Thanks for posting the video Ashley, and that is certainly some extraordinary footage. The immense power of the silverback is obviously being held back, and yet the keeper displayed an amazing amount of confidence with the male.
Indeed, that's actually Damian Aspinall, and yes he must have a hell of a lot of confidence. I'd do that if I knew the gorilla well enough though. Is Kifu still alive? I see what Gentle lemur meant, Kifu seems to enjoy his new "pet"
Indeed, that's actually Damian Aspinall, and yes he must have a hell of a lot of confidence. I'd do that if I knew the gorilla well enough though. Is Kifu still alive? I see what Gentle lemur meant, Kifu seems to enjoy his new "pet"
I think you will find Damian Aspinall has been going in with Kifu regularly since he was still young. So he has known him since he was quite a small Gorilla. The relationship is the same as between his father & Djoum and I think it was deliberately encouraged so that Damian could carry on the tradition after his father. But even he couldn't just walk into in an enclosure with one of their other silverback males that had not forged almost a lifetime's relationship with him. Not 100% sure but I don't think anybody there goes in with any of the other silverbacks or their groups anymore.
No, that's not what I meant. I don't think they CAN go in with any of the other groups- at least not the Silverbacks, anymore. The keepers now are not the same ones from the era when John Aspinall was alive and keepers went in to 'mind' him (they never had just a single person in the enclosure) and Djanghou and Kouillou aren't used to this sort of relationship,only Kifu. I think Damian & Kifu remains a showpiece but even there I don't know if he still goes in with him on a regular basis.
No, that's not what I meant. I don't think they CAN go in with any of the other groups- at least not the Silverbacks.the keepers now are not the same ones from the era when John Aspinall was alive and keepers went in to 'mind' him (they never had just a single person in the enclosure). I think Damian & Kifu remains a showpiece but I don't know if he still goes in with him on a regular basis.
Its interesting they seem to have a more conventional outlook to animal management nowadays. Since the accidents there is no more going in with Tigers and at least most of the Gorillas too I think.
