The fact remains that Twycross do have a very poor breeding record when it comes to some of their higher profile species;
Gorillas- only 4 offspring(+two died) from 5 potential breeding females in over forty years of keeping them.(Compare with Howletts in a similar time frame) Two of the existing females which are both genetically very important have still never bred. This could have been rectified simply by a couple of exchanges in the past with other collections, to prevent over familiarity(and so lack of breeding interest) between their animals, thus allowing them to develop normal social groups- male/females/young of different ages. Instead, because the originals were zoo 'favourites' of the old management that couldn't be 'parted with' this short-sighted policy resulted with humanised animals and very sporadic births even up to the present time.
Elephants. 3 or 4 potential breeding females (one already has reprotract malfunction, possibly through lack of breeding). No bull kept so only ever three calves produced, at very long intervals since they originally imported young females. Original management didn't regard repeated breeding as a priority. As with the Gorillas, an extremely short sighted policy preventing the development of a normal group with young of different ages and so increasing social interactions.
African Guenon monkey species-despite the largest collection in the UK , overall it has a very poor breeding record with deaths outweighing births, virtually no viable breeding groups established and most of these species now reduced to ageing, nonbreeding singletons or pairs. This is still a 'postage stamp' collection in many ways.
Very poor and ugly accomodation for some of the oldest 'tea party' and other chimpanzees,which should have been a priority for removal many years ago. Certainly before they embarked on a £ multi-million entrance area. (Twycross really has far too many chimps- unless they are all kept in ONE social group.)
On the other hand they have good breeding records for Orangutan, Bonobo, some Gibbons & monkey species and others.
Keepers work with the animals and buildings they are given while the Management decides policy, so it is the Management, not the keepers, who are ultimately responsible for any shortcomings in enclosure design, animal groupings and transfers. At Twycross ALL animals are well looked after, well fed and in good health, within that framework. There are some good, modern enclosures, but far more mediocre ones or poorly designed ones. Regarding animal transfers and exchanges- studbook holders advise and recommend exchanges, but only in conjunction with the zoo itself.
Most important of all, at Twycross the social needs of some species, particularly the Elephants and the Gorillas (and some Chimps), are still not being properly met in my opinion.
When are they due to arrive?
