Orang Utan Forest » Colchester Zoo

15-08-2008

I don't know how the Orangs are kept nowadays at Monkeyworld but I know they have mesh fencing. The big male 'Tuan' could easily mate with Amy through a mesh fence if they are in next door enclosures- that has happened in zoos too.

This will only be Amy's 2nd offspring, right?

15-08-2008

I seem to remember that the hybrid orangs bred at Twycross years ago resulted from the Bornean male mating with through the mesh with the Sumatran female in the adjoining pen . I do not think the impressive male Sumatran ever bred .

You have got to admire their resourcefulness !

15-08-2008

No this is amys third baby , her first was stillborn then a year later Gordon and in 2008 pregnant ... i think when the mating occured they were in the same encolurse ... but yes its highly possible that orangutans could mate through a fence !

16-08-2008

yes thats right but one group is kept indoors while the others out, so i would say there is hardly any chance of tuan being father so it could be gordons first.

16-08-2008

It begs the question why they would keep them together in the first place?

16-08-2008

they were intorduced as mother and son when gordon was very little, to form a family bond, but it seems it went from being relatives to being partners!

do male orangs play a part in rearing the young?

16-08-2008

No they do not

16-08-2008

ok, so amy will be on her own for while after the birth

did baby kai ever meet tuan or is there too much risk?

16-08-2008

Orangutans are solitary in the wild however in captivity they usually co-exist quite peacefully even Adult males and babies in the group.

Am confused by the whole situation thou as Monkey Worlds website says that Tuan has Amy in his group

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

On addition to that, I all ways was lead to believe that it was one of the adult females that attacked him (Aris) not Tuan because he wasn't in Tuans group but the nursery one.

16-08-2008

Yes. the Sumatran female 'Trudie' mated(evidently) with both males,but her (2) infants were fathered by the Bornean male 'Jod' This was only discovered some years later after they went to a zoo in France and karyotyped to check their subspecies- found to be hybrid!
Twycross later added plexiglass to the mesh to stop any more of this.

The Sumatran male 'Toby' definately mated too- I saw him do so with his 2nd partner Djambe but she never concieved- the only conclusion is he must have been infertile which is rather unusual in Orangutans.

16-08-2008

If Tuan and Amy are ever outside on opposite sides of a mesh fence, it could be his. However if Gordon lives with Amy, its more likely to be his. If the birth is successful, they could do a DNA test at a later stage if they really want to know.

Do Orang males play a role in family life?

No. Adult male Borneans are untrustworthy with infants- sometimes they will kill them. However, Sumatran males are less aggressive and more suited to group life- the males nearly always being tolerant of their offspring. Its said this could be a form of 'protective' behaviour of their family, stemming from the fact there are tigers in Sumatra, but not in Borneo...

16-08-2008

Thanks for the Info Pertinax.

As far as am aware their is only one outdoor enclsoure and one group stays indoors while the other out doors, so I dont see how they could mate this way?

16-08-2008

I reckon its probably 'Gordon's if 'Amy' isn't in Tuan's group- but as you said, the website is confusing- probably that is way out of date info.

They need to split the outdoor enclosure (which is enormous anyway) or add another one now if they are keeping two groups permanently. A solid barrier would be best as Gordon & Tuan would be better off not being able to see each other either.

16-08-2008

Any info on possible or definitie 1.1 for Colchester forthcoming out of the Sumatran EEP?

(I find all the talk of orangs at other UK zoos on this thread really ..... annoyingly confusing)

16-08-2008

jelle- no idea on the above at present.

Sorry I think i encouraged the diversion to discussion about Monkeyworld Orangutans. We should move that to Monkeyworld and keep this for Colchester orangs.