Is it correct the two remaining males are going to the new Zoo in Sydney? Perhaps that would be an opportunity to integrate the younger males from Taronga with them, as the surroundings would be unfamiliar to all of them.
That was the original plan, but nothing seems to be happening on that front - including the plan for Orana Wildlife Park to import a breeding troop. People have commented they struggle to see where Sydney Zoo would fit a gorilla exhibit based on their current map and I can’t see them having the space to hold a bachelor troop of five. One possibility is that five years down the line, Sydney Zoo will receive the two brothers from Orana; who would then acquire Kibale and his three sons from Taronga to create a young bachelor troop in New Zealand. Kibale is from a well represented line and going forward, only has one female to breed with at Taronga (due to Frala’s age). In five years, they could bring in a new male and continue their troop through Mbeli and Fikiri.
2021 Summary 2021 Events: Sadly the only major event of 2021 was the death of the youngest male at Orana Wildlife Park - 12 year old Mahali. Mahali died in May after being unwell for two weeks. An abnormal growth was found in his abdomen. 2022 will likely be a quiet year. Taronga and Melbourne have no females off contraception and Mogo’s breeding attempts are currently focussed on 42 year old Kriba. Taronga are aiming to finalise designs for their new Congo precinct this year, which will accommodate two troops of gorillas, with the aim of construction starting in 2023. 2022 Population List: Taronga Zoo: 1.0 Kibali (25/03/2001) Yaounde x Moseka; Imported 2012 0.1 Frala (14/06/1981) Bongo x Mintha; Imported 1996 0.1 Johari (26/04/2000) Motoba x Julia 0.1 Mbeli (05/02/2003) Kibabu x Mouila 1.0 Mjukuu (30/10/2014) Kibali x Mbeli 1.0 Fabumi (13/05/2015) Kibali x Frala 1.0 Mwamba (02/09/2017 Kibali x Mbeli 0.1 Fikiri (06/06/2019) Kibali x Frala Melbourne Zoo: 1.0 Otana (28/01/2001) Kouillou x Tamba; Imported 2013 0.1 Yuska (00/00/1971) Wild x Wild; Imported 1973 0.1 Kimya (12/01/2005) Kibabu x Kriba 0.1 Kanzi (14/03/2015) Otana x Kimya Werribee Open Range Zoo: 1.0 Motaba (23/12/1983) Jambo x Nandi; Imported 1990 1.0 Yakini (28/11/1999) Motoba x Yuska 1.0 Ganyeka (29/04/2000) Motoba x G-Ann Mogo Zoo: 1.0 Kisane (18/08/2006) Djanghou x Sanki; Imported 2019 0.1 G-Ann (08/06/1979) Moemba x Fern; Imported 1997 0.1 Kriba (09/08/1979) Bongo x Mouila; Imported 1996 0.1 Kipenzi (14/01/2011) Kibabu x Kriba Orana Wildlife Park: 1.0 Fataki (24/05/2003) Kibabu x Frala 1.0 Fuzu (08/12/2007) Kibabu x Frala Total regional population: 11.10 gorillas
Hopefully Melbourne takes Kimya off contraception soon. It’s almost 7 years since Kanzi’s birth so it’s about time for her to fall pregnant again.
It’s a shame they haven’t allowed her to breed again already as Kanzi is at the tail end of the critical learning period for learning maternal care. It would have been ideal if she’d witnessed around the age of four to six. Mogo are in the same position with Kriba and Kipenzi. They’re hoping to breed from Kriba to teach Kipenzi these skills, though I’d consider it too little too late (given Kriba’s age) and instead hope Kipenzi’s instincts shine through.
Another thought on Kanzi… 40-50 years ago, almost any male gorilla infant born in captivity would expect to one day be Silverback of his own troop; while up to 10-20 years ago, almost any female gorilla infant could expect to join a breeding troop. With gorillas breeding so prolifically in Europe and measures are being taken to address overcrowding, we could see Australasian born females like Kanzi be retained in their troops as non breeding animals. Kanzi is close in age to her mother and will be invaluable in maintaining a ratio of 1.2 in the troop upon the death of Yuska. Given how well represented her line is (in Australasia and overseas), it’s not beyond the realms to imagine Kanzi living out her life as a non breeding companion within this troop. This would also help slow the intergenerational gap (the goal of any breeding programme) with later offspring of Kimya designated for breeding instead.
That’s an option. Sending Kanzi away would ultimately leave Melbourne with just two females including 50 year old Yuska who’s getting on in her years. I’d imagine Melbourne might be looking to import at least another female from overseas, but if not keeping Kanzi as a breeding female would probably work better.
I’ve been told by a keeper that Kimya has been off contraception for some time, she is just yet to conceive again.
Yes, they’re still part of the masterplan: Zoos SA will work with other zoos to determine if housing a breeding or bachelor group would best serve the conservation of this species in the region. A breeding group at Adelaide Zoo is likely to require us to develop facilities to accommodate a bachelor group at Monarto Zoo. Zoos SA Master Plan - Discover more about our exciting projects
That’s exciting to know she’s off contraception. It’s almost 7 years now since Kanzi’s birth so it’s about time. I’d have thought that due to Melbourne only have four gorillas they’d be looking to breed Kimya as frequently as possible. Hopefully we can have a little gorilla baby from Kimya soon.
They will probably end up sourcing a group from overseas, similar to what Taronga did, by getting an already bonded group of females alongside a male. On the thought of a bachelor group of Monarto, it’ll be interesting to see where the young males at Taronga end up. They’re now both around the ages where they’re starting to move away from the troop so it could be sooner or later. Taronga have that second exhibit to accommodate them which would give them time to be sent elsewhere. Sydney Zoo maybe. Does Orana still have plans to import the breeding troop of Gorillas from Europe?
I’m thinking Zoos SA are thinking long term with Monarto i.e. they’ll import a male and a couple of females and a decade later, transfer a cohort of male offspring over to Monarto, who have then built an exhibit. Alternatively they may identify a troop in Europe with multiple juvenile males and import them with the view of carrying out the same plan albeit five years earlier. I’m not sure what the latest is with Sydney Zoo. They were rumoured to be taking Orana’s males with Orana importing breeding animals from Europe. The three juveniles in Taronga’s troop are aged four to seven, so potentially could live in the troop for another three years. In the past, males in Kibabu’s troop became a hindrance at this age and were run in a seperate bachelor troop in the current exhibit. This was done with Haako and Shabani. This would ideally tie in with the completion of the Congo precinct at Taronga.
The Taronga acquisition of the big group from Apenheul was pretty much a one-off- with Apenheul having two large groups at the time and then a policy change to go back to just one. There aren't really any similar situations these days, with any zoo having more than one breeding/male/female group, apart from Howletts in UK, who seem more interested in rewilding these days. But a much smaller group comprising a male and(say) a couple of females would obviously still be possible from Europe. The male planned for Orana was the young silverback Nasibu (born 2007 in Frankfurt)- he's still living on his own in Rotterdam since these plans were delayed. There's also another slightly younger male, Quembo,(born 2010) in a similar situation in Frankfurt too. I don't think any potential females were identified in the original plan but could come from many sources I guess.
Orana Wildlife Park Update As mentioned in the Western Lowland Gorillas in Europe 2022 thread, Nasibu will no longer be coming to Orana Wildlife Park: This isn’t unexpected, but is disappointing news nonetheless that Orana won’t be running a breeding troop alongside their two bachelor males. The decision is likely due to financial pressures and the logistics of importing during Covid.
Unfortunate news. Orana has great facilities but I doubt they would’ve been able to manage a bachelor group of males alongside a breeding group. In my opinion they’re much more suited for a breeding group rather than a bachelor group, so hopefully this may happen soon. Sydney Zoo was originally planning to get Orana’s males but they don’t have the space for a Gorilla enclosure at present. Adelaide are keen for Gorillas; and they are part of their future master plan, so hopefully we may have another breeding group there in the future.
Orana Wildlife Park have unfortunately canned their plans to acquire orangutans (finances again), so theoretically they’d have enough space to house a bachelor troop and a breeding troop; or alternatively, start with a breeding troop - with the second exhibit viewed as a spillover exhibit for adolescents of either gender prior to their export. This is an overhead view of the exhibits: Creating Legacies That Go Beyond Land - Orana Park Great Ape Centre As you say, Sydney Zoo won’t be receiving Orana’s males - at least not anytime soon, so Fataki and Fuzu will be their only gorillas for the foreseeable.
Exported Gorillas Update - Part One (Taronga Zoo) Remember the gorillas we loved yesterday? Here’s the first of a two part update on where they’re at now. Part One focuses on the six gorillas Taronga Zoo have exported outside the region: Part Two will focus on the gorillas of Melbourne Zoo. Taronga Zoo: 0.1 Shinda (14/06/1991) Kibabu x Frala: Shinda was sent to the Prague Zoo in September 2001. Prior to her departure, she was given a contraceptive implant as Kibabu was showing interest in her. Staff in Prague were unable to remove it and it remained in her arm, preventing her from conceiving. Once it had worn off, Shinda struggled for years to conceive and had several miscarriages. Shinda finally gave birth in 2016 to a healthy male infant named Ajabu. 0.1 Kijivu (18/03/1993) Kibabu x Kriba: Kijivu was sent to Prague Zoo in September 2001, along with Shinda. The half sisters survived Prague’s devastating flood of 2002, which flooded the zoo, including the gorilla pavilion. Kijivu has been Prague’s most successful breeding female. To date, she’s welcomed four offspring with Richard the silverback: Moja (2004), Tatu (2007-2012), Kiburi (2010) and Nuru (2012). Kijivu became a grandmother in 2013 when Moja gave birth to a daughter named Duni at the Cabarceno Nature Park in Spain. 1.0 Haoko (21/08/1993) Kibabu x Mouila: Haoko was sent to Ueno Zoo in June 2007. He and his brother, Shabani, had spent the past year living in a bachelor troop at Taronga; though it should be noted that it was a testament to his temperament he was able to remain in the troop until the age of 12 without clashing with his sire. Since arriving at Ueno Zoo, Haoko has sired two infants: Komomo (2009) and Momoka (2013). 0.1 Anguka (28/10/1994) Kibabu x Frala: Anguka was sent to Lisbon Zoo in March 2007. She and her half sister, Safiri, spent a few months at Adelaide Zoo prior to their export, which raised $20,000 for gorilla conservation programmes. Like her elder sister, Anguka had a difficult road to motherhood. Her first infant was stillborn in 2010; and her second infant died at the age of six months in 2013. She gave birth to her third infant in 2015, a healthy male named Jahari. 0.1 Safiri (06/07/1996) Kibabu x Kriba: Safiri was sent to Duisburg Zoo in March 2007; after completing a brief stay at Adelaide Zoo with her half sister, Anguka, on route. Safiri was a very successful breeding female. She produced two infants in quick succession: Kiburi (2008) and Suwedi (2011); followed by conjoined twins in 2013 (non surviving). Her last infant was Muenda (2016). Safiri sadly died under anesthesia in 2020. 1.0 Shabani (20/10/1996) Kibabu x Mouila: Shabani was sent to the Higashiyama Zoo in June 2007. Since his arrival, he’s become a media sensation in Japan with books, posters and artwork featuring his image. Legoland Japan has a sculpture of him at their park and he has featured in local employment recruitment campaigns. The zoo credits up to 50% of their product sales to Shabani’s popularity. Shabani has proved a successful silverback, siring three offspring to date. His first offspring was stillborn in 2012, but he’s since welcomed a further two infants: Kiyomasa (2012) and Annie (2013).
Anguka really needs to breed again, as her only offspring, the young male Jahari, and his father Nasibu are the only living descendants of wildcaught female 'Delilah' who is now one of the world's oldest gorillas (3rd oldest I think) and still living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Japan seem to have a totally different culture toward their gorillas with all the videos etc of Shabani and his family, as you said, a media sensation and presented almost like cartoon characters!
Nasibu is indeed a genetically valuable male. I was just looking over Delilah’s family records and all seven of her offspring are deceased; and all eight of her eldest son’s offspring are deceased. Nasibu is her only living grandchild. Perhaps Lisbon Zoo will bring in a new female as their other female is approaching 40 and Anguka is so well represented through the Kibabu line. Her sister Shinda’s son was castrated due to the difficulties in placing males within Europe; and he and Jahari are Frala’s only grandchildren to date. The Japanese love that Shabani plays with his offspring. Haako reportedly was the same, taking his infant daughter away to play with her. A contrast from their father, who was serious - especially when he knew people were watching.
