Taronga Zoo Chimpanzee Troop

[Jambo]

Are any of the females off contraception? Or are they happy with the infants they have for now?

I don’t know for sure but you can probably rule out Sacha, Lisa and Shiba who probably won’t breed again. It seems they are attempting to increase the age gaps between each female’s births (similar to what they did with their elephants). Ceres was placed on contraception recently (during the Who’s who at the Zoo series, I believe), and there was an article from last year that mentioned Kuma had been placed on the pill again as well. So unless you consider Sembe (who they probably won’t breed from until another few years), I don’t think there will be any infants in the near future.

 

[Zoofan15]

Are any of the females off contraception? Or are they happy with the infants they have for now?

Not to my knowledge, but there’s always surprises e.g. Kamili and Naomi giving birth late last year. It’s not something the zoo tends to publicise.

Shiba and Naomi have recently had an infant; and due to their age, we can discount Lisa and Sacha breeding again.

Kuma was put on contraception at the start of last year, which is a shame as I think it’s got to the point where her ranking could suffer if she’s not allowed to breed again soon.

I believe the plan with Ceres is for her to remain on contraception until Cebele is around five years of age. This will mean Cebele is largely independent by this time; which is important given Ceres doesn’t have a lot of support in the community.

If Sembe remains in the community, she likely won’t breed until around 16 years of age.

This really just leaves Kamili!

 

[Jambo]

Not to my knowledge, but there’s always surprises e.g. Kamili and Naomi giving birth late last year. It’s not something the zoo tends to publicise.

Shiba and Naomi have recently had an infant; and due to their age, we can discount Lisa and Sacha breeding again.

Kuma was put on contraception at the start of last year, which is a shame as I think it’s got to the point where her ranking could suffer if she’s not allowed to breed again soon.

I believe the plan with Ceres is for her to remain on contraception until Cebele is around five years of age. This will mean Cebele is largely independent by this time; which is important given Ceres doesn’t have a lot of support in the community.

If Sembe remains in the community, she likely won’t breed until around 16 years of age.

This really just leaves Kamili!

It will be interesting to see if they breed from Kamili again. Her genetics are valuable of course, but she has now had four unsuccessful births, most likely due to her lack of mothering the infant. It would be nice if Taronga keep on giving her chances, but it doesn’t seem like they are ready to hand raise a Chimp infant (given the detrimental social affects it has on them). Has she showing any interest in any of the recent infants @Zoofan15? Learning from the other mothers in the group will probably be the best chance for her to successfully raise an infant.

 

[Zoofan15]

It will be interesting to see if they breed from Kamili again. Her genetics are valuable of course, but she has now had four unsuccessful births, most likely due to her lack of mothering the infant. It would be nice if Taronga keep on giving her chances, but it doesn’t seem like they are ready to hand raise a Chimp infant (given the detrimental social affects it has on them). Has she showing any interest in any of the recent infants @Zoofan15? Learning from the other mothers in the group will probably be the best chance for her to successfully raise an infant.

Nah Kamili hasn’t shown a lot of interest in any of the infants over the years. I think the best course of action would be to send her to Monarto, who may be willing to assist her in raising it.

Alternatively, the females breeding at Sydney Zoo may find themselves in a similar situation and a crèche could be formed. This way the infants would be peer raised (which is better than hand raised).

I’ve heard conflicting information, but the consensus seems to be that great apes have a critical learning period and that what they learn in that time is how they will act for life. Sadly, Koko has been a poor role model in that regard for Kamili.

 

[Tafin]

Nah Kamili hasn’t shown a lot of interest in any of the infants over the years. I think the best course of action would be to send her to Monarto, who may be willing to assist her in raising it.

Alternatively, the females breeding at Sydney Zoo may find themselves in a similar situation and a crèche could be formed. This way the infants would be peer raised (which is better than hand raised).

I’ve heard conflicting information, but the consensus seems to be that great apes have a critical learning period and that what they learn in that time is how they will act for life. Sadly, Koko has been a poor role model in that regard for Kamili.

Would you agree Shiba is the best role model for motherhood in the group? She seems like a really good mother. Perhaps her mother was equally exceptional.

 

[Zoofan15]

Would you agree Shiba is the best role model for motherhood in the group? She seems like a really good mother. Perhaps her mother was equally exceptional.

Shiba is arguably the best mother in the community. She’s patient with her offspring and very protective, especially of her youngest offspring.

Shiba’s mother, Susie, was noted for having a close to 100% survival rate across her nine offspring (the only one that died was a twin). This was exceptional given the high infant mortality rate within the community during her reproductive years.

It’s important to consider what a range of backgrounds the founding females came from. Most arrived as juveniles and rearing of offspring was a trial and error process - especially when some females were giving birth for the first time at seven or eight years of age.

 

[Osprey 71]

Does anyone have any information on the founding members of the Taronga Zoo chimpanzee troop? Where there tea party chimps like at the Auckland and Wellington Zoos?

Also does anyone know the names of chimpanzee exported to New Zealand from Taronga Zoo?

Does anyone have any information on the founding members of the Taronga Zoo chimpanzee troop? Where there tea party chimps like at the Auckland and Wellington Zoos?

Also does anyone know the names of chimpanzee exported to New Zealand from Taronga Zoo?

From 1940 Taronga Zoo had chimpanzee perform a tea party for the visitors. this was stopped in the early 1960's. No name of chimps, that took party. Will investigate more.