Seems to make sense, putting them all in one group. The newest gorilla enclosure is a decent size, they should all go into there and maybe one of the bonobo groups could use this house.
Seems to make sense, putting them all in one group. The newest gorilla enclosure is a decent size, they should all go into there and maybe one of the bonobo groups could use this house.
yes, the newest Gorilla enclosure is the better one. I hope they end up in there. But there is talk about taking the young male out of the group and giving him a young companion- as if they are thinking of starting a 2nd group all over again.
Oh my god, are they blind?! It's right there in front of them and they're thinking of going through all the trouble of getting a new female when they have, what, four potential breeding females that are basically just vegetating in pairs?!
Oh my god, are they blind?! It's right there in front of them and they're thinking of going through all the trouble of getting a new female when they have, what, four potential breeding females that are basically just vegetating in pairs?!
You are right in a way, but really there is only two potential breeders, as two of the females are getting on a bit and may or may not be capable.
I bigger group with all age ranges will suit best and also should encourage breeding. The other house could then be used as a batchelor house for gorillas or if the bonobo group is still split this could be used for them ( I think Pertinax first thought of this ).
Apart from the odd surplus male(Assumbo & much later Mambie) Gorillas don't leave Twycross. 5 year old 'Matadi' is their only 'baby' of recent years and I can't see them wanting to part with him- so getting a companion for him seems more a likely outcome.
I would actually rather see him stay in his natal group several more years and then they make a decision about his future after that, but we will see.
Of the four existing females, Bongo(44) will almost certainly never breed- Biddy(36) still could, Asante(24) never has and at that age it doesn't bode too well for her future prospects. Ozala(Matadi's mother) is the youngest & the most likely one to breed again- that is providing a new male ever gets there and that he is a breeder.
Even if only one did breed it would still benefit them greatly to be in one group, they'd be more active and have a proper social structure, especially if any babies were born.
Even if only one did breed it would still benefit them greatly to be in one group, they'd be more active and have a proper social structure, especially if any babies were born.
Absolutely correct.
Actually the most important female for them to breed from there is 'Asante'(aged 24) as she's the only offspring of Eva who is now dead. Whereas Biddy & Ozala & Matadi are a grandmother/mother/grandson line so a little more secure(Biddy also has a son Mambi now at Valencia in Spain) but Ozala, who lost her 2nd baby two years ago, should also breed again.
