Paignton Zoo Gorillas. » Paignton Zoo

23-09-2008

I'd say with the number of young Gorillas being produced in Europe, the bachelor group holders in fact play almost a MORE important role...

New Youngsters.
24-09-2008

The two new young males coming from Stuttgart must(presumably) be;

'Kiri'. born 26.08.04 & 'N'Dowe' born 10.11.03. They're the only two males of relevant age in the current nursery groups.

They are (full) brothers born just nine months apart at Barcelona Zoo to Xebo & Kena. 'Kiri' is the twin brother of female 'Kera' that recently went to Bristol. 'N'Dowe' has been returned from another bachelor group at La Boisierre, France so maybe he was too small to fit in there. The mother of these, 'Kena' is now at Blackpool Zoo. She is a daughter of the white Gorilla 'Snowflake' so they are his grandsons.

26-09-2008

I have a feeling you are right

26-09-2008

Has to be them- the only other male in the Stuttgart nursery at present is a little baby...

30-09-2008

Could one of the new youngsters be from the Stuttgart family group, there is a couple of young males is there.

30-09-2008

You are right. Lengai & Meru. It could be them(or one of them) instead.

30-09-2008

You are right. Lengai & Meru. It could them(or one of them) instead.

30-09-2008

Actually looking at it, they were only born 2003 and 2004. Thats abit young to seperate mother reared youngsters. But they're the only other young males at Stuttgart...

30-09-2008

[quote=Upali;75265]Actually looking at it, they were only born 2003 and 2004. Thats a bit young to seperate mother reared youngsters.

I'm pretty sure it will be the two handraised ones in the Nursery group. The longer the mother-raised ones stay in their own social group the better in my opinion. They will then be far better socialised as adults.

21-10-2008

I've uploaded a photo of Kumbuka (see Paignton gorilla) on the island. A keeper he's bonded with was throwing sticks across the water to him and he threw some back. He also pulled up clumps of roots from the water's edge, squeezed out the water and threw them across. Unfortunately, most fell short. He looks quite impressive now - until you see him next to Pertinax! The photo was taken from the 'cul de sac' path between the orangutan and gorilla islands.

06-11-2008

The two new four year old gorillas are due to arrive from Stuttgart on or about 29 November.

01-12-2008

Kiri and N'Dowe arrived from Stuttgart yesterday. They were in the show den for the first time today and are settling in well. They were having a good look round, stopping to stare at the keepers every now and then. Very cute!

01-12-2008

I discovered why the slightly older one 'Ndowe' (they are full brothers with only a 9 months age gap) failed to stay in the La Boisierre bachelor group. The other Stuttgart youngster he was sent with died (may have been attacked?) there so they took Ndowe back at Stuttgart temporarily. Hopefully these two will do better at Paignton though.

01-12-2008

A traumatic event for him
So, if I've got this right, Kiri and N'Dowe are brothers of Kivu and Kiondo? Why do they keep breeding from a mother who rejects her babies? (And why do they confuse us - or at least me - by giving them names beginning with K?)

N'Dowe & Kiri
01-12-2008

Some more information about N'Dowe:

I don't know exactly what happened in France, but when N'Dowe was brought back to Stuttgart Wilhelma, he was closer to death than to live. He had lost a lot of weight, lots of injuries on him and worst of all he wouldn't eat. At last they consulted a children psychologist and with his help N'Dowe was slowly draged into live again.

Sounds a bit dramatic, but I saw N'Dowe in early June when the worst was over. He then looked like an old man and moved only slowly. His fur was ragged and he showed only little interest in his keepers, food or playthings. I felt so sorry for him because I remembered him before he left Wilhelma - a young gorilla full of joy, power and health.

In late Summer I learned that he had recovered much faster than the keepers had dared to hope. I found a happy and playful gorilla boy in excellent shape. I also learned that he and Kiri would leave for Paignton in November, one of the best places there is for young male gorillas.

My thoughts are with him and I keep all my fingers crossed that everything goes well with the other gorillas.
Please, please keep an extra eye on N'Dowe and report!

Greetings from Stuttgart