Port Lympne Wild Animal Park Ambam the Silverback gorilla walking around his pen on two legs

Is it just me, or does that remind anyone else of this...?

gary_larson_cows.jpg
 
He looks like a Bigfoot...;)

'Ambam' and his four silverback chums were supposed to be moving to Rhenen Zoo last autumn but I believe their enclosure isn't finished- or may be its not even have been started yet?!- so I guess Port Lympne visitors may see him performing his upright walk for some months to come.

Some years ago when photographing this group during their scatter feed, I saw Ambam briefly stand partially upright so the incipent behaviour was perhaps already there then. A handraised female(Toni) at Columbus, USA used to do this too, but I've never seen it in a silverback before.
 
Just been on the ITV News at 6. It's fascinating to see, wonder whether I'll see it when I visit later in the year. Does anybody know how often he does this, or if that was just a one-off?
 
Port Lympne Zoo

Gambar [Sumatran Orang at Jersey] used to do this a lot.
 
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Javan Rhino said:
Just been on the ITV News at 6. It's fascinating to see, wonder whether I'll see it when I visit later in the year. Does anybody know how often he does this, or if that was just a one-off?
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I saw him do it (At least i think it was him.) last year. I thought it was funny but never really thought any more of it It's a fantastic way for drumming up buisness for Port Lympne. I hope they rake it in. I'm still not convinced it's entirely unique, just watching The Gorillas for an hour or so (At Howletts, this is so easy to do.) reveals all types of Human mannerisms. It's not just Gorillas either, if people saw what i saw the lion tailed Macaque at Howletts doing last week, that would have been an internet sensation too. It just wouldn't have made the national news.
 
Pertinax said:
He looks like a Bigfoot...;)

'Ambam' and his four silverback chums were supposed to be moving to Rhenen Zoo last autumn but I believe their enclosure isn't finished- or may be its not even have been started yet?!- so I guess Port Lympne visitors may see him performing his upright walk for some months to come.

Some years ago when photographing this group during their scatter feed, I saw Ambam briefly stand partially upright so the incipent behaviour was perhaps already there then. A handraised female(Toni) at Columbus, USA used to do this too, but I've never seen it in a silverback before.
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Rhenen Zoo:
It has been somewhat in limbo. No indication yet when building work will finally commence in full this year. Some other projects have taken precedence (e.g. tigers, giant tortoises Barbary macaques).
 
Ambam has now also made the news in Melbourne Australia.

The report states his sisters or was it daughters also show this behaviour.

I hope the Aspinall parks make a fortune out of this.

I am wondering just how long he has been walking like this for?
 
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zooman said:
Ambam has now also made the news in Melbourne Australia.

The report states his sisters or was it daughters also show this behaviour.

I hope the Aspinal parks make a fortune out of this.

I am wondering just how long he has been walking like this for?
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Ambam hasn't got any offspring but he's got a sister 'Tamba' in one of the Howlett's groups and yes I think she does it too but not so markedly.

I wonder if 'Youtube popularity'- which must be surely very transient, converts to actual visitors at the Park? I should have thought most people would have forgotten about this in a few days, though obviously there will be some who will visit just to see him.

He wasn't doing this a few years ago though as I said I have seen him stand (partially) upright in the past.
 
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Javan Rhino said:
Does anybody know how often he does this, or if that was just a one-off?
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My guess would be he does it regularly (everyday?), but maybe mainly in the outdoor paddock, which they tend to use just during the scatter feed times sessions (was 12 p.m and 3 p.m).
 
FBBird said:
Gambar [Sumatran Orang at Jersey] used to do this a lot.
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Its fairly common in Orangutans, some Sumatran males with their slimmer build do seem prone to it. Gambar did it, but I don't think Dagu does. I think Puluh at Chester may do it partially- they had a previous male(Jimmy) who was another famous upright walker.
 
Pertinax said:
My guess would be he does it regularly (everyday?), but maybe mainly in the outdoor paddock, which they tend to use just during the scatter feed times sessions (was 12 p.m and 3 p.m).
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I would guess at a 20 - 40% increase in attendance in the short term. I wonder if management will reward / encourage this behaviour?

Personally, given the exceptional history of integrity around the husbandry of animals kept at the Aspinall parks. l would definitely support the decision to encourage this behaviour.

I also hope they make a mint out of this behaviour, as they could certainly do with a boost to the rapidly dwindling reserve left by the late John Aspinall.
 
There was a female 'Toni' at the Columbus Zoo (USA) circa 1970's that used to do this too. What's interesting is in all these cases only one Gorilla among several seems to develop the habit- not the whole group. Now that would be a very interesting spectacle and an even bigger crowd puller!
 
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