Chimpanzee Buttons 1972

Replacement image for underexposed version. This looks bad because the old Ape House was converted from a big cat house built in 1901. It held 3 pairs of orangs and a trio of chimps on a site much smaller than the current lion enclosure. But the keepers were good and the breeding record was quite good too. Buttons fathered several infants. Bristol, 18th September 1972.

I'll be honest, I actually prefer the darker effect of the other version but I will delete the other one per your request now.

TeaLovingDave said:

I'll be honest, I actually prefer the darker effect of the other version but I will delete the other one per your request now.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I understand your comment, but I think it is important that people should see that Buttons was a mature and healthy chimp, in spite of the grim surroundings.

Alan

gentle lemur said:

Replacement image for underexposed version. This looks bad because the old Ape House was converted from a big cat house built in 1901. It held 3 pairs of orangs and a trio of chimps on a site much smaller than the current lion enclosure.

Click to expand...

Originally( but before the extra Orangutans came) there were two pairs of adult Chimps. Firstly (I) Buttons and Susan and (2)Leslie and Lulu. After L& L. died the 2nd pair were B& S's first (handraised) son Timothy and his mate Elizabeth. The two pairs occupied adjacent cages( the outdoor cage was split in two) and were never together. Timothy was a non-breeder but his father Buttons was put with Elizabeth when she was in heat (indoors) occassionally and they bred too. After Timothy died Buttons, Susan and Elizabeth became a trio and in the new house also. B x E's daughter Eve was Bristol's last chimp and later went to Twycross.

As well as Timothy(a surviving twin) Buttons and Susan also had another male baby George, and a female Sally. Both mother-reared, but both were stunted. Sally ended up at Newquay Zoo.

I have to say the Chimps in that era at Bristol lived pretty miserable lives. They were shut outside on concrete from early morning until evening in virtually all weathers, winter and summer alike. There was no food (between their main indoor feeds) except sometimes some sunflower seeds scattered, no form of bedding( their night sacks had to be aired on the hot water pipes indoors) and of course any form of 'enrichment' was unheard of in those days. In cold weather they often walked bipedally in a sort of hunched foetal position, to retain warmth. That was just the regime in those days.