Gigit
Well-Known Member
Keeper talks around the zoo are now available via QR codes. You can also see them on the zoo's website:
Keeper talk videos (paigntonzoo.org.uk)
Keeper talk videos (paigntonzoo.org.uk)
Paignton Zoo Paignton Zoo 2021
- Thread starter TriUK
- Start date
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
They moved to Colchester on February 2nd: Mali & Tatau join Tiga at Rajang’s Forest | Colchester Zoo
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Gigit my thoughts are with you at this incredibly somber time. I know how dear Mali and Tatau were too you, and the heartbreak you must be experiencing at their departure. @Gigit all is not lost as we still have Chinta,Natalia and Wousan in our county of Devon. Paignton had a family of 6 Orangutans at the start of 2021. With the death of Gambira and the Mali and Tatau moving to Colchester, there is space in the Orangutan House to welcome more Orangutans in the near future. With Awan at Monkey World being 8 years old and being the age to leave her family could she possibly move to Paignton to join Chinta,Natalia and Wousan?
Oh no! At last Paignton has a compatible group of orangs, with a sensible number for their accommodation . There is so much work that needs to be done on the islands to sort out the dead timber and the other vegetation and to construct proper climbing apparatus again. I hope this can be underway before future births, and I very much hope that no new individuals arrive in the foreseeable future.
A sensible move and gives Colchester a nice and decent potential breeding group.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Kifaru Bwana do you think that Paington should/will get further Orangutans to join Chinta,Natalia and Wouson?
Its not really down to them its down to the studbook keeper.
The new females are related to him. They aren't planned to breed them(unless there are accidents)
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
I believe Colchester are just being used as a holding facility and to give the male Tiga some company. Paignton wanted more space for Orangutans- which is why they have been moved so its unlikley they will want any others to replace them. One male, two females seems enough for them at present.
The Hedgehog
Well-Known Member
@Pertinax do you think that Natalia will live at Paignton for her entire life? I hope Natalia never moves and remains at Paignton, with her Mum Chinta and stepdad and mate Wousan. I know that Chinta arrived at Paignton from London Zoo in the early 90's but was she captative breed or wild born? If Chinta was wild born it is paramount that Natalia breeds with Wousan as there are many Orangutans of wild decent in Captivity these days. Another reason why I am hopeful of a positive mating is that Natalia is Chinta's only offspring so it is genetically important too keep the bloodline alive.
@Pertinax moving onto the Orangutans neighbors are any of the Gorillas moving out or are any arriving, finally what will happen regarding your namesake living solitary. Personally I think keeping Pertinax in seclusion is a waste of potential, he is a very well socialized character who is brilliant with youngsters. As a result Pertinax would be the perfect candidate to be London Zoo's silverback.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Strangely for me, I don't feel this work is urgent now. They have left themselves with three orangs who seem happiest when they're lying in a corner of the showden asleep. Chinta has never been particularly active and Wousan and Natalia follow her lead. During the spring/summer, there's plenty of natural food outside for them to forage - maybe just a few poles connected by hoses would suffice if they felt energetic. I haven't seen the small island being used since the zoo reopened. Mali and Tatty needed and made great use of climbing opportunities. Now they're in a zoo with a climbing frame in a pit.
In a sense you're making the same point as I did. Now is the time to get the small island sorted, which shouldn't be too hard, but may encourage them to get off the ground more. Then they can do the big one before Natalia is fully mature.
And when finished get a nice family breeding group together and without the 2 individuals now sent on short temp loan to Colchester .......
Gigit
Well-Known Member
I think Chinta would need the proverbial bomb behind her before she changed her ways now (she would have suited Colchester). They've been hinting at improving the islands for years now with nothing ever happening. I wouldn't be surprised if this situation continues due to their financial straits. The average non-regular visitor won't notice anything wrong with it and, to be honest, it still surpasses some other UK exhibits in the enrichment stakes.
Not disimilar to Bulu and Senja who were so inactive I'm not sure they ever fully explored the outdoor areas(?). Basically the older the Orangutan, the less active it is, and as you said, her daughter and Wousan tend to stay with her, she being their focal point.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
No, Bulu and Senja didn't make the most of the islands, to put it mildly! They were both overweight on arrival from ZSL and Senja lived only another 8 years before her untimely death aged 23. Bulu, of course, managed to live to a ripe old age despite her sedentary life. I don't think I ever saw her aloft outside, though she did climb in the showden to get away from Chinta when she was on the war path. Chasing Gigit, Bulu and Gambira was probably the most exercise Chinta got in her youth. She was very overweight too but is a shadow of her former self after many years on the zoo diet.
(Regarding a query above - Chinta was Senja's daughter and was born at ZSL.)
I agree that the island needs some high ropes and replacement poles. Maybe the group BITE that helped (through corporate team building) could help with a fund raising effort? Perhaps the Lar Gibbon pair could be moved over to allow a breeding group on the current island - utilising the new indoor accommodation - this would add some interest and life to an area that can sometimes feel underwhelming if the Lemurs are all cooped up or asleep.
Bulu and Senja spent far too many years in traditional style cages in ZSL, to be able to adapt easily to the climbing opportunities in the far more naturalistic enclosure at Paignton. Its similar to Parrots being kept in cages all their lives and losing the ability to fly. I remember Senja in particular was so obese she didn't really move off the ground. For many years that fine grove of willow trees remained unexplored or climbed apart from possibly by Nakal. Only when Mali and Demo arrived did the enclosure really start to get proper usage. For some years after, it became a very good exhibit. But I think that era is in the past now.