UK Gorilla update..

UK Gorilla update..
03-09-2007

Chiefly for Jelle and Yassa. Here's a brief update on the UK Gorilla groups;

Blackpool. No developments or pregnancies. Need to replace male Jitu.
Bristol. both male babies doing well. (Romina could be mated again next year?)
Chessington- new male 'Damisi' to arrive from Paignton. some recent problems with bad publicity over the current state of enclosure. 6 year old 'male' 'Sangha' now found to be a female!
London. No recent news. Another female expected sometime. It will not be now be Madrid's 'Sangha'. Could be a female from Blackpool?
Jersey. Nothing to report. Three females don't breed. They need to replace Ya Kwanza.
Paignton. males Mapema(to Duisburg) and Damisi(to Chessington) shortly to leave/have left. Remaining will be four males- the silverback Pertinax plus three younger ones.
Twycross- need a new male in younger group, since death of Sekondi.
SamSam probably to stay permanently with older females?
Belfast- silverback Boulas probably to be returned to Port Lympne.
female Bikira may be exchanged with one from Wuppertal.
Dublin. - No recent changes.

Howletts/Port Lympne. Not possible to keep track of all their developments...

03-09-2007

Correction 1. Madrid female is Banga, not Sanga. She is very bald as she suffers from alopecia. She is now to go elsewhere in Europe, not London.

2. Belfast. Their gorillas have not bred for ten years now. Silverback Boulas could be infertile. He is probably going to be returned to Port Lympne. They have a younger wildcaught male at Belfast who is more valuable genetically.
anyway. But one female may be exchanged for another from Europe.

03-09-2007

Are they going to increase the size of the Gorilla group at London zoo? or will it stay at only 3

03-09-2007

I read in their publicity blurb that they were hoping to add TWO more females.
Next a rumour that a female 'Banga' was coming from Madrid Zoo- she would not be a good display though as she's completely bald(suffers from alopecia) Now I hear she is going elsewhere in Europe, not to London.

I think London may still be trying to get their two existing females to live together okay- in which case they may defer adding any more for a while.

03-09-2007

Where is the Chessington silverback who was rejected by the group? Has he left already?

04-09-2007

What is the name of the younger wildcaught male? Why has the change over for Boulas not happened yet (a 10-year gap seems a long time here)?

04-09-2007

As far as I know, Kumba- the old silverback- is to stay at cHessington permanently. The plan was to keep him seperately with his original non-breeding partner 'Baffia'(whom he's been living with since being split from the group) and possibly also the other older female Kaja, as 'retirees'.

I think that is longterm after a new enclosure is built for the main group. Meanwhile K & B. live seperate from the rest.

04-09-2007

The younger male is Gugas. He's now about 13 years old. Came originally from a circus in Portugal, via Stuttgart nursery.

I can't understand why Boulas has not bred at BElfast- he is a very normal male. There was talk of him returning to Port Lympne some long time ago but(as usual) it still hasn't happened yet. I was told Gugas does mate but he may be intimated by the older silverback being there.

The ten year gap has largely been caused by the loss of the original breeding male (KeKe). He was replaced by a useless male, when that one died, they got Boulas from Port Lympne, but he has been no good either. The Belfast group has experienced more than its fair share of bad luck over the years. It has produced only two survivings offspring- males; 'Nasibu' in Kolmarden, Sweden and 'Kumbuka'- in Paignton male group- both now about 10 years.

recent update.
09-11-2007

Jersey- death of young female 'Ya Pili' (4 years).

Twycross- death of 6 month female infant 'Ndoki'.(malnutrition?)
death of female Eva. aged 34 years.

Paignton- transfer of male 'Mapema' to Duisburg Zoo, Germany.

09-11-2007

does longleat still have a lone male, there was a lot of discussion on the forum about gorillas at longleat, would the longleat island be considered as maybe a retirement home for some of the countrys older gorillas taking up valuable zoo space, the indoor area would need a refit after watching "animal park" it seems to consist of 2 fairly small heavily barred cages.

09-11-2007

As far as I know, Longleat still have their old male 'Nico.' I believe it was mentioned on here that they don't propose giving him another mate as it could prove too stressful so I guess he'll stay alone now..

I certainly wouldn't recommend any other gorillas going there with the current accomodation. Except perhaps another companion for Nico if one was made available. As you saw, the inside areas are very primitive while water is always dangerous to gorillas unfamiliar with it.

I think after NIco dies they should keep something more suitable on there- Mandrills would make a good show.