I visited Blackpool a week after Miliki gave birth to Meisie in 2010 (there are a couple of images in the Gallery if you look hard enough). I did not visit again until Wednesday this week. I was a little disappointed to see that the Gorilla section of the Ape House was closed for 'essential maintenance'. At the 11 am gorilla talk, the presenter explained that the gorillas were being 'monitored'. She added that as the weather was quite cool and windy, the gorillas were unlikely to come outside much, but they might do so for the scatter feeds. I should add that the gate to the Gorilla Island was closed all day.
I made sure that I saw the first scatter feed just after 11.30, and I spotted that Miliki was carrying a very small infant, as seen in the photo above. I realised how lucky I had been. I managed to catch the presenter after her talk about the penguins, and she told me that the baby had been born on Tuesday morning, but the birth had not been officially announced so she could not mention it in her talk. I confess that I did pass the news on to three other photographers who I got talking to beside the blesbok, and there were rather more visitors at the 2.30 pm scatter feed; some of them must have got better photos than I did, as Miliki kept her distance from my side of the enclosure. As you can see, she was holding the baby very carefully and securely so it was hard to see much of the baby.
I will write more about the zoo and post more photos in a few days time.
No, my visit in 2010 was a week after Meisie was born: and I remember asking on our Chat Room if mother and infant would be on show (I think it was zoogiraffe who gave an encouraging answer). I decided to go this week to see the new creatures (anteater infant, blesbok, hornbill and wolves) and to look for a couple of commoner creatures for my next quiz - so the baby gorilla was a very lucky bonus
No, my visit in 2010 was a week after Meisie was born: and I remember asking on our Chat Room if mother and infant would be on show (I think it was zoogiraffe who gave an encouraging answer). I decided to go this week to see the new creatures (anteater infant, blesbok, hornbill and wolves) and to look for a couple of commoner creatures for my next quiz - so the baby gorilla was a very lucky bonus
I meant 'just after' the two births. If you go again maybe Njeema will have just had another also.
Where about in the zoo are the hornbills kept? I have missed them the past couple of timesNo, my visit in 2010 was a week after Meisie was born: and I remember asking on our Chat Room if mother and infant would be on show (I think it was zoogiraffe who gave an encouraging answer). I decided to go this week to see the new creatures (anteater infant, blesbok, hornbill and wolves) and to look for a couple of commoner creatures for my next quiz - so the baby gorilla was a very lucky bonus
They are in the aviary beside the aardvarks, with the Stanley cranes. The male black-casqued hornbill stayed in the shelter when I passed the aviary, but I did get a few photos of the female eventually. I will try to post one soon, but gulogulogulo posted this photo of the aviary in our Gallery last month.Where about in the zoo are the hornbills kept? I have missed them the past couple of times
The baby has now been confirmed as a male.
Rhinos apparently, I'm not sure which type it will be but that's what they've got planned for that area. (I'm assuming it might be Indian rhinos
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Rhinos apparently, I'm not sure which type it will be but that's what they've got planned for that area. (I'm assuming it might be Indian rhinos
