Most interested people have heard of Romina because of the successful operations to remove cataracts from both her eyes, after she arrived at Bristol from Rome Zoo in Italy in 2001. Although it may well have gone unnoticed in the dark quarters in Rome, at Bristol it soon became apparent she was almost blind and would feel her away about the enclosure.
Her history is also interesting as she was the only baby Gorilla ever born(1980) in Rome Zoo(parents Bongo 1 & Chica) She was partially raised by her mother, and partly by the keepers. She then spent the next 20 years living in the antiquated and dingy Ape building at Rome with a single male companion -Bongo 2. with whom she did not breed. Romina's cataracts could have been caused by a poor early diet or the dark building perhaps- I suspect the former. The lack of breeding was the result of the platonic relationship between the two animals.
After major reorganisation at Rome Zoo, Romina was moved to Bristol in 2001 with her companion 'Bongo' and her fortunes picked up dramatically- two eye operations restored her sight fully, and a much needed change of partners (with London's Jock) meant Romina became pregnant for the first time at the comparatively late age of 23. Despite this and her previous lack of group socialisation, she has reared her baby, female Namoki, perfectly and without assistance. Today Romina and Namoki are pivotal members of Bristol's social gorilla group.
So Romina's story represents a really happy outcome in more respects than just the cataract operations for which she is best known.
I'm hoping that if she isn't already pregnant again now, she will be again soon. And I am hoping perhaps 'Asante' at Twycross can still become pregnant too, as she is a similar age to Romina and with a not dissimilar background.
I'm hoping that if she isn't already pregnant again now, she will be again soon. And I am hoping perhaps 'Asante' at Twycross can still become pregnant too, as she is a similar age to Romina and with a not dissimilar background.
It's a nice story and another baby would make it even better. She seems to be a very good mother and I hope she will eventually become a grandmother too.
She is one of my favourite gorilla models; she has a lovely open face with that spectacular ruff of fur around it. Here is a shot with my new telephoto lens.
