Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2010 #3

Interesting visit you had Goretex :eek: They must all be trying to amuse themselves post christmas lol :D

I think Rajang and Tiga will have lots more 'issues' now Tiga is growing fast, both in size but also confidence! Must be difficult for any elderly animal having a teenager in the enclosure.

In Tiga defence, Rajang did used to urinate over Djambe from on high whenever he had the chance :p and they both have plenty of opportunity to keep out of each others way if the fighting gets to much.

I don't think there will ever be a need to send Tiga off anywhere as if the worse comes to the worse the enclosure is designed so that they could be seperated at all times, if needs be. With Rajang being the way he is with the public we do forget that he could inflict some very serious damage on Tiga if things got out of hand. I have seen him displaying his dominance and putting a stop very quickly to the 'play' fighting when he has had enough.

I am hopefully (weather permitting) going New Years Eve is the zoo still closing early? and how much is blocked off due to the weather?
 
Tumba has been "fixed" so he can't reproduce. According to a member of staff I spoke to recently, this behaviour is perfectly natural as Tumba is growing older and reaching sexual maturity.
In terms of Raj and Tiga. Tiga is a bit of a live wire, but this is keeping Rajang's mind and body active. Orangs urinate on other orangs, it's just what they do apparently. If Raj wanted to hurt Tiga, he would have done by now. Likewise, if Tiga wanted to hurt Raj he could have done too!

I've been to see Raj every week for almost 2 years and have seen him get more and more active since Tiga's arrival, which is wonderful to see. If they want to get out of each other's way they can do so quite easily.
 
MonkeyGirl86 said:
Tumba has been "fixed" so he can't reproduce. According to a member of staff I spoke to recently, this behaviour is perfectly natural as Tumba is growing older and reaching sexual maturity.
In terms of Raj and Tiga. Tiga is a bit of a live wire, but this is keeping Rajang's mind and body active. Orangs urinate on other orangs, it's just what they do apparently. If Raj wanted to hurt Tiga, he would have done by now. Likewise, if Tiga wanted to hurt Raj he could have done too!

I've been to see Raj every week for almost 2 years and have seen him get more and more active since Tiga's arrival, which is wonderful to see. If they want to get out of each other's way they can do so quite easily.
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This is all quite reassuring stuff. I only hope that everything goes ok for both of them. Of course I'm sure the keepers are aware of this and they would seperate them if worst comes to the worst.

@karenzoo a lot of the steep hills were closed off for obvious reasons. Enjoy your visit and please report what goes on with Rajang and Tiga. It's good to have free reporters seeing the orangs.:D
 
I'm not going this week as I'm heading to my parents' house in the Midlands for a few days :( but will be there next Monday so will report any news with Raj and Tiga as soon as I return.
In regard to Tumba's behaviour; he's learning from Tombe (alpha male) and Pippin (ex alpha male and his father). Pippin is constantly "fiddling" with his assets and I have seen Tombe mating with Kora and Tara quite a lot over recent weeks
 
It's perfectly normal for young chimps to engage in sexual activity from a young age, often from 2 upwards. The little lads will often try to mount females so he's just doing what comes naturally. Nothing to worry about, in fact quite the opposite as it shows he is engaging in natural behaviour.

Orangs: I really do believe that Tiga had given Rajang a new lease of life. I've visited 3 times this year and I think Rajang is more active and alert and a little less fixated with people ( not by much I admit!). He can certainly hold his own at one point on my visit last week he had Tiga pinned to the ground with Tigas hand in his mouth, he was careful not to bite too hard but was definitely making a point!
 
I love watching Rajang and Tiga's interactions. You can tell in Tiga's eyes when he's on a wind up mission. It's great for Raj too, he's a lot more active now and, as Mazfc said, is less people focused (but only slightly) and happy to play fight with Tiga rather than people watch
 
i went today and rajang and tiga are ok. i asked a keeper about rajang and he said a female would be coming in when rajang sadly passes away.
most of the animals were out couldn't see tosca but i think she was in the other enclosure. i saw sabir the hyena. most of the kingdom of the wild residents were in the hard stand. Emily looks a bit rounder than normal but i think it is just weight put on from food. i saw the lions and tigers. i went past sasha's old enclosure and i couldn't even look inside it. chimps and lemurs looking very well. i fed opal the elephant. the wallabies were in the shelters with some outside. only saw 3 aardvarks. worlds apart walkthrough is so amazing. said goodbye to junior and saw the mandrills. saw warthogs and red river hogs. saw LOTS of monkeys. and i couldn't leave without seeing telu for the first time ever.
 
Roz said:
Found out from the zoo's facebook page that they no longer keep pallas Cats, after the last one died in december. Geoffroys cats are now in the enclosure. I'm not currently sure which of the cats died in december but did think last year that there was only one :o.
Zooleopard- are there plans to get more or are there no plans for these in the forseeable future? :confused:
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i asked about the pallas cats
 
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