Lowland Gorillas in Europe 2015

Barcelona double, Basel single.

Two births at Barcelona recently, on May 1st and 3rd. Both females.(see the Gorilla websites for details of parents)

Also a baby was born at Basel on 19th May-sex unknown so far. This is their first birth in 10 years and the first fathered by new silverback 'Mtonge', who has only been there about nine months.. Third baby of mother 'Joas'.

 

And even more babies, born to MUTASI in Stuttgart and MOMO in Duisburg, both on May 27. - MOMO, who will be 33 years old next week, is a first-time mother.

 

Interesting about MOMO. Some years ago they sent her to Edinburgh, possibly as she was no use to them as a breeder, nor did she breed at Edinburgh either and was returned when they went out of Gorilla-keeping. Better late than never though. Other females that bred for the first time late in life like this are TEBE and SIDONIE at Howletts.

 

Lisbon baby

Another "backpacker", carrying the baby on her back at this early stage already. I hope the little one, born in April, makes it through infancy ... Anguka had a stillbirth in 2010, and her first surviving child died in 2013 at the age of seven months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupQ9vUdrl8

 

Howletts

It seems this is what the new group around MATADI will look like. The females, including TEBE from Kouillou's group at Port Lympne, have already arrived at Howletts. MATADI still is in Paignton, his departure has been delayed. According to a usually reliable source no other females are currently scheduled to join them. — https://www.flickr.com/photos/slightlyblurred/17992833428

 

Without questioning the reliability of your source, this seems an unusually small group by Howletts standards. I was told at Paignton that two females from Howletts would join the two from Europe, but that was some time ago and plans may have changed.

Alan

 

Howletts

Yes, I was told the same. Maybe they are just taking their time, and there will be another female in the near future. Or maybe the delay of Matadi's departure indicates a change of plans, or a problem, or ... Years ago, I used to think statements like "gorilla X will move in month Y to zoo Z" are set in stone, then I learned that any of these variables may be changed or modified, and sometimes even all of them are. I guess one needs to be flexible when it comes to gorillas, their personalities and group dynamics.

 

How long before Mali and Thirza are able/likely to breed? I saw Mali yesterday and she looks tiny!

 

They are both 10, so should be able to breed now.

I imagine additional females may be added in due course- for example, there are a couple of females in the Howletts groups that will need to leave their natal groups at some stage. I wonder if Tebe's reappearance at Howletts means she was not compatable when added to Kouillou's group( she came from Kifu's originally) She used to be very 'male' in behaviour but changed quite radically after she finally bred.

Matadi's move has been typically protracted. It was scheduled for March originally, then put back....and back- now its supposed to be July. I attribute the delays, at least in this particular case, to them getting females from Europe and settling them in etc. Perhaps that was not planned originally when his move was first announced. Re his age; Howletts have more than once used a young male to form a group- Djanghou was only nine when given his group of younger females. And more recently there is Ebeki, only a couple of years older. They do not seem to ascribe to the concept of a male needing to be a certain age(15 years IMO) and so mature enough to head a group of females effectively. But then some other zoos also accept new males that aren't mature either.

 

This was the impression given at the talk I heard on Sunday. I think the phrase used was 'didn't really fit in'.

Thanks for the info!

If people don't mind me asking more questions, what is the plan for Kifu's group? Will they stay together into old age?

 

That is usually the reason why a female from one group suddenly appears in another. I think they may have been trying to promote more breedng from Tebe(she's wildcaught) by moving her into Kouillou's group but it hasn't worked, so now they will try her in this new group setup.

re Kifu's group. I don't have any information but would just expect it to stay as is really.

 

Yesterday I asked at Paignton about Matadi's move. I was told that there are still some health checks to complete before a date is agreed.

Alan

 

I'm in Berlin atm and the media is reporting that IVO the silverback cannot have children. My German isn't great so beyond that no more details.
Also FATOU must be one of the oldest gorillas in Europe. She is 57 now.

 

That is correct. We have known for ages though!!!

Why on Earth this gorilla was never previously - prior to any of his transfers for his inevitable knock out for testing - is anybody's guess really. Perhaps we could learn from history here and in future integrate this into gorilla transfer recommendations and procedure!

I really hope this now will convince the EEP to provide Berlin Zoo with a well suited - both genetically and socially - new silverback male that CAN do the business with the girls!

BTW: the end game is probably that 2 groups will effectively be created at Berlin Zoo: one with Ivo and the older now reproductively senescent females and one with the younger females and a new male.

Let the games begin!!!

 

The media reports say the quality of his sperm is too poor, making Ivo more or less infertile. I wonder if there's enough space at the zoo for two groups? Haven't been there yet but will be visiting in August.

 

I seem to remember Berlin initially tried to explain away his failure by suggesting something about how he'd been contracepted(how?) or maybe it was because he'd been with contracepted females, at Artis, before arriving at Berlin. But many years since, nothing has ever happened for him breeding-wise. I don't know if he even mates, though physically he is very impressive.

I believe there is only one outdoor enclosure at Berlin? In which case 'two groups' may not be very workable. And I doubt the ancient Fatou would like to have to live with him very much. So it could be back to bachelor life( he was at Loro Parc for a while) or even solitary for Ivo in the future.

 

The news bulletin from Berlin Zoo (HERE) basically says that they will only get a new, fertile male if Ivo can get a home in another zoo.
So I guess they don't find they have room for two groups.

 

The gorilla island is separated into two parts. One is much smaller and is currently FATOU's. I think it could hold only two in total, maybe three if they're all older.
Did IVO come from a bachelor group or straight from the family group he was born in?

 

From the Studbook:

MUNICH 29 Jan 1988 025007 Birth
TENERIFE 4 Nov 1992 NONE Loan to
AMSTERDAM 13 Jun 2002 M02095 Loan to
BERLINZOO 21 Sep 2005 NONE Loan to

I suppose he lived in a bachelor group while at Tenerife.