Bristol Zoo (Closed) Okapi Birth

taun

Well-Known Member
Can some confirm this news?

On Friday 10th , at 2.45am a calf was born to mother Lodja and father Rubani.

The calf is a female.

Apparently both mother and calf are doing well.
 
I was at Bristol yesterday. Only the male was on show and he stayed close to the fence next to the female's paddock.

Alan
 
I was at Bristol yesterday. Only the male was on show and he stayed close to the fence next to the female's paddock.

But surely the mother & calf could be seen inside the Gorilla/Okapi house, or was it closed?

It was only a couple of weeks ago I enquired on here whether Bristol's female was pregnant- seems that she was....;)
 
Would be surprised if it was, London's female might be pregnant.

It could take 2 years for chester to see a baby okapi.

I imagine it will be London (or maybe Marwell) who have another calf before Chester.
 
But surely the mother & calf could be seen inside the Gorilla/Okapi house, or was it closed?

There is another stable at the rear of the paddocks which they use for births , this has no public viewing .
 
There is another stable at the rear of the paddocks which they use for births , this has no public viewing .

Would make sense, and avoid the hassle of having to close the gorilla/okapi house.
 
Depending on whether they have placed males in with there females, but Marwell could well have a birth before Chester.

As I mentioned before, I'm presuming the London female Elilah(she was Marwell's first calf) is pregnant which is why Dicky was able to be spared for Chester.
 
But surely the mother & calf could be seen inside the Gorilla/Okapi house, or was it closed?

There is another stable at the rear of the paddocks which they use for births , this has no public viewing .

Thanks. I've noticed that stable but didn't know it was their maternity wing. This must be the first calf born there since 2004 (Mbuti)?
 
As I mentioned before, I'm presuming the London female Elilah(she was Marwell's first calf) is pregnant which is why Dicky was able to be spared for Chester.

I was talking about Marwell’s females, as they have one or two calf's that a few years old now.

If timed right Okpai could conceive again 6 months after the birth and then have the new calf after they have weaned the first. However if Marwell have waited till now then Chester could have a birth before hand.
 
I was talking about Marwell’s females, as they have one or two calf's that a few years old now.

Marwell have waited till now then Chester could have a birth before hand.

Misunderstanding on my part. The last Okapi calf at Marwell was born last summer(2008) at which time a 2nd female there was believed pregnant but the end result wasn't publicised- I think she wasn't pregnant? So one or other of these two females may be pregnant again now, as well as- presumably- London's.

recent births in UK;

2004 Bristol(Mbuti)
2008 Marwell
2008 London (DNS)
2009 Bristol.

Have I missed a couple of others?
 
Misunderstanding on my part. The last Okapi calf at Marwell was born last summer(2008) at which time a 2nd female there was believed pregnant but the end result wasn't publicised- I think she wasn't pregnant? So one or other of these two females may be pregnant again now, as well as- presumably- London's.

recent births in UK;

2004 Bristol(Mbuti)
2008 Marwell
2008 London (DNS)
2009 Bristol.

Have I missed a couple of others?

Yeah you missed a calf born at Marwell in 2006 (Shomari).

Yes hopefully the two females at Marwell are pregnant and if your right about London then in next few years we could see an Okapi boom in UK :D
 
if your right about London then in next few years we could see an Okapi boom in UK :D

I'm only guessing about London;) but I suspect the exchange of males wouldn't have happened so readily if she wasn't. We will see..........:)
 
There was also an okapi born at Marwell in 2003, but I suppose that's extending the range a bit.
 
I'm only guessing about London;) but I suspect the exchange of males wouldn't have happened so readily if she wasn't. We will see..........:)

I agree with your guess, if Mbuti was having trouble at Chester he could still have the trouble at London.

Its hard to think that Chester will have had Okapi's five year's in september. :D
 
Back
Top