Interesting photo as one of these two females only recently joined the existing pair, having come from Colchester's group. I presume she is the one sitting slightly seperately!
I understand that Sereba is very aggressive towards the keepers at the moment, so they won't go in with her, and she seemed to be making her presence felt outside with the other two geladas as well.
I believe Howletts only has the three individuals shown in the photo.
She's probably feeling aggrieved at the move. I never noticed (or have heard of any aggression) at Colchester, where she was used to being in a larger group with 3 adults (including her) and a number of juveniles. In fact, Colchester has always seemed a very content social group, with lots of mutual grooming and the geladas usually choosing to sit closely with one another (when not chasing each other about). The only slight exception being Junior the male who is a bit more aloof as you might expect though he's happy enough to be groomed by the others.
Given they live in much larger groups naturally it's perhaps a shock for her to be placed in an even smaller group and without the stimulation of the youngsters. Presumably Howletts are hoping she might breed to help rectify that ?
Nice to see Sereba in her new home. I am sure she will settle, she was very nervous at times when she was on her own in the Colchester group, so this must come as a big shock to her. Hopefully howletts will bring in further females to increase the groups size. Does anyone know where Jima and Agolo came from?
Given they live in much larger groups naturally it's perhaps a shock for her to be placed in an even smaller group and without the stimulation of the youngsters. Presumably Howletts are hoping she might breed to help rectify that ?
Although they live in big groups, these comprise lots of smaller male/female 'subunits' and, like Hamadryas baboons, adult males usually only each have a small harem of 1-3 females+young, so her new 'unit' is quite natural, though not part of a huge group..
The original pair came from Le Pal in France. The female won't rear her offspring apparently. At least one was born(in France) by caesarean and handraised. The enclosure (shared with Colobus monkeys) is huge and could accomodate a sizeable group.
I'm a bit surprised Colchester have parted with one of the adult, unrelated females instead of a daughter of Junior(which are related to him, obviously) There must be some reason for that choice.
I'm a bit surprised Colchester have parted with one of the adult, unrelated females instead of a daughter of Junior(which are related to him, obviously) There must be some reason for that choice.
we know the answer now- Sereba wouldn't rear her babies, but she's doing so with the one she's had since at Port Lympne. Maybe it was something to do with her place in the pecking order in Colchester's group?
