Do you happen to know what subspecies?
Beijing Zoo Beijing Zoo Species List
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Sorry, that's hard to say
Thats cool news.
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Hey Charlie. Unless there have been gorillas at Beijing Zoo since 2014, this is what's recorded about the past gorillas there in the 2014 international gorilla studbook:
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There are some issues. The adult gorillas at Beijing Zoo come from Japan and Spain, and they are clearly not directly captured from the African wild.Hey Charlie. Unless there have been gorillas at Beijing Zoo since 2014, this is what's recorded about the past gorillas there in the 2014 international gorilla studbook:
Hello, I have compiled detailed information about the gorillas at the Beijing Zoo. The zoo has kept a total of 5 gorillas, and I have seen 3 of them. In 1979, the zoo introduced 4 gorillas from Japan and Spain successively. Due to insufficient completeness of data and information, the exact birth times of these gorillas are difficult to verify. At that time, the current Gorilla house at the Beijing Zoo had not yet been built, so all the gorillas were crowded in a small space in the old apes house (now the Gibbons house). It was not until 1990 that the gorillas moved to the current Gorilla house. The Beijing Zoo bred a gorilla in 1982, which still lives in the Zhengzhou Zoo.
In the early 1990s, gorillas had just moved into new exhibition hall
A-kou（阿寇）, female
In May 1979, A-kou came to the Beijing Zoo through an exchange with Yoshikawa Shokai （吉川商會） from Japan. In the late 1970s to early 1980s, the Beijing Zoo conducted numerous animal exchanges with Yoshikawa Shokai, but I cannot determine the nature of this Japanese institution. The "Yoshikawa Shokai" I found now is a company founded during the Meiji period. It has a long history, but its business seems to mainly focus on hardware.I cannot confirm whether this company is the Japanese company that led the animal exchange with Beijing Zoo back then, nor can I determine its relationship with Japanese zoos. Further information from Japan is needed for verification.
In late 1982, A-kou bred an offspring named Ni Kou with Nior, a gorilla from Spain. However, A-kou had weak maternal instincts, refusing to nurse the baby and even mistreating it. Breeders had to separate Ni Kou from its mother for artificial rearing.
A-kou and newborn Ni kou. Can anyone determine its age from this photo?
After that, A-kou had no more records of conception and reproduction. As she aged, A-kou gradually became obese and slow. After her mate Nior passed away in 2009, A-kou became depressed and eventually died in 2011.
A-Kou in its later years
A-kou was the first and last gorilla at the Beijing Zoo, living in China for 32 years. Considering that she became pregnant soon after arriving at the zoo, her age at death might have been between 35-40 years old or even older.
In the summer of 2010, I last saw A-kou a few months before its passed away.
Nior（尼奥尔）, male
He was a national gift from King Carlos and Queen of Spain to China and arrived at the Beijing Zoo in September 1979. Soon after, he mated with A-kou, the gorilla from Japan, and they had an offspring. However, later on, although he maintained a good relationship with his mate, he seemed to lose interest. Even after moving to the new orangutan house, he still appeared depressed.
I saw him when I was a child, and in my memory, this male gorilla was huge and quiet, like a gentle giant. In August 2009, Nior passed away, and according to reports, his lifespan was about 34 years.
Reneia（蕾妮亚）, female
She came to Beijing as a national gift from Spain along with Nior. However, Nior did not like her. It is said that Nior would attack her to ensure that A-kou got the best food. In 1990, Reneia died of megacolon. X-rays showed extensive intestinal adhesions and intussusception. There is very little information about this gorilla, and it is the only one for which I have not found any photos.
Jilang（吉郎）, male
This handsome male gorilla was exchanged with Japan's Yoshikawa Shokai for a pair of red pandas in December 1979, presumably to mate with A-kou. Records say that Jilang was about 11 years old when he came to China. But it is very strange that he could not gain mating rights in the face of the younger Nior.
In 1985, Jilang fell into the isolation ditch in the exhibition area while playing, which caused severe injuries to his foot. Due to his habit of biting his toes, the wound was difficult to heal.
Jilang, who suffered a serious foot injury, was transferred to a treatment cage
In 1986, the wound on Jilang's foot festered, and after two years of unsuccessful treatment, an amputation was performed in December 1988, removing his foot and part of his lower leg.
The veterinarian is performing an amputation on Jilang
However, this did not save his life. A year later, in December 1989, Jilang, who had undergone 93 anesthesia treatments, finally died. An autopsy revealed that he had splenomegaly, necrosis, suppurative peritonitis, and hemorrhagic enteritis, leading to sepsis.
Ni Kou（尼寇）, male
Ni Kou was born at the Beijing Zoo in late 1982.
When Ni kou was a baby
As he grew older, the overcrowded old orangutan house could no longer accommodate so many gorillas, so the Beijing Zoo transferred Ni Kou to the Zhengzhou Zoo in 1985. It is reported that after finding that Nior and A-kou could no longer reproduce, the Beijing Zoo tried to exchange some animals to get Ni Kou back, but failed. Ni Kou still lives in Zhengzhou and is the only gorilla there. However, there are obviously problems with his growth and development. As a fully adult male gorilla, Ni Kou is very small; in fact, visually, he looks no bigger than a male chimpanzee! Currently, Ni Kou is very old, and Zhengzhou has never obtained another gorilla to pair with him. It is possible that he will pass away in a few years, which will mean the complete end of the gorilla population from the Beijing Zoo.
It looks like a child, but it's actually quite old.
ZTL lists Pantropical Spotted Dolphin for Beijing Zoo & Aquarium (presumably in the aquarium). I know this thread did not list the species in the aquarium, but do they actually hold this species?
Are the Chinese Crested Ibis held off-exhibit?
~Thylo
Are the Chinese Crested Ibis held off-exhibit?
~Thylo
The Oceanarium within Beijing Zoo is actually owned by a separate enterprise and has no direct connection with Beijing Zoo itself. A pair of Spotted Dolphins were kept in the Oceanarium many years ago, but they have passed away for quite some time now.
The habitat for crested ibises is located at a breeding facility near the Herbivore Zone, known as "Xihe Dao". Visitors can catch a distant glimpse of the crested ibises there. It is possible to take clear photos if you have a telephoto lens; however, overall, Beijing Zoo is not an ideal place to view this particular species.
Does Beijing have any other crane species on or off-display besides these 5?
LDN-15-27
Active Member
Beijing Zoo did resume the exhibition of red crowned crane (Japanese crane) this past May. They were held in a semi-walkthrough wetland exhibit next to the snub-nosed monkeys a few years back, but it closed for a while due to irresponsible tourists (if I remember correctly). This year the exhibit was renovated and the cranes were put back on exhibit.
captain alligator
Well-Known Member
According to Zootierliste, it seems American alligators were once kept at the Beijing Zoo. Why did the American alligators disappear from the Beijing Zoo? (Perhaps because the native Chinese alligator is considered more important.)
Raikou
Well-Known Member
That's normal. The Beijing Zoo didn't have a large number of American alligators before, and they hadn't successfully bred any, nor had they introduced any new ones. Therefore, the complete disappearance of this alligator from the Beijing Zoo was inevitable.
captain alligator
Well-Known Member
American alligators are currently only kept in captivity at Hefei Wildlife Park within China, but unlike the native Chinese alligator, this species does not appear to have become common in Chinese zoos.
Raikou
Well-Known Member
In addition, the Crocodilia species in Chinese zoos are mainly saltwater crocodiles and Siamese crocodiles (although many of these are hybrids of saltwater crocodiles and Siamese crocodiles), with a small number of False gharials.
captain alligator
Well-Known Member
It appears that Beijing Zoo still keeps Spectacled caimans, which belong to the same Alligatoridae.
fourclover
Active Member
In fact, they are also kept at a crocodile farm in Dongfang City, Hainan Province, China. I might visit this place next year, and additionally, some are also in the hands of private enthusiasts.