Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo News 2024
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Don''t think Tommy will be any trouble, given he's castrated. He is very slender with little muscle, typical of castrated apes. But glad he is now in the main group and they are right, its the very first time all chimps in Twycross are in a single group, though they now have the smallest number they have ever had as well...
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Neither do I, I think he was by his disposition not an overtly assertive chimpanzee. It is nice he can now spread his wings in a more social and natural setting.
For the future, I do wonder, what TW Zoo is planning with chimpanzees going forward. Does anyone know what their long term plan really is beyond the communication they would like to introduce some pure-bred P.t. verus females into the group.
Personally, I do have some reservations as to how the management has developed in recent years since the new Chimpanzee Complex opened. I assume they have multiple holding facilities, but just one outdoor ... (which I find a rather curious one to munch over) exclosure.
I acknowledge that the full integration of all chimpanzee into one group has been very. challenging. Introduction of new chimpanzee into an established group is a complex thing and will move by trial and error and in error sometimes good chimps are lost (and unfortunately also chance frequent killed as an unknown immigrant upsetting the balance and social structure and dynamics of the group).
What I do find curious is to use this policy to also want to establish a conservation breeding program into the future with the hopscotch bunch they do have now. Introducing the new pure-bred male Kibali from Germany into the group - to my mind - is at best (to put it diplomatically) a very ambitious endeavour and at worst ... (well I reserve not to say the qualification I have in mind).
I would much prefer a 2-way approach like Leipzig Zoo has done with maintaining both a group set up for breeding the rare P.t. verus subspecies from West Africa and a group of assemblage of chimps from various sources and subspecifics, hybrids and generics both mid age range or elderly non-reproductive or those neutered to prevent breeding. The fact that this is working successfully shows up through recent events and evolution of these groups. This way Leipzig Zoo serves both the purpose of conservation breeding of critically endangered chimpanzee subspecies as well as provide accomodation for chimpanzees both elder and unknowns/hybrids that are on effective long-term phase out.
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Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
I’d like them to do something similar to what Edinburgh Zoo did. Though in TZ’s case it probably would mean bringing in new P.t Verus chimpanzees to introduce to the main troop with Kibali as the dominant male. From what I’ve observed and been told by keepers Kibali is much more dominant compare to Jambo. The females give a lot more respect to Kibali and little to Jambo.
What is important though is the benefits this has had on the current chimpanzee troop. They now have access to outdoors all day which is great for them in the summer months and Tommy is now in a large dynamic troop with the others. Compare to what he used to have with Peter and William. I know the keepers at Twycross have worked hard in the past few months to allow all of this to happen.
I think they’ll bring in new P.t Verus females and introduce them into the main troop and let the Hybrids live out the rest of their lives at Twycross within the same troop.
What is important though is the benefits this has had on the current chimpanzee troop. They now have access to outdoors all day which is great for them in the summer months and Tommy is now in a large dynamic troop with the others. Compare to what he used to have with Peter and William. I know the keepers at Twycross have worked hard in the past few months to allow all of this to happen.
I think they’ll bring in new P.t Verus females and introduce them into the main troop and let the Hybrids live out the rest of their lives at Twycross within the same troop.
In my own POV, I concur that the Edinburgh Zoo approach takes way too long to get any results. It remains way too "old school" and is a rather ultra conservative way to sort the issues with 20th Century chimpanzee management and try to phase out generic and hybrids chimps and refocussing on conserving endangered taxons' within the chimpanzee complex (and I don't just mean the critically endangered P.t. verus, but also the others like ellioti or troglodytes) with some conservation in situ validity.
If you look at the UK population generally and let us face it realistically there is a rather thin-lined group that actually does focus in some way on breeding chimpanzees of a purebred taxon - ATM only P.t. verus taxon - with a huge number of hybrids still in the majority of collections. All the latter are now ageing and thinning slowly the pace of change and progress is just much too slow.
The example of Kibali ..., he may be much more dominant over Jambo or any other chimpanzee, but his reproductive capacity at the moment for rebuilding a pure-bred taxon group ATM is totally wasted and how long yet before all the hybrids have passed on ... (that timeframe honestly is just way too great and is an absolute hindrance to any credible breeding program). You will yourself be well aware that integrating new chimpanzees in an existing group is quite hard and takes an incredibly long time to settle itself with an open ending as to the outcome for new immigrant chimps from the established cohorte.
I would - perhaps rather harshly - contend and concur that really is a dead end chimp management policy line (I could even put it more less diplomatically ... what it is in my POV). Best practice is to start afresh with both, a group of hybrids/generics on phase out and a group based around one of the pure-bred taxa (for the UK that would probably just mean focussing on P.t. verus as Whipsnade at some point had the brilliant idea to neuter and castrate all their pure-bred P.t. troglodytes ....).
The only zoo(s) presently in the UK focussing fully on P.t. verus breeding is Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay and in mixed generic / pure-bred groups at Chester and Edinburgh Zoos.
If you look at the UK population generally and let us face it realistically there is a rather thin-lined group that actually does focus in some way on breeding chimpanzees of a purebred taxon - ATM only P.t. verus taxon - with a huge number of hybrids still in the majority of collections. All the latter are now ageing and thinning slowly the pace of change and progress is just much too slow.
The example of Kibali ..., he may be much more dominant over Jambo or any other chimpanzee, but his reproductive capacity at the moment for rebuilding a pure-bred taxon group ATM is totally wasted and how long yet before all the hybrids have passed on ... (that timeframe honestly is just way too great and is an absolute hindrance to any credible breeding program). You will yourself be well aware that integrating new chimpanzees in an existing group is quite hard and takes an incredibly long time to settle itself with an open ending as to the outcome for new immigrant chimps from the established cohorte.
I would - perhaps rather harshly - contend and concur that really is a dead end chimp management policy line (I could even put it more less diplomatically ... what it is in my POV). Best practice is to start afresh with both, a group of hybrids/generics on phase out and a group based around one of the pure-bred taxa (for the UK that would probably just mean focussing on P.t. verus as Whipsnade at some point had the brilliant idea to neuter and castrate all their pure-bred P.t. troglodytes ....).
The only zoo(s) presently in the UK focussing fully on P.t. verus breeding is Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay and in mixed generic / pure-bred groups at Chester and Edinburgh Zoos.
While I do see where you’re coming from here, thinking ahead, in 20 years time that group of elderly hybrid chimps will have diminished to two or three. Then Twycross would be left in a similar situation to what they’ve had for years - a problem that for years they’ve been trying to get rid of. This would also eventually leave them in the awkward situation of the last chimp, too old to be safely introduced to other chimps, forcing Twycross to either keep a lone chimp or PTS - two situations I’d imagine the zoo would want to avoid, both for ethical and PR reasons.
Studies have also shown that chimpanzees exhibit more natural behaviours when in bigger, dynamic groups with variation in both sex and age. Therefore the separation of old and young would have negative effects on both groups in terms of what a healthy chimp group should look like.
A study at Edinburgh a few years ago also showed that chimps are able to live in a more natural, fission fusion group when given access to a range of environments within an enclosure (Edinburgh’s pod design). Therefore, I don’t think it would be unreasonable to suggest that giving the chimps at Twycross access to 2 large indoor enclosures and an outdoor space would be much more beneficial for group dynamic and the overall social interactions between individuals, compared to a single room for half the time with the addition of outdoor access for the other half. More choice in where they spend their time and who they spend it with.
I think it’s also worth mentioning that WMZ do indeed still have hybrid chimps in their group and both WMZ and Chester have seen hybrid infants born within the last 5 years.
Totally agree! This is absolutely right. It isn’t all about genetics. Those ‘old/hybrid/generic’ chimps are just as valuable for social and cultural purposes within a successful troop.
And yes, both WMZ and Chester have bred hybrids within the last few years and this is still permitted by the EEP on occasions.
I think you only have to observe this group for a short while to see that Kibali certainly is not more dominant than Jambo. Yes he throws his weight around a bit, just like any young male chimpanzee but the group clearly respect Jambo a lot.
Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
I’m just posting my observations and what I’ve been told by keepers.
Hopefully in the future Twycross will bring in female P.t Verus Chimpanzees and can start breeding them. The Twycross group are getting older and are dwindling down in numbers. It’s nice to see the playful behaviour from Kibali. He is certainly interested in some of the females.
I don't think I'd describe Kibali as 'young' (not your quote I know) as isn't he about twenty years old already? He's now been at Twycross some years but with no chance to breed as the five(?)/most of the pure 'verus' females- the reason he was brought in- all started dying off from around the time he arrived. The obvious choice for Twycross now is bringing in two or three pure younger females for him- perhaps initially kept with him seperately then subsumed into the main group. It should not be too difficult as he is part of the main group already.
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What would be the purpose in separating him? Removing any chimp from its group (especially male) can be very risky when introducing them back. Considering Twycross have worked so hard for many years to merge their chimps into one group, I doubt they’d risk messing things up by separating them again.
I would think they would be more likely to add Kibale
to any new females seperately so that they could form a subgroup, rather than just add the females to the whole group after an initial
period of adjacent housing. As there is a mesh di vision between the two enclosures Kibale would still have contact with the main group. This phase if successful might also be quite
short. I just think it's more likely they would do it this way. But obviously I don,'t know that for sure and there is still no sign of any new females at present.
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I’m
Im thinking of visiting the zoo soon but it’s a hour away just wondering if anyone could tell me wether it would be worth it have they still got many animals, any new things e.g. babies.
Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
It is worth the visit, the highlights would be Bonobos, Four Gibbon Species, Black Rhino, Amur & Snow Leopards and much more. You can find out what else they keep on the zoos website. They have babies of the Pileated Gibbon, Juvenile Bonobo, Black-Headed Spider Monkey and Two Francois Langurs.
Hopeful Teacher
Member
I took my class back in March, there was more than enough to keep the attention of 30 9 year olds for a whole day.
Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
A few bits of news from Twycross:
The last Variegated Spider Monkey ‘Magdalena’ has left the collection. Her former enclosure near the Tamarins is now being refurbished for a different species.
The Emperor Tamarins were let out onto the trees neighbouring their exhibit. It was fantastic to see them in the large trees. I didn’t have my camera on me at the time so I’ll post images from my phone to the media page later.
‘Tommy’ the chimpanzee has settled in well. Whenever I’m in Chimpanzee Eden he is sitting next to the glass. The others seem to enjoy playing with him and it’s good to see him interact with a larger troop of chimpanzees compare to living alone or in a pair.
The area near the Tapirs is being cleared. This is possibly going to be turned into a new enclosure for a deer species.
The Diana Monkeys are back on show and can now be seen as the development inside the enclosure has been finished.
All of the babies which have been born in the last few months are all doing well. Both Francois Langurs are now starting to turn black. The Pileated Gibbon infants name should be announced soon.
The last Variegated Spider Monkey ‘Magdalena’ has left the collection. Her former enclosure near the Tamarins is now being refurbished for a different species.
The Emperor Tamarins were let out onto the trees neighbouring their exhibit. It was fantastic to see them in the large trees. I didn’t have my camera on me at the time so I’ll post images from my phone to the media page later.
‘Tommy’ the chimpanzee has settled in well. Whenever I’m in Chimpanzee Eden he is sitting next to the glass. The others seem to enjoy playing with him and it’s good to see him interact with a larger troop of chimpanzees compare to living alone or in a pair.
The area near the Tapirs is being cleared. This is possibly going to be turned into a new enclosure for a deer species.
The Diana Monkeys are back on show and can now be seen as the development inside the enclosure has been finished.
All of the babies which have been born in the last few months are all doing well. Both Francois Langurs are now starting to turn black. The Pileated Gibbon infants name should be announced soon.
DCzootripper
Well-Known Member
I Always wonder why Doesn't Twycross zoo keep gorillas, They have orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos, and they have enough space. I don't know whether they have kept them in the past, but maybe it's just not many are available currently
Pandaboi
Well-Known Member
Twycross do keep gorillas. They have a troop consisting of 5 individuals.
Fingers crossed for the Tufted Deer coming back on show..!