ZSL London Zoo bobby the gorilla is dead.

Another one bites the dust... after the deaths of Joe and SamSam at Twycross, this is the third silverback death in the UK this year.

Bobby(SB name Bongo 2nd) was wildcaught and spent his early years in an Italian circus before moving to Rome Zoo where he lived many years together with homebred female 'Romina' in very antiquated housing. The pair were moved to Bristol Zoo from Rome in 2001 and Bobby was later exchanged with London's male Jock in 2003. Despite the obligatory 'gentle giant' description he was in fact the smallest male I have ever seen, possibly his growth was stunted from his early rearing. Nevertheless he was genetically valuable for breeding as a wildcaught animal with no offspring. It would be great if he has died leaving one or two of the females pregnant but despite a lot of recent mating, I have heard nothing to that effect so I fear perhaps its unlikely.:(

Cause of death not annouced yet. London will no doubt be looking to replace him as soon as possible. Expect a MUCH bigger male next time around.
 
fingers crossed over the patter of tiny feet, i agree with pertinax that although he has gone it gives the potential for a better breeding male to move in.
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
fingers crossed over the patter of tiny feet, i agree with pertinax that although he has gone it gives the potential for a better breeding male to move in.
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Its a great pity as genetically he was very valuable but I think there may have been infertility problems. There's still a slim chance there's a pregnancy being kept quiet but I'm dubious.:( It won't be possible now to find another wildcaught completely unrepresented male to replace him- unless (and its rather unlikely) Belfast transferred their male 'Gugas' who is also w/c and unrep.
 
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A great pity. Although he wasn't large, I always thought he was quite a handsome animal. I doubt if any of the females are pregnant, although it would be wonderful if one is. I don't think that ZSL will want to wait too long before they get another male - one from the UK would avoid the problem of quarantine.

Alan
 
With the number of spare males around it should not be to much of a problem obtaining another, 25 is a young age to lost Bobby shame he has no offspring
 
Oh dear. Well at least he had a decent life towards the end. I'm sure the post-mortem will be interesting. Didn't London lose a male only a few years ago? They really can't afford to lose another gorilla before some breeding takes place. I hope they bring in another male fast, only to stabilize Zaire who will probably not be in such a good way at the moment.
 
gentle lemur said:
A great pity. Although he wasn't large, I always thought he was quite a handsome animal. I doubt if any of the females are pregnant, although it would be wonderful if one is. I don't think that ZSL will want to wait too long before they get another male - one from the UK would avoid the problem of quarantine.

Alan
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Yes, he was a nice looking male. Just a funny shape, short legs and small-bodied. I'm sure this was the result of his early 'circus' life.

I imagine they will want another male a.s.a.p.
 
johnstoni said:
Didn't London lose a male only a few years ago? I hope they bring in another male fast, only to stabilize Zaire who will probably not be in such a good way at the moment.
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Since the death of the much celebrated 'Guy' there have been six males at London;

Kumba(born Jersey) later sent to Chessington, fathered 2 young & died there.
Kumba*( different male, owned by Chessington) returned to Chessington- still lives there. *father of last two gorillas born at London Zoo (20 years ago!)
Jeremiah(born Bristol) non-breeder, sent to Belfast, died there.
Jomie( born Howletts to London-owned female Lomie) died at London.
Jock(born Zoo La Palmyre France) transferred to Bristol in exchange for Bongo, due to incompatability problems with females (particularly 'Messy').
Bobby/Bongo- from Rome via Bristol(2001-3). died 5th December.

Poor Zaire- yet another upset just months after she was settled again. I can see her hair plucking resuming again until a new male arrives.
 
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oh i didnt think of poor zaire, just a quick question what happened to the old gorrilas messy and minouche?
 
Tigerlemurguy said:
... just a quick question what happened to the old gorrilas messy and minouche?
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Both have been sent back to Dvur Kralove. The first step afterwards was a strick diet for cca 1 year because both came with big overweight from London. In Dvur they joined the silver back Tadao (they knew each other from the past) and lived together. Few weeks ago Minouche hed to be put asleep because she was loosing her battle against cancer (she had at least one surgery back in her London time and used strong medicaments the whole time since then, but it just prolonged her time and could not save her). On Monday 2 weeks ago a young female Shinda (7) arrived from Arnhem to Dvur, on 1st of December she met Messy for the first time and on 2nd of Dec they were both together introduced to Tadao. The process went very smoothly and they live now together peacefully as a group.
 
Jana said:
e first step afterwards was a strick diet for cca 1 year because both came with big overweight from London.

On Monday 2 weeks ago a young female Shinda (7) arrived from Arnhem to Dvur, on 1st of December she met Messy for the first time and on 2nd of Dec they were both together introduced to Tadao. The process went very smoothly and they live now together peacefully as a group.
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1. Not surprised to hear Messy and Minouche were overweight from living in London's old gorilla area and finally in the zoo hospital. London fed very good diets to very inactive gorillas...

2. Is there any mating/interest between Tadao and Shinda? He is another very valuable male genetically- same wildcaught, unrepresented background as London's Bobby.
 
thanks for that, what type of cancer was it and do they know what caused it?
 
I haven´t heard about any mating attempts of Tadao towards Shinda, but they are together just for few days. Only the time will tell us if there is any hope to breed from him.

I don´t know what type of cancer Minouche have had exactly and what caused it, but during the surgery back in 2001 her whole reproductive organs were removed (in hope to stop it). The post mortem examination showed metastases growing through her whole body.
 
Are there any available males of breeding age from Paignton or Chessington that could possibly go to London?
 
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