Weybridge was a private zoo in Surrey. It was called by some Little Rhondda and was owned by music manager for pop-stars like Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck, Gordon Mills. This zoo held both types of Orangutans, Western Lowland Gorilla and Tigers. It closed 33 years ago but where are the orang-utans now? Harry/Harold- Harry or as he was called by keepers, Harry the Bastard was a Bornean Orangutan born in the wild in approximately 1959. He was believed to have been purchased from a pet shop (Like many animals in them days) along with Sumatran male called Adam. He was bought by Belle Vue Zoo (in Manchester) and lived with Adam and another Bornean female called Bobo. During his time at Belle Vue, he became a father of 4 but only two off his off-spring surviving, Rosie and Kumang. He and the rest of the orang-utans from Belle Vue were sold onto a private collection onto Weybridge. In Jeremy Keeling’s book it says that the group of 5 Orang-utans was bought for £15,000 (Approximately £99,300 in today’s money). In his time at Weybridge, he fathered another 2, sadly neither reaching the age of 6 months old. He passed away on Boxing Day 1981. Bobo- A Bornean female estimated to have been born in the wild in 1959. She was bought by Belle Vue Zoo in 1963. While at Belle Vue she had 2 offspring called Rosie and Kumang. With the other Orangs they were bought by Gordon Mills. Jeremy Keeling described her as “a perfect mother”. She passed away after a short illness in February 1979 whilst still caring for her youngest offspring, Kumang. Jane/Janey- A Bornean female estimated to have been born in the wild in 1962. She was purchased by Flamingo Park (Now Flamingo Land) in 1964 along with fellow Bornean, Mandy. She was sent to Belle Vue in 1969 in exchange for Sumatran male Adam. In her time at Belle Vue she had 2 Offspring but neither of them survived. She did not rear any of her offspring but she adopted and looked after baby chimpanzee. After Belle Vue closed, along with the other Orangs, Janey was sold to Weybridge. At Weybridge she had 3 female offspring (Rimba, Jambi and Amy) none of which she cared for. Mills closed his collection in 1984 and donated his orang-utans, along with Janey to the San Diego Zoo. She bred again with partner from Weybridge, Louie (Offspring was named Louis Junior/Lowell). She was moved to San Diego Safari Park in 2002 but moved back to the San Diego Zoo. In June 2016, whilst under anaesthetic for vets to explore respiratory problems, she suffered 2 cardiac arrests and was euthanized. Coco- A Sumatran male estimated to have been born in the wild in 1971. He was bought to the Belle Vue Zoo in May 1972. He was sold to Weybridge Zoo with 4 other Orangs in 1977. He was loaned to Bristol Zoo Gardens in September 1979 but moved back in December of the same year. He fathered 2 offspring while at Weybridge with hybrid female Daisy (Pongo and Harriet). Mills closed his collection in 1984 and his Orangs were moved to San Diego Zoo. Coco was moved back to Europe a year later to Tierpark Berlin. He fathered 3 pure Sumatran offspring with females Bata and Dunja. The offspring were named Danny, Pini (Breeding female at Leipzig) and Mario/Marco. Coco passed away February 1990. Jimmy James- James was a Bornean male Orangutan born at Bristol Zoo Gardens in June 1972 to parents Jack and Jill (Who were originally called Kromo and Fientje at Artis Zoo). He was parent reared and age 7, he was moved to Weybridge in exchange for Coco. After only 2 and a half months at Weybridge, he was moved to Dudley Zoo. He was moved on to Blackpool in 1981 and lived there until 1993. Due to lack of climbing equipment, Jimmy James became very obese as shown in this photo: https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/orangutan-1987.200852/ Via animal transport dealers Ravensden, he was moved to Loro Parque Zoo and kept alone until his death in 1997. Rose/Rosie- Rosie was a Bornean female born in November 1972 at Belle Vue Zoo to dad Harry and mum Bobo. She was the first surviving Orangutan to be born at Belle Vue and was parent-raised by Bobo. Like the other Belle Vue Orangs, she was sold to Weybridge in 1977. She bred once at Weybridge with male Louis but the baby died on the same day of its birth. When Weybridge closed and Gordon Mills headed for the states the Orangs were all sent to San Diego Zoo. Rosie had a daughter called Josie at San Diego with Louis. She was moved to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in January 1987 and had 2 further children, only one surviving, Mia (who is now the breeding male at Ohama). Kumang- Kumang is a Bornean female born in October 1977 at Belle Vue Zoo (40 this year! :0 ) to mum Bobo and Dad Harry. At a month old, she and the other Orangs at Belle Vue were sold to Weybridge. When Kumang was only 18 months old when her mother passed away, so from that point on was hand-reared. She and the other orangs at Weybridge were donated to San Diego Zoo where she lived for 7 years. She escaped the exhibit at San Diego quite a few times. She was moved Seneca Park Zoo in 1991 where she was paired with a male called Jiggs. She had 2 off-spring with Jiggs (Bandar and Dara), 1 with Lowell (Son of ex-Weybridge Orang Janey. Their child was called Datu) and 1 with current partner, Denda (Bella was born in April 2013). This article on the story of Kumang is very good: http://senecaparkzoo.org/the-story-of-kumang-and-her-orangutan-family/ Louis- Louis was a male Bornean estimated to have been born in the wild in 1964. He is said to have arrived at Dudley Zoo in 1969 and then move to Flamingo Park in 1970. He moved to Weybridge in September 1971. He had 2 Off-spring at Weybridge but only one survived (Amy). Louis was moved to San Diego Zoo with the other Weybridge orang-utans in 1984. Two of his off-spring was born at San Diego which were Louis Junior/Lowell and Josie. He was moved to Los Angeles Zoo 6 months after arriving in San Diego and fathered a further 2 off-spring (Pumpkin/Doc & Michael). He was moved to Toledo Zoo in January 1995 where he lived until his death in February 1998. Daisy- Daisy was a hybrid orang-utan born at Dudley Zoo in December 1969. Her mother Flora/Suma was Sumatran and her father Joe/Borno was Bornean. She was hand-reared and at the age of 3, was moved to Weybridge. She had 2 off-spring at Weybridge with Sumatran male Coco (Pongo and Sunshine/Harriet). Like the other Weybridge orangs, Daisy was moved to San Diego Zoo. 3 months after arriving in San Diego, she was moved to Jungle Island in Miami. She had children at Jungle Island called Fannie, Bubbles, Sammy, Brandee and Maggie. She was then moved to Hollywild Animal Park in South Carolina where she had 2 more off-spring; another one called Pongo and an surviving one. She passed away in 1999. Sunshine- Sunshine/Harriet was born at Weybridge to Sumatran dad Coco and hybrid mum Daisy in June 1982. She moved to San Diego with the other Orangs in March 1984 and was moved with her mother to Jungle Island 3 months later. She went to and fro from Birds and Animals Ltd. And Jungle Island between 1984 and 1995. She had 3 offspring at Jungle Island called Hanna, Millie and Surya. She was moved to Birds and Animals Ltd. In 2007 where she lived until 2017 when she was moved to Centre for Great Apes. Here is the most recent image of Sunshine: https://www.facebook.com/CenterForGreatApes/photos/pcb.10154231357472331/10154231355577331/?type=3&theater Amy- Amy is a Bornean female who was born at Weybridge in September 1983. She was born to mum Janey and dad Louis. She was hand-reared due to her mum not wanting anything to do with her. After her parents moved to the US, she was kept with keeper Jeremy Keeling while he worked at Howletts Wild Animal Park. When Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre opened in 1987, she became the first resident. She was joined by male Banghi from Chester, whom she bred with on a couple of occasions with only Gordon (Who was hand reared) be successful. She has also bred with one of MW’s other males, Tuan but no success. She currently lives with her son and another female called Hsaio-Lan. The ones who didn't make it: Rimba- Rimba was a female Bornean born in January 1979 to Harry and Janey. Rimba sadly died 4 months later. Pongo- Pongo was a male hybrid Orangutan born in August 1980 to Sumatran Coco and hybrid Daisy. Pongo sadly died aged 9 months old. Jambi- Jambi was a female Bornean born in August 1982 to Harry and Janey. Jambi sadly died aged 3 months. Unnamed- The female Bornean was born in August 1982 to Louis and Rosie. The baby died on the day of birth.
Fascinating bit of research , well done . I was fortunate to visit the Weybridge collection with a friend of Jeremy Keeling . I remember when in the Orangutan House being warned to keep well back from the bars as some of the orangutans liked to try to grab at people . There was also a group of gorillas and tigers .
Very interesting history. A couple of extra notes; Jimmy/James born at Bristol was the only offspring of Jack and Jill. Although they mated regularly, they had never produced a baby in many years previously and Jill was very obese-consequently his birth was therefore something of a surprise, but she reared him in exemplary fashion. I believe Louis may have been confiscated from the Tysley Pet shop in Birmingham where they also had the male gorilla 'Ollie'- whom Gordon Mills purchased.
I visited the collection in the early 1980's, and have similar recollections to Bele. I also knew Amy as a baby, and "helped" baby-sit her when Jeremy was away.
Sweet baby James . . . Bornean Orang Utan infant, Bristol ca.1972 by gentle lemur posted 18 Oct 2007 at 9:59 PM . . . or Jimmy James, I think Johnny Morrris used that name on Animal Magic.
