ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
I too think this would have been a good arrangement for the chimpanzees. I wonder if, since Orana seems to be leaning more towards holding only gorillas, if they will house 2 distinct groups going forward.
Australasian Western Lowland Gorilla Population
- Thread starter Zoofan15
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I too think this would have been a good arrangement for the chimpanzees. I wonder if, since Orana seems to be leaning more towards holding only gorillas, if they will house 2 distinct groups going forward.
Since a (socially normal) gorilla troop is cohesive, it would make best use of the complex to hold two groups. The troop would otherwise spend their time at one end or the other and it’s wasted exhibit space.
If we’re to assume Orana will remain a bachelor holder going forward and consider the possibility of them receiving the three adolescents from Taronga; they may use that opportunity to reintegrate Fataki and Fuzu. With an additional three gorillas, it may divert from any conflicts between them; but it could also heighten Fataki’s stress. It’s an unknown, but if there’s any chance of it working, it’s worth a try. Housing a male gorilla on his own isn’t ideal.
In the event a full integration is conceived (best case scenario), they may wish to keep the other exhibit empty for a couple of years to gain confidence the bachelor troop will remain cohesive long term. After that, they could perhaps reassess.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
I certainly hope they can re-integrate Fataki and Fuzu. The dynamic always appeared to be well balanced with Mahali there when I visited in 2018, although there was some conflict between Fataki and Fuzu, mainly over food. Perhaps with younger males there, the current tensions might ease a bit.
I’m hopeful the tensions will ease with additional males. Werribee’s troop has remained cohesive since they arrived in 2011, with Yakini taking over leadership of the troop at the age of 14 without any issues. Motaba is content to enjoy his retirement years without the stress of leading the troop.
Fuzu is 16 years old and in his prime, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him assume the alpha role; with Fataki and then the adolescents following after. Coincidentally, the middle brother at Taronga is the younger half-brother of Fataki and Fuzu via their mother Frala. It’ll be interesting to see if they have any similar personality traits. Kriba’s daughters have all inherited the covering their ears habit.
With all bachelor males, fall outs are fairly common. It's just up to the keepers to adequately manage them; and separate them if required. Werribee's boys went through a period like this where Ganyeka and Yakini were constantly challenging each other. It didn't get to the point where they had to be separated from one another permanently, but keepers did have to change feeding routines ect. and occasionally keep one of the two indoors at times to help alleviate the issues. It's nice that Orana have the two exhibits to accommodate the separation though
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Yes, it will be interesting to see what will happen with the gorillas. Perhaps Fataki might mellow out a bit if he didn't have the stress of being alpha. An expanded bachelor troop, I think, would be very popular with visitors also.
By virtue of being the oldest I'm sure Fataki will still be the dominant male, but once any of the younger males do grow older, they'll certainly be able to challenge him down the line once he himself gets older.
Frala isn’t the most social female in the world and it appears Fataki has inherited her brusque demeanour; while Fuzu is more chill. With this in mind, it wouldn’t surprise me to see one of the younger males dethrone Fataki. Fuzu is in his prime and is the main contender; while Mjukuu long term would be the strongest threat out of the Taronga males imo.
If they’re gonna transfer the adolescent trio from Taronga, they’d do well to do a clean break from that troop to Orana; versus allowing Mjukuu to establish himself as alpha of a split off troop at Taronga in the interim. If the adults can tolerate Mjuuku and Fabumi another year, 2024 would be the sweet spot in allowing Mwamba to join them.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Probably this would be the best solution going forward, now that plans for a possible breeding troop in the future appear to have been scrapped. Concentrating on the bachelors would definitely be for the best.
Unless New Zealand can establish multiple holders of a species, I think we’ll see more and more non-breeding groups held in New Zealand zoos. It’s easier to arrange domestic transfers within Australia than send breeding animals back and forth between the two countries.
Wellington’s Snow leopards are an example of this; while there’s no way Hamilton Zoo’s upcoming hyena import will be anything other than a non-breeding pack (I’ve identified candidates in the hyena thread) given the fickle nature of hyena’s social dynamics.
In many cases this suits the receiving zoo (I know Wellington particularly wanted non-breeding Snow leopard originally planned to receive an older pair); and in any case, not every facility can be a breeding facility.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
There certainly is a place for non-breeding ambassador animals. While it would be nice to have more breeding animals, particularly the primates, I do see the benefits of non-breeding groups or pairs.
I cant’t disagree breeding groups make for more engaging exhibits and I know almost any keeper would prefer to breed a species (if there was the option to do so) to gain valuable husbandry experience.
Auckland’s new orangutan exhibit is breathtaking, but the birth of Bahmi has led to crowds 4-5 deep surrounding the exhibit throughout the day. I can only imagine the excitement when there’s Daya with a newborn; while the juvenile Bahmi runs amok in the background.
And there’s hopefully tiger cubs to look forward to in 2024. They could be born as early as this month if Zayana conceived on her post cub loss estrus cycle.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
I cant’t disagree breeding groups make for more engaging exhibits and I know almost any keeper would prefer to breed a species (if there was the option to do so) to gain valuable husbandry experience.
Auckland’s new orangutan exhibit is breathtaking, but the birth of Bahmi has led to crowds 4-5 deep surrounding the exhibit throughout the day. I can only imagine the excitement when there’s Daya with a newborn; while the juvenile Bahmi runs amok in the background.
Absolutely. Breeding animal exhibits not only have the appeal of cute babies, but also provide fascinating insights into animal behaviour and the chance for visitors to observe animals at each stage of their life cycle.
Bahmi is indeed quite the star of the zoo - I visit almost every week and he never fails to get attention. Even before he was born, the orangutans had a very high number of visitors, but that seems to have increased significantly and will no doubt do so even more when Daya has an infant, as you've described here.
Absolutely. Breeding animal exhibits not only have the appeal of cute babies, but also provide fascinating insights into animal behaviour and the chance for visitors to observe animals at each stage of their life cycle.
Bahmi is indeed quite the star of the zoo - I visit almost every week and he never fails to get attention. Even before he was born, the orangutans had a very high number of visitors, but that seems to have increased significantly and will no doubt do so even more when Daya has an infant, as you've described here.
Chimo the Polar bear cub was way before my time (and yours) but it’s clear from media articles he attracted a level of interest that’s only now been rivalled by Bahmi. Madju was popular (and Intan, Datuk and Isim before him); but the new orangutan exhibit allows visitors to get closer than ever before with Melur and Madju frequently up by the viewing window. If you wanna see orangutans, you almost hope for rain!
You’ll remember the previous orangutan day room and I was lucky to see Indra up by the glass a few times, but the others were far more private and largely disinterested in the crowds.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
Chimo was well before my time, indeed, and I only have fuzzy memories of him from the 1970s. The bears I remember most are Joachim, Lisbeth and Ingrid, and we all know their rather sad story.
Bahmi is indeed quite a star attraction - although giraffe calf Jabali, rhino calf Amali and young baboon Jabari are fairly popular, I haven't seen them pulling anything close to the crowds Bahmi and his antics generate. And since great apes have long childhoods, this will keep visitors drawn to him for longer, especially as he grows more independent and escalates the cheeky antics he's already displaying. Unlike many of the other zoo animals, who won't have quite the same popularity once they're past the "cute baby" stage, I think Bahmi will still be drawing the crowds in well into adolescence, especially if he begins a play-based relationship with Daya (who is also creating quite a lot of interest due to her youth, novelty and being quite a visually appealing orangutan).
I do agree with your assertion that the new habitat for orangutans is much better for both apes and zoo visitors. The viewing window allows young Bahmi in particular to display his curiosity as to what the humans who come to see him are doing, and I've even seen Charlie and Melur become a little less aloof.
With regards to Snow Leopards I just view New Zealand's zoos as quite the perfect latitude and climate for maintaining and breeding the species.
I agree. They’re ideal for Wellington with the cooler, windswept climate. They do well at Melbourne Zoo too, but on my recent visits they’ve had the misters on to cool them down on the hot afternoons.
Chimo died in 1979 and to my knowledge was housed separately from Joachim and Lisbeth (I’m open to correction here). He was born 1960, so would have been four years old when they arrived as two year olds in 1964 and getting him and Joachim to cohabit would have been a challenge. Joachim also sired all of Lisbeth’s cubs i.e there was no uncertainty around paternity.
Amali the Southern white rhinoceros calf was hugely popular in the first few months, but lately interest has waned as she becomes less exuberant than what you can expect to see in a calf under 12 months of age. Similarly, interest has dipped in Hamilton’s herd, where the youngest member is now three years old.
Like you say, the longer juvenile stage of great apes (and even baboons, which remain playful until at least 3-4 years) makes them better long term crowd pullers. I’ve enjoyed watching the antics of the two young baboons, Iniko and Jabari, on my recent visits. It’s a real shame the baboons are being phased out.
ApeLadyNZ
Well-Known Member
As far as I know, Chimo, Joachim and Lisbeth were indeed kept separated. I'm not sure if they rotated both lots of bears on or off display, or, as (I think) someone on here suggested, Chimo was kept in one of the other old bear pits. I was too young at the time to know who was who among them, although I do remember seeing a single male bear on one notable childhood visit to the zoo and that may have been Chimo.
Amali has become a lot more sedate as she's grown and is almost too large to suckle from her mother although I have recently seen her still doing so. I agree with you that Jabari and Iniko are a great deal of fun to watch, particularly with Jabari's habit of pulling Iniko's tail to make her chase him.
Great apes and big cats are often the biggest attractions at zoos, so the closest any newborn would come to rivalling Bahmi's star power would be new tiger cubs, should Zayana give birth next year.
Auckland Zoo’s history book mentions the male Polar bears (Brunus and Natuk) being locked away from the female (Natasha) in the lead up to her births in 1957 and 1960, so the Polar bear exhibit definitely had the capacity to seperate bears via the internal dens. I too heard reference to a second bear pit (which I assume was the adjacent pit still in use today). The third bear pit was converted into a meerkat exhibit in 1991.
The popularity of big cats will never change and so I’m a little disappointed the zoo are planning a rhino complex on the site of the elephant exhibit; rather than a lion complex to accomodate a large breeding pride. Pairing the latter with hyena housed in the exisiting lion exhibit would have been a great addition to the zoo.