Belo Horizonte Zoo Belo Horizonte zoo news

So, again... Updating the thread with sad news. Luna, the oldest rhino in Brazil and one of the oldest in the world, has died peacefully at the age of 53 in her hay bed, during her sleep, after receiving medication to controll some of the many health complications she suffered from. The PUC Museum of natural history sent it's crew to the zoo for preparation of the body/general biological material for storaging in the collection and maybe future exhibitions. Luna formed, among her long gone first partner, the first rhino couple to ever step feet in the Belo Horizonte zoo, and the Minas Gerais state. Her legacy was a very considerable one, and we're very happy to have experienced her presence for so many years.
 
i heard they will do the same thing they did to the late gorilla idi amin, they will preserve her in a museum.
 
The zoo is going through a small set of renovations that are affecting several areas.

  • The two bird squares are receiving improvements (a bit confusing, but let's try to explain it all):
Renovated aviary that previously held macaws and cranes (temporarily holding whistling heron scarlet and buff-necked ibis) will be home for a pair of king vultures.
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/renovated-aviary-belo-horizonte-zoo.688850/

An old circular set of two aviaries is becoming a new larger one. In the past, king vultures lived in one side and the heron and ibis mentioned above in the other. These aquatics will return when renovations are done, and, as mentioned, the aviary where they are now (link above) will be the vulture place.
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/aviary-in-renovation-proccess-belo-horizonte-zoo.688851/

A new large aviary is being built where, years ago, there was a set of small cages. :
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/large-aviary-under-construction-belo-horizonte-zoo.688852/

  • The native mammals square (Praça nacional) is receiving a set of exhibits for baby/rescued animals, mostly with educational objectives. several backstage/handling enclosures are also being built behind the main set of larger exhibits at the square.
https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/cub-exhibits-under-construction-belo-horizonte-zoo.688858/
 
David Matos Mendes said:
Yes, he can breed with the females, and it is the intention of our institutiin. EAZA does not consider the genetical proximity they have harmful.
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I have no idea what a sick mind found it out to sent him to Belo Horizonte when there 20+ silverbacks in male groups who are not relatives of these females. This decision is a catastrophe.
 
Vimoto said:
Bu-Bu won't breed. The two adult females are daughters of his siblings.
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Hello. Is Bu-bu related to Imbi and Lou Lou? Thought these two females were genetically distant.

Was Bu-bu born at the Howletts Wild Animal Park?
 
Enzo said:
Hello. Is Bu-bu related to Imbi and Lou Lou? Thought these two females were genetically distant.

Was Bu-bu born at the Howletts Wild Animal Park?
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Yes. Bubu is from Howletts, and is son of Juju and Bitam. Juju and Kisoro, another male, are the parents of Kijo, Loulou's father. Also, Bitam and Baby doll had Mambi, who happens to be Imbi's mother. The two females are not genetically related, but Bubu is related to both (Loulou on dam's side; Imbi on sire's side). It happens that the EEP does not consider this degree of relativeness an obstacle for reproduction, that's why Bubu was the individual the coordenation of the programme choose to come.
 
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David Matos Mendes said:
Yes. Bubu is from Howletts, and is son of Juju and Bitam. Juju and Kisoro, another male, are the parents of Kijo, Loulou's father. Also, Bitam and Baby doll had Mambi, who happens to be Imbi's mother. The two females are not genetically related, but Bubu is related to both (Loulou on dam's side; Imbi on sire's side). It happens that the EEP does not consider this degree of relativeness an obstacle for reproduction, that's why Bubu was the individual the coordenation of the programme choose to come.
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Belo Horizonte Zoo and Animalia Park now participate in the EAZA EEP for western lowland gorillas?
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Belo Horizonte Zoo and Animalia Park now participate in the EAZA EEP for western lowland gorillas?
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Yes, they do.

When I went to Itatiba about a year ago, I recall hearing from one of the keepers about new plans for gorillas. However, I am not sure if these plans will come to life. I hope they do; Itatiba has lots of unused land and I believe a gorilla exhibit would fit perfectly within the zoo.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I suppose there are good contacts between ALPZA / SZB and EAZA in these animal exchange and transfer deals for the gorillas (and hopefully other species beyond that).
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No, there's not... Not in the case of the gorillas. The only AZAB (SZB no longer exists for almost 10 years now) member that has ever shown interest to make the needed adequations and enter the program until last year was our institution, the Belo Horizonte zoo. Animalia is now the second, but the talks and meetings occur only between these two institutions and the EEP. There's no direct support or engagement from the two local associations; only consent.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I suppose there are good contacts between ALPZA / SZB and EAZA in these animal exchange and transfer deals for the gorillas (and hopefully other species beyond that).
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SZB is long gone. The new association is AZAB.

From what I have heard, AZAB kind of works like the United States: every zoo does their own thing. So, partnerships vary from zoo to zoo. Thankfully, Belo Horizonte has great professionals and so they prefer maintaining good relations with the EAZA, taking part on their gorilla EEP. Other zoos, however, are not so passionate about conservation and animal welfare, so we end up with places like the elephant house in Sorocaba.
 
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