That's right: Ujiji was alone (I think) in the tall cage, and 4 younger males were looking very relaxed in the adjoining long cage behind the De Brazza's holding area.
Thankyou Alan. Ujiji would alone(he was Oumbie's 'partner').There was mention on their website somewhere of trying to get him back in with the other two males(Djumbah and BuBu) which recently went to Hungary- evidently this failed as otherwise I suspect he would have gone to!
After the 'Bonz group' of males go to Rhenen this autumn, the only spare silverbacks left at Port Lympne will be Ujiji and Timbou(handraised) I wonder if one of them will eventually be used for Kijo's old group?
After the 'Bonz group' of males go to Rhenen this autumn, the only spare silverbacks left at Port Lympne will be Ujiji and Timbou(handraised) I wonder if one of them will eventually be used for Kijo's old group?
There is still a very small infant in Kijo's group (born after his death) so they may postpone a decision for a year or so - I don't think they need to maximise births at this stage. Logically it would make sense to consider one of Kouillou's sons as a group leader, but perhaps it is a bit too early for that.
Though a very ugly enclosure, I do find the thought of any gorilla leaving Howletts or Port Lympne to be quite a depressing one; the key element to the success of this enclosure is that they can choose the security of the forest when they wish, and come out to forage/be fed rather than being shut out.
The open enclosures at PL being very sturdy, walled (rather than moated) affairs, I think the best investment in terms of plants is a continuous network of large protected tree saplings throughout the paddock to give the apes some overhead cover in years to come. Hotwiring a few shrubs seems pointless and a waste of power.
the key element to the success of this enclosure is that they can choose the security of the forest when they wish, and come out to forage/be fed rather than being shut out.
That is the most natural aspect of these enclosures- the free movement from covered(forest) to open(Bai?) areas as is evident in the daily life of many wild Gorillas.
Regarding moving them- I think Port Lympne have moved/are moving out a number of surplus adult males in order to make way future ones from the breeding groups, as they are reluctant to build yet more expensive Gorilla housing.
The recent moves have been;
Four males(sons) from the Djala group have gone to La Boissiere. France.
Two male, Djumbah and Bubu have gone to Sosto, Hungary.
Five adult males(bonz group) will go to Rhenen Zoo.
Four young males from Kifu's group at Howletts have already moved into the smaller 'Pavilion' house.
There is still a very small infant in Kijo's group (born after his death) so they may postpone a decision for a year or so - Logically it would make sense to consider one of Kouillou's sons as a group leader, but perhaps it is a bit too early for that.
That baby must be 18 months old now? (I think its mother is Dihi who came from Apenheul) But in the recent information given out by ZSL they state that babies can be at risk from strange males up to the time they are 4 years old. In that case it could be a long while yet before they add a new one to what was Kijo's group. But a hiatus in breeding will not do them any harm, I don't think, though the absence of an adult male isn't ideal for the group's social welfare (as they are now saying at ZSL).
