due to visit this year but sadly couldn't) is it the first babies for the females?

Is this inside information I couldnt find any news on the site?

15-11-2008

It will be first babies for the 'home' females Chinta & Gambira. Not sure about Mali- I think she may have had one unsuccessful birth in Germany

It is probably inside info. as zoos don't often announce pregnancies.

15-11-2008

Mali any day now the others soon.
As this is inside information it is difficult sometimes relaying it to others

15-11-2008

Goodness they are going to have their hands full Thanks for the information!

Is it beneficial to the females, all being first timers to all have babies around the same time or does this lead to problems?

Say the worst happens (hope not) one female loses her baby or cant raise it herself that really must add huge problems to the the group dynamic? (I am assuming they are kept together?)

Sorry to ask so many questions but I am here to learn and only have experience of zoos from the visitors perspective

16-11-2008

If they do all successfully have babies, it is to be hoped that they continue to get on with each other as well as they do now. If they can't be kept together,the layout of the house means that while one mother and baby are on display, the others (not to mention male Demo) would have to be kept in their small off show 'bedrooms'. They could have access to the islands from the bedrooms as well as from the show den, but if they give birth in the winter, going outside with babies might not be an option. Fingers crossed!

16-11-2008

Chinta is not with the others at the moment as she keeps beating up Gambira.So today demo man was out and so was marli who loves it outside and spends the night outside sometimesDemo man is lovely to his ladies and often goes up and gives the girls kisses and if Gambira stays inside which she does most days staring out of the window Demo man always brings her in a gift of a few leaves on a branch..I cant see there being any problems with them all being together when hopefuly the ofspring arrive. Today Marli came outside with her little straw sack on her head.Looking like Mother Therresa!

16-11-2008

Sounds like you have some right personalities there Fingers crossed they all get on and everything goes well Be a shame to have to keep some inside as i am sure 3 baby orangs will be a huge boost to the zoos profile and attendance.

Just had a look at your lovely photos Gigit does the island give as much privacy as it looks for the orangs if they need it, looks very natural in some of your photos you wouldnt know they were in a zoo

I really must visit next year wish it was nearer

16-11-2008

It is possible for them to hide away. It's a large island and they seem to melt into it at times. It used to be even easier for them to disappear but a lot of shrubbery has been cut back recently, I think in response to visitors complaining that they couldn't see them. A couple of years ago a group came over from Sepilok to give a talk and were very impressed by the naturalness of the islands.

16-11-2008

The Orangutan island is probably the most natural Orang enclosure I've ever seen. When it opened I was looking forward to seeing the orangs climbing, particularly in the grove of tall trees but of course they never did.. It seems that is all changing with the arrival of the new pair though.

17-11-2008

Sounds fantastic

Having to hunt for them is a good excuse for me to spend even loooonger at an enclosure

07-12-2008

The problem is that they dont all get on well together .As yesterday it was awful to see Mali beating up Gambira.It was quite vocal and Demo man was acting as a referee!I think Chinta has learned a lesson as she is back in with them,But Gambira was sitting all on her own today and wouldnt go any where near them. Mali and Chinta were trying to dismantle the whole climbing frame by pulling out lumps of wood .Then Mali was trying to lift out the leg of one of the supports and my goodness she is strong as she nearly did it! I thought she was going to give birth with all that exsertion

07-12-2008

I feel very sorry for Gambira - she used to be able to hide behind Bulu when things got bad. Chinta has caused problems since she matured, first with Gigit and then with Bulu and Gambira. It looked as though both Demo and Mali were getting on well with Gambira while Chinta was separated from them. It all shows up the design flaws in the orang half of the Ape House where there is little room to separate them and at the same time give them space.
I have always suspected that if they were given more enrichment they would be less inclined to try and wreck the place.

07-12-2008

Its probably also because they are not naturally social animals. I think in the wild the females will try and drive others away from their 'territory' in the forest- there's no(genetic) advantage in allowing unrelated animals to share their feeding range. This is being mirrored at the zoo, where the current females don't have strong family ties. Orangutans are not really 'group' animals though many zoos keep them that way..