History of Orangutans at Colchester » Colchester Zoo

History of Orangutans at Colchester
07-11-2008

Does anyone know the history of the Orangutans at Colchester?

Rajang arrived in 1980 was Annie already there?

When my kids were little mid to late 80s I am sure the enclosure was in the old monkey houses on the front lawn of Stanway Hall?
Both Rajang and Annie? had very long hair as the kids used to love them walking up straight with all their hair trailing behind them (? something cant imagine Rajang doing now?)

When did thy move to the enclosure they were in before Orangutan Forest (which could possibly be the one as that also is facing the original lawn pre large kids play area!)

What orangutans did they have prior to Rajang?

Wish I had a better memory? I have been visiting Colchester all my life and can remember loads about how it used to be and all the lovely visits we have had but the details I would love to remember have gone

One of the best memories I have is daughter aged about 2 (late 80s) in her pushchair covered in baby squirrel monkeys who could get out of their enclosure, eating her icecream cornet till she was covered in them and the icecream

Any information would be lovely If not I could always contact Colchester direct but I already think they think i am some sort of orangutan stalker

Extracts from 1989 Studbook for orang-utans held in the British Isles
08-11-2008

The first orangs at Colchester were a wild-bred ( around 1964 ) Bornean pair Guy and Chrissie who arrived in 1967 . Guy died 1976 , Chrissie died 1978 .

Lola a wild-born ( 1967 ) Bornean arrived in 1968 and moved on to Chester on 16.11.1971 , where she bred .

Adam a wild-born (1960) Sumatran arrived at Colchester on 11.5.1976 from Flamingo land ( presumably a replacement for Guy ) , he went to Bristol on 23.10.1978 , where he bred .

David a wild-born (1966) Bornean male arrived 20.6.1979 from Chester , he died 13.12.1982 .

Rajang , hybrid born Chester 14.6.1968 arrived 28.3.1980 .

Annie , hybrid born Chicago Brookfield 24.4.1970 arrived 11.9.1987 from Dudley ( she was previously at Dublin ) .

The exact arrival/departure and death dates are not specified in the studbook so records cannot have been too good then .

Between Rajang's arrival in 1980 and David's death in 1982 there were two large males at Colchester . Rajang was then alone until 1987 when Annie arrived . I do not know when she died .

09-11-2008

Annie(hybrid) died 27.10.1998. She was a darkish- coloured female(Bornean-type coat) but with a well developed pale beard(Sumatran-type) There is a not very good old postcard of her at Colchester- it is labelled 'Rajang relaxes in the Wilds of Asia' but it is Annie, not him....

I also remember Guy, Chrissie and Lola, obtained when the zoo was a much poorer place than it is now, under the previous owner (Frank Farrar) They lived in a typical (for those days) gloomy concrete and wire mesh cage with nothing much to climb except the wire. There is also an old Colchester postcard of Guy and Chrissie sitting on a lawn.

The Sumatran male 'Adam' was particularly well travelled- he was imported to Belle Vue, Manchester, then exchanged to Flamingo Park, then traded to Colchester, then bought by Bristol and finally (when Bristol stopped keeping Orangutans) went to Santillana in Spain where he died. As a result of his time at Flamingo Park and/or Colchester he became fat and sluggish due to enforced inactivity(again this was pre. the 'new' Colchester Zoo), he later lost all the excess weight again after he moved.

09-11-2008

Aww thats brilliant information thank you both so much

And thank you Pertinax I have just bought the postcard of Guy and Chrissie on the lawn from ebay which prompted my questioning in the first place as i wanted to identify the orangs Im well chuffed you saved me the job!