Paignton Zoo Bad news from Paignton

[Gigit]

From the website:
Zoo sadness at gorilla death 13/08/2009


Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is sad to announce the death of one of its young gorillas.

Five year old Kiri died at the Ape Centre on Tuesday evening.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “Kiri had been ill for a few weeks with a suspected bacterial infection, but tests came back negative for those diseases of most concern. He seemed to be responding to treatment but then took a sudden turn for the worse. This is a low point for us and for this important bachelor gorilla group.”

Senior keeper Craig Gilchrist, an experienced gorilla keeper, said: “Although I only knew him for a short time, he made a big impression. I’ll miss his cheeky little strut and his loving rumble every time he saw me. In my mind he would have grown up to be a beautiful silverback.”

Brothers Kiri and N’Dowe (pronounced Endover), five, came from Stuttgart Zoo in Germany in December 2008. They were raised in the gorilla nursery there after being born at Barcelona Zoo in Spain. They are full brothers to Kiondo and half-brothers to Kivu, although they have never met.

Paignton Zoo is home to a group of five gorillas. Pertinax is 26, Kumbuka is 11, Kivu 6, Kiondo 6, N’Dowe 5. In the IUCN Red List the lowland gorilla is listed as critically endangered due to both the bushmeat trade and the spread of the Ebola virus.

 

[Gigit]

And more from the website:
Zoo battles to save rare tiger cubs 13/08/2009


Staff at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park are battling to save two sick tiger cubs.

Vets suspect that the rare Sumatran tigers, born in February, have osteoporosis, a weakness of the bones.

On Sunday 10th August one of the big cat keepers saw female cub Surya stumble on flat ground and collapse. She was rushed to the Zoo’s vet centre where x-rays showed the fall had been enough to break both hind legs.

Meanwhile, male cub Aryo, who bruised his back legs at the same time as his sister Kemala suffered her injuries in July, has broken his left fore leg while in the dens recuperating.

An experienced veterinary orthopaedic surgeon was called in to perform emergency operations using specialist equipment. Peter Attenburrow is a veterinary surgeon at St David’s Veterinary Hospital, Exeter. He was supported by members of Paignton Zoo’s own vet team. The procedures took place early on the morning of Wednesday 12th August, starting at 7.00am. Surya’s operation took 1 hour 20 minutes, Aryo’s 20 minutes. In all the team was in the operating theatre for three and a half hours.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “Aryo’s leg was pinned - he can still move it, but there is a resin bar to give some rigidity. He will have another x-ray in three weeks. Surya now has both hind legs in casts, but is mobile from the hips. She will have another x-ray in two weeks, when the casts may be taken off. It could take four weeks for the legs to heal assuming both cubs readily take extra supplements. If not it could take a little longer.”

The two cubs came round from the anaesthetic and are being cared for in separate quarters in the Zoo’s Vet Centre. They can see and smell each other.

Neil Bemment went on: “The problem is possibly a lack of calcium – the exact reasons are harder to pin-point. It could be genetic, it could be they have not been getting enough calcium naturally from their mother’s milk in spite of her receiving vitamin supplements. It could be that these three went on to meat too soon – though they have the choice of eating meat or suckling from their mother.

“Osteoporosis is something we can treat with additional mineral supplements in their diet. These cubs are important for the future of their species. This episode is a setback but we hope we can get them through it.”

Female cub Kemala had to be euthanased after sustaining her injuries in July. A post mortem found that she had osteoporosis.

Paignton Zoo is a member of the European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers, which means it is part of the global effort to save this endangered species from extinction. Captive and wild populations are protected and managed in an attempt to prevent Sumatran tigers following the Bali and Javan tigers into extinction.

 

[monkeyworld]

Such bad news ... hopefully the two cubs will be better soon..... what a bad year this zoo is having , no orang pregants , a gorrila that has passed away and a tiger cub put down with two cubs unwelll.....

 

[Nisha]

We visited Paignton Zoo on Tuesday and only saw the one cub. This explains where the 2nd was. I really hope the cubs both make a full recovery.

 

[Pertinax]

I really hope the cubs both make a full recovery.

well, they may do, but unfortunately once this sort of thing starts, they will be at risk of further breakages and bone complications during the coming months. I wouldn't be too surprised if there was a sad ending to this and they had to put them down.... (I hope not of course).

 

[Nisha]

I wonder if the remaining cub (Bintang) has it too? He is still with his mum and touch wood appears to be ok so far.

 

[Gigit]

I wonder if the remaining cub (Bintang) has it too? He is still with his mum and touch wood appears to be ok so far.

I am very pessimistic about all this and I would expect all four cubs to be affected.

 

[kkkp]

I am no expert but the diesease is a thinning of the bones but in this case the bones were and are still growing. They were weaned very quickly when Calcium is vital for bone growth. they were eating meat with no bones and if it was what mum usually eats then they were not getting the right nutrients.Banda would get up every time they started to suckle, Perhaps they should not have let them out so young.

 

[kkkp]

I personally will miss little Kiri he was a lovely ,funny interactive little sweetie, I am sure his little buddy Kivu will miss him too as he also got sick but being older recovered, I will miss his amazing eyes that spoke volumes. His Keeper Craig was amazing with him when he was unwell and cared for him to the end. I was so lucky to see him every day from the day him and N'dowe arrived he was so fiesty but brave he faced up to Pertinax and would lead the others to chase Pertinax.R.I.P. little one

 

[taun]

Just shows the statistics are right sometimes, I think we where all shock and overjoyed with the four cubs but just like in nature not all survive.

I hope the remaining cubs do well and get over the problems.

 

[Cat-Man]

And more from the website:
Zoo battles to save rare tiger cubs 13/08/2009


Staff at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park are battling to save two sick tiger cubs.

Vets suspect that the rare Sumatran tigers, born in February, have osteoporosis, a weakness of the bones.

On Sunday 10th August one of the big cat keepers saw female cub Surya stumble on flat ground and collapse. She was rushed to the Zoo’s vet centre where x-rays showed the fall had been enough to break both hind legs.

Meanwhile, male cub Aryo, who bruised his back legs at the same time as his sister Kemala suffered her injuries in July, has broken his left fore leg while in the dens recuperating.

An experienced veterinary orthopaedic surgeon was called in to perform emergency operations using specialist equipment. Peter Attenburrow is a veterinary surgeon at St David’s Veterinary Hospital, Exeter. He was supported by members of Paignton Zoo’s own vet team. The procedures took place early on the morning of Wednesday 12th August, starting at 7.00am. Surya’s operation took 1 hour 20 minutes, Aryo’s 20 minutes. In all the team was in the operating theatre for three and a half hours.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “Aryo’s leg was pinned - he can still move it, but there is a resin bar to give some rigidity. He will have another x-ray in three weeks. Surya now has both hind legs in casts, but is mobile from the hips. She will have another x-ray in two weeks, when the casts may be taken off. It could take four weeks for the legs to heal assuming both cubs readily take extra supplements. If not it could take a little longer.”

The two cubs came round from the anaesthetic and are being cared for in separate quarters in the Zoo’s Vet Centre. They can see and smell each other.

Neil Bemment went on: “The problem is possibly a lack of calcium – the exact reasons are harder to pin-point. It could be genetic, it could be they have not been getting enough calcium naturally from their mother’s milk in spite of her receiving vitamin supplements. It could be that these three went on to meat too soon – though they have the choice of eating meat or suckling from their mother.

“Osteoporosis is something we can treat with additional mineral supplements in their diet. These cubs are important for the future of their species. This episode is a setback but we hope we can get them through it.”

Female cub Kemala had to be euthanased after sustaining her injuries in July. A post mortem found that she had osteoporosis.

Paignton Zoo is a member of the European Endangered species Programme (EEP) for Sumatran tigers, which means it is part of the global effort to save this endangered species from extinction. Captive and wild populations are protected and managed in an attempt to prevent Sumatran tigers following the Bali and Javan tigers into extinction.

From the website:
Zoo sadness at gorilla death 13/08/2009


Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is sad to announce the death of one of its young gorillas.

Five year old Kiri died at the Ape Centre on Tuesday evening.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “Kiri had been ill for a few weeks with a suspected bacterial infection, but tests came back negative for those diseases of most concern. He seemed to be responding to treatment but then took a sudden turn for the worse. This is a low point for us and for this important bachelor gorilla group.”

Senior keeper Craig Gilchrist, an experienced gorilla keeper, said: “Although I only knew him for a short time, he made a big impression. I’ll miss his cheeky little strut and his loving rumble every time he saw me. In my mind he would have grown up to be a beautiful silverback.”

Brothers Kiri and N’Dowe (pronounced Endover), five, came from Stuttgart Zoo in Germany in December 2008. They were raised in the gorilla nursery there after being born at Barcelona Zoo in Spain. They are full brothers to Kiondo and half-brothers to Kivu, although they have never met.

Paignton Zoo is home to a group of five gorillas. Pertinax is 26, Kumbuka is 11, Kivu 6, Kiondo 6, N’Dowe 5. In the IUCN Red List the lowland gorilla is listed as critically endangered due to both the bushmeat trade and the spread of the Ebola virus.

Oh Bugger

 

[kkkp]

couldnt put it better myself

 

[kiang]

As much as i share the above sentiment, to take those two quotes in full for a 2 word response, please!!!!

Not one of Paigntons finest weeks, hopefully the death of the gorilla will not destabilise the group too much.

 

[Pertinax]

but just like in nature not all survive.

I hope the remaining cubs do well and get over the problems.

The point is that this wouldn't happen in nature as its an effect of an artificial/ captive situation. Somehow it appears the cubs have not been getting sufficient calcium to form normal strength bones. Either directly from the mother's milk because of an interrupted feeding pattern, or from the meat they were eating if it didn't contain enough bones and gristle. It could be some of both. I would think the(so far) unaffected cub also has the condition equally but just hasn't had an 'accident' yet.

Unfortunately, despite the expert vetinary assistance and even a change in diet, it may be too late to prevent the problem recurring in these cubs which is why I am pessimistic about their longterm future.

 

[kkkp]

I totally agree with you Pertinax. They let them come out when they were just 2 months old and very rarely did Banda let them suckle .and then it was only two or one at a time.She was playing with Bintang today and he was being flung around by Banda but hopefully he will be okay. Banda is very big now as she is being fed everyday ever since they started feeding meat to the cubs.Most visitors comment that she is pregnant!. Will get a shot of her Saturday side on so you can see what I mean.

 

[Pertinax]

Possibly too early then...ready for the Easter crowds no doubt and it made the mother restless and interrupted their feeding pattern?

 

[greyone]

Sadness

Sadness for the zoo. i hope the cubs will be ok. I hope gay's feet improve.
I hope for good news in the near future.

 

[kkkp]

As if things were not bad enough ......Today Banda & Bintang spent time on the lean too near the fence the keeper came over for the usual sticker hand out Banda&Bintang moved away thank goodness the keeper went around to the dens out back when there was an almighty crunch and crash as a huge tree branch came crashing down thank goodness they had moved.Its like there is a jinkx on them.

 

[Gigit]

A bit of good news - only 12 days left till the end of August Come on, Paignton regulars, chins up and shoulders back, we can do it

 

[kkkp]

Must we? Is it compulsary?

Okay then 'onwards and upwards'
Any one want to do a countdown.?