Columbus copied the Howletts' design. They sought assistance from Howletts because they couldn't get their Gorillas to mother rear infants. At the same time they saw the Howletts' enclosures and decided to replicate it -but not entirely- no straw floor etc.
Howletts lent them a 'breeding' male(Mumbah) too- though he has never bred there.
Thanks Pertinax i was just trying to say that it is not a direct-copy of the Howletts Cages.
I wondered where Mumbah got too, Is he still alive and have you got any info on him?
Having read about him in the John Aspinall book 'The best of friends' It would be good to find out more.
Thanks Pertinax i was just trying to say that it is not a direct-copy of the Howletts Cages.
I wondered where Mumbah got too, Is he still alive and have you got any info on him?
yes, the Columbus cage isn't a direct copy but that's where the 'style' came from.
'Mumbah' is still in Columbus. He is supposed to have one offspring at Howletts but on his performance at Columbus I have often wondered if he really fathered any babies. He was offered to Columbus because Howletts didn't have a group for him to take over and he ended up as a surplus male. He was always rather a quiet 'gentle' male and because of his suitable temperament I know Columbus have in the past used him as a sort of surrogate father for some of their younger handrerared gorillas, though he has never fathered any himself at Columbus. Males like that are often not very good breeders.
