Melbourne Zoo mourns the loss of 43yo silverback gorilla - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Sad news. I saw someone already posted it in the Melbourne 2013 news thread, but I really think stuff like this deserves it's own thread, so it's easier to locate big news events rather than have to wade through entire threads for a small piece of information.
I noticed that as well, they don't even look very much alike. It must be hard for the gorilla keepers to lose Rigo so suddenly, he was such a special gorilla. I hope he will be replaced before too long, it would be wonderful for the group if they could finally have some infants in the group again. I'm glad Rigo was not living alone for his final years.
Gee that makes me feel old. I remember touching fingers with Rigo through the mesh in the back of the great ape complex soon after he moved in there. I was 15 or 16 at the time and he would have been only 3 or 4.
It is sad of course, when a well known animal like him dies. I always felt Rigo had a rather messed-up life though, with all those years forced to live alone because he didn't breed and there was nothing else they could do with him at the time. But his death does solve the problem of what to do with him when a new male arrives- as one is already in the offing I believe. There was talk of Rigo being sent to Singapore to live with other males- far better that he won't now be put through that. I saw Rigo on a couple of occassions- despite being a non-breeder(naturally) he was a superb male in his prime. I have a fridge magnet(from the Zoo) of him on my fridge too.
Rigo's only offspring was Mzuri/Ya Kwanza. Mzuri/Ya Kwanza bred at Jersey with just one female(Hallali Kahilli) out of the several he lived with in the group. She had a number of pregnancies, but only two live babies and only one of them, 'Mapema'(male) survived to maturity. 'Mapema' now lives in Duisburg, Germany and has several offspring, so Rigo's genetic line is reprsented through him/them.
Mapema only actually has four offspring (1.3 to be exact), so it is a shame that he is his only living grandchild.
IMO four offspring(and probably more to come) is a pretty good genetic base so I would think Rigo's line should be assured through Mapema.
Melbourne Zoo... Especially as three of the four are girls, which are easier to place in breeding situations
Aren't there cardiac checks, similar to those done on humans, that could be done on gorillas? Couldn't the zoo mitigate against heart disease through better diets, more exercise, more regular health checks etc?
I think there is a lot of research being done on captive ape heart health, it seems to be a big issue. I would assume that the zoo is already giving the best possible diet and encouraging exercise wherever possible. Great Ape Heart Project
Heart disease is probaby the biggest single killer of male Gorillas in captivity- it normally seems to strike in the 30-40 age bracket. As males seem to suffer from it far more than females, it would seem related perhaps to the relative stress levels they experience in living in zoos. Many males seem to die of it in America, where a lot of research has/is being done on the problem. It seems to be of lower incidence in Europe.
True, plus Mapema is only really at the start of his breeding life, he is only 17 years old, so more young may be expected in the Duisburg group.
Oh I see. I forgot one of the other causes of heart attacks: stress. Interestingly, from what I read, gorillas in captivity live longer than gorillas in the wild, despite heart disease being a problem in captivity.
I think that is certainly true. They are not prone to diseases, accidents, attacks or takeovers from rival males, and the many other vagaries of a wild existence. Captivity is a much safer environment. But it seems that some males at least, live in a state of low-level(?) longterm stress which can lead to problems later on.
Rigo was in very good health. And yes, MZ does regular check and include cardiac specialists. Even Julia has had orthapeadic specialists look at her leg which has a metal plate (or pins) in it. I think there was an altercation between her and Mzuri/Ya Kwanza which resulted in some specialist treatement. And yes, Pertinax is right. There is a young male expected from Jersey to join the Melbourne group. I think you'll find that the photo is actually of Rigo, not Motaba. Have a look on the Melbourne Zoo website as well as that photo is used there. Do a search of photos of Motaba and photos fofigo. The photo was more recent and he has aged you know!
