Hamilton Zoo Hamilton Zoo News 2016

There's a baby on the way:

Hamilton Zoo's chimpanzee troop will soon have a new member, with female chimp Sanda expecting a baby. Sanda, 30 years old, is set to give birth in mid-February. The baby chimpanzee's father is Luka, 22 years old.

Hamilton Zoo Director Stephen Standley says it's a very positive development for the zoo's chimpanzee troop, and the wider conservation programme for the species.

"We've been hoping for a chimpanzee pregnancy for a while, and confirmation Sanda is carrying a baby is really exciting," Mr Standley says. "We've kept a close eye on Sanda over the last few months. The team has been able to conduct an ultrasound on her, and the pregnancy appears to be progressing very well."

Mr Standley says father Luka has displayed behaviour toward Sanda which suggests he knows the little one is coming. "He's been doting on her, which is what you might expect from an expectant father."

Mr Standley says although Sanda is being closely monitored, human contact will be as limited as possible. Zoo staff are keen to allow nature to take its course, and let Sanda and the other chimpanzees respond to the infant in line with their natural instincts.

An announcement on the birth will be made once Sanda has had a chance to bond with her baby and it has been assimilated into the troop. Sanda arrived at Hamilton Zoo from Adelaide Zoo in November 2008, while Luka arrived four years earlier, in 2004, from Auckland Zoo.

Hamilton Zoo has five chimpanzees in its troop.

Baby chimpanzee expected at Hamilton Zoo - Hamilton Zoo

 

This is fantastic news, hopefully all goes smoothly and 2016 will be a successful year for Hamilton's Chimpanzee troop. They are definitely due some good news.

 

Awesome news. Hoping for a successful outcome for mother and baby. It's encouraging to see a chivalrous side to Luka.

I understand since the death of Fimi a few years ago, Sally has been supporting Sanda, so she will hopefully benefit from this over the coming months.

Anyone know how they have conclusively identified Luka as the father? The two males are kept with the group so couldn't either be the father? Especially since Sanda prefers Lucifer to Luka.

 

Another article on the chimpanzee pregnancy:

Hamilton Zoo prepares for first chimpanzee birth | Stuff.co.nz

Interesting to note Sanda had a failed pregnancy (miscarriage/stillbirth?) at Adelaide Zoo in the 1990s as an eight year old.

Hopefully there is a successful outcome for her this time. They have an amazing enclosure and room for many more.

 

The first spider monkey born at the zoo in 10 years, was born on the 11 February.
Celebrating the Chinese year of the monkey - Hamilton Zoo

 

Chimpanzee born

Chimpanzee, Sanda gave birth on Monday. Baby is so far healthy and believed to be a female

One of Hamilton Zoo's most anticipated arrivals has occurred, with the birth this week of a baby chimpanzee.

Adult female chimpanzee Sanda gave birth to a daughter on Monday, 15 February, shortly after 9pm.

Sanda's labour and the baby chimpanzee's birth were captured on video camera, and footage shows Luka - the baby chimpanzee's father – in attendance as the child is born.

Catherine Nichols, Hamilton Zoo's Acting Curator, says Luka's presence at the birth signals he's a "doting dad", and continues behaviour he displayed while Sanda was pregnant.

"Luka's behaviour is very encouraging for us – he will be vital to the baby's upbringing and acceptance into the troop," she says.

Mrs Nichols says keeping the troop together is also crucial to the baby chimp's assimilation: "We want the other chimpanzees in the troop to identify and connect with the new arrival."

Zoo staff have already observed the other chimpanzees inspecting the new baby from a distance, but have not pushed the maternal boundaries and given Sanda some space.

"It's all looking positive so far," she says.

Sanda's post-birth behaviour is similar to a human mother: she is likely to stay out of sight in the chimp house for a week or so until she is comfortable, so zoo visitors will need to be patient before they get a glimpse of the new baby.

The new baby takes the number of chimpanzees at Hamilton Zoo to six, and she joins her parents Sanda and Luka, plus the other adults Lucy, Lucifer and Sally.

Chimpanzees are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's list of endangered species.

Hamilton Zoo announces baby chimpanzee arrival

 

This is fantastic news! Fingers crossed all goes well here. Congratulations to the chimps and the staff at Hamilton Zoo!

 

Awesome news! And even better if it's a female. Congratulations to Hamilton Zoo on their first chimpanzee birth.

 

Wonderful news! I am thrilled for everyone involved- they were well due some good news in their chimp group.

 

Fencing improvements are to be made to Hamilton Zoo's tiger exhibit, but just around the holding area.

Story here: $120,000 fence upgrade at Hamilton Zoo | Stuff.co.nz

 

There's an amazing photo on Hamilton Zoo's Facebook page of Lucy (and her new born son, Luka) from the 1993, posted by Sandra Rice (Auckland Zoo keeper). It's interesting to compare Lucy's youthful condition to Sanda's. She has such dense black hair. Lucy is 18 years old in the photo, and already a mother to 5 year old Lucifer, while Sanda will turn 31 years old this year. However, there is one similarity between them. Notice the absence of hair on their arms (as if it has been plucked), this is seen at Taronga Zoo on high status individuals who have been groomed excessively by exhibit mates. It's clear both mothers are held in very high regard by their respective troops.

I had always assumed that Mike and Lucy arrived at Auckland Zoo together in the 1980s, but recently learned their was a couple of years between their respective arrivals. I'm assuming the intention was for Mike to breed with Suzie and Sally, but as it became apparent this was unlikely, they requested a female from Taronga (Lucy).

 

Source: Hamilton Zoo newsletter

 

You can now make name suggestions for Hamilton Zoos female baby Chimpanzee.
Name our baby chimpanzee - Hamilton Zoo

 

Hamilton Zoo Baby Chimpanzee has been named Chiku, a Swahili name for girls meaning "talker" or "one who chatters".
Baby Chimpanzee Named - Hamilton Zoo

 

Another big birth at Hamilton Zoo - a male White Rhino (the seventh born at the Zoo).

Story & Photo: Rhino Calf Born - Hamilton Zoo

 

That’s correct, the nine born at Hamilton are:

Inkosi (2002)
Mtoto (2004)
Stillborn male (2005)
Imani (2007)
Kifaru (2009)
Ubuntu (2010)
Jamila (2012)
Stillborn female (2013)
Newborn male (2016)

Savannah, born 2011 at Australia Zoo was also conceived at Hamilton Zoo

 

So the newborn is the seventh born alive at the zoo then?

 

Article about the latest Rhino-calf :
First Photos of Hours-old Baby Rhino - ZooBorns