How long have these grottoes been closed off for? On my visit I only managed to see Motaba through some bushes as it was closed off from the gorilla trail.
I feel very sorry for Motaba. He's the previous group leader and was far more effective than Rigo in the role. He's been shifted out with his sons but can still see(?) his previous group over the wall (well, he could previously when he lived in here when Buluman was the group male as I saw him looking over all the time)). Its one thing seperating males off but having to then live right nextdoor to your old group is bad news.
I feel very sorry for Motaba. He's the previous group leader and was far more effective than Rigo in the role. He's been shifted out with his sons but can still see(?) his previous group over the wall (well, he could previously when he lived in here when Buluman was the group male as I saw him looking over all the time)). Its one thing seperating males off but having to then live right nextdoor to your old group is bad news.
In a few months they will be moved to Werribee to live in a brand new exhibit. I am not sure what will come of the ape grottoes then, maybe a demolishing or joined together for a monkey species, such as the ringtail lemurs that are currently on the island?
Melbourne is in a complicated situation regarding gorillas, but I wish them the best for the future.
They certainly are. If I were them I would remove Rigo from the main group before they move to Weribee and replace Motaba in his 'rightful' position, thus transferring Rigo and the two Motaba sons to the new enclosure.
Motaba could then breed with(any of) G.Anne, Julia and the new young female from Taronga-depending on how many offspring is recommended by the EEP for them to produce.
His daughter (Jumatano) should either be contracepted or transferred to Taronga Park.
I see that as the obvious solution to the current stalemate where Rigo is not breeding and being elderly is not really a firm group leader either. Trying AI from him will probably get them nowhere and bringing in a new male from abroad is expensive, timeconsuming and difficult to predict the outcome anyway.
