.....I was very surprised to hear that Jersey's Jambo was also mounted after his death- though have never been able to verify this- I did hear he was either part of a display at Edinburgh museum, or behind the scenes offshow there, but again have never verified that.
I also heard this rumour and have been trying to find out it's validity ever since. I live in Jersey and over 10 years ago I was on a course in animal care at our local college. We had a famous retired vet in (can't remember his name but he was Patron for JSPCA if I remember rightly). He said that he was often called in to the Gorilla house to inspect them and that Jambo took a particular dislike to him. He spoke of him fondly but then said something about him being stuffed and the plan was to put him on display somewhere....for some reason I have a feeling he said the National History Museum or somewhere like that but it's only a vague recollection. If anyone might know of this guy...(I'd remember his name if you mentioned a few senior vets now retired)...then you might be able to find out more?
I still have strong feelings for Jambo...he was my baby who'd I'd go to meaningfully look at when a child (loved it when he was indoors and I could get up close to the glass). I have spent an evening shedding a few tears again in his memory and watching youtube vids of him. I hope someone can shed some light on this. I was upset when I first heard this rumour but then my logical mind clicks in and I feel that I wouldn't want him rotting in the ground. We have his statue to go and hug xxx
I also heard this rumour and have been trying to find out it's validity ever since. I live in Jersey and over 10 years ago I was on a course in animal care at our local college. We had a famous retired vet in ... He said that he was often called in to the Gorilla house to inspect them and that Jambo took a particular dislike to him. He spoke of him fondly but then said something about him being stuffed and the plan was to put him on display somewhere.
Most male Gorillas don't like the Vet.. I saw one of the males at Howletts get very angry when the Vet walked past nearby.
Re Jambo- still interested to know if that is true that he was stuffed and if so, where. 'National' Museum could refer to Edinburgh (as in the National Museum of Scotland) but I suspect if he is there he may be behind the scenes. I did hear they were at on time intending to display a family group or something and don't know if any other Gorillas from Jersey ended up there.
Jambo- still interested to know if that is true that he was stuffed and if so, where. 'National' Museum could refer to Edinburgh (as in the National Museum of Scotland) but I suspect if he is there he may be behind the scenes. I did hear they were at on time intending to display a family group or something and don't know if any other Gorillas from Jersey ended up there.
Well....I have news. Firstly, can I apologize as this thread is meant to be about Guy.....maybe if there's a more appropriate thread in this forum someone can direct me to it so I can share this info...
Chatting to a friend about this conversation she offered to make some phone calls (can't afford making the calls on my mobile from Jersey).
She phoned Durrell and was informed by a young girl that she wasn't even born when Jambo died and so she didn't know anything. She grabbed her supervisor...who also had no idea. He said he'd get someone to phone back which happened within 5 mins. This person had heard the same rumours and also had a name of someone at Edinburgh National History Museum who might know more.
We googled and hoped we'd found the right Museum and phoned them and luckily were put through to his direct line.
Andrew then explained to my friend that they do indeed have Jambo's remains. He was sold to the Edinburgh National Museum, although he said something about someone (Durrell?) wanting to bury him in Jersey but it was felt he was too 'important'.
He has not been stuffed though this was the original plan. They said Jambo was too 'Fat' and that the fatty deposits made the skin too thin and if they were to stuff him the skin would split.
So they have Jambo's skeleton and his skin preserved (assuming they mean fur as well) but as they can't put him on display he is indeed behind the scenes.
Mystery solved. I would love to share this information myself on the forum in the relevant thread as I've felt this has been an emotional and very informative journey for myself.
So they have Jambo's skeleton and his skin preserved (assuming they mean fur as well) but as they can't put him on display he is indeed behind the scenes.
Mystery solved. I would love to share this information myself on the forum in the relevant thread as I've felt this has been an emotional and very informative journey for myself.
Well done. Don't worry about diverting from the thread subject, it is related and I was the one who raised this initially.
I can't say its a very good outcome for him though.. either being stuffed('mounted') and displayed, or buried would both seem more fitting tributes for such a famous animal.
Well done. Don't worry about diverting from the thread subject, it is related and I was the one who raised this initially.
I can't say its a very good outcome for him though.. either being stuffed('mounted') and displayed, or buried would both seem more fitting tributes for such a famous animal.
I did think that also. If they can't use his whole body they could at least display his skeleton, maybe next to a life-size model of him. Maybe they'll find a way in the future to 'fix' this skin/fat problem but in the meantime at least share him with us.
Like you say Pertinax, he was such a legend he should at least be either put to some use or left to Rest in Peace.
Oh......and my friend who did the phoning around corrected me today. Because she'd given me so much information at once I was mistaken....Jambo's remains were actually DONATED...NOT SOLD.
And thanks for being understanding and explaining about the 'change of conversation in a thread' issue Pertinax.
Well done.
...I can't say its a very good outcome for him though.. either being stuffed('mounted') and displayed, or buried would both seem more fitting tributes for such a famous animal.
And now after an adult conversation let me regress into a giggling teenager (aged 38 lol). But I can't help but giggle everytime you speak of them being stuffed and mounted. Shouldn't it be the other way around....mounted and then stuffed.....or are we again talking of Guy being ironically displayed in an exhibition about Breeding. lmao
I did think that also. If they can't use his whole body they could at least display his skeleton, maybe next to a life-size model of him. Maybe they'll find a way in the future to 'fix' this skin/fat problem but in the meantime at least share him with us.
Like you say Pertinax, he was such a legend he should at least be either put to some use or left to Rest in Peace.
