Colchester Zoo Colchester Zoo News - Including New Orangutan!

Roz, thanks for putting me straight about the doors. That's why I mentioned it, because only remembering seeing one door, I couldn't work out how they'd be separated either.
 
taun said:
I think i prefer bornean orangs for this enclosure due to the lack of climbing opportunties.
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I've been thinking the same thing since I first saw the design...;)

I believe Rajang and his new male companion will either get along famously- or be impossible to keep together. Time will tell us which. I still think its quite a sensible move as Colchester have more space than Twycross for him. Presumably if they have to live apart one could use the large indoor area while the other had one of the small 'rooms' with access to the outside? In which case I can also foresee a female partner being acquired for Tiga at some stage in the future.
 
Pertinax said:
I've been thinking the same thing since I first saw the design...;)

I believe Rajang and his new male companion will either get along famously- or be impossible to keep together. Time will tell us which. I still think its quite a sensible move as Colchester have more space than Twycross for him.
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Total agree, same they couldn't start the new group now but i believe lack of space to seperate them could be a problems.
 
taun said:
Total agree, same they couldn't start the new group now but i believe lack of space to seperate them could be a problems.
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I added to my previous post about how they may keep them in the future. It means Rajang might have to live alone but still have some contact with other orangutans.
 
Pertinax said:
I added to my previous post about how they may keep them in the future. It means Rajang might have to live alone but still have some contact with other orangutans.
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Didn't think you would miss an idea like that! ;)
 
One of the Safari-style Parks in Southern europe somewhere set up a 'bachelor' group of 3 adult male Orangs- but I think they've had to be seperated due to fighting.
 
Pertinax said:
One of the Safari-style Parks in Southern europe somewhere set up a 'bachelor' group of 3 adult male Orangs- but I think they've had to be seperated due to fighting.
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Interesting, i suppose it was worth a try.
 
taun said:
Interesting, i suppose it was worth a try.
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I think I could have told them it wouldn't work long term. Adult male Orangutans that are introduced as strangers(i.e haven't grown up together) are hardly likely to get on longterm, given that in the wild they like to space themselves out in the forest. But I guess zoos are trying these combinations to see what happens.

'Planet Sauvage' in Belgium also has two Sumatran males and one female living together- in this case one of the males is 'Mokko'(20 years+) born at Jersey but he is not a sexually normally developed male as his testes were damaged by an Xray before he was born- so he is always likely to remain subordinate to the other older male.
 
Gigit said:
It seems an odd solution
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I think you'll find its a case of 'needs must.' Twycross obviously needed to move 'Tiga' out and Colchester- who had Djambe from them previously, have the room to take him. Whether he lives okay with Rajang is less of an issue perhaps than Colchester solving their 'single Orangutan' syndrome while Twycross have also solved their problem of where to send a surplus young male. So both benefit.

I can see 'Tiga'(rather than Rajang) being partnered with a female at some stage though.
 
GillP said:
Andiii - would love to hear how you get on at the primate evening. I'm sure you're going to have loads of questions !
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No problems, I will post anything i find out. If anyone wants me to ask any questions let me know nearer the time (27th June). I'll send a reminder beforehand.

I, too, have mixed feelings about the move - it's just a case of watch and see I think as to how events turn out. It could go either way. Let's just hope it's an amicable result! I'd hate anything to happen to Rajang! Hopefully, Colchester Zoo should have plans as to what they are doing!!

Lovely picture of Tiga GillP! :)
 
It is always down to the individual males to weather they will live together as in any species and don't forget at colchester they have no females to fight over which will help...its always good for a young male to grow up around other adult males anyway
 
Pertinax said:
mmm. I think that is debatable with Orangutans.
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Thats true, and the fact he has eight years next to his farther means he has probably learn't a thing or two from him and could avoid risking this new mix?
 
Certainly in the wild I think juvenile Orangutans(either sex) have very little to do with adult males who patrol large territories in the forest and don't socialise much with females and their young. I would think this is more true in the case of the more solitary Bornean species.

In captivity we know that unusual/unnatural combinations sometimes arise- often out of necessity for housing as is possibly the case here. It may well work but an adult male/younger male pairing certainly isn't a very normal one.
 
God, I really do hope it works out. I hate to think of the getting-on-for elderly Rajang living out his last few years in a restricted environment if they don't get on together, or alternatively, being stressed out by the introductions.
 
GillP said:
or alternatively, being stressed out by the introductions.
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I don't think Rajang, as a powerful and fully adult male, will be stressed out by the younger male. My guess is he'll either be extremely friendly to him from the start, or conversely repeatedly attack him to try and drive him away(from his territory) until they have to give up trying to integrate them.

The only problem is I have no idea which it might be....;)
 
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