BELLE VUE MANCHESTER

P

Punk Monk

New Member
Hi everyone,
We are slowly returning some of the features of Belle Vue Zoo to East Manchester all these years after it closed. We now have a donkey centre working with disabled children, our own poultry project working with a variety of chickens, geese and ducks to provide eggs for homeless people and the water-birds of Debdale.
I'm keen to learn the whereabouts of Great Apes from Belle Vue and their descendents. Jo-Jo the Gorilla died at Chester Zoo some years ago and his mate Suzie went to Bristol, where she had young. Are she or any of her offspring still there? What happened to the Orang-utans, Harold, Jane and their kith? What about the Chimpanzees Robert, Sapphire, Topaz, Daisy, Snatcher and friends? Last saw Robert in 1979 - sadly in a circus wagon.
Be good to hear from anyone who has nes.
Good Wishes,
David.
 
Welcome to zoochat!

I pass Belle Vue quite often on the way to see my Grandma and it sounds like a really good project you are on.
 
Hi David,

The book "The Belle Vue Story" by Robert Nicholls (which is, incidentally, a very good read) says the following about the closure of the zoo 1977-79:

"... and the orangutans were bought by the manager of the pop star, Tom Jones ... and some of the chimps were bought by a travelling circus."

"Bristol Zoo had purchased ...... and one of the gorillas, Susie. Her mate, Jo Jo, went to Chester where, despite apparent good health at Belle Vue, he fell ill and died, no doubt partly because of his enforced separation from his companion."

The 2008 / 2009 gorilla studbook shows that Susie transferred to Bristol Zoo in 1977 and died there in 1984. Her son Musashi (born 1980) transferred to Kushiro in 1982 and then was loaned to Tokyo Ueno in 2000 where he still lives. As you said, Jojo was transferred to Chester Zoo in 1977 and died there a year later.

The 2002 orangutan studbook shows the following:

The female Bornean orang Janey transferred from Belle Vue to Weybridge in 1977 and then to San Diego Zoo in 1984.
The male Bornean orang Harry transferred to Weybridge in 1977 but died there in 1981.
The female Bornean orang Bobo transferred to Weybridge in 1977 but died there in 1979.
The male Sumatran orang Coco was transferred to Weybridge in 1977, then to Bristol in 1979, back to Weybridge in 1979, to San Diego in 1984, then to Berlin in 1985 where he died in 1990.
The female Bornean orang Rose transferred to Weybridge in 1977, then to San Diego in 1984, and to Colorado Springs in 1987 where she died in 1996.
The female Bornean Kumang was transferred to Weybridge in 1977, then to San Diego in 1984 and to Rochester (New York) in 1991.

The 2009 chimpanzee studbook shows the following:

The male Anthony transferred to a private owner in 1973, then to Twcross in 1980, and to Westcliffe (Ramsgate) in 1981 where he died in 1983.
The female Topaz transferred to Public (???) and then to Belfast in 1991 where she died 8 days later.
The female Louisa transferred to Public and then to Belfast in 1991, Banham in 1992 and Suffolk Wildlife Park (now Africa Alive) in 1994 where she died in 1996.
It doesn't mention Robert, Sapphire, Daisy or Snatcher.

That is all I can give you, I'm afraid :)
 
The animals that went to Gordon mills collection are mentioned in Jeremy keelings book
 
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