Gibbons » Paignton Zoo

Gibbons
30-07-2008

Here's a new thread to carry on the discussion from the 'news from Paignton' thread.
I've been pestering keepers today and heard that the Pileated Gibbons had a baby this year but it died, as happened previously.
I asked about the Lar gibbons on the lake island and was told that the 2 youngsters would have to leave before they would get a new male and start another family group.
Some more poles have appeared on the orangutan island. The gibbons will cross the moat via a bridge and then use ropes hung between the poles to reach the trees on the island (in theory). There will be electric wires around the bottom of the poles to prevent the orangutans from climbing them (in theory again!). It doesn't look ready for use yet but I hope I'm around when it's tried out!

30-07-2008

Any idea yet which Gibbons will use this ?

It will be good to see that grove of tall trees on the Orangutan island being used at long last. Possibly the Orangs will start to use them more also.

30-07-2008

I dont think you can make something Orangutan proof, if they see the gibbons using it they will work a way out of getting across

30-07-2008

The two currently in the gibbon house by the orang island - a female Lar and a female Grey.

31-07-2008

Just to answer my own earlier question - the pileated gibbons don't share their island with the howler monkeys. There is a stretch of water between them.

31-07-2008

If they had a system where the Gibbons had to leap across a narrow gap, it might work okay as Orangutans, being much heavier never jump. However, there is a water moat involved here and anything involving water moats and apes is potentially dangerous.

Having said that, Paignton's orangutans rarely seem to venture down to the far end of their large outdoor enclosure where there are some very tall trees they can climb. I'm hoping that seeing the gibbons in them might stimulate the orangutans to climb them more too.

Gigit, have you ever seen any orangutan in the tall trees?

31-07-2008

I recently saw Chinta quite high up in a tree at the end of the island closest to the house and Gigit used to go up trees there. Bulu's favourite spot was where the development is taking place, but she would sit in the sun there rather than climb. There was a platform among the trees there and I've seen Gambira and Chinta go up to the top, but not into the trees. They used a rope strung along at a lower level to make their way round the island, though Bulu used to walk.
I saw Nakal climb a little way up a spindley tree on the small island and strip bark. It probably wasn't strong enough to support him further up.
So basically, my answer is 'no'! But who knows what Demo and Mali are capable of as they are much more active than the original residents.

01-08-2008

I have seen Gigit, and maybe Chinta, use the ropes and platform and scrubby trees near the exit from the House, but never on the main island. Bulu I saw once or twice on the ground outside. Nakal is the only one I ever saw use the main island when he was young and only then at ground level. The others almost seem frightened to leave the proximity of the House.

I reckon if they 'baited' the trees with food it might help if they were shown there was food there- but I think the Gibbons may also help- its a great waste of what is actually a very natural enclosure.