They could do that, but Tebogo is only four years old, whereas Kito was a lot older- already a Blackback male. I think they will probably go on integrating them and then decide about bringing in a new male later- its the only safe option for the new baby really but also means the group won't have a proper leader/role model for the youngsters for a long while to come.
I was at the zoo on Tuesday and spoke to the keeper. They will bring in a new male when Lena's baby is about 4 years old. They'll go for one who's about 8 so that he can grow up with the group. The females are coping without Harry now and Lena, who loves being a mother, will be fully occupied for the next few years. The other mother (sorry, I'll have to look up names as I don't have a list) is happy as long as she's eating. Vana and Tebogo are still separated and will be gradually integrated. Harry's son will join his brothers at Longleat. The oldest female from Stuttgart is fascinated by Lena and her baby so is going through a good learning experience. Harry was always very welcoming to the arrivals from Stuttgart so it's rather timely that that source has now closed.
Yes, it does, it's very high and there is no way the orangs could drop down intentionally. Sibu likes to relieve himself while he's up there so that's the only thing likely to drop on you! The fake trees holding up the walkway are separated from the footpath by water.
They have already got one in Tebogo- he's four now so will be eight years old by then. But he is the halfbrother of his companion Vana so he is related to one female there. So they may replace him with another similar aged male, in which case I guess Tebogo would eventually go with Harry's son to Longleat too. But either way it means there will be no Silverback in this group for the next eight years or so.... The older female from Stuttgart is Kafi (originally she was Claudia- her german name). The younger adult female is Mayani.
Lena(senior female) + her new baby. Mayani- younger adult female. Kafi/Claudia- juvenile(7 years) female from Stuttgart. Same-aged(5 years) male and female juvenile children of Lena and Mayani. So group is 1.4+1(new baby) Also two handraised juveniles(1.1 Tebogo & Vana- half-siblings) aged 4 from Stuttgart, currently not in group. (An alternative future management would be to keep male Tebogo and let him grow into the 'lead' role, and exchange his half-sister Vana for an unrelated female.)
Orangutan Forest I was impressed by the new exhibit. It doesn't have the natural beauty of the Gorilla enclosure but I doubt that the orangs are bothered about that. The fake trees provide plenty of climbing opportunities and seeing the orangs above you on the aerial walkway is quite amazing. It is all certainly keeping them active. Their feeds throughout the day are thrown across to the island so they have to cross over if they want to eat, and I saw them all going up and down several times. There are also the feeders that are an integral part of some of the fake trees and which the local jackdaws have cottoned on to! The house has been refurbished but is basically the same. It's 4 years since my last visit, but I think the bamboo screening that prevents reflections on the showden windows is new. When the orangs went in for their evening meal, they had to climb up and reach into holes in the wall for it. Admittedly they don't have to climb far, but it's extra activity for them. I attended the keeper's talk along with many other visitors, few of whom were able to keep quiet so that she was audible, and most of whom drifted away mid-talk once the orang food had been thrown over. Still, it meant that a handful of orang fans had the keeper to ourselves. It was interesting to hear some personal details about the orangs, such as the need to 'strip search' them when they go in at night to make sure they're not hiding sticks, stones etc. They've been trained to present their hands, feet and mouth in return for 5 rewards. This does mean, however, that they sometimes knock on the door to exchange sticks and so on for treats! How could you not love an orangutan? They are hoping that Mujur, the youngest orang, will start breeding soon but she's still quite young for her age (11). I did think that one of them was showing a sign of pregnancy that I've spotted in other orangs, but the keeper said 'no'. Having seen the new exhibit for myself, I realise that it's taken over the Siamang island and they, of course, are now mixed with the orangs. The door to their house is left only slightly ajar so that the orangs can't enter, but they can go over to the orang house area. Apparently all is going well so far, with the gibbons being able to move faster than the orangs. I was very pleased to see this huge improvement for the orangs and also to meet such positive and enthusiastic ape keepers
Idiots galore apparently... First the flamingo incident now this: Child pictured inside rhino enclosure at Dublin Zoo - CNN.com)
Does anyone know the sex of Gorilla Lena's new baby yet? I cannot find any recent reference to this though it is several weeks old now.
Video of orangs climbing in new exhibit https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...561448753/&display=popup&ref=plugin&src=video
0.1 Asian elephant born Monday evening. https://www.facebook.com/DublinZoo/...98555278135/10155246054743136/?type=3&theater
A terrific article on the rise over the last few years of the zoo. A few noteworthy points are the next development being a refurb of the Roberts house and currently visitor numbers are at 1.3 million for the year so far. It's part of the furniture but without a Dutchman and Bertie, Dublin Zoo could have shut forever
Kitubu's sign in the gorilla house gone... Has he moved to Longleat as previously suggested? And if so why ?
There seems no news about whether Kituba is still there or not, and still none about the name/sex of Lena's baby which is several months old now. This is about the longest I've ever known for such an announcement to be witheld.