London Zoo Notes. » London Zoo

07-05-2008

Yes that is great news he may even try mating with the other two females?

07-05-2008

This is very similar behaviour to SeKondi(now dead) at Twycross- he ignored the female he grew up and was living with longterm (Asante) but when the younger 'Ozala' was introduced- whom he'd never seen before- they started mating almost immediately and 2 babies followed. But he still ignored Asante... However, yes this introduction may stimulate Bobby/Bongo to greater interest in the others -though I'm a bit doubtful.

07-05-2008

Hi there, first post so please be gentle with me!!
Unrelated animals of the opposite sex that grow up together are often not 'attracted' to each other, it is known as the 'Westermarck effect' and is seen as an inbuilt incest avoidance mechanism....
Unfortunately this occurs in zoos because its difficult to house animals apart(lack of space) and then re-introduce at a later stage....

07-05-2008

Yes, hi there, I know this as 'sibling avoidance' or 'platonic' relationship behaviour. In the case of London's male though, he didn't grow up with any of the three females he lives with, though he also exhibited this behaviour with the one female he did grow up with(who is now breeding at Bristol with another male).

07-05-2008

Sorry..I was referring to the Twycross post, i need to work out the whole quote thing!
I hope the situation at London turns out positive, but as Blackpool know only to well Gorilla mating doesn't necessarily equal a baby Gorilla....

07-05-2008

Yes, Sekondi & Asante at Twycross were a typical platonic pair. I wish that a new male will be obtained soon so Asante could be bred from...

What do you know about the Blackpool Gorilla situation? Does Jitu mate all three females regularly, or only one or two... if so maybe he's infertile.

08-05-2008

What do you know about the Blackpool Gorilla situation? Does Jitu mate all three females regularly, or only one or two... if so maybe he's infertile.[/quote]

Last time i was there i was told he had mated both the younger females, jitu certainly looks the part but i would be inclined to think that his infertility could be the underlying problem.....

08-05-2008

Last time i was there i was told he had mated both the younger females, jitu certainly looks the part but i would be inclined to think that his infertility could be the underlying problem.....[/quote]

08-05-2008

[/quote]

I think that if he mates the females then he must be infertile as they've been all together(even Kena)for a good long time now. Did you hear of any plans to replace him? Its been talked about before but still nothing has happened so far.

There are five Uk centres with Gorillas that currently have problems with breeding;
Blackpool
London
Jersey
Belfast
Twycross.
also Chessington (until they get their new male)

10-05-2008

I think that if he mates the females then he must be infertile as they've been all together(even Kena)for a good long time now. Did you hear of any plans to replace him? Its been talked about before but still nothing has happened so far.

There are five Uk centres with Gorillas that currently have problems with breeding;
Blackpool
London
Jersey
Belfast
Twycross.
also Chessington (until they get their new male)[/quote]

Jersey have done well in the past breeding Gorillas I am a little surprised they are having problems, they seemed to of had a good track record

10-05-2008

5 zoos struggling is very worrying isnt it.

11-05-2008

I was at London yesterday and I asked the keeper about mating. She told me that the new female being added to the group has settled everything down, since before she was there, Effie was a bit boisterous... And Bobby is mating both Effie and the new female!!!

11-05-2008

But is Bobby fertile

11-05-2008

Well, I suppose time will tell, but I don't know, I'm afraid.

11-05-2008

It all went wrong when the original male Jambo died, and they imported Ya Kwanza from Melbourne as their new 'breeding' male. He only seems interested in the one female.