does anyone know his name? he was in the bachelor group in Port Lympne (with Ambam and Mataki) in 2010. I think they have been moved to the Netherlands recently.
Yes it is, its good to have somebody with updated knowledge of Howletts/PL groups.
Has anyone there mentioned which male they may use to take over the 'Kijo' group in due course? Could it be Timbou? I think he may have been seperated longer than the five years I said above..
GorillaBoy- What do you think they propose to do with all these young Gorillas- particularly the bias of males, they are still producing. Relocate more of them back to Africa?
I believe some years back it was decided they wouldn't build any more new enclosures or increase the current number of groups, so what will happen to all these newer/younger offspring? I would rather see all the surplus young males be returned to Africa than sit out their lives in male groups in Zoos- either at Port Lympne or elsewhere. Port Lympne can really only house two male groups at any time.
Is there any 'masterplan' regarding their Gorillas these days?
GorillaBoy- What do you think they propose to do with all these young Gorillas- particularly the bias of males, they are still producing. Relocate more of them back to Africa?
I believe some years back it was decided they wouldn't build any more new enclosures or increase the current number of groups, so what will happen to all these newer/younger offspring? I would rather see all the surplus young males be returned to Africa than sit out their lives in male groups in Zoos- either at Port Lympne or elsewhere. Port Lympne can really only house two male groups at any time.
Is there any 'masterplan' regarding their Gorillas these days?
I dont know at the moment as they are only young most still relying on their mothers milk so Howletts may decide to change their mind on some new enclosures. I know that Damien Aspinall wants to keep Ebeki 8 year old male Kifu's Group. And i dont know what will happen to Kijo's former group, Bitono 10 year old male is SO big for his age he has already nearly got a silverback and still got around 4 years of growing to do and he seems to have taken responsibility for the group but he has to many relatives such as Mushie=mother Shumba and Juma=Sisters Loulou=Niece and then you have Jah Popa and Joshi 3 males. The only female he could breed with is Dihi (mother of Kiju)
If it was me in the Position i would move the young males at an Appropriate age to be moved into the old enclosure currently housed by Mouila's group but Split the enclosure half for mouila's gorillas and half for the males until they can find a new home maybe as a batchelor group or split them up to be breeding males.
I think it would be a good idea to build 2 or 3 new enclosures. 1. for a batchelor group, 2. for a breeding group if Damien aspinall wants to keep ebeki and 3. for another Breeding group as i would love it if howletts were to keep Kiju Kijo's last offsring.
The only problem where would they build the enclosures if they were to build some new ones.
Yes it is, its good to have somebody with updated knowledge of Howletts/PL groups.
Has anyone there mentioned which male they may use to take over the 'Kijo' group in due course? Could it be Timbou? I think he may have been seperated longer than the five years I said above..
Timbou may be an option but Lorna wanless Said when she visited a couple of weeks back he's just a Nutter she's never been so intimedated by a gorilla like that before.
Which i must say he has done a few bangs and aggressive coughs and barks before when i have been there but all males do but the way he stares at you is actually rather intimedating. It ashame you can't see him no more as the way Port lympne have changed the batchelor bit around meens you can't see the inside pavillion for the older males and you can't see Timbou.
Me personally i don't like what they have done to port lympne.
Bitono 10 year old male is SO big for his age he has already nearly got a silverback and still got around 4 years of growing to do and he seems to have taken responsibility for the group but he has to many relatives such as Mushie=mother Shumba and Juma=Sisters Loulou=Niece and then you have Jah Popa and Joshi 3 males. The only female he could breed with is Dihi (mother of Kiju)
The only problem where would they build the enclosures if they were to build some new ones.
1. It sounds as if 'Bitono' has already taken the mantle of leader in this group. As there is no silverback present, that is very likely the reason he has grown rapidly and is turning silver so early- it may be psychological in so much as he has no older male keeping him in a subordinate role. Could you try and get a decent photo of 'Bitono' on your next visit?
2. I would be very surprised to hear of any fresh Gorilla accomodation being built (though I think they may need some). I think that's why recently a number of males at Port Lympne have been moved to other parks or are intended to do so- to keep the existing spaces free for upcoming males. That's how it seems to me anyway.
Timbou may be an option but Lorna wanless Said when she visited a couple of weeks back he's just a Nutter she's never been so intimedated by a gorilla like that before.
It ashame you can't see him no more as the way Port lympne have changed the batchelor bit around meens you can't see the inside pavillion for the older males and you can't see Timbou.
Me personally i don't like what they have done to port lympne.
1. I am not surprised to hear that about 'Timbou'. Living alone so long may well have affected him by now. It could already be too late to relocate him to a female group easily- plus he's a handreared male anyway. Doesn't sound very likely that he would be selected then for Kijo's group, but virtually all the others still there, apart from Ambam and Mataki who are scheduled to leave, are related to Kijo.
2. Sad that you can't see the adult male group 'inside' anymore. Particularly as this is where they spend most of their time. Can you still see Ujiji and the younger males? Does Ujiji have the 'tower' cage?
3. Agree- I haven't been to Port Lympne since the changes- probably may not go again now. but still like Howletts...
1. I am not surprised to hear that about 'Timbou'. Living alone so long may well have affected him by now. It could already be too late to relocate him to a female group easily- plus he's a handreared male anyway. Doesn't sound very likely that he would be selected then for Kijo's group, but virtually all the others still there, apart from Ambam and Mataki who are scheduled to leave, are related to Kijo.
2. Sad that you can't see the adult male group 'inside' anymore. Particularly as this is where they spend most of their time. Can you still see Ujiji and the younger males? Does Ujiji have the 'tower' cage?
3. Agree- I haven't been to Port Lympne since the changes- probably may not go again now. but still like Howletts...
Where are Ambam and Mataki going this may be because since Boumi's death Djimu has really come down hard of mataki attacking him brutally.
You can still see this group and yes Ujiji has the Tower cage if he doe's not be intoduced to a new female maybe he could be a possibility for Kijo's group as i cant think of any related gorillas of the top of my head.
Ive always preferred Port Lympne but i have alwys Preferred the howletts gorillas hopefully they decide that segregating the batchelor pavillion off is not for the best.
Where are Ambam and Mataki going this may be because since Boumi's death Djimu has really come down hard of mataki attacking him brutally.
You can still see this group and yes Ujiji has the Tower cage if he doe's not be intoduced to a new female maybe he could be a possibility for Kijo's group as i cant think of any related gorillas of the top of my head.
1. Ambam and Mataki are part of the group supposed to be going to Rhenen in Holland. But if Boumi's death has caused fighting to begin among the others they may have to rethink it all.
2. Ujiji- his mother is Juju, also mother of Kijo, so Ujiji and Kijo were halfbrothers and he's related to all of Kijo's offspring. Perhaps they want to give him a female to prevent him getting like 'Timbou' due to too long a solitary life?
