@Jambo Actually, I think this is five year old Kimya. Fuzu was born December 2007, so would have been a bit younger than what this juvenile appears to be.
@Jambo Agreed, apparently it’s a (learned) family trait as Kijivu (1993) at Prague does it too when she’s overwhelmed by something. I imagine it came from Kriba, who lacked her mother’s placid demeanour.
@Zoofan15 It's a shame to hear Kimya probably does it when she's overwhelmed. The poor girl dosen't seem to enjoy being in the small group Melbourne have at the moment; especially as Otana's attention is constantly directed at her. Fingers crossed some females are acquired asap.
@Jambo I get the impression Kimya has never adored Otana in the way some females adore their silverback (Mbeli being the best example within the region). By virtue of producing Kanzi and being mother raised (better social skills), she has enjoyed a favoured position over previous females; but I don’t doubt she’d appreciate sharing that attention.
@Zoofan15 she dosen't seem to. And apparently it was the same with Kibali too when she was with him for a while.
Otana's never really showed interest to any of the other females. Since he arrived a decade ago, he sort of shunted them to the side and they were forced to live on the fringes on the troop meaning the troop has really pretty much always been just him and Kimya, much to her dismay.
@Jambo I’m hopeful with the import of additional females, Melbourne can establish a thriving troop. More females would surely stimulate Kimya to conceive, but if not, I see no harm retaining Kanzi as a non-breeding companion - with the new female/females breeding. Kanzi isn’t genetically valuable (in Australasia or Europe) and at eight years old, she’s yet to observe the rearing of offspring, which isn’t ideal.
