Blackpool Zoo Blackpool Zoo News 2012

Pertinax said:
That is very good news.:) I don't mean to detract from this success but do you know why it has taken so long for Njema to become pregnant- was she being contracepted beforehand? News of the baby's sex will be welcome.
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I'm not too sure myself. I believe 'Bukavu' mated with all three females immediately after his arrival four years ago. Afaik, he was still mating with Kena and Njema in 2011.
 
I kind of expected all three females to become pregnant quickly after Bukavu arrived but only one(Miliki) did so. I could understand if they prevented Kena from breeding for a while as she didn't rear her previous babies and they might have hoped she would learn from example of another mother(but unlikely in an older female with her sort of history.)

I also remember some press release about 'sparkle in Gorilla dung' at Blackpool. This story was connected with Njema not being pregnant so it did seem they were looking for a pregnancy from her before now.
 
Pertinax said:
Kena was born in Barcelona(father Snowflake) in 1981, which makes her 31 years old now. Some of her handreared offspring born in the past at Barcelona are now at Paignton(male group) and Bristol zoos.
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Hence, indeed unlikely to breed successfully. However, it is not impossible. There are examples of older gorillas learning by example from other females rearing their offspring.
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
Hence, indeed unlikely to breed successfully. However, it is not impossible. There are examples of older gorillas learning by example from other females rearing their offspring.
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Actually I think she would breed successfully again, as she's had several already. Its the mother-rearing part I am not hopeful about. When a female repeatedly refuses to rear her successive babies its a hard habit to break- even the teaching by example often (not always I agree) fails.

The other two females- Njema and Miliki- are half sisters from the big social group at Apenheul so I would expect Njema to rear this first baby as Miliki did with 'Maisie'.
 
After a recent visit I can report the following news:

1. The Small Primate house interior and some exterior is under refurbishment. The small group of Squirrel Monkeys are now off-show, the Pileated Gibbons are in there enclosure (Temporarily). The De Brazza's (0.3?) have taken up the right indoor area of the Howler Monkey indoor area, the Howler's have the left area as well as access to the outdoor area.

2. The Gorilla house is only being open during selected times through the day, Njema is being very stressed with all the public being around hence the reason the Zoo are trying to gradually build up contact with the public.
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
The De Brazza's (0.3?) have taken up the right indoor area of the Howler Monkey indoor area,
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Didn't they get exchange their (original breeding) male for an unrelated one from Port Lympne to breed with the daughters? They should have more than 0.3 I think.:confused:
 
Pertinax said:
Didn't they get exchange their (original breeding) male for an unrelated one from Port Lympne to breed with the daughters? They should have more than 0.3 I think.:confused:
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I think they three males are being held off-show at present. The two females and youngster born last year are all in the Black Howler indoor area.
 
Does anybody know when (And which one) a lioness left Blackpool? there used to be 3 yet when we went yesterday there was just the 2 plus the male
 
Hedgehunter said:
Does anybody know when (And which one) a lioness left Blackpool? there used to be 3 yet when we went yesterday there was just the 2 plus the male
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I believe 'Jasmine' one of the three females who arrived from Blair Drummond SP about five years ago died in April. The remaining two females are the two half sisters 'Gillian' and 'Rachel'.
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
I believe 'Jasmine' one of the three females who arrived from Blair Drummond SP about five years ago died in April. The remaining two females are the two half sisters 'Gillian' and 'Rachel'.
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Thank You

Yesterday Wallace was mating with one of the remaining females so hopefully more cubs to follow :)
 
Blackpool Zoo has today announced the birth of a male Hartmanns zebra last Monday to the older female, Betty. Good news.
 
ZooWho said:
Blackpool Zoo has today announced the birth of a male Hartmanns zebra last Monday to the older female, Betty. Good news.
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Indeed this is good news. 'Bette' was actually the first Hartmann's Mountain Zebra that Blackpool received. I knew she was expecting after seeing her in July/August time she had gotten huge! Great news for Blackpool, this should be her only foal.
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
Indeed this is good news. 'Bette' was actually the first Hartmann's Mountain Zebra that Blackpool received. I knew she was expecting after seeing her in July/August time she had gotten huge! Great news for Blackpool, this should be her only foal.
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I think Bette had a foal around about the time that the other female produced hers but it did not survive .
 
Bele said:
I think Bette had a foal around about the time that the other female produced hers but it did not survive .
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Yes that is correct - a shame would have been great to see two foals running around. Hopefully if 'Helene' gives birth too, it would be great.
 
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