Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo News - Including New Orangutan!

B

bugs

Well-Known Member
Exciting news from the Colchester Zoo website:

Male orangutan Tiga from Twycross Zoo is being transferred to Colchester Zoo on June 25th. He is nearly 8 years old and a pure bred Bornean orangutan.

Kito the 6 and a half year old male elephant has finally been moved to Dvur Zoo in the Czech Republic.

A wallaby walk through area is being opened where the rocky mountain goats were kept. 8 wallabies are coming from Woburn.

6 penguin chicks have been born in the last few weeks.

The new meerkat enclousure was opened by Michaela Strachan! I would have prefered Terry Nutkins to have done it, lol.

Bugs
 
bugs said:
Male orangutan Tiga from Twycross Zoo is being transferred to Colchester Zoo on June 25th. He is nearly 8 years old and a pure bred Bornean.
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Thanks for the news, interesting they would bring in a bornean male if they are after Sumatrans. Surely he will be hard to rehome when the time comes?
 
Good news, although I thought male orangs didn't get on, even if there aren't any females around? And I guess Kito was born at Colchester? It seems like a very young age to move an elephant from it's mother.
 
I guess that Colchester has changed plans and will house a group of borneon orangs in the future instead of sumatrans, with Tiga as future breeding male. He might well come along with the existing male, since he`s far from being mature at 8. In Münster, 2 young males (Pongo and Demo) were introduced to a group of 1.3, and the 35 year old male Jonny was friendly towards them and accepted them without problems. Both bred with the females while living together with the old, fully mature male! Demo and "his" female Mali are now in Paignton, by the way.
 
Yassa said:
He might well come along with the existing male, since he`s far from being mature at 8. In Münster, 2 young males (Pongo and Demo) were introduced to a group of 1.3, and the 35 year old male Jonny was friendly towards them and accepted them without problems. Both bred with the females while living together with the old, fully mature male!
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But in a similar mixing at La Boissiere du Dore in France a few years back, the young (7 years?) Sumatran male 'Wirawan,' born at Jersey Zoo, was introduced into the existing breeding group and the old male 'Major' killed him.....:(
 
I'm really quite surprised at this news:

from Colchester's website said:
We are delighted to let you know that a new male orangutan is soon to arrive from Twycross Zoo. The new pure bred Bornean orangutan is called ‘Tiga’ and is nearly 8 years old. Subject to successful health checks, he will be transferring to Colchester Zoo on June 25th ‘09. Initially he will be kept separately to settle in and then will be gradually introduced to Rajang, Colchester Zoo’s 41 year old male at Orangutan Forest!

After the sad loss of Djambe, Rajang’s companion last October, we are delighted that there will once again be two Orangutans at the Forest.
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I guess Tiga is being moved because he'll potentially be coming into conflict with Batu, his dad, at Twycross before too long ........ but surely, even if the 2 male orangs are successfully introduced now, the same problem is going to arise with Rajang in due course as well ?! (though interesting to read what Yassa wrote about Munster .....)

Potentially, Rajang, who is 41 this month, could live another 8 or 9 years ? ....... I hope the introductions do go well or presumably Colchester will end up with a 'one in, one out' scenario ....... not so great when it's cold ! Having said that, thinking of Monkey World, I remember seeing Gordon and Tuan getting on brilliantly - though am not sure what age Gordon was at the time, and they are of course separated now (Gordon is 11).

It'll also be interesting because so far as I know Rajang has never lived with another male of any age.

Overall ........ of course it will be great to have more orangs at Colchester, and I think despite its various failings, Colchester has to be better than Twycross (I know that's not saying much). Hopefully, if an active youngster is introduced, it will prompt the powers that be to install more climbing opportunities.
 
Tiga isn't tolerated by his own father at Twycross and hasn't been for some time. He's had several injuries, I believe.
Wasn't Tuan at Monkey World responsible for Gordon's eye injury?
It seems an odd solution - as odd as the previous one of transferring a pregnant female to Colchester.
 
bugs said:
Exciting news from the Colchester Zoo website:

Male orangutan Tiga from Twycross Zoo is being transferred to Colchester Zoo on June 25th. He is nearly 8 years old and a pure bred Bornean orangutan.
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If Tiga arrives as planned on the 25th June, we are going on the Primates Evening on the 27th so should get the full story and may perhaps catch a glimpse (depending where quarantine is).

I really do hope all goes well and there is no upset or detrimental effect on Rajang - hopefully it will provide him with a bit of company on an evening when all his public interaction has gone.
 
GillP said:
Colchester has to be better than Twycross (I know that's not saying much).
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Well at least Twycross has bred them.Although Twycross may have only very basic housing i personnaly think they have the better housing for them as i don`t rate what i saw at Colchester in early may just far to much wasted space in the house for me.
 
Gigit said:
Tiga isn't tolerated by his own father at Twycross and hasn't been for some time. He's had several injuries, I believe.
Wasn't Tuan at Monkey World responsible for Gordon's eye injury?
It seems an odd solution - as odd as the previous one of transferring a pregnant female to Colchester.
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Yes Tuan was responsible for the injury to Gordon's eye.
 
Hmmmm not sure yet if good or bad news! :confused:

Lovely on one hand for Rajang to have some company but also worrying, I am sure they know what they are doing ???? hopefully :confused:

Been for a nose on the gallery! the photo on Colchester site is rubbish here is a lovely one of Gilllp

Hope it works ??

I have been loads of times so must trawl through my old photos

OOPs was expecting a link !! hope you dont mind Gilllp
 
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karenZOO said:
Hmmmm not sure yet if good or bad news! :confused:
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I think there is a 50/50 chance they will live together(can actually be kept together). There are several examples of males being compatable with each other, but an equal number where they were definately not. And yet others where males lived together for long periods before trouble started.

On balance I think its a good idea as Tiga obviously needs to move and, discounting the design faults of Colchester's new enclosure, it does represent valuable holding space, even if turns out these two males have to live seperately. Tiga can be held in 'reserve' there until he's needed elsewhere, or alternatively becomes the male of a breeding pair/group in the future at Colchester.
 
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Hi Karen, of course I don't mind you linking my gallery photo - they're there for all to see ! (..... and whenever I try to link to any of my photos, I somehow mess it up).

Karenzoo said:
Been for a nose on the gallery! the photo on Colchester site is rubbish here is a lovely one of Gilllp
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But I do wish to point out that this is a photo of Tiga and NOT of me (though my hair is a similar colour admitedly). :D

Taun & Gigit ...... thanks for that info about Gordon at MW. I'd wondered how that happened but have obviously managed to miss out a chunk of Monkey Life/Business episodes (I usually pick them up ad hoc and out of chronological order on various satellite channels) as I've never heard the story on TV. I do remember seeing Gordon introduced to Tuan and the feeling was that Tuan was a very patient, very tolerant gentle giant who was a great role model for Gordon. Do you know if the injury an attack (eg. as Gordon matured) or an accident ?

Pertinax said:
On balance I think its a good idea as Tiga obviously needs to move and, discounting the design faults of Colchester's new enclosure, it does represent valuable holding space, even if turns out these two males have to live seperately. Tiga can be held in 'reserve' there until he's needed elsewhere, or alternatively becomes the male of a breeding pair/group in the future at Colchester.
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The possibility of the 2 males living separately, either now or in the future, does worry me. As far as I can see at Colchester there is the (now infamous) outside area, a large indoor area, plus 3 much smaller 'cells' on public view to the left of this. I personally think it'd be harsh to keep one of the animals in one of those for any length of time while the other had access to the 2 main areas (as far as I've observed, the only access to outside is via one doorway from the large indoor area).

I wonder what this move will mean for Colchester's previously stated intent to obtain a female companion for Rajang now ? Ultimately, I'm sure she (or even they) would be intended as a mate for Tiga but I wonder if a female were to be introduced now whether she'd have the effect of smoothing the waters between the 2 males, or antagonising things instead ? I'm pretty sure I've read before that poor old Rajang never showed any sexual interest in Djambe, or in his previous female (Annie ?).

Hmmm ..... a lot to think about, but of course at the same time it's very exciting for Colchester (and its visitors) to get such a significant new animal.

Andiii - would love to hear how you get on at the primate evening. I'm sure you're going to have loads of questions !
 
GillP said:
As far as I can see at Colchester there is the (now infamous) outside area, a large indoor area, plus 3 much smaller 'cells' on public view to the left of this. I personally think it'd be harsh to keep one of the animals in one of those for any length of time while the other had access to the 2 main areas (as far as I've observed, the only access to outside is via one doorway from the large indoor area).
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There are definately at least two doors to the outside area- one from the main area and one from one of the smaller "cells" (sleeping areas) check out the pictures of the outdoor area in the gallery. If you think about it, it would be impossible to keep the two separate (if necessary) with only one door going indoors and in the way that the indoor area is laid out.
 
:o Gilllp :D I forgot the 's honestly

Pertinax lets hope its the right 50% then - my only concern is now that Rajang has this lovely (in places) big enclosure he will then have restricted access to parts of it only if they do not mix successfully!

Although Rajy and Djambe didnt always have the best of relationships she would just get out of his way by climbing up in the outside hut, I am sure a young orangy will be able to do the same. Might even then use the 'forest' outside :rolleyes::p

At least Tiga will be used to the public staring in at him through the glass but may miss the grass :eek:
 
Gillp - if I remember correctly, Gordon was injured when he got in the way of Tuan mating with Amy. Maybe somebody else can recall whether it was accidental or intentional.
 
GillP said:
Taun & Gigit ...... thanks for that info about Gordon at MW. I'd wondered how that happened but have obviously managed to miss out a chunk of Monkey Life/Business episodes (I usually pick them up ad hoc and out of chronological order on various satellite channels) as I've never heard the story on TV. I do remember seeing Gordon introduced to Tuan and the feeling was that Tuan was a very patient, very tolerant gentle giant who was a great role model for Gordon. Do you know if the injury an attack (eg. as Gordon matured) or an accident ?
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It was occured during a play fight and therefore completely accidental.

I think i prefer bornean orangs for this enclosure due to the lack of climbing opportunties.
 
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