Australasian Common Chimpanzee Population

[Zoofan15]

I visited Monarto today, and both Galatea and Lani have recently been in oestrus, and are presently off contraceptives. I have everything crossed for a happy outcome, especially after the sad loss of their respective first infants. Galatea is wonderful with infants, and has been very affectionate towards little Happy, and Hannah allows the interaction between them.

It’s good to hear Lani is now being given an opportunity to breed. While she’s not genetically valuable, it’s important she’s allowed to build up a family for social reasons as the other females focus on their families.

Lani was in the split group and lacked the support of her mother when she last gave birth; so hopefully with more experience around infants, she’ll take to motherhood better second time around. In any case, I feel like Monarto would be more receptive to assisted rearing.

Even experienced mothers can reject infants. Sally at Wellington (regarded as an excellent mother) rejected her infant in 2005 due to birth complications; and Lisa initially rejected Lubutu in 1993, having previously reared her first infant without issue.

 

[Zoofan15]

Pregnancy Announcement - Taronga Zoo

Lisa (1979) is pregnant!

In addition to Ceres (1990), Lisa is pregnant and due any day now. This will be Lisa’s fifth infant.

With this birth, Lisa will set the record for the oldest chimpanzee to give birth in an Australasian zoo.

The previous record holders were Koko, who gave birth at 42 years, 8 months and 2 days in 2014; and Fifi (Lisa’s paternal grandmother), who gave birth at 40 years, 11 months and 22 days in 1987. Unfortunately neither of those infants survived.

The oldest mother of a surviving infant in the region is Shiba, who gave birth at 37 years, 11 months and 25 days in 2019.

I have my fingers crossed for a successful outcome for Lisa. With her family unit reduced to just her and her adolescent son, she would greatly benefit from having a new infant.

Reported from friend’s visit (keeper talk).

 

[marmolady]

I have everything crossed for a happy outcome for her. It will be wonderful for her going into old age with another offspring to support her, should all go well.

 

[Zoofan15]

I have everything crossed for a happy outcome for her. It will be wonderful for her going into old age with another offspring to support her, should all go well.

It will certainly assist her in retaining status within the community. Aside from Shiba and Kuma, she has Sacha and Naomi to contend with. Sacha is enjoying her role as mother of the alpha and beta male; while Naomi is in her prime and extremely ambitious - supported by Ceres.

Though I hope Liwali (born when Lisa was 35) will see her through to her mid-60’s, we all know there’s no guarantee and a second offspring will surely prove a valuable contingency.

 

[Jambo]

Pregnancy Announcement - Taronga Zoo

Lisa (1979) is pregnant!

In addition to Ceres (1990), Lisa is pregnant and due any day now. This will be Lisa’s fifth infant.

With this birth, Lisa will set the record for the oldest chimpanzee to give birth in an Australasian zoo.

The previous record holders were Koko, who gave birth at 42 years, 8 months and 2 days in 2014; and Fifi (Lisa’s paternal grandmother), who gave birth at 40 years, 11 months and 22 days in 1987. Unfortunately neither of those infants survived.

The oldest mother of a surviving infant in the region is Shiba, who gave birth at 37 years, 11 months and 25 days in 2019.

I have my fingers crossed for a successful outcome for Lisa. With her family unit reduced to just her and her adolescent son, she would greatly benefit from having a new infant.

Reported from friend’s visit (keeper talk).

Wow, very surprising. I guess we are all wrong to be doubtful of her ever conceiving again, but here she is pregnant for the fifth time at age 44!

Whilst this birth was likely purely for social purposes, it's still very exciting and should hopefully keep the group's hands full, alongside Ceres's impending birth as well.

Fingers crossed all goes well with this birth, although I'm very confident as Lisa's a very experienced mother.

 

[marmolady]

I’m hoping to find photographs of several historic chimpanzee residents of the region; Biddy and Bobby (Taronga), Tom, Bebe, Yoka and Jodie (Wellington) and Peter (Adelaide). Also any more photos of the late great Snowy are always gratefully received.

 

[Zoofan15]

I’m hoping to find photographs of several historic chimpanzee residents of the region; Biddy and Bobby (Taronga), Tom, Bebe, Yoka and Jodie (Wellington) and Peter (Adelaide). Also any more photos of the late great Snowy are always gratefully received.

Wellington Zoo Photos

You asked for photos of Yoka, but I included one of Molly as well. Molly is a regional founder - Gandali at Rockhampton is her last living descendant.


This is Yoka (left), Breena (middle) and Molly (right) in 1956 (Source: Evening Post 1956)


This is Molly and her son, Patrick, in 1960 (Source: Evening Post 1956).

————————

This video also shows close ups of Molly, Breena and Yoka:

 

[marmolady]

Thank you! Do you know which is Yoka in the video?
It's bizarre to see relatives of the region's chimpanzees displayed in such a manner; the tea parties feel so distantly in the past, and yet there's very few generations between those chimpanzees and the ones we know today.

 

[Zoofan15]

Thank you! Do you know which is Yoka in the video?
It's bizarre to see relatives of the region's chimpanzees displayed in such a manner; the tea parties feel so distantly in the past, and yet there's very few generations between those chimpanzees and the ones we know today.

Yoka is seen at 0.20 and then again rolling on the ground at the end of the video. It is indeed bizarre. I’ve seen two of Yoka’s offspring - I saw Bebe (now deceased) as a child; and have seen Jessie on several visits, including my latest visit to Wellington Zoo in January.

Wellington Zoo were highly successful in breeding chimpanzee - following the first two births in 1960. From the records, it’s my belief Breena and her two daughters were later separated from the colony as a means of population control; with several others (including Molly) sent to Melbourne Zoo. Yoka continued breeding, producing a total of 10 infants - the last birth (twins) sadly proved fatal.

It’s unfortunate the export to Melbourne Zoo included Teddy (founder male) instead of Tom. Tom was the only founder male to breed at Wellington; and retaining Teddy would have not only provided Tom and Yoka’s daughter with an unrelated mate - but ensured Teddy’s genes were retained in the region. His only offspring to survive to adulthood (Ernie) was euthansied at Melbourne Zoo in 1993.

Breena’s genes were also sadly lost - with both her daughters dying before they could produce offspring of their own.

 

[Zoofan15]

Sydney Zoo - Maik has died aged 33:

Sydney Zoo have announced the passing of one of their male chimpanzees.

As they mention, heart disease is prevalent in great apes (particularly males); with Wellington Zoo also losing middle aged males to the disease in the past.

From socials:

Sydney Zoo is heartbroken to announce the death of Maik, a beloved member of the zoos chimpanzee family.

The 33-year-old male passed away unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon due to acute heart failure. Heart failure is a major cause of death for great apes and is particularly a problem among ageing males.

 

[marmolady]

Oh, that's devastating. He was so beloved and a wonderful alpha male.

 

[Zoofan15]

Oh, that's devastating. He was so beloved and a wonderful alpha male.

Looking at demographics of the remaining males, it appears Tim will now assume the alpha role.

1.0 Fritz (1982)
1.0 Tim (1991)
1.0 Charli (1994) Castrated
1.0 Jerry (1995) Castrated
1.0 Many (2000) Castrated

It’s a great shame Sydney Zoo aren’t breeding from the troop, but presumably they don’t have the confidence to do so given the backgrounds of the chimps.

The eventual passing of the intact males may give them the opportunity to integrate mother raised adolescent chimps from other zoos in the long term to support the formation of a sustainable population.

 

[marmolady]

Timmy is also castrated.

 

[Zoofan15]

Taronga Zoo - Birth Announcement

Lisa has safely delivered a healthy infant!

She was seen on exhibit today by visitors, holding her new baby.

Gender is still unknown at this stage (the infant is less than a week old).

Lisa, who turns 44 in August, is officially the oldest chimpanzee to give birth in an Australasian zoo.

Great news for both the zoo and the chimpanzee community - I’m thrilled to here of such a successful outcome, even if it is still early days.

 

[Abbey]

Taronga Zoo - Birth Announcement

Lisa has safely delivered a healthy infant!

She was seen on exhibit today by visitors, holding her new baby.

Gender is still unknown at this stage (the infant is less than a week old).

Lisa, who turns 44 in August, is officially the oldest chimpanzee to give birth in an Australasian zoo.

Great news for both the zoo and the chimpanzee community - I’m thrilled to here of such a successful outcome, even if it is still early days.

Wonderful news! Seeing this thread and the Taronga thread with unread posts close together, I thought the news might have been Lisa-related, and I'm pleased to hear the birth has been successful.

 

[Jambo]

Taronga Zoo - Birth Announcement

Lisa has safely delivered a healthy infant!

She was seen on exhibit today by visitors, holding her new baby.

Gender is still unknown at this stage (the infant is less than a week old).

Lisa, who turns 44 in August, is officially the oldest chimpanzee to give birth in an Australasian zoo.

Great news for both the zoo and the chimpanzee community - I’m thrilled to here of such a successful outcome, even if it is still early days.

Absolutely amazing news to see that the birth has gone well, but expected of course with Lisa being a much experienced mum.

It's awesome to see history being made, and hopefully everything continues to go well.

Fingers crossed for a male infant.

 

[Zoofan15]

Wonderful news! Seeing this thread and the Taronga thread with unread posts close together, I thought the news might have been Lisa-related, and I'm pleased to hear the birth has been successful.

Absolutely amazing news to see that the birth has gone well, but expected of course with Lisa being a much experienced mum.

It's awesome to see history being made, and hopefully everything continues to go well.

Fingers crossed for a male infant.

It’s no doubt a relief for everyone involved to have a successful outcome.

In Lisa’s case, her circumstances influenced the decision to breed from her again this late in life; but it wouldn’t surprise me to see more and more females breeding into their late 30’s and early 40’s within the region. We already have Shiba, who gave birth to Safiri at 38 years of age and Sally at Wellington Zoo gave birth to Akida at 36 years of age without issue. As with humans, advances in medical care enable an increased change of a successful outcome.

 

[marmolady]

Wonderful news! Hoping all continues to go well.

 

[Zoofan15]

Wonderful news! Hoping all continues to go well.

Statistically, the first 24 hours are the most critical. It’s still early days, but the infant was observed to have a strong grip and was suckling. Combined with Lisa’s experience and middle ranking, it has a good chance.

If Lisa and Ceres’ infant both survive, it’ll be the first time in almost a decade Taronga’s community has had two surviving infants in one years.

 

[marmolady]

In other 'L family' news, I was at Monarto today and Lani was coming into oestrus and had young Enzi sticking to her like glue. Apparently the older males are much more focussed on Galatea and let him monopolise Lani. It would certainly be young for him to father an infant, but not beyond the realms of possibility-- though obviously the best scenario would be for as many infants to be sired by Tsotsi as possible!