This is what I'd expect from say, South Lakes, but most major zoos are chary about making 'pregnancy' announcements in case things go wrong. I was a little surprised too at Dublin doing this.
Dublin Zoo Dublin zoo
- Thread starter kiang
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This is what I'd expect from say, South Lakes, but most major zoos are chary about making 'pregnancy' announcements in case things go wrong. I was a little surprised too at Dublin doing this.
That's a bit unfair if you don't mind me saying.
Dublin has bred gorillas, snow leopards, and flamingos (the three species mentioned in the article) successfully before so to anticipate further births is not particulary risky or arrogant. Dublin zoo is a business so perhaps it is drumming up a little publicity before the summer starts.
Many zoos publicise breeding attempts before they have any tangible results - eg we all knew about the baby Sumatran rhino long before it was born.
BTW what have you got against South Lakes? Have you been there yet? Perhaps you could ride your high horse up there over the summer...
No- I just forgot the exact spelling of her name and didn't look it up!!
The breeding male at Dublin is Harry(previously called Horst) born at Frankfurt(Matz x Dorret) He is a full brother of 'Klaus' who was a founder of Paignton's batchelor group and who later died at Bristol.
I haven't ever seen the Dublin gorillas but I have heard Harry is a rather strange male as he often walks about hunched up, holding a hand over his ear and he also mutilates his fingers, all which can be seen in photos, yet he came from a normal mother/group reared situation at Frankfurt and obviously he does breed normally with Lena.
1. Why is another Frankfurt combination silverback being allowed to breed. To my mind quite a few in Europe are derived from this line ... Are they not a little over-represented?
2. Why is Mayani not being bred by Harry?
3. Any chance of a new gorilla exhibit in the future at Dublin which is more gorilla friendly?
What I find out from my visit was that they are improving the savannah area of african plains and adding the rhinos to this, in order to use the rhino area to build a rainforest for the Gorillas. There were many people wandering around the african plains with architecture plans and disscusing what was going to happen.
What have you got against South Lakes? Perhaps you could ride your high horse up there over the summer...
Hey, I would- but he doesn't like Motorway traffic!!
1. Harry has been at Dublin since 1995- thirteen years ago so its more a case of other younger silverbacks from Frankfurt(e.g. Richard, Akili, Damisi) which have more recently moved into breeding groups, creating the over representation situation.
2. Mayani may still be too young to breed. Harry was hostile to her when she was first introduced to the group - she was very young indeed and perhaps he viewed her as an unrelated offspring to be ousted from his group, rather than a future mate. I don't know if Dublin's gorillas currently live as a single group but presumably Mayani has access either to silverback Harry or his eldest son Kesho, now 9 years old(or both of them). So if Harry still doesn't like her I'm sure Kesho does, and I'd expect to hear of a pregnancy soon(or it could even be her due in August?)
3. New exhibit planned- see Bongo's post or newspaper article.
Bongo- you've just visited Dublin, how were the Gorillas kept- as a single group?
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Any hope of adding another female of breeding age to the group to balance out the sex ratio and provide a stable setting for its future development?
How old are all the male offspring? If of a certain age is it not time to send 1 or more of the male offspring to a bachelor group setting?
When is the socalled Gorilla Forest coming up on the present rhino paddocks. Is the exhibit so scheduled that a definite planning date for its opening is already on the cards?
How old are all the male offspring? If of a certain age is it not time to send 1 or more of the male offspring to a bachelor group setting?
When is the socalled Gorilla Forest coming up on the present rhino paddocks. Is the exhibit so scheduled that a definite planning date for its opening is already on the cards?
1. I expect they'd like to but accessing new females can still be difficult.
I believe they were 'owed' a female as 'Grace'(Lena x Arti) who was born in Dublin in 1992 was raised at Stuttgart and later sent to Wuppertal, while Dublin got nothing in return.
2. After 'Grace'( different sire; Arti) who was handraised + some failed births, 'Lena' has produced and raised her three male offspring(all with Harry) at regular intervals -Kesho in 1999, Alf in 2003, Evindi in 2006/7. Kesho is certainly old enough to leave now but maybe they prefer to keep him until there is aggression from 'Harry' - also the longer these young males can stay with their parents, the better socialised they will be as adults.
(Its just occurred to me that 'Kesho' could be a very suitable male for the two unmated females at Twycross...he's young, unrelated and perfectly socialised and he even has a younger brother the same age as Matadi in the Twycross 'group'- what more could they want?
) 3. Can't answer that.
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Bongo- any idea which female is 'due' in August?
taun
Well-Known Member
(Its just occurred to me that 'Kesho' could be a very suitable male for the two unmated females at Twycross...he's young, unrelated and perfectly socialised and he even has a younger brother the same age as Matadi in the Twycross 'group'- what more could they want?
Great thinking!
Great thinking!
I usually think an immature male placed with adult females isn't a very good match dominance wise, but in this case, as Twycross have indicated they want a younger male because of Matadi's presence, 'Kesho' would be ideal- his own younger brother(Alf) and Twycross 'Matadi' are exactly (to within one month) the same age...
taun
Well-Known Member
Twycross have said they want a younger male because of Matadi's presence, so Kesho would definately fit the bill in that respect too....
Yeah but even thou it would be a great match, I cant see twycross sorting this problem out, even thou this would be the best situation as a young domminet male would be (hopefully) more tolerant to the young male.
Lets cross our fingers and hope tywcross move soon to kickstart there gorilla breeding.
I think if Dublin wanted to move Kesho, that Twycross might consider him. I don't think even they(Twycross) want that male-less group for ever but it has to be made 'easy' for them I reckon.
taun
Well-Known Member
I was agreeing with Pertinax who first brought this idea up
taun
Well-Known Member
I know, I am agreeing with you in agreeing with Pertinax
Alan
Sorry not many people tend to arge with me
so I was a little shocked Lets all go over to Dublin, grab a few pints, talk to the zoo's management and then come over with a young male gorilla and present the Twycross Zoo people with a fait accompli!
I wish things with gorillas at Twycross would not move that SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
I wish things with gorillas at Twycross would not move that SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
taun
Well-Known Member
Lets all go over to Dublin, grab a few pints, talk to the zoo's management and then come over with a young male gorilla and present the Twycross Zoo people with a fait accompli!
I wish things with gorillas at Twycross would not move that SLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!
I'll try and smuggle him back over when am next on business in Dublin