United Kingdom Dudley zoo Gorillas

[Strathmorezoo]

Recently, after looking through some Dudley guidebooks, I found something that has confused me. I always thought that the zoo had two gorillas, a male and female that arrived in 1962. They were both two years old, the male was named Bonzo, and yet,the female (s) had names, Ruki and/or Granny in different guidebooks. So does this mean that the female was known by two different names or that there were two different females?? Anyone know the answer.?

 

[filovirus]

Bonzo was AKA Bukhama. This is something I've definitely seen done with other animals, particularly those from Africa- they're given two names, one more proper and culturally-specific, and one much more western and presumably easier for a western audience (particularly children) to pronounce/remember. I don't see this quite as often anymore but during Bukhama's time it certainly would've been a more common practice, especially in Dudley.

That said I'm really struggling to find info online about Bukhama's female companion. I'd need more details on when the guidebooks were published but I'd be unsurprised if it was just a weird two-name thing and not two different gorillas.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Bonzo was AKA Bukhama. This is something I've definitely seen done with other animals, particularly those from Africa- they're given two names, one more proper and culturally-specific, and one much more western and presumably easier for a western audience (particularly children) to pronounce/remember. I don't see this quite as often anymore but during Bukhama's time it certainly would've been a more common practice, especially in Dudley.

That said I'm really struggling to find info online about Bukhama's female companion. I'd need more details on when the guidebooks were published but I'd be unsurprised if it was just a weird two-name thing and not two different gorillas.

Thanks for your interest, leave it with me and I'll go through my guidebooks to find dates

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Thanks for your interest, leave it with me and I'll go through my guidebooks to find dates

The 1963 guide referred to the female as Ruki and the name Granny was in a1992 guide, in a chapter on the history of the gorillas

 

[Tim May]

Worth following the link below to see studbook:

https://www.researchgate.net/public...d_gorilla_Gorilla_g_Gorilla_Savage_Wyman_1847

The studbook only lists two gorillas at Dudley:
"Ruki" and "Bonzo"

The following link is useful too:-

Gorillas Galore - Captive Gorilla Lists - Stud Book

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Worth following the link below

https://www.researchgate.net/public...d_gorilla_Gorilla_g_Gorilla_Savage_Wyman_1847

The studbook only lists two gorillas at Dudley:
"Ruki" and "Bonzo"

Thanks Tim,during my time at Dudley (I was there during Bonzos last year) there was only mention of Ruki. Why a female in the 1992 guide was called Granny, I think that we will never know

 

[filovirus]

...huh. Definitely curious as Ruki died in 1973. In that case I suspect it isn't double-name shenanigans. Zero clue who in the world Granny could be in that case, unless they maybe had a gorilla on-hand from another zoo for a short time? But I can't find any gorillas named Granny in the studbook linked above.

edit: I guess if Granny was referred to in the past-tense in the 92 guidebook it makes more sense. otherwise if it refers to a gorilla named granny in the present tense, im clueless

 

[Strathmorezoo]

It was referring to Granny in the past tense,bizarre

 

[Pertinax]

Thanks Tim,during my time at Dudley (I was there during Bonzos last year) there was only mention of Ruki. Why a female in the 1992 guide was called Granny, I think that we will never know

Dudley only ever had two gorillas, who arrived together as babies in 1962. Their studbook/official names; Bukhama(male) and Ruki(female).

The alternative names 'Bonzo' and 'Granny' just arose as staff nicknames for them. 'Granny' because her expression was sometimes slightly reminiscent of one. Later 'Bonzo' became the male's accepted name instead of Bukhama, while it appears 'Granny' was sometimes also used in a more official capacity in the later years.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

Dudley only ever had two gorillas, who arrived together as babies in 1962. Their studbook/official names; Bukhama(male) and Ruki(female).

The alternative names 'Bonzo' and 'Granny' just arose as staff nicknames for them. 'Granny' because her expression was sometimes slightly reminiscent of one. Later 'Bonzo' became the male's accepted name instead of Bukhama, while it appears 'Granny' was sometimes also used in a more official capacity in the later years.

Thanks Pertinax, that seems to have explained everything to my confusion