Where were the vicuna? Were they where the anoa were previously, in the end part of the giraffe house?
Agree about the improvements and new developments.
ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo News 2013
- Thread starter Newzooboy
- Start date
Agree about the improvements and new developments.
Was it not planned to move up the anoa to the Casson?
The anoa have moved to the Casson, they were there when Tiger Territory opened.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Were all the gorillas outside? Did you see Kumbuka?
volvox
Well-Known Member
Yesterday morning Kumbuka was spending his time between the gym and the outside where he seems fascinated by the visitors, while all three females were lounging about in the gym. A visitor said "it's like when I tell my children, for goodness sake get outside in the sun, it's lovely, get some fresh air!".
There is a new pair of vicuna and they are indeed in the enclosure between giraffes and tapirs.
A new shelter has been built up close to the fence in the Mappins, presumably in the hope that the kangaroos will use it and be more visible to the public.
There is a new pair of vicuna and they are indeed in the enclosure between giraffes and tapirs.
A new shelter has been built up close to the fence in the Mappins, presumably in the hope that the kangaroos will use it and be more visible to the public.
Gigit
Well-Known Member
'fascinated by the visitors' is not a very good sign of a male's breeding ability
though I continue to remain hopeful until something more concrete either way is announced in that department.
Better to let volvox answer re: anoa, i only saw one, but i think someone has since posted there are two.
Babirusa would be good, but don't see they'd fit in the Cason unless they divide the bearded pig side & reduce the group.
'fascinated by the visitors' is not a very good sign of a male's breeding ability
There isn`t a lot to base your hopes on, though - all facts speak against Kumbuka. I am very sure he isn`t going to breed, ever - like almost all handraised male gorillas who went directly to a bachelor group after growing up in the Stuttgart kindergarden. I am at loss to understand why London agreed to take him after FINALLY placing their infertile male elsewhere - they could have just kept Kesho. And they`ll most likely loose another 3-4 years to build up a family group because it will take some time to rehome Kumbuka once they`ve given up hope..
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
As nobody else seems to have picked this up, I'm curious to know what is going on with this species within ZSL. Is one of this pair the animal that has been at Whipsnade? Will the zoogeographic theming of the Cotton Terraces be abandoned? Or will the intention be to build up a group at Whipsnade?
Either way, I'm pleased to see the return of what is easily the most attractive of the camelids to the ZSL fold!
To be honest i felt like saying much the same, as having finally moved the tapir out of 'Into Africa' and intending to move in the pygmy hippo, suddenly the equally appropriate vicuna turn up. I was so relieved to see a new mammal species arrive at London that i dared not to criticise! I also assumed that one of the pair was the one which appeared (then vanished again) from Whipsnade.Where did they come from? Marwell maybe, where they've been hidden away for the last few years.As nobody else seems to have picked this up, I'm curious to know what is going on with this species within ZSL. Is one of this pair the animal that has been at Whipsnade? Will the zoogeographic theming of the Cotton Terraces be abandoned? Or will the intention be to build up a group at Whipsnade?
Either way, I'm pleased to see the return of what is easily the most attractive of the camelids to the ZSL fold!
As nobody else seems to have picked this up, I'm curious to know what is going on with this species within ZSL. Is one of this pair the animal that has been at Whipsnade? Will the zoogeographic theming of the Cotton Terraces be abandoned? Or will the intention be to build up a group at Whipsnade?
Either way, I'm pleased to see the return of what is easily the most attractive of the camelids to the ZSL fold!
I was at the zoo the other day and asked a keeper that exact question! Apparently, they are intended to go opposite BUGS, either mixed with the anteaters or next door to them...
They do indeed...
I'm trying to stay positive against the odds, though there have been some very humanised males who have turned out, perhaps unexpectedly, to be good breeders too- Kouillou at Howletts and Bokito at Rotterdam are two examples, however they did not spend many years in single sex groups as Kumbuka has done. I would say they will know by six months from his full introduction to the females what the outcome will be, they may well have a clear indication already.My own feeling is that should he fail to breed (in which case we will be saying' what did they expect'?
) that they should now cease switching males- just keep him on as the females obviously like him and he's a great display. Simply send Mjuku and Effie by turn 'down the road' to Chessington to get mated by their breeding male 'Damisi.' They could have their babies back in the London group- if Kumbuka isn't interested in them he won't be interested in attacking their offspring either. It would put them back rather into the 1970's 'breeding loan' era but its the most time- saving and easiest option IMO.
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Agreed, this area needs something visible in it, i've never seen the anteaters outside!
I have seen them outside once, a keeper did a talk with food for them. I'm surprised it hasn't become a generic mixed-species South American enclosure. Why did they remove the rheas which used to be there, does anyone know?
With some creative expansion work I thoink it could be a great spot for spectacled bears.
With some creative expansion work I thoink it could be a great spot for spectacled bears.
Spectacled Bears would be a great addition for London Zoo. Not too huge so space requirements at this urban zoo would be reasonable, plus they are still only seen in very few UK collections (at Belfast, South Lakes, Chester and Jersey- who currently have none as both elderly bears were recently PTS)
IMO London made a mistake last time with the choice of Sloth Bears- wrong species- scruffy-looking and unnattractive, wrong specimens-with problem behaviours, wrong enclosure- huge area but where they hid away much of the time.
Given 'good' normal individuals, I'm sure Spectacleds would be much more suitable and would fill in the Ursid gap at the Zoo.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
I'd be dubious about keeping anything as dangerous as a bear that close to the boundary. I feel that with intelligent use of space, there is space for at least one and maybe two species of smaller bear (perm from sun, spectacled or Giant Panda) at London.
The pair of Giant Anteaters are pretty elderly now, so I'm not surprised that they don't often show themselves. I am pretty sure that the male must be 15 now. I would be very sorry if they chose not to replace them.
The pair of Giant Anteaters are pretty elderly now, so I'm not surprised that they don't often show themselves. I am pretty sure that the male must be 15 now. I would be very sorry if they chose not to replace them.