Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2015

The Twycross CEO, Sharon Redrobe, was on Radio WM talking about chimps. She said that they have identified the pure chimps that they hold and plan to commence breeding this summer. They're importing a new male from France to be the 'daddy' as she described it.

The inevitable topic of the PG Tips chimps came up with the presenter. She mentioned that they had conducted some kind of 're-wilding' on 10 of the chimps due to the way they had been brought up around humans. What would 're-wilding' involve?
 
RTB1987 said:
She said that they have identified the pure chimps that they hold and plan to commence breeding this summer. They're importing a new male from France to be the 'daddy' as she described it.

She mentioned that they had conducted some kind of 're-wilding' on 10 of the chimps due to the way they had been brought up around humans. What would 're-wilding' involve?
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At long last a modern approach to Chimpanzee keeping at Twycross.:) The new planned accomodation hopefully will follow soon.

It would be interesting to know how many 'pures' they have (and are these all West African?) and which ones they are.

I believe all the actual T.V. performers are now dead but no doubt the ones she's referring to were humanised also. I imagine 'rewilding' involves a. mixing them in the larger social groups and b. removing any interactions with them that foster their humanised behaviours.
 
RTB1987 said:
The Twycross CEO, Sharon Redrobe, was on Radio WM talking about chimps. She said that they have identified the pure chimps that they hold and plan to commence breeding this summer. They're importing a new male from France to be the 'daddy' as she described it.

The inevitable topic of the PG Tips chimps came up with the presenter. She mentioned that they had conducted some kind of 're-wilding' on 10 of the chimps due to the way they had been brought up around humans. What would 're-wilding' involve?
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And where may I ask is this new breeding male and all the babies he will hopefully father going to live in a zoo that is already overcrowded with chimps in the two houses they have now?. I appreciate that they have the most grand plans for new chimp facilities but the woman who is currently in charge stated on this radio broadcast that they are starting breeding with this new male from France this Summer, which is now, unless of coarse some more of the old timers will soon "pass on".
 
Junior Friendly;882124 stated on this radio broadcast that they are starting breeding with this new male from France this Summer said:
By the time this new male has arrived, has spent some time in quarantine and been introduced to his prospective mates, its likely several more months will have elapsed. I am pretty sure they wouldn't be embarking on this unless they were really planning the new accomodation. Shorter term it may require some regrouping in the existing houses to have the 'pures' together in one group, but will only involve one extra chimp(the new pure male). Also the original Gorilla House behind the mansion which has functioned as a third Chimp House, is (to my knowledge anyway) currently empty of Apes, so could be used to house this new group or another one. I wouldn't expect that many babies, or any in fact until next year which is pretty much in line with the new building being started also to house all these Chimps.

If there is provision in that for two groups as the plans seem to show, then they may keep the generics and pures seperately. Or perhaps like Edinburgh, keep one large group but prevent the generics breeding until they eventually(longterm) die out.
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Gigit said:
Is it correct that you will no longer be able to view the orangs inside the new house at ground level, but only from an upper corridor?
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The thing I care about is is it going to allow Kibriah some freedom from the insistent attentions of Batu.
 
The male will probably come from La Vallee des Singes who maintain a bachelor all male verus chimpanzee group.
 
Visited today for the first time in a couple of months. I'm very impressed with what they've been able to with the new extension to the orang house. It's nearly doubled the floor space and added great height in the extension part.

Kibriah and Batu were actively 'fishing' for treats with twigs in the new feeder wall.

There is plenty of scope to get them off the ground too.

Above the extension is a caged ceiling like in RORA that has feed scattered on it and has full keeper access. The night rooms are now off show though.

I am very happy to report that, if they choose, the Orangs can still come up to the viewing window.

Malaiku and Molly were no where to be seen, and someone on the fb page was asking about their 3 Orangs. I'm presuming that they are just off show, but if anyone knows any different can you let me know.
 
mazfc said:
Malaiku and Molly were no where to be seen, and someone on the fb page was asking about their 3 Orangs. I'm presuming that they are just off show, but if anyone knows any different can you let me know.
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Coincidentally I was there today as well. Both Malaiku and Molly were on display, just hidden on the top of the outdoor climbing equipment.

Also, the 'gibbon forest' seems to be taking place. Four islands for four gibbon species have been built and a fifth island for an undisclosed species. I asked a member of staff what was likely to go on there, but he wouldn't give much away. He did say that it was likely to be something new though, not just a new home for an existing Twycross species. Anybody have any guesses what it could be?
 
giant_anteater said:
Also, the 'gibbon forest' seems to be taking place. Four islands for four gibbon species have been built and a fifth island for an undisclosed species. I asked a member of staff what was likely to go on there, but he wouldn't give much away. He did say that it was likely to be something new though, not just a new home for an existing Twycross species. Anybody have any guesses what it could be?
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I spotted this on the plans for the Gibbon House. It looked to me as though the space available would be roughly similar to the space for each group of gibbons, but perhaps for a more terrestrial species. It could be another primate species, perhaps a macaque or even a couple of drills (which would help to close the big gap in the primate species list). It could be some other small or medium sized mammal from aardvark to zorilla; I'd like to say something really cool like a pair of wombats - but I think a carnivore such as binturong or red panda is much more likely.

Alan
 
mazfc said:
Visited today for the first time in a couple of months. I'm very impressed with what they've been able to with the new extension to the orang house. It's nearly doubled the floor space and added great height in the extension part.

Kibriah and Batu were actively 'fishing' for treats with twigs in the new feeder wall.

There is plenty of scope to get them off the ground too.

Above the extension is a caged ceiling like in RORA that has feed scattered on it and has full keeper access. The night rooms are now off show though.

I am very happy to report that, if they choose, the Orangs can still come up to the viewing window.

Malaiku and Molly were no where to be seen, and someone on the fb page was asking about their 3 Orangs. I'm presuming that they are just off show, but if anyone knows any different can you let me know.
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And did you by any chance find the time or give a thought to asking what exactly Benji the chimp died of very suddenly and surprisingly?, did this zoo issue any post mortem results or is it a case of "out of sight ,out of mind"
 
giant_anteater said:
Coincidentally I was there today as well. Both Malaiku and Molly were on display, just hidden on the top of the outdoor climbing equipment.
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The keeper said at tea time they'd separated Batu because Molly has been nervous of the new space and they wanted to give her time to come out and indeed she did appear.

We didn't quiz anyone about Benji but it's certainly not out of sight out of mind as we missed his presence and talked about him and how things would have gone with him in the group!

(And Ricky, never forgotten )
 
OrangePerson said:
The keeper said at tea time they'd separated Batu because Molly has been nervous of the new space and they wanted to give her time to come out and indeed she did appear.

We didn't quiz anyone about Benji but it's certainly not out of sight out of mind as we missed his presence and talked about him and how things would have gone with him in the group!

(And Ricky, never forgotten )
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And Jill and Louis, not to mention my lovely Becky who I loved for how she treated Flynn when he joined her group. And of course Mekundi who is also much missed.

But hey Junior you didn't mention them I notice, but have a dig anyway!

Benji was much much loved by me and I actually talk about whenever I visit. I'm actually looking at the stick he gave me 4 years ago that's been on my living room cabinet ever since
 
Hi has Becky passed away I haven't heard anything, Benji just gave up you could see it in the photo that was just taken before it happened, surely as Ms Redrobe knows about chimps then she knows they don't like constant change it stresses them out I mean there are a lot of elderly chimps I hate to even think of it let alone say it but the way things are going there might be a lot more fatalities.

mazfc said:
And Jill and Louis, not to mention my lovely Becky who I loved for how she treated Flynn when he joined her group. And of course Mekundi who is also much missed.

But hey Junior you didn't mention them I notice, but have a dig anyway!

Benji was much much loved by me and I actually talk about whenever I visit. I'm actually looking at the stick he gave me 4 years ago that's been on my living room cabinet ever since
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Jane Doe said:
Hi has Becky passed away I haven't heard anything, Benji just gave up you could see it in the photo that was just taken before it happened, surely as Ms Redrobe knows about chimps then she knows they don't like constant change it stresses them out I mean there are a lot of elderly chimps I hate to even think of it let alone say it but the way things are going there might be a lot more fatalities.
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And so it begins again.
 
Jane Doe said:
Sorry it is obvious I am not allowed an opinion what is the problem is it because I say it as it is ? if you don't like it get it removed better still I will not put my opinions on.
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If you had not mentioned a certain name in your post I doubt anyone would have noticed and you would have got more response on chimps and how they respond to change.

I didn't think they got too stressed over it, not compared to gorillas but then I'll admit chimps are my least favourite great ape.
 
I see what you mean I should just drop that name not a problem in fact it will be a pleasure. Having many years of understanding chimps drummed into me I could tell you which chimps could go with who e.g. Ricky was not a fighter so he was put into the wrong group.
 
Jane Doe said:
I see what you mean I should just drop that name not a problem in fact it will be a pleasure. Having many years of understanding chimps drummed into me I could tell you which chimps could go with who e.g. Ricky was not a fighter so he was put into the wrong group.
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Becki died a few years ago
 
Jane Doe said:
Sorry it is obvious I am not allowed an opinion what is the problem is it because I say it as it is ? if you don't like it get it removed better still I will not put my opinions on.
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You are allowed an opinion.

It's just that some people find someone repeating the same opinion, over and over (and over) again, a bit tedious.
 
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