Australian (and NZ) Great Ape News and Discussion

I like 'Farisi'.
I don't think Swahili is commonly spoken in regions where the western gorilla is naturally found? I'd like to see names more specific to the regions they come from, be it names inspired by study sites (Mbeli) or protected areas of habitat, or names from local languages. That would take rather more research though!
 
marmolady said:
I like 'Farisi'.
I don't think Swahili is commonly spoken in regions where the western gorilla is naturally found? I'd like to see names more specific to the regions they come from, be it names inspired by study sites (Mbeli) or protected areas of habitat, or names from local languages. That would take rather more research though!
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The Western lowland gorilla is distributed across several African countries; including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Swahili is one of it’s recognised languages. The construction of the new gorilla exhibit is part of the Congo Rainforest development, so a Swahili name would actually be an excellent fit. Seven of the nine infants previously named by Taronga (Fataki, Kimya, Fuzu, Mahali, Kipenzi, Mjukuu and Mwamba) were given Swahili names. :D
 
I’m with Marmolady. Swahili is absolutely an East African language and is not spoken anywhere near West Africa. Its a bit culturally ingnorant in my opinion, not much different from giving a Thai name to a giant panda.
 
Melbourne Zoo - Chimpanzee History

Melbourne Zoo’s first chimpanzee arrived in 1932 via a London dealer:

Jeffrey (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1929
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 05/12/1932
Died at Melbourne Zoo 10/01/1936

Josephine (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1929
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 05/12/1932
Died at Melbourne Zoo 1939 approx

Jeffrey and Josephine never bred at Melbourne Zoo.

Two new chimpanzee arrived in 1938 via a London dealer:

Henry (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1935
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 07/11/1938
Died at Melbourne Zoo 01/01/1959

Josephine II (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1935
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 07/11/1938
Died at Melbourne Zoo 01/08/1953

Henry and Josephine II had three offspring together at Melbourne Zoo:

Jimpy (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 08/07/1946
Died at Melbourne Zoo 01/03/1954

Vipi (F)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 31/08/1948
Died at Melbourne Zoo 01/07/1963

Chico (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 01/10/1951
Died at Melbourne Zoo 29/12/1967

An infant male was imported in 1951, and died the following month:

Charlie (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1951
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 01/11/1951
Died at Melbourne Zoo 01/12/1951

Two females and a male were imported between 1961 to 1964:

Keefi (F)
Born at Taronga Zoo 04/05/1941
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/04/1961
Died at Melbourne Zoo 29/10/1966

Beautiful (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1957
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 18/10/1961
Died at Melbourne Zoo 20/11/1988

Sailor (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1936
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/01/1964
Died at Melbourne Zoo 26/10/1966

These three animals never bred at Melbourne Zoo.

Four new chimpanzee arrived in 1966 from Wellington Zoo:

Teddy (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1952
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/10/1966
Died at Melbourne Zoo 17/01/1992

Molly (F)
Born in the wild 01/06/1953
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/10/1966
Died at Melbourne Zoo 28/08/1981

Patrick (M)
Born at Wellington Zoo 17/03/1960
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/10/1966
Sent to Ragunan Zoo 08/10/1976

June (F)
Born at Wellington Zoo 15/09/1960
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 27/10/1966
Sent to Hyderabad Zoo 15/10/1992

Teddy and Molly had four offspring together at Melbourne Zoo:

Ernie (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 15/12/1969
Died at Melbourne Zoo 23/02/1993

Unnamed (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/06/1972
Died at Melbourne Zoo 28/06/1972

Annanie (M)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 09/04/1978
Died at Melbourne Zoo 20/04/1978

Unnamed (U)
Born at Melbourne Zoo 27/04/1980
Died at Melbourne Zoo 27/04/1980

An infant female was imported in 1968, and died seven years later:

Bubsy (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1966
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 07/10/1968
Died at Melbourne Zoo 10/07/1976

Two juvenile females were imported from Rotterdam Zoo in 1976:

Sandra (F)
Born at Rotterdam Zoo 28/02/1971
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 16/10/1976
Sent to Taronga Zoo 23/02/1993

Koko (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1972
Arrived at Melbourne Zoo 16/10/1976
Sent to Taronga Zoo 23/02/1993

Sandra and Koko never bred at Melbourne Zoo.

Additional notes/info:

Jeffrey and Josephine were originally named Jimmy and Jenny. I suspect the names were changed as Jimmy was the name of an orangutan living at the zoo at that time.

Henry and Josephine II were originally called Adam and Eve; then Henry and Henrietta; Henrietta was then renamed Josephine II (after Josephine died).

Jimpy was the first chimpanzee infant successfully raised at Melbourne Zoo. At the time of his birth, it was noted his mother had given birth to two unsuccessful infants previously. I can find no dates for these infants, though they would have been born between 1942 and 1945.

Vipi was the first female chimpanzee infant successfully raised at Melbourne Zoo. Her name is an acronym for Very Important Person Indeed.

Sailor lived at Taronga Zoo for a few years. He sired two offspring at Taronga Zoo, one of which is Spitter (born 1960).

Keefi was the first chimpanzee born in Australia.

The last week of October 1966 proved eventful for Melbourne Zoo: Sailor died 26/10/1966; the next day, four chimpanzee arrived from Wellington Zoo; Keefi died two days later on 29/10/1966.

Molly was one of Wellington Zoo’s three original tea-party chimps. Prior to arriving at Melbourne Zoo, she gave birth to two offspring, including Patrick (the first chimpanzee born at Wellington Zoo).

June was the first offspring of Yoka, another one of Wellington Zoo’s three original tea-party chimps. June has many relatives still in the region, as her sister Bebe was the mother of Boyd, Snowy and Marty. June was sent to Hyderabad Zoo in 1992 to form a troop, along with a number of chimpanzees from Taronga Zoo.

There is a lot of conflicting information regarding Koko’s date of birth. The information I have is she was born in the wild in 1972; was kept as a pet for two years from 1974; then arrived at the Rotterdam Zoo 06/05/1976. Some sources list her DOB as 1974.

Melbourne Zoo has not held chimpanzee since 23/02/1993. On this day, Ernie was euthanised; and Sandra and Koko were transferred to Taronga Zoo.
 
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Adelaide Zoo - Chimpanzee History

Adelaide Zoo’s first chimpanzee arrived in 1934:

Michael (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1933
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 01/12/1934
Died at Adelaide Zoo 01/05/1938

Mary (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1933
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 01/12/1934
Died at Adelaide Zoo 02/03/1936

After Mary’s death, a new female was sourced as a replacement:

Congo (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1937
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 11/02/1938
Died at Adelaide Zoo 31/07/1938

Following the deaths of Michael and Congo, a new pair arrived in 1938:

Jacky (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1935
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 20/11/1938
Died at Adelaide Zoo 29/10/1951

Jennifer (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1935
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 20/11/1938
Died at Adelaide Zoo 03/03/1942

After Jacky’s death, a new pair were imported via Taronga Zoo:

Peter (M)
Born in the wild 01/01/1953
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 18/03/1955
Died at Adelaide Zoo 08/02/1994

Leonie (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1953
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 18/03/1955
Died at Adelaide Zoo 30/08/1967

Leonie gave birth to four offspring at Adelaide Zoo:

Unnamed (U)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 16/06/1962
Died at Adelaide Zoo 16/06/1962

Unnamed (M)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 25/01/1964
Died at Adelaide Zoo 31/01/1964

Percy (M)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 22/08/1965
Died at Adelaide Zoo 08/07/1977

William (M)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 08/07/1967
Sent to Bullen’s Animal World 13/01/1973

After Leonie’s death, two new females were imported in 1968:

Marlene (F)
Born in the wild 01/01/1958
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 26/02/1968
Died at Adelaide Zoo 04/07/1984

Stella (F)
Born at Wellington Zoo 02/10/1965
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 18/11/1968
Died at Adelaide Zoo 31/07/1975

Marlene gave birth to three offspring at Adelaide Zoo:

Lili (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 23/12/1969
Died at Adelaide Zoo 20/10/1975

Lisa (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 13/07/1978
Died at Adelaide Zoo 17/12/1983

Pangi (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 24/03/1983
Died at Adelaide Zoo 03/02/2002

Another female was imported in 1976:

Senguli (F)
Born at in the wild 01/01/1953
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 13/04/1976
Died at Adelaide Zoo 09/05/1996

Senguli gave birth to one offspring at Adelaide Zoo:

Unnamed (M)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 09/02/1980
Died at Adelaide Zoo 10/02/1980

A male and female were imported in 1978:

Fimi (F)
Born at Munich Zoo 16/09/1965
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 31/07/1978
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 20/11/2008

Tony (M)
Born at Munich Zoo 05/08/1968
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 03/08/1978
Died at Adelaide Zoo 21/07/1982

Fimi gave birth to three offspring at Adelaide Zoo:

Jenny (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 16/11/1980
Died at Adelaide Zoo 10/10/1986

Sanda (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 10/04/1985
Sent to Hamilton Zoo 20/11/2008

Tsotsi (M)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 25/06/1989
Sent to Monarto Zoo 04/05/2009

Sanda gave birth to one offspring at Adelaide Zoo:

Mosi (F)
Born at Adelaide Zoo 26/10/1993
Died at Adelaide Zoo 09/12/1993

A male from Taronga Zoo arrived in 2008:

Sandali (M)
Born at Taronga Zoo 26/02/1996
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 27/12/2008
Sent to Monarto Zoo 04/05/2009

Tsosti and Sandali left for Monarto Zoo in 2009.

Four females were quarantined at Adelaide Zoo in 2010:

Zombi (F)
Born at Arnhem Zoo 15/03/1993
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 02/10/2010
Sent to Monarto Zoo 09/11/2010

Soona (F)
Born at Arnhem Zoo 10/01/1996
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 02/10/2010
Sent to Monarto Zoo 09/11/2010

Galatea (F)
Born at Arnhem Zoo 24/02/1999
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 02/10/2010
Sent to Monarto Zoo 09/11/2010

Zwala (F)
Born at Arnhem Zoo 16/04/1999
Arrived at Adelaide Zoo 02/10/2010
Sent to Monarto Zoo 09/11/2010

Additional notes/info:

Both Mary (died 1936) and Congo (died 1938) died as a result of accidental strangulation. This occurred after they fell out of their nesting box and were strangled by the rope attached to their collars. This was also the cause of death of one of Auckland Zoo’s tea party chimps.

The first chimpanzee born at Adelaide Zoo was in 1962; while the first surviving infant was Percy (born in 1965). He died shortly before his twelfth birthday.

Peter was the sire of all twelve chimpanzee infants born at Adelaide Zoo.

There have been two incidences of chimpanzee escapes at Adelaide Zoo: in 1982, Tony escaped and was shot after staff were unable to recapture him; in 1989, Fimi and Sanda escaped and were safely recaptured.
 
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marmolady said:
Thanks for all that information, it's really handy to have it all in one place!
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No problem. There’s still one thing that mystifies me about Adelaide Zoo’s chimpanzee however...

Early on in the thread, you posted a link to this article: The Age - Google News Archive Search

It describes the death of a chimpanzee (Tony) in 1982, who was shot after he escaped. It mentions how he was going to be introduced to an ‘solitary older male chimpanzee.’

This obviously referred to Peter, as he was the only other male chimpanzee at the zoo in 1982; yet my understanding was he was fully integrated with the females and infants until his death in 1994.

The only thing I can think of, is that Peter was separated from the females around this time (mid 1980 to mid 1982) as a method of controlling population growth. Marlene (who last gave birth 1978) was in a position to have an infant in 1981 or 1982, but didn’t; and Senguli (whose previous infant died in 1980) was in a position to have an infant in 1981 or 1982, but didn’t.

Furthermore, Pangi would have been conceived the month Tony died, suggesting Peter had been reintroduced.

What do you think?
 
Hamilton Zoo have released a video of their chimpanzee troop for World Chimpanzee Week:


It has some interesting info on the troop regarding hierarchy etc. It doesn’t appear Sanda is pregnant again; but with Chiku now over three years old, hopefully Sanda will have one last infant in the next year or two.
 
A second exciting announcement for World Chimpanzee Day! Shiba (Taronga) gave birth to an infant girl, Safiri, in May, with news releases being made today.

It's certainly been a big year for chimpanzees in the region, with two births so far, two on the way, and an assumed import from overseas to Sydney Zoo.
 
Zombi (Monarto Zoo) gave birth to a female infant on the 8th of September, bringing the zoo's chimpanzee group to 5.7.
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There seems to be a bit of a run of girl babies born in the region in recent years, which is great after so many male infants in the years before. Chiku (2016), Cebele (2017), Capri (2018), Hope (2019), Safiri (2019), new infant (2019).
 
Sydney Zoo Chimpanzees

Fritz (m, 1982)
Babsi (f, 1984)
Julchen (f, 1985)
Maike (m, 1990)
Tim (m, 1991)
Charli (neutered m, 1994)
Jerry (neutered m, 1995)
Many (neutered m, 2000)
Mary (f, 2002)
Sile (f, 2006)- daughter of Julchen
Moggli (m, 2009)
 
marmolady said:
Zombi (Monarto Zoo) gave birth to a female infant on the 8th of September, bringing the zoo's chimpanzee group to 5.7.
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There seems to be a bit of a run of girl babies born in the region in recent years, which is great after so many male infants in the years before. Chiku (2016), Cebele (2017), Capri (2018), Hope (2019), Safiri (2019), new infant (2019).
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With six females born between 2016 and 2019; and of course Zuri (born 2012), there will be lots of opportunities for exchanges a decade from now.

I wonder who the sires are of Hope and Zombi's new infant. I'm guessing Tsotsi (Hope) and Sandali (new infant); but if Sandali is the sire of both, this could be a good time to vasectomise him to give Tsotsi a chance to breed.

The fact Zombi's new infant is female could be cause for Zuri to remain in the group and eventually breed with Tsotsi. If her new sister was sired by Sandali, they have her genetic equivalent to send to another zoo; if her new sister was sired by Tsotsi, they won't be able to breed her with him. In addition, the age gap between Tsotsi and Zuri is 23 years; the age gap between Tsotsi and her new sister is 30 years, meaning Zuri will have more reproductive years to breed with him. There's also the benefit of Zombi, who is still in her prime, being of an age to offer assistance to Zuri with her infants.
 
marmolady said:
Sydney Zoo Chimpanzees

Fritz (m, 1982)
Babsi (f, 1984)
Julchen (f, 1985)
Maike (m, 1990)
Tim (m, 1991)
Charli (neutered m, 1994)
Jerry (neutered m, 1995)
Many (neutered m, 2000)
Mary (f, 2002)
Sile (f, 2006)- daughter of Julchen
Moggli (m, 2009)
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Does Babsi have any offspring in this troop?
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
‘Holly’ the female chimpanzee at Rockhampton Zoo is now also pregnant! She is due in February and ‘Samantha’ is due next month.
Rockhampton Zoo announces third chimpanzee pregnancy in two years
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This is very exciting news! Considering both females are in their 30’s; have never previously bred; and had been on contraception in the past, for them to conceive is an achievement in itself.

Samantha (born 01/11/1983) is essentially a founder, as she is the only surviving offspring her of parents (who I believe were wild born); so her offspring is genetically valuable.

Holly (born 25/05/1988) comes from a very well represented line. Her father is Peter - born 1971 at Wellington Zoo.
 
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