Mid 1980's. There was publicity as they had 'Scotland's first ever Gorillas' which also turned out probably to be their last too. I think it also briefly contained the Bornean Orangutans before they died, in the 2nd section.
Gorillas were;
m.SamSam(ex Rotterdam?)
m.Gori (ex Dublin-very aggressive male, sent away!)
f.Yinka(ex Dublin)
f.Naomi(ex Bristol, later died at Belfast)
f.Killa Killa (ex Howletts- died)
m.Kumba(ex Blackpool- shorterm loan exchange for SamSam)
Samsam and Yinka bred once; Sekondi born 1989, handraised at HWP and then Twycross. He was the only Gorilla ever born at Edinburgh. SamSam and Yinka later went to Twycross also when they decided to stop keeping Gorillas.
This photo shows what was the Gorilla outside enclosure. It was grass-floored with a climbing frame made-up of metal cage sections from the original ApeHouse(Chimpanzee/Orangutan) outdoor cages. Inside was very dungeon-like(probably still is). A very poorly designed Ape House IMO.
Mid 1980's. There was publicity as they had 'Scotland's first ever Gorillas' which also turned out probably to be their last too. I think it also briefly contained the Bornean Orangutans before they died, in the 2nd section.
Gorillas were;
m.SamSam(ex Rotterdam?)
m.Gori (ex Dublin-very aggressive male, sent away!)
f.Yinka(ex Dublin)
f.Naomi(ex Bristol, later died at Belfast)
f.Killa Killa (ex Howletts- died)
m.Kumba(ex Blackpool- shorterm loan exchange for SamSam)
Correct & I forgot about her too. She was exchanged for Yinka in an attempt to stimulate breeding with unfamiliar males. It lasted about one year but unfortunately didn't work for either female. I did see Yinka at Chessington.
Every time I see this photo of this wrecked enclosure with the baboons in it, I think what an ugly display...
