Dudley Zoo Update 2012

Has anyone seen the baby tapir.

Visited today, saw lots of baby capybaras and full sized tapirs but not the baby.

The original old lynx has been moved to Bart's enclosure (Geoffrey's Cat, who is now off show), the two new lynx are in quarintine, and it's planned that they will all be introduced together soon.

Chairlift still not up and running but not long now......
 
Azimat was the second (?) oldest female Bornean Orangutan in the UK with Chester's 'Martha' being the eldest. I wouldn't be surprised if she had died given her age. Azimat spent some time at Blackpool and one of their current females 'Victoria' is one of her offspring. Unfortunately she was hand-reared and moved to ZSL London for a while before moving back to Blackpool.

Azimat passed away in January, she would have been about 52/53 years old when she passed away.
 
Azimat passed away in January, she would have been about 52/53 years old when she passed away.

She did a lot of moving about in her life. Wildborn in about 1968, Blackpool in 1972, Bristol in 1977 and back to Blackpool, London in 1985 and back to Blackpool, and finally Dudley in 1990.
 
She did a lot of moving about in her life. Wildborn in about 1968, Blackpool in 1972, Bristol in 1977 and back to Blackpool, London in 1985 and back to Blackpool, and finally Dudley in 1990.

Indeed she did. She went to London twice, according to the S/B. These were for mating sessions from which she produced a daughter on each occassion, Victoria and then Hayley- who later died adult. But I do wonder if she really did go to Bristol in 1977- it says for just 3 months, yet they had no other Bornean Orangs by then, and I can't see any reason for that move. A mistake?:confused:

She has one breeding daughter at Blackpool(Victoria- 'the menace') and her last one, 'Jaz' + grandaughter at Dudley.
 
Indeed she did. She went to London twice, according to the S/B. These were for mating sessions from which she produced a daughter on each occassion, Victoria and then Hayley- who later died adult. But I do wonder if she really did go to Bristol in 1977- it says for just 3 months, yet they had no other Bornean Orangs by then, and I can't see any reason for that move. A mistake?:confused:

She has one breeding daughter at Blackpool(Victoria- 'the menace') and her last one, 'Jaz' + grandaughter at Dudley.

I believe 'Victoria' ('the menace') is no longer a breeding female. They hope to breed from her daughters 'Cherie' and 'Summer' with hand raised male 'Raman' (From St Petersburg).
 
They hope to breed from her daughters 'Cherie' and 'Summer' with hand raised male 'Raman' (From St Petersburg).

I am not sure why they aren't breeding already- is it either because the females are contracepted, or because 'Raman' is no good (he is certainly old enough) or perhaps a mixture of both, or another reason?
 
I am not sure why they aren't breeding already- is it either because the females are contracepted, or because 'Raman' is no good (he is certainly old enough) or perhaps a mixture of both, or another reason?

I believe the oldest female ('Victoria') is dominant over 'Raman' and has been since he arrived at a very young age with Twycross' young male 'Beau' (Who died in 2007?). In winter 2010 they kept 'Raman' apart from the females in hope that he would mature more and since then, his cheek pads have since grown rapidly. However he is not fully mature as yet, he has been getting on well with the youngest female 'Summer' holding hands with her over the past few months. Anytime he attempts to go near her, 'Victoria' always comes over.
 
In winter 2010 they kept 'Raman' apart from the females in hope that he would mature more and since then, his cheek pads have since grown rapidly. However he is not fully mature as yet, he has been getting on well with the youngest female 'Summer' holding hands with her over the past few months. Anytime he attempts to go near her, 'Victoria' always comes over.

They don't need to be fully mature to mate or breed, males can do so at age 8 years or sometimes even younger (e.g. Nakal at Paignton was only aged 6!). But maybe Victoria is inhibiting him if she is in the same enclosure with them.
 
They don't need to be fully mature to mate or breed, males can do so at age 8 years or sometimes even younger (e.g. Nakal at Paignton was only aged 6!).

It could be the Devonshire sea air! Demo has been mating with all and sundry since he arrived in Paignton aged 9, although he was allegedly a father before then. He's 14 now and we're still waiting for him to look mature.

Beau - yes, he died in 2007.
 
This seems to have passed over without being mentioned.
Giraffe calf born to female Mia which died same day (as unable to stand).

Dudley Zoo website: Sadness at giraffe death | Dudley Zoological Gardens

Curiously posted as a Rothschildt's birth.


What is the long term plan now with the giraffe at Dudley Zoo? Will they go back to breeding pure-bred rothschildis? What about that much vaunted plan from 2010 about an African savannah area behind the chimp housing ..?
 
What is the long term plan now with the giraffe at Dudley Zoo? Will they go back to breeding pure-bred rothschildis? What about that much vaunted plan from 2010 about an African savannah area behind the chimp housing ..?

The same area that was previously to be used as an amazing elephant house, that never happened either, I wouldn't hold your breath!
On a side note, I meant to write before. I went last week, at least one maybe two baby emperor tamarins who looked quite new, chairlift was running but without people, various other babies but it's hard to recall, this is why we're supposed to post after we come back!
Lions were very active, as were tigers who were both sitting or walking by the glass looking intimidating, even the snow leopards were pacing about.
Also I was nearly attacked by a lemur in the walkthrough, it was maybe 4 foot away grooming and we were watching it, then suddenly it pounced and screamed, I was terrified, not seen them do that before!
 
Visit - 31st August 2012

Zoo was very busy today - I think everyone was taking advantage of the nice weather before the school holidays end.

Inca (Asiatic black bear) had found a spot in full sun and was rolling on her back looking very relaxed. Both the tigers seemed to spend most of the day sunbathing as did the snow leopards and lions. I didn't see either of the new Carpathian lynx's although apparently the male was out in the enclosure but so well camouflaged I couldn't make him out. Both he and the female are still settling in and have not yet got used to lots of visitors. The male can sometimes be seen scurrying around at the back of the enclosure late in the afternoon. The keeper I spoke to wasn't sure of their exact ages but thought that neither of them were over 18 months old. Chloe (European lynx) seems to have made herself very at home in the Geoffroy's cat enclosure - she was out in full view and oblivious to the hordes of people.

I didn't see Eve the baby tapir:( despite going back 3 times. She does now have access to the main enclosure though. The latest batch of capybara babies are growing well as is the Barbary sheep.

The lemurs were very active and I saw 4 different species in the walkthrough this time. The gibbons were also very active as was one of the orangs (I think it was one of the males - Jorong, possibly) who was making good use of the new climbing frame. All the chimps were outdoors in the morning, foraging through the grass. I didn't see the baby howler monkey as the 2 adults were cuddled up close together but I did see both the yellow breasted capuchin youngsters - one born in June and the other in July. The older one is just starting to move a few inches away from mum and have a go at foraging for itself.

All 3 of the baby meerkats were out again today. The reindeer are starting to lose the velvet off their antlers so look a bit tatty at the moment.

There are 2 emporer tamarins in Monkey tails now - all the monkeys in there were very active and I nearly got my rucksack raided by a squirrel monkey:o.

The chairlift was being well used - it's a very quiet, smooth ride and much slower than I remembered (there again, it must be 30 years since I last went on it!!)
 
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