Taronga Western Plains Zoo Bongos

patrick said:
i don't know of any congo buffalo/bongo mixed species exhibits at any zoos, but i so do think it would be nice. i love those congo documentaries and photographs where you see herds of the two species grazing together in jungle clearings.

I've often wonder why several of the Congo species are orange or red coloured- Congo buffalo, Bongo, Red River Hog etc. Is it to match the soil? Bongo are increasingly common in UK zoos nowadays, even a number of Safari Parks have them too. Congo Buffalo are less common over here but a few zoos have them (I think they're far more attractive than the Big buffalo species). No-one over here has tried a mixed exhibit yet. I guess one day in the future somewhere with a lot of money will attempt a massive 'Congo' complex to house these species, plus perhaps Gorillas and other species mixed in too?
Click to expand...
 
The forest buffalo are kept at around 5 UK zoos Chester and Knowsley just to name 2, and are much common than the cape or African buffalo.* There are only 2 collections in the UK. 2 bulls at West midlands Safari park and 5 females At Knowsley.
As Grantsmb said, the bongo is becoming more and more common in UK zoos. That may be that they breed so frequently. Chester has 3 a year I think. As well as this the Red river hog population is also Booming in the UK. Chester had the first british birth in 2002/03. London has bred them and now Whipsnade, Knowsley, Edinburgh and One of the aspinall parks all hold at least a pair of them.
 
I once saw a large group of Forest buffalo at Marwell zoo (1988) i think they may still hold the species, also Port lympne had Cape buffalo when i saw last there, there was also a group of Asian water buffalo which are not that common in the UK.
 
Port lypme doesn't hold the cape buffalo anymore but I'm pretty sure they still have water buffalo. I know that west midlands safari park have a small group of them.
 
They used to be house the Cape Buffalo in the same paddock with the Black rhinos, I am a little surprised to hear they dont hold them now as they had a nice looking herd there.
 
I've just Chescked on ISIS and Port Lypme doesn't have cape or forest buffalo. As you said before Marwell does have a large herd. 1 mlae and 8 females. From what I have been told Chester holds the studbook for this species. They've had 21 calves and have started a breeding group at Knowsley. They are the only zoo in England to Hold Cape and Forest buffalo.


Just checked up on the water buffalo. They don't have them at Port lyme or Howletts anymore either. They have lowland anoa at Port Lypme. They are relativily commmon in European zoos. Unlike the mountain Anoa. I think that there is only one zoo that holds them. It's in Germany but I don't know the name.
 
I've never seen Cape Buffalo in Uk except at Whipsnade- who may no longer have them. Never seen them at Port Lympne tho I've been many times. Water Buffalo, yes, they did have a herd until recently, I thought they still do.

As Mr Hornbill says, the only places with Cape Buffalo in UK are West Midland and/or(??) Knowlsey Safari Parks. Marwell still have their small herd of Congo Buffalo.

Red River Hogs. Interesting that Port Lympne have had a pair(from Duisburg) for many years now but I don't think these have ever bred. More recently they got a 2nd pair at Howletts but probably not bred by them. Other zoos I know of in Uk with this species are London, Whipsnade(born London) Chester, Colchester, Paignton, Edinburgh, maybe Belfast? Soon every zoo will have some...
 
The population of red river hogs is almost staring to get out of control. Every zoo wants to breed them. This means that sometime in the furure we'll have to think about what to do with the surplus stock.

About the buffalo mixed exhibit with the rhinos, Was it working? I know that Chester is trying to mix lechwe with it's rhino with little sucess.
 
I saw them there in 1988 and have a guide book with pics of them there, i am just a little surprised they are gone, i never heard of any problems with them and the black rhinos, but they were in a very large area.
 
what with? other species? i dont belive they do as well, but it has been done i think though. not sure where lol sorry

with people, at dubbo, the whites gen public carnt even feed, they are to stroppy, but blacks are friendly as, the keepers are very suprised, they thought for the new africa tour, the white you would be able to get close to, but not the case? very unusual
 
MARK said:
I saw them there in 1988 and have a guide book with pics of them there, i am just a little surprised they are gone, i never heard of any problems with them and the black rhinos, but they were in a very large area.
Click to expand...

Maybe the ones at the West Midlands Safari Park/Knowsley came originally from either Port Lympne or Whipsnade- as they've only very small numbers of them it sounds like they probably came from another collection.

I still can't recollect ever having seen them at Port Lympne(i'm not disbelieving MArk, but maybe they weren't there for many years....) I've seen the Water Buffalo there many times.

Today there was an earthquake(!!) 4.3 on the Richter scale centred on Folkestone, right near Port Lympne- however the news reports say there wasn't any major damage. Wonder what the animals thought of it though....
 
Let's test Your practical bongo knowledge: what colour of clothing should You NOT wear when getting close to Bongos?

BTW: Congo buffalo & Bongo? Poor bongos; ever heard what happened with the buffalo-mandrill mixed exhibit in San Diego? Think of the final battle of LOTR ;)
Nay, I love bongos; and seeing them thrive after being such a rarity in the first years the species appeared in Zoos makes me rather happy.
BTW: Zurich doesn't have bongos...
 
Before the DeBrazza's, they had mandrills in with the buffalos. The mandrills got cheeky and bossy, the buffalos got pissed, and well, showed their disapproval by attacking the mandrills. And that's the reason why the better-behaving DeBrazza's are now together with the congo buffalos.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top