Buster, Dume, Gizmo. That's three different breeding males at least. I think they would have had at least one other prior to those as well, since the foundation of the current group. Need a studbook to find out really. Its also possible they control breeding nowadays...
Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo news 2022
- Thread starter DesertRhino150
- Start date
Interesting notes I have here showcasing Colchester's success with breeding Mandrills:
A couple of years ago Colchester had a Mandrill troop consisting of 3 adult males (10-11 years), 5 adult females (8-21 years), and 14 young individuals. Out of the younger mandrills, four mandrills were aged 6 months to 1 year, and the others were juveniles – 3 females (2-4 years) and 7 males (2-5 years). 22 individuals in total!
A couple of years ago Colchester had a Mandrill troop consisting of 3 adult males (10-11 years), 5 adult females (8-21 years), and 14 young individuals. Out of the younger mandrills, four mandrills were aged 6 months to 1 year, and the others were juveniles – 3 females (2-4 years) and 7 males (2-5 years). 22 individuals in total!
Dume arrived in 2004, three years after the death of the previous breeding male. They’d allow this stand down time for the offspring of the previous male to mature. Breeding seems to be more restricted these days, combined with bolstering numbers with castrated males rather than all breeding females making up the harem.
List of all Adult Mandrill at Colchester Zoo (2006)
A list of all adult Mandrill (three years plus) by ranking can be found here: Meaningful Gesture in Monkeys? Investigating whether Mandrills Create Social Culture
1.0 Dume (born 15 Sep 1994 at Southport Zoo and transferred in 23 Jan 2004)
0.1 Celine (born 3 Jan 1985 at Zoological Society of London and transferred in 27 Oct 1988) *Died 22 May 2009
0.1 Orinoko (born 8 Nov 1993)
0.1 Oakley (born 4 Feb 2001)
0.1 Malaya (born 14 Aug 1984 at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and transferred in 27 Oct 1988)
0.1 Matilde (born 21 Sep 2000)
0.1 Milly (born 27 Sep 1996)
0.1 Solomina (born 27 Sep 1992)
1.0 Phoenix (born 12 Oct 1996) *Died 26 Jun 2008
1.0 Mac (born 18 May 1998)
1.0 Max (born 10 Jul 1998)
1.0 Barney (born 8 Oct 1999)
1.0 T.J. (born 22 Sep 2001)
At the start of the first study period (2006) the community comprised 23 individuals (10 males, 13 females). This consisted of the alpha male (12 yrs in age) who was transferred into the community in 2004; five younger non-alpha males (ranging from 5 to 10 yrs in age); seven mature breeding-age females (ranging from 6 to 23 yrs in age); and 10 immatures (four of which were male and six female, all <3 yrs in age).
A list of all adult Mandrill (three years plus) by ranking can be found here: Meaningful Gesture in Monkeys? Investigating whether Mandrills Create Social Culture
1.0 Dume (born 15 Sep 1994 at Southport Zoo and transferred in 23 Jan 2004)
0.1 Celine (born 3 Jan 1985 at Zoological Society of London and transferred in 27 Oct 1988) *Died 22 May 2009
0.1 Orinoko (born 8 Nov 1993)
0.1 Oakley (born 4 Feb 2001)
0.1 Malaya (born 14 Aug 1984 at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and transferred in 27 Oct 1988)
0.1 Matilde (born 21 Sep 2000)
0.1 Milly (born 27 Sep 1996)
0.1 Solomina (born 27 Sep 1992)
1.0 Phoenix (born 12 Oct 1996) *Died 26 Jun 2008
1.0 Mac (born 18 May 1998)
1.0 Max (born 10 Jul 1998)
1.0 Barney (born 8 Oct 1999)
1.0 T.J. (born 22 Sep 2001)
At the start of the first study period (2006) the community comprised 23 individuals (10 males, 13 females). This consisted of the alpha male (12 yrs in age) who was transferred into the community in 2004; five younger non-alpha males (ranging from 5 to 10 yrs in age); seven mature breeding-age females (ranging from 6 to 23 yrs in age); and 10 immatures (four of which were male and six female, all <3 yrs in age).
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
There is a board (I think it is in the gallery) that was put up at the Mandrill viewing area a few years ago (it was removed at some point but it might be back now) that showed all of the individuals and their name and DOB. It might be a bit outdated now though.
Edit: if Barney is still alive I think he might have been one of the polite and nice males I fed.
Edit: if Barney is still alive I think he might have been one of the polite and nice males I fed.
I remember seeing them there back in the early 1970s
I saw them in the late 2000’s, was quite a sight seeing so many!
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Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
Thanks- that's the one. Looking at it again now I recognise some of the zoos individuals as being mentioned when I fed the Mandrills in my Keeper Shadowing experience. Possibly Murphy or Morgan as well? I don't really remember. I'm pretty sure on Barney though.
It makes sense you referring to Barney as a ‘polite’ Mandrill. As you’ll see on the hierarchy chart I posted above, he was low ranking (second lowest in 2006) so he would have lacked assertiveness during group feeds versus the more dominant individuals in the troop.
Colchester may have had Mandrills previously but I believe these two would have been the founder females of the current group, together with a male that would have arrived around the same date- probably one from Southport Zoo which was the third UK zoo regularly breeding them at the time. When I first saw them at Colchester in the late 90's there were already around a dozen. Whether that first male lived right through up until 2004, or was replaced by one in between, I don't know.
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Looking at the names and photos on this board, apart from Gizmo, there seem to be several adult (castrated) males; Max, Murphy, Mckai(?) Barney, Morgan, Danie(?) Sebastian, Chimelu.... A (?) indicates I'm not exactly sure of the sex. May be a few more have reached this category by now also.
Buster, who was the dominant male until his death in 2001, arrived in 1995; so arrived to succeed the founding male. Females like Orinoco and Solomina would have been the daughters of the founder male.
That means they've had four different breeding males; arriving in 1988, 1995, 2004 & 2015. Someone on a different site mentioned a Mandrill being sent from Southport to Colchester so I'm pretty certain that the original male came from there. (I used to have a UK Mandrill studbook that would give me the details from that era, but sadly I've not got it any more.) Although they publicise a new birth, in reality I think its likely they control them so that fewer young are being produced at longer intervals, than would be natural otherwise.
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That’s true. It’s noted on the signage board photo I posted above that while they have multiple females of reproductive age, only three were breeding (off contraception) - Orinoco, Solomina and Milly.
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
These were the only 3 females listed as breeding, however (granted this isn't the newest signage) we have to question when was the last time any of these females bred, as I believe the last 3 were all born to Mindy. Maybe restrictions are in place to create a more genetically diverse group of Mandrills.
I know, that’s why I said were off contraception to denote this may have changed. The point I was making was that multiple females are on contraception at any given time.
Aside from genetics, hierarchy may have an influence. Offspring born to lower ranking females are born vulnerable to female-led infanticide, so a combination of genetics and hierarchy factors would influence a breeding decision.
Rajang-GOAT
Well-Known Member
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb145qIoAFc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
On their Instagram Colchester Zoo have announced an Easter themed "Brick Trail" in the Nature Area (south of Tiger Taiga) that I assume has been put in place for the start of the Easter Holidays in Essex on Monday.
"Today is the start of our Easter Holiday and we are EGG-cited to present our NEW Nature Area Brick Trail! Join us throughout the school holidays and keep your little one entertained with a range of fun-filled activities!"
On their Instagram Colchester Zoo have announced an Easter themed "Brick Trail" in the Nature Area (south of Tiger Taiga) that I assume has been put in place for the start of the Easter Holidays in Essex on Monday.
"Today is the start of our Easter Holiday and we are EGG-cited to present our NEW Nature Area Brick Trail! Join us throughout the school holidays and keep your little one entertained with a range of fun-filled activities!"
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Do you know when the Easter holiday ends in Colchester?
